Second Language Reading, Writing, and Blogging: An Integrated Approach to Promote Academic Competence
Abstract: In the Arab world, students graduating from high school often lack the necessary reading and writing skills to be effective and successful in their college education. This study illustrates the efficacy of integrating assistive technology with extensive reading and writing in a college foundation program of a North American higher education institution in the Arabian Gulf. Based on students’ impressions, blogging increased their confidence and motivated them to write more and interact with their peers and the instructor. Blogging also heightened their awareness of linguistic skills, encouraged clear and deep thinking, and provided a forum for self-expression. Finally and most importantly for Arab students, the use of blogs fostered a love of reading and writing and promoted a learning community.
Presider: Trevor Collins, The Open University, UK