Online support application for an oral communication skills course. A case study

      Аннотация: This case study aimed at exploring how EFL learners made use of an online learning and study support application to assist their oral communication skills course. The online support application designed for the study allowed learners to access learning materials from anywhere and anytime and to practice their oral communication skills through asynchronous oral communication tools. The materials designed for the online support consisted of learning materials adopted from the course book the learners were using and independent materials designed by the researcher to provide more learning opportunities for the learners to practice outside the classroom. The learners who made use of the online support found it extremely useful. However, most of the participants preferred not to make use of the online support tool. The reasons differed, yet disinclination, technological demands of the online support tool, heavy workload (study load) and general attitudes towards speaking in a foreign language and computer-mediated communication appeared to be the top reasons of non-claim.

Ключевые слова: Oral communication skills, Rich Internet Applications, asynchronous oral communication, out-of-class study, online learning and study support tool