Mobile-Assisted Writing Instruction: Affordances, Challenges, and Future Directions

Abstract

Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) is popular worldwide. One related issue under discussion is how to effectively harness mobile devices to help English writers. This paper first unpacks writing as a meaning making process from the perspective of systemic functional linguistics. It then summarizes the major MALL-based studies on writing instruction, including the affordances and challenges of MALL-based writing instruction. This paper then discusses how to address challenges as identified in the existing studies on MALL-based writing instruction, centering on writing as a meaning making process. The paper ends with pedagogical tips for educators who are interested in using mobile technology to comprehensively improve students’ English writing construction across different contexts.