Abstract:

Previously, EFL instructors were dependent on coursebooks and paper-based course materials. With the emergence of the Internet, learning, especially second and foreign language learning methods have changed considerably. Therefore, EFL instructors have to keep up to date with the technology and adjust their classrooms so that language learners acquire the target language in a fun learning environment. Instructors have to choose the appropriate websites and Web 2.0 tools and adjust the syllabus so that they are parallel to the coursebook. Despite a great many websites and Web 2.0 tools, language learners still do not know how to benefit from the Internet and still spend most of their time on social network sites and computer/online games. The researcher (as an EFL instructor herself) has been guided by this fact and designed a study to guide her students so that they could realize the fact that the Internet would be used as a language learning tool. Edmodo was chosen to fulfil the purpose of the study. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the benefits of using websites and Edmodo as a supportive learning tool in an EFL classroom at a prep school in a Turkish university. The results of the study helped the researcher infer that even in 5 weeks, with a little guidance of an EFL instructor, language learners were able to benefit from websites and Edmodo to improve their listening and reading skills. For listening, the experimental group scored 5.4 % higher than the control group and for reading, the experimental group scored 1.9 % higher than the control group. These percentages may not be that ‘HIGH’ for most of the teachers or instructors, but learners can only learn how to study or practise a target language with the help or guidance of a mentor (especially in teacher-dominant learning cultures like Turkey). Although we believe that our students are better at computers and using technological devices or the Internet, students always need our guidance. As teachers or instructors, we have to keep up to date with the technology and the Internet and adjust ourselves and guide our students so that learning can be easier, quicker, and more fun than ordinary EFL classes.

Keywords:

TEFL, Social learning platforms, Edmodo.