English communicative competence and predominant language for online use through smartphones in Croatia as compared to Slovenia Cover Image

English communicative competence and predominant language for online use through smartphones in Croatia as compared to Slovenia
English communicative competence and predominant language for online use through smartphones in Croatia as compared to Slovenia

Author(s): Mirna Varga, Violeta Jurkovič, Halina Sierocka
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Foreign languages learning, Communication studies, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Filozofski fakultet Univerziteta u Tuzli
Keywords: online informal learning of English; smartphones; subtitling; language competence; Croatia; Slovenia;

Summary/Abstract: The study explores which languages are predominant in the online use among the targeted participant population in Croatia and Slovenia and examines the association between the participants’ smartphone online use of English and preferred subtitling mode with their perceived communicative competence in English. The findings indicate that in both nationality groups the use of English prevails in receptive language activities, in particular listening and audio-visual reception, while mother tongues are mainly used for productive and interactive activities. Participants who prefer English when engaging in online informal activities through their smartphones and who use English or no subtitles when watching video content also assess their competence in English to be on higher levels.

  • Issue Year: 6/2018
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 130-162
  • Page Count: 33
  • Language: English