Teaching ESL/EFL Writing Skill Website Evaluation: The Purdue Online Writing Lab and Pro Writing Aid

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Applied Linguistics and TEFL, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of APplied Linguistics, Payame Noor University. Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The importance assigned to the role of English language learning (ELL) software and websites has been even more highlighted in online classrooms during the COVID-19 pandemic where teachers and students did not have a face to face interaction. One of the language skills which seems to be negatively affected by the lack of face-to-face interaction between teachers and learners is writing. Among various technology-assisted tools, websites can be effectively used as a source for improving L2 writing skills. However, not all websites encompass suitable content for developing learners’ ESL/EFL writing skills. Therefore, it seems to be a logical concern to guide the students in both selecting and implementing the most relevant and, at the same time, efficient websites for teaching writing skills. Evaluating such websites is one way to respond to this concern. For this purpose, this study aims at evaluating two of the widely used websites specially designed to develop and improve learners’ L2 writing skills: The Purdue Online Writing Lab and Pro Writing Aid. Besides, the two websites would be compared with each other in order to introduce the strengths and weaknesses of each website. The results of such an evaluation would be helpful for both teachers and learners in selecting the most efficient website for improving their writing skills based on their purposes and practical needs.

Keywords

References

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Interdisciplinary Studies in English Language Teaching
Volume 02, Issue 01 - Serial Number 3
January 2024
Pages 100-114

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 July 2023
  • Revise Date: 08 October 2023
  • Accept Date: 01 November 2023
  • First Publish Date: 01 November 2023
  • Publish Date: 03 February 2024

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