Flipgrid as a Resource to promote high-school students’ oral skills in English As a Foreign Language

Abstract

This study focused on the perceived usefulness of the online platform called Flipgrid as an additional resource for learning English as a foreign language in a group of Italian high-school students. In particular, the main focus was on the usefulness of the platform as a tool to practice oral skills in English. The study included activities given to the students and their relative feedback, in written form and with group interviews. During the whole study, a diary from the perspective of the teacher was kept in order to give an account of the overall experience on both the students’ and the teacher’s fronts. The study showed positive results in the perceived usefulness of Flipgrid in general, but many solicitations were registered regarding the necessity of technical improvements of the website and, particularly, in the recording pages and editing tools. Moreover, it was recognized that the use of the editing tools and effects was not exploited without solicitation by the teacher by most of the participants.