Fl writing and multimedia use

Universidad de Antioquia
School of Languages
Adolfo León Ruiz Hernández
FL Writing and Multimedia Use
Action Research Report
Advisor: Clara Inés Arias Toro
September, 2007
Medellín, Colombia

FOREIGN LANGUAGE WRITING AND MULTIMEDIA USE
This paper comprises a report of the project “Foreign Language Writing and Multimedia Use”. This projectarose from observations and teaching practices carried out through the first semester of my teaching practicum. It is a requirement to receive my B. Ed. degree in Foreign Languages (English, French).

Universidad de Antioquia
School of Languages
Adolfo León Ruiz Hernández
FL Writing and Multimedia Use
Action Research Report
Advisor: Clara Inés Arias ToroSeptember, 2007
Medellín, Colombia

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEXT 5
THE PROBLEM 6
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 8
OBJECTIVES 12
MAIN OBJECTIVE 12
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE 12
PLANNING ACTION 12
DEVELOPMENT OF ACTIONS 14
DATA ANALYSIS 15
FINDING INTERPRETATION OF DATA 17CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 22
REFLECTION 23
REFERENCES 24
APPENDIXES 26

ABSTRACT
This action research project explored the impact of the use of multimedia to enhance the writing skill of Grade 9 students in an English foreign language class, in a public girl-school in Medellín, Colombia. This research study was carried out during my Practicum year and the results showthat implementing multimedia activities in the language classroom does help students both, increase positive attitudes and behaviors towards language learning, and improve students’ overall language skills, especially the writing skill. Nonetheless, the impact of the project on the students’ language skills was lessened due to time constrains.

KEY WORDS FOR RETRIEVAL
Multimedia inthe language classroom, foreign language writing, writing skill enhancement, CALL, motivation and autonomy, modes and amount of input.

Computer use is widely spread in today’s world. Computers and all the facilities that they present, such as easy manipulation and sharing of information and information presented in a multimedia way (images, sounds, videos, and texts), offer a broad range of newpossibilities in the teaching and learning processes carried out in educational contexts. This is why it becomes crucial for educational systems to implement such useful tools. In the case of language learning, computer interface is bringing into language classrooms new ways for teachers to help their students improve their Foreign Language (FL) skills.
This Action Research Report (ARR)presents the results of a research project carried out through my teaching practice in the Institución Educativa Santo Angel (IESA), in Medellín, Antioquia. The main objective of this ARR is to find ways in which students can enhance their writing skills using multimedia as part of the development of the language class.
I am a pre-service teacher-researcher in the teaching practicum of theB. Ed. in Foreign Language Program of the School of Languages, at the Universidad de Antioquia, coursing the tenth semester teaching practicum.
This study emphasizes my role as a facilitator of the learning process. It presents me as a promoter of the searching of information through available means, and not as someone who perceives himself as the only source of knowledge. This projectbases its importance on its practicality, validity and applicability, since it complies with the government’s new policies which see the implementation of new technologies in the classroom as a promising path for education enhancement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTEXT

The IESA is a girl-school located in El Rodeo Sur neighborhood. This institution is located in the southwest of Medellín and...