| Researchers have suggested that a link exists between media programming and foreign language learning. The purpose of this quantitative research study is to examine the advantages of foreign language learning, the inability of some community college students to reach proficiency levels in the five C’s as stated by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (communication, culture, comparisons, connections, and communities), and web based interventions that could make a difference in student progress. Specifically, the research questions of this study were used to determine whether or not the Vista Supersite, a web based foreign language instruction site used to supplement textbook learning, improves students’ proficiency level in college entry level Spanish. An experimental pretest-posttest design was used to determine the effectiveness of the Supersite to increase student learning. The research method involved 78 Spanish students at a community college in the southeastern US. A pretest, posttest, and survey were used to gather the data. Both groups were administered a pretest to begin the study and a posttest to end the study. During the interim, only the treatment group completed six weeks of activities via the Supersite. After the posttest, the treatment group completed a survey. Independent measures one-tailed t-tests revealed that there were statistically significant differences in foreign language proficiency of the group with web based resources. In addition, survey results revealed positive students’ perceptions of media instruction. Implications for positive social change included use of web based instruction as an enhancement tool to improve students’ overall communication, cultural, and problem-solving skills. |
