Second Language Writing: Use of the World Wide Web to Improve Specific Writing

Abstract

Different strategies should be considered when teaching writing in a second language, as successful writing involves, among other things, the ability to integrate information learnt by the writer in different kinds of contexts. Nowadays, the World Wide Web is a very useful source of information for second language students, as they can obtain information about very specific topics and practise a second language. In this paper, our main objective is to detail how the use of the World Wide Web can benefit the language skills of university students. Apart from practising a second language, students obtain useful information related to the specific subjects they study to achieve an Industrial Engineering degree in Spain. The purpose of this pilot study is twofold, to improve their performance in a second language (English) and to widen their knowledge of specific topics. The results obtained in this pilot study are shown and the benefits of the use of the World Wide Web are detailed.