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Lidija Elliott, Kwansei Gakuin University, JapanAbstract
This study investigates the integration of smartphones into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms in Japan, with a focus on student engagement, pedagogical practices, and institutional challenges. A literature review was combined with systematic classroom observations conducted in six non-English-major EFL classes (95 students with varying proficiency levels) over eight weeks (2024–2025). Patterns of smartphone use for learning were examined during 100-minute lessons, including vocabulary study, pronunciation practice, and collaborative tasks. Classroom engagement was assessed using a structured observation checklist to record smartphone-related behaviors. The findings indicate that well-structured smartphone activities are associated with increased participation, attentiveness, and willingness to respond, particularly during vocabulary quizzes and in collaborative projects. Student disengagement was linked to the perception of smartphones as entertainment devices rather than to limited access. The study highlights that the effectiveness of smartphone integration depends on a clear pedagogical design, explicit task instructions, active teacher monitoring, and institutional support in the form of reliable infrastructure and coherent usage guidelines. While the use of smartphones in EFL learning offers significant opportunities, it also presents technical, institutional, and pedagogical challenges. Therefore, effective implementation requires reliable infrastructure, consistent institutional policies, and sustained teacher training. Future research should focus on quantitatively assessing language proficiency outcomes. Further investigation is also needed into how smartphone use shapes teacher-student relationships and classroom dynamics.
Paper Information
Conference: ACEID2026Stream: Foreign Languages Education & Applied Linguistics (including ESL/TESL/TEFL)
This paper is part of the ACEID2026 Conference Proceedings (View)
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To cite this article:
Elliott L. (2026) Understanding the Role and Place of Smartphones in EFL Education ISSN: 2189-101X – The Asian Conference on Education & International Development 2026 Official Conference Proceedings (pp. 499-507) https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-101X.2026.40
To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.22492/issn.2189-101X.2026.40
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