Teaching Writing Courses by Blending Online and Traditional Classroom Instruction for Underachieving Language Learners

Abstract

Some studies (Grgurović, 2011; Banados, 2006; Chenoweth et al., 2006) have showed that blended instruction would enhance language learning. Similarly, some researchers (Picciano, 2009; Goertler, 2012; Neumeier, 2005) have defined blended instruction and recommended that educators try the best blend for their classes. Motivated by the findings of the relevant literature on blended instruction, the current study aims to find whether blended learning would make a difference in the writing scores of students compared to traditional face-to-face education and to establish the students’ perspective on the usage of technology at writing courses with quantitative and qualitative research methods. For the purpose of the study, one experimental and control groups were chosen from the School of Foreign Languages, Gaziantep University. The 13 students in the experimental groups are taught writing with blended learning, while 13 students are taught writing with traditional face-to-face education for one month. The students in both groups have the same schedule, age, English level, and classroom facilities. The results of the analysis done by SPSS show that the experimental group's writing scores are higher than the control group's writing scores. To learn the students’ perspectives in the experimental group, semi-structured interviews have been done after the experience. The results show that the students are not satisfied with the usage of current technology at writing courses. On the other hand, they reported they were satisfied with blended learning. The students also gave some suggestions about the implications of technology in and outside of the classes.