Second language learners' perceptions of email communication in English.

摘要

The advancement of modern technology in recent years has brought about the use of computers in language learning and teaching. Email communication, as one form of computer-mediated communication (CMC), has become a useful pedagogical tool in language instruction. Some studies have suggested that email communication has positive effects on increasing language learners' responsibility, facilitating cultural learning and social interactions, and improving writing skills and linguistic complexity. However, many of the studies on email communication in second/foreign language contexts are either non-research-based studies, whose positive effects need to be examined by further studies, or research-based studies, which only focus on email communication products of some designed email activities or language learners' perceptions of engaging in such activities. No studies have addressed the effects of regular email communication in English.;Results of the study suggested that these second language learners thought that regular English emails provided them with opportunities to learn and practice English, and created a comfortable environment to express themselves. Regular email communication in English not only facilitated their language learning in terms of vocabulary, understanding and thinking in English, and developing writing conventions to achieve clarity, but also was a means to learn about some cultural knowledge and to enhance and build close relationships with friends who are either native-English speakers or non-native-English speakers. The results have implications for employing regular email communication as a supplement approach beyond classroom instruction to facilitate and promote students' language learning.;This study was conducted at an English-speaking university in Canada. The participants were four English-as-a-second-language (ESL) graduate students. By employing discourse analysis and in-depth interviews, the study explored the ESL learners' perceptions of the effects of regular email communication in English on their English learning, their cultural learning, and the development of personal relationships.