The effect of email keypal project on the enhancement of reading and writing performance of elementary school-aged EFL students in Taiwan

The problem. The ultimate objectives of this study are intended to (1) examine whether the email can be utilized as an effective Communicative Language Teaching environment in Taiwan for reading and writing interaction, (2) explore if EFL elementary school-aged students involved in the email projects are stronger in their motivation/confidence in language learning, (3) investigate the EFL students' opinions about the email keypal project in the EFL and cultural learning, and (4) highlight the EFL instructor' perceptions to the email keypal project.;Method. In the first phase, the quantitative approach used in this study employed an experimental research design with two groups. Prior to the study, participants were randomly assigned to two different groups. It included pre-testing EFL students before the email keypal project and post-testing students immediately following the email keypal project. In addition, the pre-study and post-study survey comprised of two sets of questionnaires concerning students' confidence and motivation levels. Lastly, in order to explore significant survey results by investigating the EFL students' views about email, questionnaires are utilized with the email group.;In the second phase, in order to probe significant survey results by exploring the EFL instructor's opinions about the email keypal project, qualitative, open-ended questions were conducted by the individual open-ended interviews with the instructor as well.;Results. To summarize, the quantitative findings showed that the email keypal project improved the EFL students' reading and writing performance. Participating in the keypal project also elevated the EFL students' levels of motivation and confidence in using English. Other quantitative results highlighted the effectiveness of the project in promoting English and cultural learning. Furthermore, qualitative findings showed a preference by the EFL teacher to use email as a method of helping younger students be successful in their English learning.;Therefore, this study strengthened that email keypal project not only became one of a natural teaching aids to incorporating CLT method as an English teaching and learning, but also fulfilled the goals for Grades 1-9 Curriculum Guidelines in Taiwan which are: (1) to foster students' basic communicative competence in English; (2) to enhance students' interests and motivation for English learning; and (3) to develop students' understanding of their own culture and foreign culture.