Exploring electronic forum participation and interaction by efl speakers in two web-based graduate-level courses

The purpose of this study is to describe forum participation of international graduate students who speak English as a foreign language in two Web-based graduate courses. Research questions focused around how linguistic and cultural differences impact nonnative speaking international students' perception of classroom participation, what effect computer-mediated communication has on their forum participation and interaction in Web-based courses and how their discussion participation is different from domestic students. Data was collected through basic information survey, electronic transcripts of student and instructor entries in the course forum, face-to-face and email interviews, and the researcher's observations and field notes. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques were used in data analysis. Participants' actual classroom participation and their perceptions were compared and contrasted for a better understanding. Results show that although Web-based forum discussion creates unique difficulties for international students' discussion participation, its unique characteristics provided them with a more equal opportunity to vocalize.