Fostering Student Engagement in online forums for language proficiency and knowledge enrichment

Computer technology has created platforms for supporting and building shared knowledge. Platforms like web forums, webinars and bulletin boards are freely available in most Learner Management Systems (LMS) but are seldom utilized to promote student interaction in language learning. This paper will report on students' voices of how they perceive the participation in online forums in their language courses. Findings from the focus group interviews showed that students are ready to adopt this as a learning platform. However, more effort on the part of the instructors was needed for online forums to be beneficial. The issues in the exploitation of these forums will identify future directions in the implementation of virtual forums to enhance English language and knowledge enrichment among tertiary students.