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Using the Web to Practice and Learn Grammar: ESL Student Perspectives
Pacheco, Allen Quesada
Pacheco, Allen Quesada
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to describe and explain the perspectives of
ESL college students on using the Internet resources found in the Web site
NetGrammar for grammar practice. In order to understand the participants'
perspectives, three main research questions were studied:
1. In what ways do ESL students use the Internet resources found in the Web
site NetGrammar for enhancing the learning of English grammatical structures?
2. What are the perceived advantages and disadvantages of Web-based support
materials for learning English grammar?
3. What are the students' perspectives on the interactive Web exercises for
practicing English grammar?
A qualitative method of inquiry was used to explore the potential impacts
of the Web resources on a university-level curriculum. Eight participants of eight
different countries were chosen to participate in this study. The major method for
data collection was standardized open-ended taped interviews. Data was also
collected from lab observations and field notes. The qualitative data analysis
software Nvivo 1.1 was used to assist data analysis.
Results suggest that most of the participants followed a similar pattern in
the mode of use of the Web material. They either practiced directly on the
computer and/or printed out the exercises in order to work on them later on.
Findings suggest that although students require ongoing Internet training, and
technical support Web-based materials use can increase students' self-esteem, motivation, and can improve their attitude toward the computer and grammar
learning. The study participants pinpointed advantages and disadvantages with
respect to the use of Web-based materials for learning and practicing grammar.
Description
The University of Kansas has long historical connections with Central America and the many Central
Americans who have earned graduate degrees at KU. This work is part of the Central American Theses
and Dissertations collection in KU ScholarWorks and is being made freely available with permission of the
author through the efforts of Professor Emeritus Charles Stansifer of the History department and the staff of
the Scholarly Communications program at the University of Kansas Libraries’ Center for Digital Scholarship.
Date
2000-03-29
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University of Kansas