English-Majored Students’ Perceptions of Using 4English for Reading Comprehension Development: A Case Study at Van Lang University

Abstract

Although 4English, a mobile application, has gained attention for helping learners develop four language skills, few studies of 4English have been done. The main objective of this study is to explore English-majored students’ perceptions of using 4English application to develop reading comprehension skills. The study involved 53 English-majored students at Van Lang University (VLU) adopting 4English to improve English reading comprehension. Data was collected through a survey completed by all participants and semi-structured interviews with five volunteers from the questionnaire respondents for in-depth insights. The findings revealed the participants’ positive attitudes towards the application such as broadening their vocabulary, improving their ability to recognize more words in a sentence and supporting their perceived improvements in reading skills. Additionally, some challenges were identified including advanced vocabulary challenges, interface limitations and financial barriers. Consequently, 4English is recommended as an effective auxiliary tool for reinforcing reading skills beyond the classroom.