Abstract:
This study examines how students can be supported online with their writing while they are
outside classroom. Coming from different backgrounds and media of study, many of the
undergraduate students of BRAC University face difficulties while writing in English which
results in poor grades at the end of the semester. In this research, 25 undergraduate students from
six different departments were selected based on a diagnostic test taken in the beginning of the
semester. They all were added on three online groups (Wiki, blog and FB) where they have
practiced, in addition to the class works, more on basics of academic writing so that they get
additional support to bridge up the existing learning gap with their other classmates. Results have
shown that students using the online groups have gotten advantages out of the activities. They
also have mentioned that they were benefitted by the comments by their peers, though, according
to them, a teacher must be monitoring the whole system to optimize the outcome and increase
students’ participation. This type of research can be replicated in many other institutions
provided they have all required facilities in place. Through this study, English language teaching
and learning takes a new form and hundreds of students learn English language with supports
from their teacher and peers online.
