Abstract
Using digital resources has become common practice in teaching and learning foreign languages since e-learning or blended learning are an inherent part of the educational process in the contemporary ,,digital" society. Especially the so-called ,,digital natives" are willing to integrate technology into their daily activities, studying included.
The advantages of miniaturizing have turned mobile learning into an alternative way of acquiring knowledge. The instant access to information resources, regardless of the existence of a time or space entirely devoted to studying, has contributed to customizing the learning processes, in accordance with personal needs and abilities.
Mobile applications available on mobile phones, smartphones or tablets have been integrated into the educational offers of language learning since they enhance learning autonomy.
As a result, in this article we intend to present an overview of mobile apps used in foreign languages m-learning. Firstly, we shall discuss differences and similarities between mobile apps and integrated platform apps, and secondly, we shall address the impact of mobile apps on developing receptive and productive skills. To be more specific, we shall analyze the opportunities provided by mobile apps in teaching German as a foreign language to beginners, through the investigation of those materials which integrate this high-tech facility.
The usefulness of this approach lies in the benefits analysis of mobile apps in the process of acquiring foreign languages, for both students and teachers. Moreover, this article is an invitation to ponder over the transforming capacity of authors and methodologists when dealing with the society's changes that inevitably affect the learning processes. |