Using Webspiration to Develop Preparatory Stage Pupils' EFL Critical Reading Skills

Abstract

his study aimed at investigating the effect of using Webspiration on developing EFL critical reading skills among preparatory stage pupils. Participants (N = 18) were chosen at random from first year pupils at Elshaheed Hamad El-Saidy Preparatory School, El-May, Shebin El-Kom Educational Zone, Menoufia Governorate, during the second semester of the 2016-2017 school year. An EFL critical reading skills test was developed and administered before and after the experiment. A Webspiration-based program was designed. The experiment lasted for six weeks during which in-class and out-of-class activities based on the use of Webspiration collaborative web-based concept-mapping tool were carried out by the pupils. Results revealed that the study group achieved significant gains in EFL critical reading skills. Thus, using Webspiration proved to have a positive effect on developing preparatory stage pupils' EFL critical reading skills.