Keeping up with digital trends: Reflecting students’ experiences using MP3 experi-ment in non-formal listening activity

Abstract

The research focuses on non-formal learning activity that involved the application of mobile technologies to facilitate active participation among low proficiency English as Second Language (ESL) students in Malaysian higher education. The results discussed on the reflection of students’ experiences that resulted from the application of MP3 experiment. The respond-ents consist of 512 Malaysian University English Test (MUET) Band 1 and 2 students. This MP3 experiment is conducted within an experiential approach and questionnaires and self-reports were used as instruments for data collection to explore students’ experiences undergoing non-formal learning process in more detail. As the results shown in this study, challenging activities as well as new interactive methods and strategies can enhance students’ interests in language learning process and mobile technologies can be a tool that links non-formal to formal learn-ing.