A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF EFL READING ANDROID APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The present study reports the results of an exploration stage of research and development(RND) whose project is to develop an EFL reading android application. At this explorationstage, this study aims at finding out the possible weaknesses of the existing EFL readingmedia (textbook) and the needs for an ideal EFL reading android application. 33 tenth gradesenior high school students at one of the schools in central Java, Indonesia, were engaged asthe participants. Both quantitative questionnaire and qualitative interview to 6 students wereassigned to garner the data. This exploration revealed that some weaknesses of the textbookwere comprised of monotonous colors, minimum portability, less automatic concept, limitedmaterials, less readable instructions, limited exercises, less direct feedback of the exercises,and insufficient explanations related to EFL reading skill indicators. In turn, the needsanalysis data indicated that an EFL reading android application was required to be developed.The developed product was expected to be simple and easily used, motivating andfacilitating, up-to-date, providing various EFL reading activities, portable to be used insideand outside of the classroom, and controlling. The ongoing product in the form of theprototype is also presented at the end of this study report.