Collaborative mobile phone-based interaction in teaching and learning EFL speaking

This study investigated the impact of Collaborative Mobile Phone-Based Interaction (CMPBI) on EFL speaking ability improvement. Conducted as a quasi-experimental class without a control group, it utilized semi-structured questionnaires and speaking score rubrics. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software to compare the results before and after the implementation of CMPBI. The findings highlight several benefits of CMPBI: mobile phones facilitate interactive and collaborative activities, such as international interaction, topic-based discussions, grammar-based dialogs, trending topic discussions, procedural text conversations, and fact-versus-opinion exchanges. CMPBI enhances speaking proficiency and develops collaboration skills, influencing EFL speaking across social, academic, and psychological dimensions. Socially, it improves teamwork, interpersonal skills, negotiation skills, and learning communities. Academically, it boosts speaking scores, strategic communicative competence, and grammatical abilities. Psychologically, it fosters self-esteem, reduces anxiety, and promotes a positive perception of EFL speaking. Despite these benefits, students face challenges such as unsupported devices, irrelevant topics, unfamiliar discussions, lack of community, misinterpretation, poor connectivity, unfamiliar app features, and small screens. The absence of a control group is a study limitation and should be addressed in future research. Teachers can improve EFL speaking by anticipating these challenges, and curriculum developers should integrate social, academic, psychological, and collaboration dimensions.