International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL)
Volume 4, Issue 10, October 2016, PP 26-31
ISSN 2347-3126 (Print) & ISSN 2347-3134 (Online)
http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2347-3134.0410005
www.arcjournals.org
©ARC Page | 26
Techniques of Optimizing Whatsapp as an Instructional Tool for
Teaching EFL Writing in Indonesian Senior High Schools
Ani Susanti, Ali Tarmuji
Ahmad Dahlan University, Indonesia
Abstracts: Studies reported that Whats Apps is effective to enhance the students’ language skills, motivation
and rapport especially to adolescent learners. The typical characteristics of adolescent learners challenge
teachers to find strategies to engage them. One of the strategies is through mobile learning. This paper shares
three techniques of writing activities to help adolescent learners develop their text types writing ability using
WhatsApp. The techniques are brainstorming – group drafting – teacher’s feedback, starter – quick writing –
peer feedback, and information gathering – elaboration exercises – checklist.
Keywords: mobile learning, EFL writing, text types, whatsapp
1. INTRODUCTION
The development of technology has influenced all field of life. In the education field, the teaching and
learning is growing from traditional face to face instruction in the real classroom into long distance
instruction in a virtual classroom. Most of schools and other learning institutions accommodate the
growth of technology by making use of computers, tablets, and smartphones. Mobile learning is
considered as a future trend which facilitates lifelong education where learning can be anywhere and
everywhere (Khubyari, 2016).
The recent studies on Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) report that mobile instruction is
effective to improve the high school students’ motivation to learn English (Danesh and Amiri, 2015),
to build rapport between students and teachers (Khubyari, 2016), and to develop students’ language
skills (Fattah, 2015; Hazaea and Alzubi, 2016; Mistar, 2016).
Considering the effectiveness of mobile learning for English language classroom, it is interesting to
dig the potentials of using the most popular instant messenger (WhatsApp) in English skills teaching.
While mobile technologies are mostly suitable for listening, speaking, and reading skills, it is also
worthy to explore the optimization of mobile technology especially for teaching and learning writing
skills (Sussex, 2012: 221).
This paper explores the possible techniques in optimizing the application of WhatsApps for teaching
English writing in Indonesian senior high schools.
2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1.Studies on WhatsApp is EFL Classroom
WhatsApp is popular instant massaging applicable for various devices and gadgets. It was invented by
Jan Koum and Brian Acton in 2009, starts booming since 2010 and used by more that 350 millions
users in 2013 (Cohavi, 2013). The users may increase in the last three years up to 2016. This free of
charge application is favored by the marketbecause of the flexibility and useful features to text, to call,
and to send video, audio, links, location, document, pictures.
EFL learning institutions are recently interested to use WhatsApp as an instructional tool to develop
students’ language skills and motivation. Fatah (2015) reports his experimental study on the use of
WhatsApp messenger to develop students’ writing skills. A group WhatsApp named “Writing
Program” had six days writing process where the first day the students experience pre-writing step to
generate ideas for choosing a topic in the WhatsApp group. In the second day, the students brainstorm
ideas and start drafting. In the third day the students review and conducted peer correction. In the
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International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 27
fourth and fifth day the students edit their draft in the WhatsApp. Finally, the students publish their
draft in the sixth day. The findings of this study report that there’s a significant improvement on the
students writing quality. The students felt free to express their ideas and felt happy to correct and edit
their peer works.
WhatsApp helps the students to learn language better and enhances their English proficiency; the use
of WhatsApp should be encouraged to improve the collaboration between high and low achievers
students (Mistar, 2016). The flexibility of WhatsApp is potential to bridge the diverse of learning
needs through circular writing (Fatah, 2015) and collaborative writing. The students work together in
a group to produce a piece of writing. (Harmer, 2007: 270).
Another experimental study reported by Khubyari (2016) shows the impact of MALL in EFL
learners’ classroom rapport. The experimental groups were intermediate level adolescents’ female
students. The researcher treated the students similar during the course by sending them the course
content and practice through mobile phone. The researcher provided mobile phones during the study
for students who did not have personal mobile phone. This study did not specifically mention the
application name used for sending text messages to the students. The finding shares that regular and
immediate text messages can establish rapport between the teacher and the students. The idea of
sending regular and immediate text is applicable and possible to whatsApp. Harmer (2007: 25) writes
that students’ intrinsic motivation depends on their perception of what teacher thinks and treats them;
good rapport between teachers and students can bring the positive, enjoyable, and respectful
relationship.
2.2.Mobile Assisted Language Learning
Kukulska-Hulme & Shield (2008) defines MALL as “formal and informal learning mediated via
handled devices which are potentially available for use of anytime, anywhere” Language learners who
used their devicessuch as phones, tablets, electronic dictionaries, MP3 Players, and gaming devices to
study autonomously improve their language skills (Kukulska-Hulme & Shield, 2008).
Review on MALL presents that mobile learning has both advantages and challenges. Mobile learning
facilitates social interaction, data exchanging and collaboration with other learners (Chinnery, 2006).
Sa’aleek (2014) summarizes that mobile technology effectively enhance the language skills due to the
features such as accessibility, interactivity, immediacy, and permanency. However, MALL also has
challenges such as reduced screen sized, limited audiovisual quality, virtual keyboarding and one
finger data entry, and limited power (Chinnery, 2006).
2.3.EFL Adolescent and Intermediate Learners
High schools students are adolescent learners which have typical characteristics. Harmer (2007: 15)
briefly explains that adolescent learners start to talk about more abstract ideas and accept the need for
learning of a more intellectual type; they have potential for creative thought and passionate to things
which interest them. In many senior high schools, their English language proficiency belongs to
intermediate level because they have learnt English since they were in the elementary schools. Harmer
(2007: 18) states that in this level the students experience “plateau effect” which means that they
don’t improve much or faster. These challenge the teachers to find ways to attract and encourage the
students (Lesiak, 2015). Wilson and Horch (2002: 59) suggest that giving adolescents freedom to
choose and make lessons they interest will engage them to learn as they need to show their
independence. The use of mobile technology for teaching adolescence is an excellent idea because
they are the dominant users of mobile technology. Hyland (2009: 62) writes that the development of
technology demands writer teachers to look for the best ways to support the students word processing,
2.4.Activities for Teaching EFL Writing
Before presenting the strategies of teaching writing, it is important to review the general process of
writing. White and Arndt (1991) in Harmer (2002: 258) list the process of writing are drafting,
structuring, reviewing, focusing, and generating ideas and evaluation. While O’Malley and Pierce
(96:138) divides the writing process into three steps, prewriting, writing, and post writing. Sample
activities in each steps are written by Richards (2015: 496- 497) as follow:
1. Prewriting Activities: journals, brainstorming, free association, values clarification, word mapping,
ranking activities, quick writing, information gathering.
Techniques of Optimizing Whatsapp as an Instructional Tool for Teaching EFL Writing in Indonesian
Senior High Schools
International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 28
2. Writing Activities (Drafting): strategic questioning, timed-focus writing, elaboration exercise,
reduction exercise, jumbled paragraph, jumbled essay, writing thesis statements, quick writing,
mind mapping, and group drafting.
3. Post Activities (Revising): peer feedback, group correction, rewriting, revising, teacher feedback,
checklist.
Other writing activities based on the nature and the organization of the texts include labeling,
reordering, comparing, analyzing, correcting, identifying, rewriting, completing, paralleling, and
practicing (Richard, 2015: 499).
The writing practices in the classroom are identified into several types. Brown (2001: 343-346)
mentions types of classroom writing performance: imitative writing, intensive writing, self-writing,
and display writing, and real writing. The principles for designing writing techniques are incorporate
practices of “good writer”, blanace process and product, account for cultural/literary background,
connect reading and writing, provide as much authentic writing as possible, and frame the technique
in terms of pre-writing, drafting, and revising stages (Brown, 2001: 346 – 348).
2.5.Writing Competences in Indonesian High Schools Syllabus
English subjects taught in Indonesian senior high schools curriculum in Indonesia used text-based
syllabus. Text-based syllabus is categorized into mixed syllabus (Feez and Joyce, 2002: 3). Mixed
Syllabus integrates the elements of a range of syllabus types e.g. lexical items, grammatical structures,
topics, situations, functions and notions, learning activities and tasks. Burns (2012: 141) “… the key
aspect of text-based teaching is authentic language as it is used by speakers and writers in the various
contexts of everyday life.” She added that this text-based approach is used in a number of areas such
as in Singapore and Australia.
Text Types Writing in English Lesson in Indonesian Senior High School
(MOEC, 2013: 66 – 71)
Grade Text Types to be
Written
Themes of the Text
X Explanation Text Problems related to natural environment such as flood, tsunami, earthquake.
Problems related to social environment such as poverty, brawl, stupidity.
Hortatory Text Solutions to the Problems related to natural and social environment.
XI Discussion Text Solutions to the Problems related to natural and social environment.
Description Text Introducing Indonesian history, art/culture, and tourism to international world.
Procedure Text Introducing Indonesian history, art/culture, and tourism to international world.
Narrative Text Introducing Indonesian history, art/culture, and tourism to international world.
XII Report Text Local and Foreign history, art/culture, and tourism.
Review Text Local and Foreign history, art/culture, and tourism.
3. DISCUSSIONS
Before using whatsApp for teaching and learning writing, there are three important classroom
preparation activities. First, creating whatsApp group. The name of the group and the icon are set
together in the class. The students in turns in a regular time (every day/every two days/every week)
update thegroup icon using motivating picture and English words/phrases. Second, setting up rules for
example every student should be active in posting and texting, using English all the time, using polite
and constructive language, regular check the WhatsApp. Third, building a positive attitude to the
technology and being familiar with the application. Becoming familiar to the technology and the
group leads the development of online sense community which can help the students feel free to
express (text) ideas. As a result, good rapport between the students and teachers is developing which
lead to better learning atmosphere (Khubyari, 2016). By the time both students and teacherbecome
familiarwith the whatsApp and feel comfortable to communicate using the app, the activities can be
started.
The activities are presented based on Richard’s threewriting steps: prewriting activities, writing
activities, and post writing activities. The activities are conducted using WhatsApp group and outside
the class. The writer provides three techniques of activities.
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International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 29
Technique 1. Brainstorm – Group Drafting – Teacher Feedback
Context:
Grade: X (15-16 years old)
Goal: Writing Hortatory Text
Starter: Video / Picture about flood in Jakarta
Mode: Classroom Group Discussion
Pre-writing Activity:
The teacher shares a picture / a video about flood happened in Jakarta. Then invites the students to
comment and express their feeling about the disaster. The teacher continues asking the students to
think critically why it happened and asking “if question”: If you were the governor, what would you
do to minimize flood victims? The students brainstorm and texts their ideas in the WhatsApp for two
days. This “if question” is type of brainstorming and information gathering activities (Richard, 2015:
496) and is appropriate to adolescents who start growing to be critical and independent (Wilson and
Horch, 2002: 59).In the next day, the teacher shares the outline template for hortatory text and invites
the students to wrap the ideas appears in the WhatsApp chat.
Writing Activity:
The students do group drafting (Richard, 2015: 496). They draft by completing the template and work
like a snowball. One student drafts and shares, the other students complete and share again.
Post-Writing Activity:
The teacher gives feedback to the students writing by making use of recording (voice). So the students
can listen to the teacher’s voice giving comment about their writing.
Technique 2. Starter – Quick Writing – Peer Feedback
Context:
Grade: XI (16-17 years old)
Goal: Writing Narrative Text
Starter: emoji (emoticons)
Mode: Pair work
Pre-Writing Activity:
The students work in pair using their personal WhatsApp. Student A shares 5 emoticons; students B
write very short stories explaining the emoticons. This activity engages the adolescent learners as the
teacher gives the students freedom to choose their desired topics (Harmer, 2007: 15).
Writing Activity:
Both students A and B develop the story with the given generic structure of narrative text shared by
the teacher (document sharing) in the WhatsApp group.
Post-Writing Activity:
One of the pair (A/B) shares their final story to the WhatsApp group. The teacher and other students
give comment (and rating) to the story.
Technique 3. Information Gathering – Elaboration Exercise – Checklist
Context:
Grade: XII (17-18 years old)
Goal: Writing Review Text
Starter: Share Links / Documents
Mode: Group work (4-5)
Pre-Writing Activity:
Techniques of Optimizing Whatsapp as an Instructional Tool for Teaching EFL Writing in Indonesian
Senior High Schools
International Journal on Studies in English Language and Literature (IJSELL) Page | 30
The teacher shares local products links or ads to the WhatsApp group. The students create a smaller
group to discuss about the product. The students dig and search information about the plus and minus
of the product. One of the principles in developing writing techniques is connect reading and writing
(Brown, 2001: 347), so giving them texts or links is useful for the students to start generating ideas.
Writing Activity:
The students write a review text to give balance information for the prospective buyers. They work in
the smaller group. The teacher helps them by providing thesis statements to be elaborated by the
students. Then, the students share the final review text in the class WhatsApp group.
Post-Writing Activity:
The teacher gives feedback in a form of checklist. The teacher uses the emoticon to weigh the quality
of each given writing aspect.
4. CONCLUSION
The cheap and flexible WhatsApp brings potentials to help the English writing learning. The three
techniques presented optimize the features in the WhatsApp: share audio, video, picture, links,
document, create groups, and text. The presented models aresuited to the principles of teaching
writing (Brown, 2001, 346 – 348; Richard, 2015: 496- 497). While this works as a preliminary study,
the effectiveness of the techniques should be known from the further empirical trial.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This paper is part of a project in Developing EFL Writing Materials using MALL and is funded by the
Ministry of Higher Education of Indonesia through the Scheme of “Hibah Bersaing 2016” with
Project No. : PHB-031/SP3/III/2016.
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AUTHORS’ BIOGRAPHY
Ani Susanti, is a teacher educator and works in Ahmad Dahlan University, Indonesia
in English Education Department. She has been teaching English for 15 years, and
had experienced as English teacher at senior high school. Her research interest deals
with the teaching of EFL writing, materials development, and educational
technology. Currently she is working with English teachers in Yogyakarta to develop
techniques and supplementary teaching materials for English mobile/blended
learning.
Ali Tarmuji, is a senior lecturer at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta,
Indonesia. He works in Informatics Engineering Department. His specializations are
related to the area of informatics system, web programming, and software
engineering. Besides, he is interested in the use of technology in education,
experienced e-learning, and has conducted some training for teachers/lecturers to use
collaborative tools for e-learning.
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