Application of Web 2.0 to Reduce Failure in English

Abstract

The purpose of the intervention was to reduce the failure rate in English with the help of a website built to support the learning experience. Action research was employed in a mixed-methods approach with an exploratory sequential design. Techniques such as documentary analysis, semistructured interviews, and participant observation were employed with 255 high schoolers. Findings revealed that the website, together with follow-up from the teacher-researchers, helped most students achieve a passing grade, empowered the learning experience, and enhanced communicative competence and linguistic awareness. Additionally, the website’s user-friendly nature and well-suited interface simplified the learning dynamic. Furthermore, according to website data, this digital space was also used in other settings with similar objectives. Even so, apathy remained a problem as some learners chose not to take part in the strategy and did not pass. We believe that the research contributes to the state of the art and generates knowledge, especially given the lack of research addressing failure in language education.

Keywords

• educational innovation
• linguistic research
• educational sciences
• foreign language