MOBILE APPS FOR RUSSIAN LANGUAGE LEARNING

This paper presents a first review of the main existing apps for the teaching of Russian as a Foreign Language (RFL). The research employs a qualitative-descriptive approach. Firstly, 20 RFL commercial apps for Apple iOS and Google Android mobile phones were selected through the app analytics engine App Annie. Secondly, apps were analyzed to collect qualitative data through a specially designed analysis grid with selected-response checkboxes. The aim was to investigate differences and similarities between RFL apps and to test their effectiveness within the framework of a holistic approach to language learning. The specific research questions were: 1) which are the implicit/explicit pedagogical theories RFL apps are based on? And 2) how these implicit/explicit pedagogical theories impact the different ways and degrees of enhancement of language skills? In summary, this paper gives a precise overview of the pedagogical theories that underpin RFL apps, opening new avenues of investigation for RFL.