AN INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION OF THE STUDENT’S ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE USE OF ENGLISH IN WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGY

ABSTRACT

Web 2.0 changed the way people used Web in the field of education and especially in foreign language learning. Since its emergence in 2004, it has gained great attention of teenagers and university students. Educators regard Web 2.0. as a language learning/teaching tool. According to International Federation of Accounts (IFAC) report 2000 and beyond (1996) it has been informed that a key goal of accounting programs should be to teach students to learn on their own. The purpose of this research was to determine undergraduate and high school students' attitudes towards the use of English in Web. 2.0. technologies. This study was mainly based on quantitative design that involved 534 students out of randomly selected 550 participants from 6 different universities and 3 high schools in Turkey and Iraq. The potential of Web 2.0.  was determined  as  creating formal and informal learning environments. Within the context of the study, the students’ attitudes were revealed and recommendations were developed for language teachers and educators. It has been found that Web 2.0 technologies serve as a good learning tool in which the learners find the opportunity to practice language in a real-like atmosphere: the new medium.