The JALT CALL Journal
Vol. 2, No. 3, December 2006
Epals
to motivate students: How a fully integrated email exchange can help
motivate low-level students
Marie-Nancy Bourques
Koryo International University, Japan
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Abstract:
This article describes how an email exchange (epal) can motivate low-level college students. The research involved first-year Japanese junior-college students, who were paired with Asian students for an 11-week exchange. The students were divided in two groups: the first group had partners who read and replied to their messages during regular class time, while the second groupfs partners did so in their own time, outside of class. The results indicate that students from the first group display greater integrative and intrinsic motivation orientations throughout, as well as at the end of the semester. Teachers wishing to introduce epal in their classes should consider the benefits of a fully integrated exchange on studentsf motivation.
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