The impact of peer-feedback on students’ writing skills

Abstract

People nowadays are getting addicted to using the internet, especially blogs. Then this phenomenon inspires English lecturers to use blogs as a medium to teach writing in an EFL class. This research, therefore, discusses the students' experience of writing using blogs. Here, the blog is used by the students to post their writing assignments based on lessons and discussions in the classroom as well as provide and receive feedback. It is integrated into the English Department at an Islamic university in Semarang. While carrying out the research, the qualitative research method is employed. Data are mainly gathered through students’ writings posted to their blogs, peer feedback questionnaires, and interviews. The research reveals that 95% of students in the class agree that posting their writings on a blog is an interesting thing to do, and 93% argue that providing and receiving feedback helps them to revise their writing, mainly in the case of grammar and vocabulary. It shows that the experience in writing using blogs and interactions between students can enhance their writing abilities. Moreover, the chance to revise their writing is the developing process that can build their motivation and confidence. In the end, it is hoped that this research might inspire English teachers to implement a blog peer feedback process and design suitable activities in an EFL writing class.