Upon further investigation and research, I have decided that I will specifically examine how: Technology can be used effectively to increase communicative competence in English Language Learners.
Through all of the articles that I have encountered, one theme has been prominent – working towards building communication skills in students with limited English proficiency (LEP). Not only is learning to read and write important, but basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) are crucial for survival, and being able to communicate properly through technology is a new reality that all students face.
In “An Investigation of Communicative Competence of ESL Students Using Electronic Discussion Boards”, researchers look into the theories behind language acquisition and apply them using 21st century skills through a synchronous discussion board. This means that students are conversing using technology simultaneously, as opposed to asynchronous where students are using technology at different times. Using Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) as a basis, teachers designed various tasks for groups of students, none of which had ever met. The students, all of elementary age, had 3 different tasks depending on their ability level. Each task was designed to hit various state standards for English Language Learners and student work was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Similar to the students in “English Language Learners, Fan Communities and 21st Century Skills”, students reported that they do better work when they had their peers to model themselves after as well as offer both overt and covert constructive criticisms. The qualitative research agrees, as fewer grammar and syntax errors were made in collaborative tasks than in individual tasks. The quantitative data shows significant correlations between errors on work where students knew their peers would see it as opposed to non-collaborative tasks. Students also used slang correctly and also adjusted their register according to their audience, a testament to their increasing communicative competence.
On a similar note, “Speak2Me: Using Synchronous Audio for ESL Teaching in Taiwan”, points out the value in immediate feedback with someone who has more expertise than a student on their communicative competence, going back to the ZPD. Here, American teachers were assisted by Taiwanese Teacher’s Aides using voice and chat to teach conversational English (BICS). This is an interesting look into language acquisition because I typically read about students who need English to survive in America because they are immersed in our language, but this about students who are motivated to learn English as a foreign language, but don’t have ample opportunity to practice. Speak2Me combines various methods of communication with native speakers to provide immediate and accurate feedback to students through the use of technology. They discuss daily life and things like meals, foods, recipes, vacations and family members in order to get students comfortable communicating as they build bonds across the ocean. This synchronous method of teaching English to Taiwanese students is both inexpensive and effective, as students acquire BICS in a non-threatening and engaging manner.
There are many different uses for education technology in the ESL classroom, and its use as a tool for basic English skills may be the most important in today’s world.
I can't get the formattting to work!! Don't mind the weird indenting!
LaPointe, D. K., Greysen, K. R. B., & Barrett, K. A. (2004). Speak2Me: Using synchronous audio for ESL teaching in taiwan. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 5(1), 0. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com
/docview/61841935?accountid=28167
Zha, S., Kelly, P., Park, M. K., & Fitzgerald, G. (2006). An investigation of communicative competence of ESL students using
electronic discussion boards. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 38(3), 349-349-367. Retrieved from
I like the topic you have chosen and appreciate the idea behind your thesis statement. Maybe instead of 'Technology can be used effectively to increase communicative competence in English Language Learners.' you could say that 'the integration of technology increases communicative competence in ELL'. This is a little bit more focused than effectively used, because it is unclear what that means to the reader.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have a lot of really good research to support your claim so nice start!
1. yes, this is a thesis statement.
ReplyDelete2. This thesis statement is expository (I think? I keep going back and forth between expository and analytical)
3. This meets the description of a thesis statement because the paper will most likely lead to new discovery or cast old ideas in a new light.
4. Looks good!
I think this is a great topic. I would label this as an expository paper, because you will explain how technology can be used to increase communicative competence in English language learners. Using technology for language learning is a way of casting old ideas of teaching and learning language in a new light.
ReplyDelete