LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 19:11 November 2019
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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An Inquiry into Increasing Learners' Writing Ability
Through Traditional Portfolios VS Modern Portfolios

Vahid Norouzi Larsari, Ph.D. Candidate


Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the impacts of the application of two portfolios including paper-based and weblog-based electronic portfolios on learners' writing ability. First, a sample OPT was piloted to 20 learners bearing almost the same characteristics of the participants of the main study. This research used EFL learners’ test scores as the data. Next, the test was administered to 90 intermediate EFL learners so as to homogenize them with respect to their proficiency. Out of 90 EFL learner, 60 intermediate learners were selected from an English language institute as the members of the present research in two groups (one experimental and one control groups). In the first step, the course explanation, objectives, and evaluation were introduced to the learners by teacher. The learners of the control group and the experimental group took the pre-test. In both control group and experimental group, the application of portfolios was introduced to the learners. The learners of the experimental group were trained in how to build and construct their personal electronic portfolio by using a weblog, while the learners of the control group were trained in how to improve and gather their work in paper-based portfolios. Descriptive statistics and t-tests were employed for the data analysis. It was found that the effects of the application of weblog-based electronic portfolios as modern portfolios have strong effect on the writing ability. That is to say, weblog-based electronic has a significant effect on the enhancement of the writing ability by EFL learners.

Keywords: EFL learners, Paper-based Portfolios, weblog-based electronic portfolios, Writing, Portfolios

1. Introduction

Nowadays, English for specific purpose plays an important role in training EFL learners in the required English skills for their future job or occupation. For ESP writing courses, the kinds of written texts are various with respect to social contexts, audiences, and the aims of the various kinds of written texts. Therefore, the traditional assessment, relying on learners’ scores on their writing products or exams paying less attention to the learners’ learning improvement is obsolete and cannot endorse the learners’ growth of the goals. In this respect, For preventing from a negative washback, the effect of assessment on language pedagogy and learning, the conformation of the writing instructional method, course goals and aims, and learning assessment should be of important concern (Brown & Hudson, 1998). With less exam-centric assessment, portfolios are considered an alternative method of assessment and are widely used for writing assessment because of their ability to assess cognitive skills and affective attributes of the learners.


This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Vahid Norouzi Larsari
PhD Candidate in Education Program
No 25. Sardar Jangal Street, Shahid Chamran Avenue, Rezvanshahr City
Guilan Province, Iran. Postal Code: 4384156449
novin.spss@gmail.com

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