The impact of online applications on language acquisition: A study on effectiveness and engagement among German learners in Sri Lanka

The emergence of online applications for language learning has transformed how students acquire new languages. This study focuses on German learners in Sri Lanka and investigates the impact of these applications on learner effectiveness and engagement in the development of their speaking and listening skills. The primary objective is to explore how online tools influence learner engagement and effectiveness, identify pedagogical approaches utilized, evaluate the role of interactive features, and assess unique opportunities for practice compared to traditional methods. Utilizing a mixed-methods design, semi-structured interviews combining quantitative questions and open-ended qualitative responses were conducted with 25 German learners from the Goethe-Institut Colombo (A2 Niveau) and students of German Studies at the University of Kelaniya in their third year of the honors degree. The analysis revealed that participants experienced significantly higher engagement levels with online applications, attributing this to interactive features such as quizzes and gamified exercises, which a majority (76%) found motivating. Regarding effectiveness, 68% reported substantial improvements in listening comprehension, aided by tools like audio recordings and pronunciation guides. Additionally, 62% noted enhanced speaking confidence due to speaking and pronunciation tools. The qualitative insights also indicate a shift towards communicative pedagogical methods in apps, with 64% of learners finding contextualized grammar exercises more beneficial than traditional approaches. Many participants (52%) reported applying their learning in real-life conversations, which boosted their motivation. Despite the advantages, challenges such as maintaining motivation and the lack of personalized feedback were noted, with several learners suggesting improved community features and teacher guidance. In conclusion, the mixed-methods findings indicate that online applications significantly enhance the engagement and effectiveness of German language learners, especially in speaking and listening skills. These findings underscore the importance of integrating real-life interactions and personalized feedback in future developments of language learning tools.