Teaching Writing using Peer Response via Facebook

This article was presented on the 2nd ELITE International  Conference held by English Education Study Program of STAIN Palangka Raya on 10-11 October 2014. It was published in the Proceedings of the 2nd ELITE International Conference with ISBN: 978-602-71280-1-9. Just klick here to download the article.

ABSTRACT

Of the all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing), writing is regarded as the most difficult skill for L2 learners to master. This fact is reasonable as writing involves the process of composing message, thinking of the language to use, taking care of diction, textual organization, and other mechanics. The trend problem in the writing class shows that student writers almost never expressed their ideas using process of writing and never used conference activity for giving feedback on their peers’ works for revision.

Therefore, it needs a technique that helps them to work writing collaboratively with fun activities. In line with the dramatic problem and a way to solve it, the current composition theory supports the use of peer response focusing on the writing process more than the written product. It has created the process approach to teaching writing and has gained its popularity in writing classes. Research on computer-assisted language and learning theory also suggests that feedback or response can be provided either face-to-face or through the internet. Among many technologies, Facebook is the most popular social networking websites for college students. Through this paper, the presenter will outline guidelines for successfully implementing peer response activities via Facebook in writing class.

Keywords: teaching writing, peer response, Facebook