The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review

Although mobile technologies are commonly used to support language learning, there is a lack of research to comprehensively determine the acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges in this area. To address this gap, this systematic literature review selected 49 articles indexed in the Scopus...

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Main Author: Jie Fang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hong Kong Bao Long Accounting & Secretarial Limited 2025-06-01
Series:Knowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.kmel-journal.org/ojs/index.php/online-publication/article/view/625
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author Jie Fang
author_facet Jie Fang
author_sort Jie Fang
collection DOAJ
description Although mobile technologies are commonly used to support language learning, there is a lack of research to comprehensively determine the acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges in this area. To address this gap, this systematic literature review selected 49 articles indexed in the Scopus database between 2013 and 2022. This study found that TAM and UTAUT are the two most used models to examine the acceptance and readiness of MALL users. Besides, respondents generally have a positive acceptance and readiness for MALL, and they have sufficient knowledge and experience with MALL. This research classified three categories of the affordances of MALL, namely technology-based affordances which are related to the variety and application of mobile apps and the enhancing features of multimedia, the functional affordances of MALL which are related to the dynamic and flexible learning environments and the accessibility of mobile devices, and various aspects of language learning-based affordances. Regarding the challenges of MALL, this study has found that infrastructural and technological challenges, e.g. the insufficient ownership and accessibility of mobile devices, the limitations of mobile devices, the shortcomings of user interface and the instructional design of mobile apps, user-related issues, e.g., lack of technical and language skills, and application concerns, e.g. pedagogical concerns, health, privacy, and security concerns, and other real-world application concern could affect respondents’ acceptance and readiness of MALL. Both practical and theoretical implications are highlighted in this research.
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spelling doaj-art-4e2aa85498da4154b19fe40650bdcccc2025-08-20T03:45:30ZengHong Kong Bao Long Accounting & Secretarial LimitedKnowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal2073-79042025-06-0117224025710.34105/j.kmel.2025.17.011The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature reviewJie Fang0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-2701New Era University College, Selangor, MalaysiaAlthough mobile technologies are commonly used to support language learning, there is a lack of research to comprehensively determine the acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges in this area. To address this gap, this systematic literature review selected 49 articles indexed in the Scopus database between 2013 and 2022. This study found that TAM and UTAUT are the two most used models to examine the acceptance and readiness of MALL users. Besides, respondents generally have a positive acceptance and readiness for MALL, and they have sufficient knowledge and experience with MALL. This research classified three categories of the affordances of MALL, namely technology-based affordances which are related to the variety and application of mobile apps and the enhancing features of multimedia, the functional affordances of MALL which are related to the dynamic and flexible learning environments and the accessibility of mobile devices, and various aspects of language learning-based affordances. Regarding the challenges of MALL, this study has found that infrastructural and technological challenges, e.g. the insufficient ownership and accessibility of mobile devices, the limitations of mobile devices, the shortcomings of user interface and the instructional design of mobile apps, user-related issues, e.g., lack of technical and language skills, and application concerns, e.g. pedagogical concerns, health, privacy, and security concerns, and other real-world application concern could affect respondents’ acceptance and readiness of MALL. Both practical and theoretical implications are highlighted in this research.https://www.kmel-journal.org/ojs/index.php/online-publication/article/view/625systematic literature reviewmobile assisted language learningacceptance/readinessaffordancechallenge
spellingShingle Jie Fang
The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review
Knowledge Management & E-Learning: An International Journal
systematic literature review
mobile assisted language learning
acceptance/readiness
affordance
challenge
title The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review
title_full The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review
title_fullStr The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review
title_full_unstemmed The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review
title_short The acceptance, readiness, affordances, and challenges of mobile-assisted language learning: A systematic literature review
title_sort acceptance readiness affordances and challenges of mobile assisted language learning a systematic literature review
topic systematic literature review
mobile assisted language learning
acceptance/readiness
affordance
challenge
url https://www.kmel-journal.org/ojs/index.php/online-publication/article/view/625
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