The Effect of Computer Chatting on Developing Tenth Graders’ Reading and Writing Skills

Abstract

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of the chatting technique in the development of tenth grade students’ reading and writing skills in English language. To achieve the purpose of this study, the researchers employed chatting software (Vypress Chat) to examine the effect of using the chatting as a new mode to develop the reading and writing skills. The sample consisted of (40) male students. It was divided equally into two groups (experimental and control). The researchers developed an achievement test to assess the general language proficiency of the students in terms of their reading and writing skills. The treatment lasted for (20) sessions that aimed at teaching the experimental group through the chatting technique in the language laboratory. On the other hand, the control group learned the same material via the traditional method in the classroom. The findings of the study revealed that there were statistically significant differences between the achievement of the experimental and the control group in the reading skill in favor of the experimental group which taught via the chatting technique. There were statistically significant differences between the achievement of the experimental and the control group in the writing skill in favor of the experimental group which taught via the chatting technique. There were statistically significant differences at in overall tenth graders’ achievement between the two teaching methods (the chatting technique and the traditional method). In the light of the findings of the study, the researchers recommended that the chatting technique should be introduced as a major tool for teaching reading and writing skills.