Harnessing The Potential Of Mobile Application For Malay Language Learning

Smartphones and tablets have the bright prospects as Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) tool in the 21st century. This paper highlights issues and challenges regarding the effectiveness of mobile technology, especially for learning Bahasa Melayu. Six basic reading applications in Malay from 'Google Play' has been analysed. The mobile applications are ‘Belajar Membaca’, ‘Belajar Membaca – BM’, ‘Belajar ABC’, ‘Mari Belajar ABC’ and ‘Mari Belajar ABC’. The analysis was done by comparing the review points of each applications on the 'Google Play'. Analysis of content and multimedia elements as well as interactivity have also been made. To apply the theory of mobile learning, a special application on Android platform has been developed. It is called ‘Bijak ABC’. The effectiveness of this application has been tested on a group of students from TABIKA KEMAS Kampung Melayu Samarahan, Sarawak. Test items in the questionnaire were adapted from Software Usability Measurement Inventory (SUMI), System Usability Scale (SUS) and Purdue Usability Testing Questionnaire (PUTQ). The study found that the effectiveness of this application are from a scale of 4.20 (lowest) to 4.75 (highest) from a scale of 5- points for a 10-item questionnaire. As the research implications, this paper highlights the recommendations and design guidelines for mobile applications specifically for learning Bahasa Melayu