Minding the gap

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Nuzzo ◽  
Diego Cortés Velásquez

This study investigates how different ways of receiving peer written corrective feedback (WCF) affect learners’ opportunities to actively engage in negotiation of form in tandem virtual encounters. Two types of WCF are compared, namely direct WCF plus oral metalinguistic explanation and indirect WCF plus oral prompt. During a telecollaboration programme between Italian students of English and US students of Italian, the participants (n = 16) were given several tasks to complete in dyads, including that of providing feedback on written compositions produced by their partner in the target language. The eight dyads were divided into two groups which received the same instructions for the activities, with the exception of instructions on how to provide WCF to their partner. The data of six dyads – three from each group – were analysed with regard to the quality of language-related episodes. The data analysis showed that indirect WCF plus oral prompt was more effective in leading the NNSs to actively engage with negotiation of form during the discussion phase. This result will be discussed together with other findings which emerged from the analysis, with the aim to provide useful insights on how to promote focus on form when implementing peer-review activities in telecollaboration programmes.

Neofilolog ◽  
1970 ◽  
pp. 77-90
Author(s):  
Mirosław Pawlak

According to numerous theorists and researchers, negotiation of form and meaning plays a crucial role in second and foreign language acquisition, since it enhances the quality of the input to which learners are exposed, it promotes noticing gaps and holes in their target language knowledge, and it provides them with opportunities to modify their incorrect output. Such advantages have been posited, among others, by the Noticing Hypothesis (Schmidt, 1990), the Interaction Hypothesis (Long, 1996) and the Output Hypothesis (Swain, 1995), and they have corroborated by the latest findings of research seeking to determine the value of different focus-on-form options and in particular different ways of providing corrective feedback (Sheen i Ellis, 2011; Pawlak, 2012). It can thus be assumed that teachers should stimulate the use of negotiation, either by reacting in the right way to learners' problematic utterances, planning communicative tasks encouraging its use, or undertaking training in this area. In line with such reasoning, the aim of this paper is to report the results of a study which attempted to determine the incidence of negotiated interaction in pair and group work activities, and to appraise its value for language acquisition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiefu Zhang ◽  
Xuemei Chen ◽  
Jiehui Hu ◽  
Pattarapon Ketwan

Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, this study investigated the preference of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) for four types of written corrective feedback (WCF), which are often discussed in the literature, on grammatical, lexical, orthographic, and pragmatic errors. In particular, it concerned whether such preference is influenced by two learner variables, namely, foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and proficiency level. The preference for selective vs. comprehensive WCF was also examined. The participants in the study were 117 University students in a Thai EFL context. Analysis of questionnaire data revealed a tendency for learners to prefer more explicit types of WCF (i.e., metalinguistic explanation and overt correction) for most error types, irrespective of their proficiency and FLE level. High proficiency level learners rated less explicit WCF types (i.e., underlining and error code) as useful to some degree, whereas their low proficiency level counterparts did not. Similar results were found for the two FLE groups. Besides, the FLE level seemed to play a role in perceiving the value of WCF in terms of scope. The results of follow-up interviews showed that the linguistic features of learners' first language, existing knowledge of the target language, affective feelings, and teacher's role were the main factors contributing to variation in learners' preferences. Possible pedagogical implications are discussed.


Author(s):  
Shahin Vaezi ◽  
Ehsan Abbaspour

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether there is any statistically significant difference between the effects of asynchronous online peer WCF through blogging and face-to-face peer WCF on the writing achievement of Iranian EFL learners. The study also investigated the extent to which students revise their writings based on peer comments provided. This study also measured the attitude of students towards peer WCF through blogging as compared with that of the participants receiving face-to-face peer WCF. The findings indicated that there is no statistically significant difference between the effects of face-to-face and asynchronous online peer WCF on the writing achievement of the Iranian EFL learners. In terms of the extent of incorporating the peer comments in their final drafts, the participants in the FF group incorporated more of the comments they received into their second drafts in comparison with the OL group. Finally, it was revealed that the participants of each group generally expressed their satisfaction with both methods of peer review.


Discourse markers are words or phrases used in both speech and writing to signal relationships between discourse segments, including clauses, sentences and even larger portions of texts such as paragraphs. Their proper use in writing effectively contributes to textuality standards, particularly cohesion and coherence. On the other hand, learners’ misuse, underuse or overuse of these markers may negatively impact the quality of the texts that these learners produce. This paper examined the ability of a group of Arab learners of English as a foreign language (ALEFL) from the University of Sharjah to recognize and produce discourse markers in written compositions. Using two elicitation techniques, the researchers collected data for this research from a sample of one hundred Arab learners studying English at the University of Sharjah. A test consisting of four parts was specially designed to evaluate participants’ ability to recognize and produce discourse markers in context. In addition, two hundred compositions written by ALEFL were analyzed to investigate their ability to produce discourse markers. The data analysis revealed that the participants’ ability to recognize and produce discourse markers was relatively low and their ability to recognize the functions of discourse markers in context was below expectations.


Languages ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 159
Author(s):  
Laura E. Valentin-Rivera ◽  
Li Yang

Written corrective feedback (CF) could pave the way for L2 development, especially when embedded in multimodality. Building on prior research, this descriptive study drew a relationship between specific types of errors that were most successfully revised and noticing measured by eye-tracking techniques. Additionally, this study furthers our understanding of the impact of indirect CF (i.e., codes accompanied by metalinguistic hints) delivered by two multimodal components: (a) a video tutorial on how to approach teachers’ comments and (b) a soundless video displaying individualized teacher feedback. To this end, three L2 learners of Spanish completed a narration in the target language, watched a tutorial on attending to CF, received indirect feedback via the personalized soundless video (i.e., option “b” above), and corrected their errors. An eye tracker recorded all ocular activity while the participants watched both recordings. The results suggested that receiving training on approaching teachers’ comments may enhance the overall success rate of revisions, especially in verb and vocabulary-related errors. Last, a detailed unfolding of the revision process unveiled by eye-tracking data accounted for (1) an explanation of why two specific types of errors were more successfully revised and (2) some pedagogical recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (Number 2) ◽  
pp. 103-136
Author(s):  
Malini N. G. Ganapathy ◽  
Debbita Tan Ai Lin ◽  
Jonathan Phan

Purpose – This study examined the types of written corrective feedback provided to ESL students in writing classes in Malaysian secondary schools, and their perceptions towards the provision of written corrective feedback in the Malaysian context. Methodology – A survey questionnaire was administered randomly among 720 Form Four students from 10 secondary schools in Penang. The questionnaire was based on a Likert scale and responses were analysed using descriptive statistics. Findings – Results showed that most learners benefited from and preferred direct feedback, and tended to focus on form such as grammar, paragraph organisation, content and clarity of ideas. Students preferred this form of feedback as they were able to understand errors more clearly. It was found that most students were unable to self-regulate their own errors; a majority could not locate their own errors and had become passive learners within the Malaysian schooling system. Significance – The study is significant to Malaysian secondary schools in its effects, depicting the many forms of corrective feedback available in the ESL context that can be employed in school besides the popularized direct feedback used within the syllabus.


Author(s):  
Mohammed S. El Haj Ahmed ◽  
Rola A. Mansour

This study investigates the translation strategies used in translating 25 cultural references and expressions in Mourid Barghouty’s autobiography ‘I Was Born There, I Was Born Here’ (2009) from Arabic into English. The results of this research may assist the trainee translators to improve their understanding of the effect of culture on the quality of the translation. The researchers adopt two theoretical models: Venuti’s domestication and foreignization (1998) and Ivir’s (1987) procedures for the translation of cultural references. This study tries to find out to what extent the translation has accounted to render the original cultural bound expressions maintaining their meaning in the target language. The researchers adopt a qualitative research since the data analysis is based on analytical and descriptive approaches. After analyzing the selected data, the researchers find out that the domestication strategy has been the most frequently-used strategy at (52%), and foreignization comes second at (48%). The procedure of substitution has been used the most (seven times), followed by literal translation and borrowing with the same number of times (six times), then defining the elements of culture (four times), then omission (twice). Lexical creation and addition have not been used at all. The findings also show that the translator has managed to capture the intended meaning sought by the original author in most extracts. The researchers recommend that translators of culture-bound expressions should be aware of the two involved cultures. This helps them to determine the cultural context in which a text takes place, so they can achieve the closest equivalents in the target text.


Author(s):  
Solfiyatuzzahro Solfiyatuzzahro ◽  
Asih Santihastuti ◽  
Erfan Erfan

The purpose of this research was to improve grammatical accuracy on writing descriptive text by using Teacher’s Written Corrective Feedback and to know their perceptions toward the application of the technique in teaching writing. This research design was a classroom action research that was conducted collaboratively with the English teacher. The result of the data analysis revealed that the application of Teacher’s Written Corrective Feedback could improve the tenth grade students’ grammatical accuracy. The improvement of students’ grammatical accuracy could be seen from the percentage of students who got score ≥ 71 increased from 72% in the first cycle to 78% in the second cycle. The students’ accuracy could be seen from the improvement of grammar accuracy in each grammatical aspect. The result showed that students’ grammar score highly improved in present tense and noun/pronoun aspects. Teacher’s Written Corrective Feedback and the procedure used such as additional explanation from teacher and revision process could help the students improve their grammatical accuracy in writing. Besides, students thought Teacher’s Written Corrective Feedback had favorable impact which it was beneficial and meaningful for them to overcome their difficulties in writing and to make them aware of their errors.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Poorebrahim

Corrective feedback, the necessity of providing it, and how it should be provided has been one of the hot topics in the area of ELT. Amid continuing controversies over whether providing feedback helps L2 learners improve their writing accuracy, many research studies have been undertaken to compare the relative effectiveness of different types of feedback. However, the difference between two types of indirect corrective feedback, namely indication and indication plus location, have not been properly examined yet. Motivated to narrow this gap, this study is designed to compare two groups of Iranian learners, each revising their papers based on one of the aforementioned options. For data analysis, a series of independent samples t tests were employed. The results revealed that the difference between the two groups in their reduction of errors from the original draft to the revision of each task followed a growing trend and became significant. Nonetheless, the difference in accuracy of new pieces of writing fell short of significance. Finally, it was found that error reduction in revision stage cannot be considered as learning. The results of the study, discussed in relation to that of others, implicate that the purpose for which feedback is provided is essential in determining the type of feedback; more explicit feedback is better for revising purposes while more implicit feedback is good for learning purposes.


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