Title: Using text and voice chat modes to enhance students' performance in discourse functions

Authors: Watheq Hameed Jasim; Ali Farhan AbuSeileek

Addresses: Al al-Bayt University, P.O. Box 772, Jubayha, Jordan ' Al al-Bayt University, P.O. Box 772, Jubayha, Jordan

Abstract: This study aimed to explore the effect of using text and voice chat modes on undergraduate EFL students' performance in discourse functions in English. Fifty-one undergraduate male and female students were selected as the study sample. They were randomly assigned into three groups, two experimental (CMC text chat and voice chat) and one control group (regular instruction). A pre-post test to measure students' performance in discourse functions was administered to all students who participated in the study. The findings of the study showed that there were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the experimental (CMC chat) groups and the control group (regular instruction) in favour of the experimental groups. Furthermore, the findings revealed that both of the text and voice chat groups improved discourse functions in the same way. The findings revealed that there were no significant differences between the mean scores due to technique (text chat and voice chat). The results also revealed there was no statistically significant correlation between chat modes and experimental group students' performance on the discourse functions.

Keywords: computer-assisted language learning; CALL; computer-mediated communication; CMC; chat modes; discourse functions; regular instruction; text chat; voice chat; student performance; EFL; English as a foreign language; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLT.2015.070685

International Journal of Learning Technology, 2015 Vol.10 No.2, pp.114 - 136

Published online: 18 Jul 2015 *

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