The Impact of Using Computers on the Writing Performance of Tenth Grade SStudents in the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
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Date
2012-03
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The British University in Dubai (BUiD)
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of using computers on the writing performance of tenth grade, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), students at the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In order to achieve this purpose, the study sought to answer the following question: Are there any significant differences at (α = 0.05) between the writing performance, linguistic level, and rhetorical level of tenth grade Emirati, EFL students who are trained to write through computers, and that of those who are trained to write in the traditional way?
To answer this question, English writing was taught to two different groups of tenth grade, EFL students at the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) in Abu Dhabi. At the end the experiment, the data collected was analyzed by computing the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), using the scores of both groups in the pre-test as a Covariate. The findings of the study indicated that using the computer, as a writing tool, had a significant effect on student writing performance, at both levels: the local (linguistic aspects), and global (rhetorical aspects).
Based on the findings of the study, this researcher recommends the use of computers in the teaching of English language writing to improve the quality of tenth grade Emirati, EFL student written work. The researcher also recommends that these students should be trained to use methods in the writing of the English language with the aid of computers.
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computers, writing performance, tenth grade students, United Arab Emirates (UAE), English as a Foreign Language (EFL)