Keeping Online Diaries as an Integrated Activity for Writing Skill in EFL Classes: The Case of Penzu

Year 2020, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 132 - 140, 05.02.2020

Erkan Yüce

https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.651004

Cited By: 2

Abstract

Web 2.0 tools can provide digital tools for teaching
and learning for professionals who follow and apply the internet-based
developments in their education contexts to enrich their conventional way of
teaching.  The present study focused on
one of the Web 2.0 tools, Penzu. Penzu is a kind of online diary through which
users can easily take notes and keep them on the Web. The study discussed the
applicability of Penzu in foreign language classes as an integrated tool to
develop language learners’ writing skills. In this respect, a sample Penzu page
was prepared and introduced to foreign language teaching instructors at a state
university in Turkey. The study followed a qualitative inquiry. Face-to-face
interviews were conducted with the participants, and the data were collected through
semi-structured interview questions. After analyzing the data, the results were
reported descriptively. The results primarily indicated that the EFL
instructors were in favor of implementing Penzu as an integrated tool in
foreign language teaching classes to enhance students’ writing skills. The
study also reported several strengths and weaknesses which may promote or hinder
the implementation of Penzu language education contexts. All in all, this study
attempted to alternate traditional foreign language teaching classes by implementation
of Penzu as an integrated tool for writing skill, and to pave ways for further
studies that foster application of Web 2.0 tools in language education contexts. 

Keywords

Web 2.0, Penzu, foreign language teaching, writing skill

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