Using mobile phones in English education in Japan

Abstract We present three studies in mobile learning. First, we polled 333 Japanese university students regarding their use of mobile devices. One hundred percent reported owning a mobile phone. Ninety‐nine percent send e‐mail on their mobile phones, exchanging some 200 e‐mail messages each week. Sixty‐six percent e‐mail peers about classes; 44% e‐mail for studying. In contrast, only 43% e‐mail on PCs, exchanging an average of only two messages per week. Only 20% had used a personal digital assistant. Second, we e‐mailed 100‐word English vocabulary lessons at timed intervals to the mobile phones of 44 Japanese university students, hoping to promote regular study. Compared with students urged to regularly study…