M-learning is usually thought of as based on videos, digital materials, and high technology. Nonetheless, it is not a complete perspective of this new educational trend. Mobile devices with many functions can be an effective tool to support learning. Furthermore, learners nowadays, who were born in the 4.0 movement, are more familiar with mobile devices than notebooks. They spend much time on their mobile phones interacting on social media and playing mobile games. Hence, if educators can integrate those interests into traditional lesson plans, added value would appear for learners' academic performance and learner autonomy. This paper proposes the idea of combining m-learning, gamification, and other factors influencing learning motivation into a mobile application to reinforce students' learner autonomy. With a case study at Nguyen Tat Thanh University, we take a closer look at the effectiveness of the application on students' language acquisition and a detailed description of how to best use the application along with lessons at schools. Using experimental methods with surveys and tests, this paper draws a bonding connection between students' personal interest in the subject and their performance. The study provides thoughtful insights into utilizing m-learning and gamification to improve students' learner autonomy and modernize language learning classrooms in this technological context.