A Grammar-learning Innovation for Malaysian Indigenous learners in an EFL Context: The TurTense Mobile Game App

Abstract

Past studies reported positive findings when Information and Communication Technology is integrated into English grammar lessons, including the teaching of tenses for struggling children. As the English language is noted in past literature as a third or foreign language for Malaysian indigenous learners as compared to their mainstream peers, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a self-build mobile game application; the TurTense App on their learning performance and motivation in learning the continuous tenses. Twenty indigenous Temuan sub-ethnic participants from a school in the rural district of Jelebu, Malaysia were selected. Results from the pre-post intervention tests showed statistically significant differences in scores. Majority of these participants showed positive physical reactions while more than half of them showed better learning performances. These findings accentuated that the TurTense application can be incorporated in ESL and EFL classrooms to aid students in mastering continuous tenses.