A study on teaching descriptive essay writing skills to students through virtual tourism

Sunthareisan Thirunn Kesvan

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines how Form 4 Tamil language students at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Setia Alam, situated in Shah Alam, Selangor, can improve their descriptive essay writing abilities by using virtual tourism (VT) as an innovative teaching tool. The main goal of VT-based education is to assess students' descriptive writing skills, difficulties, and general progress. Due to their limited vocabulary, lack of exposure to a variety of events, and disinterest in traditional teaching techniques that frequently rely on superficial explanations, many students struggle while writing descriptive essays. This study uses a mixed-methods strategy that includes pre-tests, post-tests, reflective observations, and ongoing assessments spread out across eight weeks in order to address these issues. John Dewey's experiential learning theory and 21st-century learning concepts serve as the foundation for the instructional planning, guaranteeing an engaging and participatory learning environment. By allowing students to visually explore a variety of settings, VT fosters more engagement and creativity by allowing them to vividly imagine and describe scenes. Students' descriptive writing abilities significantly improved as a result of the intervention, especially in terms of vocabulary enrichment, organisational coherence, and creative expression. Pupils expressed a higher passion for writing and showed more assurance while expressing their thoughts. Teachers observed a change in the dynamics of the classroom, with increased collaboration and active engagement. All things considered, the study highlights VT's potential as an immersive and captivating teaching method that provides a workable way to enhance students' descriptive writing skills in an exciting and dynamic way. Keywords: descriptive essays, Form 4 Tamil language learners, and virtual tourism (VT)

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