Second Language Writing Through Blogs: An Investigation of Learner Autonomy

Employing an explanatory sequential design, the present study investigated the effect of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) blog-mediated writing instruction on the students’ learner autonomy. A number of 46 learners who were the students of two intact classes were randomly assigned to control and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Behzad Nezakatgoo, Jalil Fathi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Sistan and Baluchestan 2019-10-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Applied Language Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijals.usb.ac.ir/article_5448_57042f493365068b44a94b0abb2affe6.pdf
Description
Summary:Employing an explanatory sequential design, the present study investigated the effect of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) blog-mediated writing instruction on the students’ learner autonomy. A number of 46 learners who were the students of two intact classes were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups.  Over a 16-week semester, the control group students (n=21) were taught based on regular in-class writing instruction and the students in the experimental group (n=25) made use of blogs in addition to the traditional in-class writing instruction. The data were collected through administering a learner autonomy instrument, consisting of metacognitive, cognitive, social, and affective components, and conducting semi-structured interviews. The results of both quantitative and qualitative data revealed that the blog-mediated writing instruction contributed to enhancing learner autonomy of the participants. More specifically, the students who experienced blog-mediated writing activities showed improvement in metacognitive and cognitive components of learner autonomy. The findings offer significant implications for EFL teachers.
ISSN:2008-5494
2322-3650