Abstract:

With the development of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL), the relationship among language learning, technology and pedagogy has been redefined. Owners of a mobile phone have at their disposal new means to practice a foreign language in various locations and situations. The aim of this presentation is to describe “Speak on the Spot” (http://www.xanthi.ilsp.gr/test/speakonthespot/), a multifaceted app for iOS and Android mobile phones, with English as support language; it is addressed to all foreigners who either visit Greece for business, pleasure or any other reason and wish to communicate with the locals. The app is suitable for self-learning as well as for practicing the language in authentic communicative situations in hotels or while wandering around a Greek city. The language content is based on needs analysis of the target group -both absolute beginners and users with some prior knowledge of Greek- and consists of a brief introduction on the Greek language (alphabet, letter combinations, stress), basic vocabulary, expressions and short dialogues that are useful for tourists. Audio recording, translation, illustration, phonetic transcription, voice recording tool and search tool have been used as means that facilitate the learning procedure. Principles and restrictions imposed by MALL have been taken into consideration. The material has been divided in short but independent segments so as to allow users to spend no more than 10-15 minutes with the app. What differentiated “Speak on the Spot” from other existing apps is the possibility of customizing it to the needs and services of various partners involved in the tourist sector. Hotels, sight-seeing companies, airports, airline and other transport companies, malls and educational institutions can upgrade and advertise the services they provide their guests with and enhance their experience. The paper describes the technical requirements of the two levels of customization that are available. The first requires few adaptations; the end product is named after the company/institution, highlights the services provided and incorporates the corresponding photographic and other promotional material. The second involves major modifications, namely, customization of the content and other multimedia material to reflect the actual hotel, shopping mall etc. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons and/or GPS can be used for context-aware learning environments, to help in locating both learners and their contexts. Such technologies can be placed inside a hotel or a city shop and push notifications on users’ mobile devices with the corresponding dialogue that they need to use in the specific location.

Keywords:

MALL app, Learning Greek, customization of an app, BLE beacons.