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.
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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
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