Use of Google Docs in Teaching and Learning English Online to Improve Students’ Writing Performance

Abstract

Writing is regarded as the most challenging skill for almost all English learners because it requires their knowledge of grammatical rules and English structures. Moreover, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and students could not go to universities. Thus, they had to learn online instead of traditional learning, which created tremendous difficulties for both of them. Thanks to the development of technology, many vital tools, such as word processing and computer-based activities, have been employed to assist learners in producing high–quality writings. As a result, the researchers chose Google Docs as a medium for teaching writing. The authors conducted a case study to determine the usefulness of Google Docs in developing writing abilities and highlight the obstacles it faces. Additionally, this research focuses on investigating the participants’ attitude toward Google Docs after they use it for their online writing course. The participants in this case study were 45 first-year English-majored students who enrolled in the writing classes at the Academy of Journalism and Communication. They had to study the traditional course for one month and a two–month online English course because of the pandemic. The two survey questionnaires and the assessment of writing samples were used in combination with semi-structured interviews to evaluate if the students’ abilities could be improved or not and investigate whether they had a positive attitude after the course. The findings revealed positive results in students’ writing performance as well as an optimistic view of using Google Docs.