Proficiency development and smartphone usage in study abroad: Microgenetic longitudinal case studies of French learners

This longitudinal study explores how the language proficiency of eight (N = 8) US-affiliated university students developed relative to their smartphone usage during abroad (SA) in Paris. Phone was tracked daily with Space, weekly using NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do statements, and use monthly via a Language Engagement Questionnaire. Adopting Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) framework following microgenetic approach case studies, trajectories each participant's phone consumption statements were established, allowing visualize floors, ceilings, probes development. Spearman's correlations served determine whether related fluctuations proficiency, Kendall's tau-b its link used. Findings revealed that these relationships varied widely across participants, types usage, applications, displaying positive, mixed, or negative relationships, thus suggesting there is no one-size-fits-all model proficiency/smartphone management, but idiosyncratic complex cases.