HOW CAN THE STANDARD-FEATURES WORD-PROCESSING PROGRAMS BE EXPLOITED FOR TEACHING WRITING SKILLS?

Nowadays, Word-Processing programs are very important in the teaching-learning because they are a powerful tool that facilitates the learning of a second language. Clearly, no other technology resource has had a great impact on education as Word-Processing programs. These programs not only offer high usefulness and flexibility, they also are “model-free” instructional software. A Word-Processing Program can be used by teachers to support any kind of directed instruction since it value as aid in education is universally recognized. Also, these kinds of programs have become the most commonly used software in the teaching-learning process.

In order to take advantage of the powers of word processing requires considerable skill in its use. Word-Processing programs are a reliable source where students can improve their writing skills thanks to the features of these programs as grammar and spelling than can help students to correct and understand their mistakes and to write sentences, paragraphs, etc. in a more accurately way. Also, Word-Processing programs as Microsoft Word can help students to increase their vocabulary thanks to its synonym dictionary that its part of the features of this program.

Undoubtedly, using Word-Processing programs helps to write on a faster way so that they improve their writing fluency because students can arrange their thoughts and ideas in an easy manner. Good writing requires concentration and focus on the words used to express the ideas of the writer, and that means that the writer cannot be distracted by the mechanics of operating the word processor; its operation should be almost a second nature.