Internet-based Grammar Instruction in the ESL Classroom

Abstract

With the advent of the Internet, language teachers now have at their disposal various learning Websites with interactive contents that can be argued to offer certain advantages over conventional teaching methods. To investigate the validity of this claim, a study was carried out to compare two grammar teaching methods: Internet-based grammar instruction (IBGI) and conventional pen and board instruction (CPBI). The study involved 50 college-level students in Malaysia. The results showed that the students who went through IBGI performed better than those who received CPBI in the learning of certain grammatical items. The findings also indicated that students who experienced IBGI made fewer errors in their essays when compared to their CPBI counterparts. This study provides empirical support for the claim that the Internet is a useful tool in the teaching of grammar.