Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of using online discussions facilitated on a university learning management system’s (LMS) discussion board on L2 students’ writing accuracy. In order to achieve this, a quasi-experimental design, in which a sample of undergraduate L2 students (n = 40) enrolled in an English writing course, was implemented during one academic semester at the University of Bahrain. The sample was divided into an experimental group which used the discussion board to engage in interactive discussions and a control group which did not. Two measures were used to assess the writing accuracy development of students: the ratio of error-free clauses to the total number of clauses (EFC/C) and the ratio of the number of errors divided by the number of words. Students’ perceived satisfaction and learning benefits were measured through using semi-structured interviews. Statistical findings reveal that facilitating online discussions can significantly enhance students’ writing accuracy. Students reported positively perceived outcomes and influence of online discussions on their writing accuracy attributed to a number of proposed factors. To obtain more satisfactory results, a number of implications and recommendations are suggested.
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Al Jahrami, D. (2019). The Impact of Online Discussions on the Accuracy of the Written Output of Bahraini L2 University Students. In: Hidri, S. (eds) English Language Teaching Research in the Middle East and North Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-98533-6_28
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