DISSERTATION AWARDS
Announcing the Winners of the Mango Languages Dissertation Award 2024
We received a record number of applications for the Mango Languages Dissertation Award this year, and we are in awe of the innovative and exciting research happening at the intersection of language learning and technology. As always, it was a privilege to read each and every proposal.
A big congratulations to Hyun-Bin Hwang!
Hyun-Bin Hwang
Second Language Studies at Michigan State
Teacher support and persistence in app-based language learning out of class: A self-determination theory perspective
Language learning apps offer great flexibility for learning new languages anytime, anywhere.
Research consistently shows that the more people use these apps, the more language they learn. However, one major challenge with app-based learning is the high dropout rate among users. In his dissertation, Hyun-Bin explores what drives users to stick with language learning apps and how we can use these insights to encourage persistence in app usage.
In Hyun-Bin’s project, Korean adolescents learning English at school use the Mango Languages English for Korean Speakers course out of class to supplement their English classes for four months. While students are allowed to use the app as they wish, their teachers consistently provide various types of support to encourage sustained use. Hyun-Bin predicts that when teacher support meets students’ needs in using the app, their app engagement will be enhanced, leading to more persistent usage and, ultimately, better learning outcomes.
Pedagogically, Hyun-Bin’s dissertation aims to understand how teachers can support young learners to autonomously use language learning apps beyond the classroom. These insights could help language teachers develop an effective learning plan that integrates out-of-class app-based learning with in-class instruction.
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In addition to submitting a stellar proposal detailing a brilliant research design with important implications for app-based language learning, Hyun-Bin is the first dissertation award recipient who has actually incorporated the Mango app into his research project!
Congratulations, again, to Hyun-Bin. And thank you to all our applicants for working hard to understand and improve language learning technology!
This article was written with contributions from Hyun-Bin Hwang. Mango Languages provided complimentary profiles for research participants in this study, but Hwang has otherwise conducted this study independently. For more information about conducting research using Mango, please visit Mango Labs.
