The effects of pre-task planning on EFL learners’ oral performance in a 3D multi-user virtual environment

ReCALL ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julian ChengChiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Language Production ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Task Planning ◽  
World Knowledge ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Linguistic Performance ◽  
L2 Learners

AbstractPrior research on pre-task planning examines its effects on the quality of second language (L2) learners’ planned output. Planning mitigates the cognitive overload placed upon L2 learners’ oral performance, thus improving language production. Despite the pedagogical benefits, studies on pre-task planning on L2 learners’ oral output are conducted mostly in a lab or class setting. Whether or not similar effects of pre-task planning can be evidenced in three-dimensional (3D) multi-user virtual environments (MUVEs), such as Second Life (SL), is still less explored. Hence, this study investigates whether pre-task planning could enhance the quality and quantity of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ task-oriented, voice-based outcomes in SL. Nine EFL learners worldwide participated in this 10-session virtual class. Data were collected through students’ oral presentations in performing real-life simulated tasks related to their home cultures and interests. Yuan and Ellis’s (2003) framework of T-units measures was adopted to analyze their linguistic performance measured by complexity and accuracy. Results indicated that EFL learners showed statistically significant improvement on grammatical complexity on the levels of syntactic complexity and variety (but not on lexical variety) and on linguistic accuracy across all measured levels (error-free clauses/T-units/verb forms). It is suggested that pre-task planning can be seeded in task-based instruction either in a classroom-based or 3D MUVE setting to optimize the quality of learners’ linguistic performance. Tasks that are real-world oriented and targeting learners’ cultural repertoires and world knowledge also positively impact their virtual learning experiences. These significant implications add new research and pedagogical dimensions to the field of computer-assisted language learning.

scholarly journals Effects of task repetition on EFL oral performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 170 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-23
Author(s):  
Saraswati Dawadi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Task Repetition ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Considerable Research ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Efl Teaching ◽  
L2 Learners

Abstract Considerable research has examined the effects of task repetition (TR) on second language (L2) performance. While results are still inconclusive, some patterns are emerging. However, limited attention has been paid to L2 learners’ perceptions of TR. This paper reports a study in which 40 English as a foreign language (EFL) learners were asked to repeat a task after a three-day interval; on both occasions they performed the task immediately after receiving instructions. Results indicated that TR triggered more complex and fluent, but less accurate, narratives. In post-task interviews, the majority of learners expressed positive attitudes towards TR, purporting that familiarity increased confidence. This paper will finally discuss the possible pedagogical implications of the study for EFL teaching.

Impact of task preparedness on L2 oral performance and strategy use

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-226
Author(s):  
Qianqian Gu
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Complexity ◽  
Task Planning ◽  
Task Condition ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Line Planning ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
On Line ◽  
Planning Condition ◽  
Planning Strategies

Abstract The present study sets out to explore the effects of pre-task planning and unpressured on-line planning on L2 learners’ oral performance and their choices of planning strategies in a dialogic task condition. Forty-eight intermediate Chinese EFL learners were invited to perform the task and were then assigned to four groups, each with a different planning condition. Complexity, accuracy, and fluency of their oral production were measured. Results indicated that in the dialogic task condition, unpressured on-line planning raised syntactic complexity. Strikingly, pre-task planning did not improve L2 performance in all dimensions. Additionally, a trade-off effect was found between complexity and accuracy. Retrospective interviews were conducted to explore strategies employed by the participants and their perceptions of task preparedness. Results showed that the participants preferred to use metacognitive strategies and social/affective strategies in the dialogic task. Both advantages and limitations were identified by the participants regarding different planning conditions.

scholarly journals The Impact of Socio-Pragmatic Instruction on the Performance of Iraqi EFL Learners in the Compliment Response Strategies

لارك ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (13) ◽  
pp. 368-390
Author(s):  
Mazin Jasim Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Communication Breakdown ◽  
L2 Learners ◽  
The Impact

        The  purpose of the present study is to examine the impact of  the instruction  in the English sociopragmatic  awareness among  Iraqi EFL learners in the speech act of complimenting responses . It is well-known that sociopragmatic aspects of  language use vary across different languages and cultures .Such aspects map out  the socio-cultural norms and conventions as well as the strategies that underlie the pragmatic performance of different language speakers in a variety of target language situations . Being a teacher for more than ten years in an Iraqi university , the researcher  has  noticed that Iraqi EFL learners entertain a low ability to communicate effectively in responding to the speech act of complimenting , despite the fact that many of them have a perfect dominion of the target language grammar rules . However, it seems that L2 teachers often overlook pragmatics, which constitutes a crucial element of language ability of L2 learners   ; this might be attributed to the difficulty of its teaching . The resulting lack of pragmatic competence of L2 learners can lead to pragmatic failure  and , more importantly , to a complete communication breakdown . It is hypothesized   that Iraqi EFL learners are not proficient in responding appropriately to compliments  when put in real-life situations due to their inadequate  pragmatic competence .Hence , it is very necessary to provide them with socio-cultural  knowledge incorporated  into the EFL classroom if we are aiming at fruitful communication .The second hypothesis states that socio-cultural knowledge plays a significant role in enhancing Iraqi EFL learners' performance in responding to compliments in English appropriately .The present study has shown that Iraqi EFL learners perform  significantly different forms of compliment responses  from those produced by native speakers of English in terms of quality . The results reached at validate the hypothesis put forward , and call for the importance  of  instructing Iraqi EFL learners concerning socio-cultural norms and conventions of L2 they are studying .                                                                              

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF STRATEGIC AND UNPRESSURED WITHIN-TASK PLANNING ON IRANIAN INTERMEDIATE EFL LEARNERS’ ORAL PRODUCTION

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-115
Author(s):  
Marjan Rahim Bakhtiary ◽  
Ehsan Rezvani ◽  
Ehsan Namaziandost
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Task Planning ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
Online Planning ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Planning Condition ◽  
Teaching Programs

Background/Purpose: This study is an attempt to investigate the effect of strategic planning and unpressured within-task planning on Iranian EFL learners’ oral performance.   Methodology: Following a quasi-experimental research design, 60 intermediate EFL Iranian learners were recruited as the participants of the study and they were assigned into two groups of 30. In group one, the participants were asked to perform the task under unpressured online planning condition. In group two, the learners were asked to do the task under strategic planning condition. The pre and post-tests included story-telling narratives tasks followed with a 15-minute silent movie under two planning conditions for the two groups.   Findings: The results of data analysis showed that pre-task strategic planning and within-task planning (online planning) had a positive effect on learners’ oral production; hence, planning time provided opportunity for learners to be able to produce more fluent, accurate, and complex language than no-planners. The results indicated that the participants in the strategic planning group (STPG) significantly outperformed the participants in unpressured within-task-planning (UWPG), leading us to claim that strategic planning was more effective than unpressured within-task planning in improving oral production.   Contributions: This study has numerous benefits for language teachers and specialists in content production. Teachers should incorporate strategic planning in their regular teaching programs to encourage learners to balance their level of speech. Moreover, providing learners with the ability to plan the success of a task allows them to create a more fluent and nuanced language.   Keywords: Accuracy, complexity, fluency, strategic planning, unpressured within-task planning.   Cite as: Bakhtiary, M. R., Rezvani, E., & Namaziandost, E. (2021). Effects of strategic and unpressured within-task planning on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ oral production. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 6(2), 97-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol6iss2pp97-115

scholarly journals The Effects of Task Repetition on Child EFL Learners’ Oral Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 30-47
Author(s):  
Bo Sun ◽  
Andrea Révész
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Task Repetition ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Linguistic Performance ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Capacity Model ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
The Impact

While the role of task repetition has received much attention in task-based research, few studies have examined how exact task repetition affects the performance of child second language learners. Also, little is known about the impact of exact task repetition on trade-off effects between linguistic performance areas among child learners. To help fill this gap, we investigated the impact of task repetition on 40 Chinese EFL learners’ oral production. The children repeated the same story-telling task three times, and transcripts of their performance were coded for linguistic complexity, accuracy, and fluency. Complexity was expressed in terms of overall complexity and subordination and phrasal complexity. We assessed accuracy with weighted clause ratios and proportion of errors. Fluency was captured by repair and breakdown fluency measures. Wilcoxon signed rank tests revealed positive effects for task repetition on fluency and accuracy. Trade-off effects observed during participants’ first performance had decreased by their third retelling. These results support Skehan’s (1998) Limited Capacity model and suggest that task repetition is a useful pedagogical tool in instructed child L2 contexts.

scholarly journals APPLYING TRANSCRIPT 1.23 IN IMPROVING THE STUDENTS’ WEAK FORMS AND CONNECTED SPEECH

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 068-085
Author(s):  
Azman Azman
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Application Software ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Connected Speech ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Given

This true experimental research is mainly aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using Computer-assisted Pronunciation Teaching (CAPT) application software Transcript 1.23 in teaching English pronunciation of weak forms and connected speech. The data used to measure the effectiveness of the application of CAPT software in the treatment is collected from participants’ oral performance in the form of voice records. The research involved the Government Islamic Senior High School 2 Pontianak. The pre-test and pos-test data from the participants is analysed and compared to measure the effect of the given treatment. The result of the research demonstrates a strong effect of the application of the software to improve the quality of the participants’ pronunciation of weak forms and connected speech. The effectiveness the application of the software is categorised as strong according to the criteria developed by Cohen.

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