The authors discuss the empirical results of a study comparing two English composition courses conducted with Japanese university students. One course was taught in a traditional way and the other using the flipped method. The results showed that those studying under the flipped method spent a significantly higher number of hours preparing for class (t(20) = 2.67, p = .014, d = 1.14) and produced a significantly higher number of words in compositions written in the posttest (t(10) = 3.37, p = .007, d = 1.44). The flipped method also appeared to result in significantly greater improvements in the writing proficiency of participants (t(32) = 5.17, p < .001, d = 1.15) and when using a one-way ANCOVA to make a comparison with the traditional method in the posttest (F (1, 63) = 13.50, p < .001, ?2 = .18). The capability to view explanations of the text as many times as participants wished, as well as opportunities for direct and immediate individual feedback from the instructor for participants in the flipped group are discussed as possible reasons for the salient differences.

The authors discuss the empirical results of a study comparing two English composition courses conducted with Japanese university students. One course was taught in a traditional way and the other using the flipped method. The results showed that those studying under the flipped method spent a significantly higher number of hours preparing for class (t(20) = 2.67, p = .014, d = 1.14) and produced a significantly higher number of words in compositions written in the posttest (t(10) = 3.37, p = .007, d = 1.44). The flipped method also appeared to result in significantly greater improvements in the writing proficiency of participants (t(32) = 5.17, p < .001, d = 1.15) and when using a one-way ANCOVA to make a comparison with the traditional method in the posttest (F (1, 63) = 13.50, p < .001, ?2 = .18). The capability to view explanations of the text as many times as participants wished, as well as opportunities for direct and immediate individual feedback from the instructor for participants in the flipped group are discussed as possible reasons for the salient differences.

No abstract

This chapter discusses the advantages of using smartphones in an English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom from the perspective of motivation and autonomy among learners. The authors compared two groups of Japanese university students who were either prohibited from using their smartphones in the classroom or encouraged to use them for educational purposes, concentrating on whether those using smartphones in their EFL lessons would show tendencies toward being autonomous in their language studies. The results indicated that students who were encouraged to use their smartphones during class were inclined to study more in their free time as well as show signs of autonomy by taking charge of their learning and consider ways to improve their study habits and English proficiency. The conclusion is that language teachers and learners should be encouraged to use smartphones to create more productive classroom environments and as a means of fueling a desire to learn.