The Impact of Modern Technological Tools on Students Writing Skills in English as a Second Language

Abstract

While technology has certainly advanced itself and become fundamental aspect of life today, there are several harmful effects that negatively influence students writing in the classroom. Technology quickens and simplifies tasks for students, yet it has ingrained in them and an attitude that they do not have to put effort into anything they write. In this study, the relationship of new technologies to writing and its implications is reviewed. A case study and existing literature on the effects of electronic and communicative devices on English writing among college students are evaluated. The study reveals that due to the constant exposure to shortened forms of words and programs that essentially do the work for the students, they are now having difficulty distinguishing between informal and formal writing. As a result, teachers are currently observing dramatic increase in the informal language that is “creeping” itself into formal writing pieces, and consequently, causing a drastic decline in student’s writing overall.