The Use of Technology to Enhance English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners’ Descriptive Writing

Abstract

This research investigates on the use of technology to enhance ESL learners’ descriptive writing. The purpose of this study being carried out is to find out the underlying reasons behind ESL learners’ inability to write good descriptive writing. Apart from that, this research was also carried out to find out why technology was the approach chosen to solve the raised issues in descriptive writing as well as finding out students’ perception on the use of technology to act as an aid to their descriptive writing skill. This is an action research study in which thirty-four students of Form 4 participated. The instruments used to obtain data from students were open ended questions, semi structured interview and teacher’s reflective entry. Only three students were chosen for the semi structured interview session using purposive sampling method, the justification for this is that they vary in terms of their proficiency and the researcher had a time restriction to interview all thirty-four students. Data was analysed using thematic analysis method. The result of this study shows that the incorporation of technology has enhanced students’ performance in descriptive writing.