Abstract
Ubiquitous learning becomes main stream among college students, especially for English learners. This case study employs questionnaire and group interview to collect data in a local normal university, puts forward the research questions and research methods, and analyzes the situation of English U-learning, including accesses to internet, contents, channels, time, places, lengths, sources, motivations, the effect of English U-learning and the existing barriers. The results show that English U-learning became one of effective assisting ways of classroom learning, like watching English news, chatting with foreign friends, practicing English for taking postgraduate entrance exams, translation training, using e-dictionary on the smartphone, obtaining English grammar knowledge and so on. However, the effect is not so good as expected, of which the main reasons are: It is short of English online sources; The links of English materials are not reliable; Students have few intensive motivations to learn English; Advertisements and chatting windows disturb the thought of English learners, et cetera. In the end, suggestions are therefore given to improve the situation.
Key words: English U-learning; college students; smartphone; questionnaire; group interview
Contents
Abstract
摘要
1. Introduction-1
1.1 Background of U-learning-1
1.2 Significance of this study-1
1.3 Structure of this thesis-3
2. Literature Review-3
2.1 Definition of U-learning-3
2.2 Relative study of U-learning-4
3. Methodology-6
3.1 Research questions-6
3.2 Participants-6
3.3 Instruments-7
4. Data Description-7
4.1 The key elements of U-learning-7
4.2 The effect obtained by English U-learning-11
4.3 Barriers existing in English U-learning-11
5. Discussion-12
5.1 Analysis of the current situation of English U-learning-13
5.2 Analysis of effect obtained by English U-learners-14
5.3 Analysis of existing barriers in English U-learning-15
5.4 Suggestions for English U-learning development-15
6. Conclusion-16
Works Cited-18
Appendices-19
Appendix 1 Questionnaire-19
Appendix 2 Part questions and answers in group interview-22
