Insights into mobile assisted language learning research in Iran: A decade review (2010–2023)

Mobile technologies and the widespread application of mobile devices have become significant in educational settings. Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) is a thriving field of study in language learning and teaching contexts in Iran. This study investigates the current research trends and characteristics of MALL studies in Iran, identifying less-explored areas of investigation, and informing future directions for integrating mobile technologies into language learning and teaching practices in the Iranian context. To contribute to a context-specific analysis of digital literacy in low-resource environments, this study systematically reviewed 70 articles that were relevant to different facets of MALL in the Iranian context. The findings indicate that the majority of the articles reviewed focused on vocabulary learning and attitudes toward MALL, respectively. Many of the reviewed articles utilized a quantitative research design to study the effect of MALL on different aspects of language learning. The reviewed research studies were primarily conducted in private language institutes, where it is easier to conduct experimental studies. However, there was a lack of research analyzing the effect of MALL on some areas of language proficiency, specifically with regard to pragmatic competence and pronunciation. Additionally, a diverse range of research methodologies was observed in the articles, with ‘questionnaires’ being the most commonly used instrument for data collection. Furthermore, most studies employed an experimental research design. The majority of the studies illustrated that MALL is an effective method to improve learners’ language proficiency in comparison to traditional teaching methodologies. This study can serve as a valuable reference for educators and researchers interested in MALL.