Saudi EFL Learners’ Perceptions of the Frequent Use of Spelling Correction Tools in Social Media

Reem Alsadoon

Abstract


Spelling is an essential skill in EFL writing especially if writing is frequently used in texting through social media and smartphones. The study surveys Arabic EFL learners about their perceptions of using spelling correction tools: spell checkers and auto-correctors. The study focused on the perceived usefulness and ease of use of such tools in social media applications, since they are used frequently by the study’s participants. The questionnaire was sent online to 84 participants at Aljazeerah Academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data was analyzed quantitively with descriptive and inferential statistics indicating that spell checkers are mostly perceived to be easier to use than auto-correctors. However, no significant difference was found in terms of learning the misspelled words.

Keywords


Spelling, Arabic EFL Learners, Spelling Correction Tools, Spell Checkers, Auto-Correctors, Social Media, Smartphones

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.10n.4p.11

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