A microlearning app for peer feedback training and its effect on learning performance and self-confidence during an EFL speaking task

Abstract This study investigates the impact of using the Pebasco app, a mobile microlearning tool, to train peer feedback skills within a mandatory university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course employing a communicative language teaching (CLT) approach. Building on previous research, this study aims to assess how the app influences students' ability to transfer peer feedback training to a constructive CLT speaking activity. Utilizing a quasi-experimental pre-/post- design with 89 participants (n = 89), data were collected through the Pebasco app, Flipgrid videos, and end-of-class surveys. Key findings indicate that students who engaged with Pebasco reported significant self-perceived improvements in both peer and internal feedback skills. Notably, students with initially lower performance on the constructive CLT speaking activity showed substantial progress, achieving parity with their initially higher-performing peers, suggesting the app's effectiveness in bridging performance gaps. This research underscores the potential of mobile microlearning apps to enhance peer feedback skills and promote the transfer of learning to related communicative tasks, providing valuable insights for language education.