Abstract
Acquiring a second language is a challenging task for everyone, especially for immigrants. In this case study, we examined the use of the WhatsApp application as a support tool for language learning among immigrants. The study took place at an Ulpan in Tel Aviv. The participants were new immigrants from different countries who study or have studied Hebrew as a second language at the Ulpan (special schools for immigrants for Hebrew learning). This qualitative research, conducted through personal interviews. The participants were asked to describe how they use the WhatsApp group opened for them by the teacher during a Hebrew language course at the Ulpan. The interviews raised many insights relating to the perceived affordance of WhatsApp use by students and their Ulpan teacher. The findings reveal interesting and unique WhatsApp usage: Textual-based as well as Voice-based and visual-based communication.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aburezeq, I.M., Ishtaiwa, F.F.: The impact of WhatsApp on interaction in an Arabic language teaching course. Int. J. Arts Sci. 6(3), 165 (2013)
Awada, G.: Effect of WhatsApp on critique writing proficiency and perceptions toward learning. Cogent Educ. 3(1), 1264173 (2016)
Bouhnik, D., Deshen, M., Gan, R.: WhatsApp goes to school: mobile instant messaging between teachers and students. J. Inf. Technol. Educ. Res. 13(1), 217–231 (2014)
Cetinkaya, L.: An educational technology tool that developed in the natural flow of life among students: WhatsApp. Int. J. Prog. Educ. 13, 29–45 (2017). http://www.inased.org/v13n2/ijpev13n2.pdf
Chiswick, B.R.: Speaking, reading and earnings among lowskilled immigrants. J. Labor Econ. 9, 149–170 (1991)
Chiswick, B.R.: Hebrew language usage: determinants and effects on earnings among immigrants in Israel. J. Popul. Econ. 11, 253–271 (1998)
Cummins, J.: Age on arrival and immigrant second language learning in Canada: a reassessment. Appl. Linguist. 2(2), 132–149 (1981)
Dasuki, S.I., Abubakar, N.H.: The contributions of WhatsApp to social inclusion: a case of internally displaced persons in Nigeria. In: International Conference on Social Implications of Computers in Developing Countries, pp. 414–424. Springer, Cham, May 2019
DeKeyser, R.M.: Age effects in second language learning: stepping stones toward better understanding. Lang. Learn. 63, 52–67 (2013)
Gon, S., Rawekar, A.: Effectivity of e-learning through WhatsApp as a teaching-learning tool. MVP J. Med. Sci. 4(1), 19–25 (2017)
Gordano Peile, C., Ros Hijar, A.: Immigrants and mobile phone use: Spanish-speaking young adults recently arrived in London. Mob. Media Commun. 4(3), 405–423 (2016)
Jain, J.: Learning beyond the walls: the role of WhatsApp groups. In: Envisioning the Future of Online Learning, pp. 447–457. Springer, Singapore (2016)
Jones, A., Kukulska-Hulme, A., Norris, L., Gaved, M., Scanlon, E., Jones, J., Brasher, A.: Supporting immigrant language learning on smartphones: a field trial. Stud. Educ. Adults 49(2), 228–252 (2017)
Kim, H., Kwon, Y.: Exploring smartphone applications for effective mobile-assisted language learning. Multimed. Assist. Lang. Learn. 15(1), 31–57 (2012)
Klien, D., Mok, K., Chen, J.K., Watkins, K.E.: Age of language learning shapes brain structure: a cortical thickness study of bilingual and monolingual individuals. Brain Lang. 131, 20–24 (2014)
Derwing, T.M., Waugh, E.: Language skills and the social integration of Canada’s adult immigrants. IRPP Study 31, 1–32 (2012)
Kukulska-Hulme, A.: Mobile-assisted language learning. In: Chapelle, C. (ed.) The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics, pp. 3701–3709. Wiley, New York (2013)
Lai, C.H., Yang, J.C., Chen, F.C., Ho, C.W., Chan, T.W.: Affordances of mobile technologies for experiential learning: the interplay of technology and pedagogical practices. J. Comput. Assist. Learn. 23(4), 326–337 (2007)
Kukulska-Hulme, A., Gaved, M., Paletta, L., Scanlon, E., Jones, A., Brasher, A.: Mobile incidental learning to support the inclusion of recent immigrants. Ubiquitous Learn. Int. J. 7(2), 9–21 (2015)
Nikolov, M., Djigunović, J.M.: Recent research on age, second language acquisition, and early foreign language learning. Annu. Rev. Appl. Linguist. 26, 234–260 (2006)
Plana, M.G.C., Escofet, M.I.G., Figueras, I.T., Gimeno, A., Appel, C., Hopkins, J.: Improving learners’ reading skills through instant short messages: a sample study using WhatsApp. In: WorldCall 2013, Glasgow, 10–13 July 2013
Shapiro, D.M., Stelcner, M.: Language and earnings in Quebec: trends over twenty years, 1970–1990. Can. Public Policy/Analyse de Politiques 23(2), 115–140 (1997)
Sim, M.A., Pop, A.M.: The use of technology for learning languages. Ann. Univ. Oradea Econ. Sci. Ser. 26(2), 361–369 (2017)
Tang, Y., Hew, K.F.: Is mobile instant messaging (MIM) useful in education? Examining its technological, pedagogical, and social affordances. Educ. Res. Rev. 21, 85–104 (2017)
Ujakpa, M.M., Heukelman, D., Lazarus, V.K., Neiss, P., Rukanda, G.D.: Using WhatsApp to support communication in teaching and learning. In: 2018 IST-Africa Week Conference (IST-Africa), page 1. IEEE, May 2018
Zayed, N.M.: Special designed activities for learning English language through the application of WhatsApp! Engl. Lang. Teach. 9(2), 199–204 (2016)
Zilka, G.C.: The use of mobile technologies by immigrant adolescents in coping with the new language and with their formal studies. In: Mobile Technologies in Educational Organizations, pp. 192–209. IGI Global (2019)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Meishar-Tal, H., Reuveni, T., Sofer, S. (2020). WhatsApp as a Support Tool for Language Learning Among Immigrants. In: Auer, M., Hortsch, H., Sethakul, P. (eds) The Impact of the 4th Industrial Revolution on Engineering Education. ICL 2019. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1135. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40271-6_64
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-40271-6_64
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-40270-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-40271-6
eBook Packages: Intelligent Technologies and RoboticsIntelligent Technologies and Robotics (R0)