This paper presents an analysis of two surveys, conducted twelve years apart at Hiroshima University in Japan, that aimed to investigate and monitor smartphone usage amongst the study body. The two surveys, the first conducted in 2012 and the second in 2024, indicated that smartphones are now owned by almost the entire student body. However, when it comes to usage of such mobile devices as a key conduit of the (language) learning process, although progress reflects both national and global trends, there remains some hesitation as to fully integrating smartphones. The two surveys do not aim to provide definitive conclusions regarding university smartphone usage, as this would be impossible with a limited sample size. Yet, the results cannot be discounted, as they provide a valuable snapshot as to how smartphones are being used as a language learning tool. The one conclusion that the data do indicate beyond doubt, is that mobile devices such as smartphones are a daily presence that if harnessed, provide a valuable opportunity for educators.
Jaime Selwood (2025) studied this question.