Use of an online forum to promote use english language among engineering undergraduates

Abstract

This study looks into the use of an online forum towards promoting use of the English language among engineering undergraduates at Kolej Universiti Teknologi Tun Hussein. In this study, eleven students from different demographic and educational backgrounds participated in an online forum on various topics of discussion created in a virtual platform over a period of twenty two weeks. An asynchronous online platform was used as a tool and site to collect electronic data consisting of messages posted by participants throughout the duration of the study. Research data was collected, coded and analyzed qualitatively using instruments of participant observation, informal conversation and content analysis. At the end of the study it was found that the various participants despite their differences in academic, proficiency and ethnic backgrounds were encouraged by the freedom of use whereby they had an interestingly unique online opportunity to use the language both for academic and socializing purposes. They were found to be freely and openly indulging in online communication activities touching on many topics of interest using the English language. The study also found that participants used various linguistic features when communicating inside the medium. The online forum, thus, proves beneficial and may serve as a very useful tool towards assisting students to use the English language freely and purposefully in their daily settings.