LEARNER AUTONOMY AND MOBILE-ASSISTED LANGUAGE LEARNING IN EFL CONTEXT DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Nuraeni
In this modern era, technology has provided mobile devices in which there are
interesting English learning applications and websites to be used to encourage
students' English skills. The use of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning can also
promote students to become autonomous learners. Because by using MALL
students can study on their own more often in class and outside the classroom.
However, in this pandemic period, there are times when students use MALL
devices just for fun, such as playing games, exchanging messages with friends,
taking selfies, making useless statuses on social media and so on. This study aims
to determine the use of MALL in promoting student autonomy in the context of
EFL during the pandemic and EFL students' perceptions of the use of MALL in
the context of EFL during the Covid-19 pandemic. This research was conducted
using a descriptive-qualitative approach with a case study research design. Data
was collected by conducting questionnaires and interviews via Google form, the
number of students who were used as respondents was 15 students from the
Department of English Education at one university in Bogor. The results showed
that students gave a positive response to the use of MALL can promote students to
become independent learners in the context of EFL. Students' perceptions of the
use of MALL also received a positive response. Students use various applications
to boost their English learning skills such as U-dictionary, Elsa Speak, Cake,
Duolingo, Grammarly, Kamusku, British Council, and others use public
platforms, such as YouTube and Whatsapp. From the applications mentioned,
almost all participants chose Youtube as a medium for learning English
independently during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Keywords: Learner autonomy, Mobile-Assisted Language Learning, EFL
context, Covid-19.