The Impact of Utilizing Skype as a Social Tool Network Community on Developing English Major Students' Discourse Competence in the English Language Syllables

Abstract

The importance of this study comes from the  fact that foreign language learners suffer from traditional ways and methods of teaching and learning. They are looking for  new ways of teaching and learning specially methods which integrated with technology. What makes this study important is that using one of the most familiar software for learners that is Skype. The researchers intentionally chosen this software to bring motivation into classrooms and to bring easiness for learners to use this integration of technology with to teach and learn English  language. The aim behind investigating this study was to explore the effect of using Skype as a Social Tool Network Community and see its effect on Developing English Major Students' Discourse Competence in the English Language syllables. The study adopted an experimental approach to investigate the impact of utilizing Skype as a social tool network community on developing English major students' discourse competence. Skype is an umbrella term which refers to human communication via computer networking. The sample of the study consisted of 70 males and females freshman at Yarmouk University in Jordan, during the second semester of the academic year 2015/2015. It can be implemented in two groups. These two groups were assigned as experimental group (40 students) and control group (30 students).. The experimental group was taught how to write effectively by using the modern technological tools mainly Skype whereas the  control group was taught traditionally. The study utilized Skype as a research tool. A pre-writing test was applied for the purpose of examining the students’ levels of both groups. The researchers busily engaged the students of the experimental group in different writing tasks focused on teaching the main features of writing which are mechanics, usage and sentence formation. At the end, pre-writing test was also applied for both groups to check enhancing. The Data collection was done through an exam. The participants’ exchanges in the Skype group and their replies to the examinees were analyzed. The results showed that Skype chat had a positive impact on the English major learners’ discourse competence. Learners who studied Skype chat performed better on the discourse aspects of English post-test than those who did not. Additionally, the finding of study revealed that students acquired writing and speaking skills in  Skype chat more efficiently and effectively than in the traditional  method.

Keywords: Skype and Discourse Competence.