This study compares the relative efficacy of the continuation task and the model-as-feedbackwriting (MAFW) task in EFL writing development. Ninety intermediate-level Chinese EFL learnerswere randomly assigned to a con...This study compares the relative efficacy of the continuation task and the model-as-feedbackwriting (MAFW) task in EFL writing development. Ninety intermediate-level Chinese EFL learnerswere randomly assigned to a continuation group, a MAFW group, and a control group, each with30 learners. A pretest and a posttest were used to gauge L2 writing development. Results showedthat the continuation task outperformed the MAFW task not only in enhancing the overall qualityof L2 writing, but also in promoting the quality of three components of L2 writing, namely, content,organization, and language. The finding has important implications for L2 writing teaching andlearning.展开更多
Following a cross-sectional design, the present study investigated the acquisition of English requests by Chinese learners at three proficiency levels with open production questionnaires. It was found that L2 linguist...Following a cross-sectional design, the present study investigated the acquisition of English requests by Chinese learners at three proficiency levels with open production questionnaires. It was found that L2 linguistic proficiency, L1 pragmatic transfer and classroom instruction have interactive effect on learners' L2 pragmatic development. A range of acquisitional features were found-learners' employment of direct request strategies decreased, the employment of conventionally indirect strategies increased and the number and variety of internal modifiers increased with the increase of proficiency. It was also found that L1 pragmatic transfer worked on various aspects of learners' requestive behavior and that inadequate or inappropriate input from the teaching materials and the EFL classroom arrangements might constrain their pragmatic development.展开更多
This article reports on an empirical study investigating what and how two college-level American learners of Mandarin Chinese developed their own understanding of the Chinese complimenting speech act while participati...This article reports on an empirical study investigating what and how two college-level American learners of Mandarin Chinese developed their own understanding of the Chinese complimenting speech act while participating in a 7-week intensive language study abroad program. A case study approach was adopted with a focus on participants＇ self-reflection data supplemented with the researcher＇s observation data to unpack each participant＇s pragmatic developmental process throughout the program. Guided by sociocultural theory, the study uncovered the dynamic, complex and highly individualized developmental process each participant experienced. The findings revealed that Chinese people＇s special treatment of the two American students provided more constraints than opportunities for them to acquire Chinese complimenting. However, the learners＇ own motivation and approaches to learning also significantly shaped their learning process and outcomes. Pedagogical suggestions for Chinese pragmatic development in study abroad contexts are provided.展开更多
文摘This study compares the relative efficacy of the continuation task and the model-as-feedbackwriting (MAFW) task in EFL writing development. Ninety intermediate-level Chinese EFL learnerswere randomly assigned to a continuation group, a MAFW group, and a control group, each with30 learners. A pretest and a posttest were used to gauge L2 writing development. Results showedthat the continuation task outperformed the MAFW task not only in enhancing the overall qualityof L2 writing, but also in promoting the quality of three components of L2 writing, namely, content,organization, and language. The finding has important implications for L2 writing teaching andlearning.
文摘Following a cross-sectional design, the present study investigated the acquisition of English requests by Chinese learners at three proficiency levels with open production questionnaires. It was found that L2 linguistic proficiency, L1 pragmatic transfer and classroom instruction have interactive effect on learners' L2 pragmatic development. A range of acquisitional features were found-learners' employment of direct request strategies decreased, the employment of conventionally indirect strategies increased and the number and variety of internal modifiers increased with the increase of proficiency. It was also found that L1 pragmatic transfer worked on various aspects of learners' requestive behavior and that inadequate or inappropriate input from the teaching materials and the EFL classroom arrangements might constrain their pragmatic development.
文摘This article reports on an empirical study investigating what and how two college-level American learners of Mandarin Chinese developed their own understanding of the Chinese complimenting speech act while participating in a 7-week intensive language study abroad program. A case study approach was adopted with a focus on participants＇ self-reflection data supplemented with the researcher＇s observation data to unpack each participant＇s pragmatic developmental process throughout the program. Guided by sociocultural theory, the study uncovered the dynamic, complex and highly individualized developmental process each participant experienced. The findings revealed that Chinese people＇s special treatment of the two American students provided more constraints than opportunities for them to acquire Chinese complimenting. However, the learners＇ own motivation and approaches to learning also significantly shaped their learning process and outcomes. Pedagogical suggestions for Chinese pragmatic development in study abroad contexts are provided.
