THE EFFICACY OF GOOGLE CLASSROOM IN ESSAY WRITING WITH EFL INTERMEDIATE STUDENTS: STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to foster research on the integration of technology in language teaching, specifically focusing on writing instruction. As technology improves and is widely used in education, it is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of certain tools and digital platforms such as Google Classroom (GC). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of the Google Classroom platform on the writing performance of intermediate level Turkish English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. It also investigated students' views of the effects of Google Classroom. During the intervention, students received instruction on how to write an essay in class, but they were also asked to practice writing along with receiving feedback on their writings via Google Classroom. Participants were asked to write an essay as a pre- and post-test to assess their writing abilities at the beginning and the end of the intervention. In addition, participants completed a survey and were interviewed regarding the impact of Google Classroom on their writing abilities. A Paired-Sample t-test was used to analyze the quantitative data and it showed that participants' writing skills improved greatly after utilizing the platform. Furthermore, the results of the interview and survey showed participants' positive attitude towards the application of Google Classroom, which could be used for developing future essay writing courses and materials for teaching.