The paper "The Impact of Using Dialogue Journals in Teaching Writing Skills to Level 1 (EFL Major Students) at Faculty of Languages and Translations, King Khalid University" by Dr. Karem AbdelAtif Ahmed Mohamed and Dr. Ahlullah Siddiqui examines the effectiveness of dialogue journal writing (DJW) for improving the writing skills of first-year EFL students.
The study aimed to investigate how using DJW impacts students' writing performance in terms of content, organization, and vocabulary. The researchers conducted a 14-week experiment with 36 male first-year students at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia, divided into control and experimental groups of 18 students each. The experimental group engaged in DJW twice weekly, while the control group received traditional instruction.
Using pre- and post-tests, the study measured changes in students' writing proficiency. Data was analyzed using t-tests. The results showed significant improvement in the experimental group's overall writing performance, with mean scores increasing from 9.61 to 18.56. Specifically, students improved in content (mean difference of 3.0), organization (2.89), and vocabulary (3.11). The DJW program also enhanced students' writing fluency, with the average word count increasing from 85 to 176 words per entry.
The researchers concluded that DJW is an effective tool for developing EFL students' writing skills, particularly in generating and organizing ideas. They recommend incorporating DJW into EFL writing instruction to improve students' reflective awareness and motivation. The study suggests further research on DJW's long-term effects and its impact on reducing writing anxiety.