(Comares, 2023) Moreno Celeghin, María Gracia; Vilhelm, Mónica
Studies in mobile learning (m-Learning) have demonstrated that WhatsApp mobile messaging applications can be harnessed effectively for didactic purposes by taking advantage of over two billion users worldwide. The highly social nature of the application favors the socio-constructivist approach to language learning in small virtual learning environments managed by teachers. Extensive use and familiarity among users make it possible to be exploited by teachers and students outside the physical and temporal limits of the classroom, anytime, anywhere, promoting mobile and ubiquitous learning. The technical characteristics (keyboard and screen size) and its fast and immediate use are ideal for the implementation of cooperative and collaborative micro-tasks. During the teaching process, its sustained utilization reinforces the feeling of belonging to the group fostering motivation and involvement. In this paper, we present the results of an experimental study on the didactic effectiveness of the WhatsApp application for the development of the communicative competence in the Italian language through the proposal of written and oral micro-tasks to A1-level students in non-formal learning environments. Considering the results, it is possible to affirm that WhatsApp contributes to the sharing in foreign language of significant experiences in students' lives inside and outside the classroom; therefore, its implementation highly favors informal learning.
