ESL computer writers: What can we do to help?

Abstract

The use of word processors to develop the writing skills of foreign language students has attracted a great deal of interest in recent years. Unfortunately it has also created unrealistically high expectations concerning learning gains that have been impossible to sustain. This paper is based on the premise that, while the medium may facilitate writing, only teachers can improve it. It argues that the positive effects of word processors in the writing class depend on the provision of a supportive learning environment and discusses four key principles of user support employed with EFL learners at a New Zealand college. © 1993.