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Collaborative work and technological means for improving learners’ english language writing production

Abstract:

Writing is probably the most complex skill to develop during the foreign language acquisition process because of its specific features. This work aims to improve learners’ English language writing production through working collaboratively and using technological means. One hundred ten students (38 males and 72 females) from two Ecuadorian universities participated in this study, which applied Collaborative Learning (CL) and Project Based Learning (PBL) approaches during 2015-2017. A group of participants answered online surveys and participated in focus group discussions to identify the strategies they use during their writing practice. It was found that participants’ efforts and time dedicated to improving their writing skill in quality and quantity have a direct relationship with the learner’s interests. It is concluded that the combinations of collaborative work and the use of technological means improve the development of participants’ written communicative competence. The main progress was centered in the acquisition of technical vocabulary, improvement of participants’ writing style and coherence of the text. Similarly, PBL fostered the improvement of participants’ writing production in quantity and quality.