Blog assisted language learning in the EFL writing classroom: an empirical study

Lin, Ming Huei (2012). Blog assisted language learning in the EFL writing classroom: an empirical study. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This is a study exploring the effects of blog assisted language learning (BALL) in the EFL writing classroom in Taiwan. It focuses principally on a comparative experimental project that was carried out over the period of one academic year. The project involved two groups of first year university students of a low intermediate level in English. There were 25 students in each group, and both groups were taught by the same teacher-researcher (i.e. the author of this thesis). In this thesis, we present a detailed statistical examination of various aspects of BALL, including students’ writing performance, learning motivation towards writing and self-efficacy beliefs with regard to their EFL writing skills and abilities. We also take a corpus-based look into the written language collected from both of the groups using a series of numerical counts obtained by computerised measurements. We also present the results of a qualitative, phenomenological analysis that reflects the nature of the participants’ BALL experience. The overall argument of the thesis is that BALL is at best no more effective than traditional approaches to EFL writing pedagogy, and in some cases is actually less effective than traditional, low-tech methods.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):