The Effectiveness of Using WhatsApp Messenger as One of Mobile Learning Techniques to Develop Students' Writing Skills

The present study was an attempt to determine the effectiveness of using a WhatsApp Messenger as one of mobile learning technique to develop students' writing skills. Participants were 30 second year college students, English department from a private university in Saudi Arabia. The experimental group (N 15) used WhatsApp technology to develop their writing skills; whereas the control group (N15) was taught their writing skills through prescribed book. The pre-post test comprised three questions, punctuate a paragraph, correct a paragraph and write an essay. This research is limited to punctuation marks, sentences structures and generating ideas. Results of the t. test analysis revealed that WhatsApp technique yielded significant effects on students' writing skills, i.e. the experimental group outperformed the control group. Key words: mobile learning, WhatsApp and writing skill