scholarly journals Locating L2 English Writing Centers in German Universities

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Ruth Ruth Bonazza ◽  
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Author(s):  
Hai-yan Zhang ◽  
Yunhui Hao ◽  
Mingsheng Li ◽  
Donna M. Velliaris

This chapter is motivated by the fact that few studies have been made about the effects of one-on-one writing tutoring in English writing centers in Chinese universities. It intends to examine the effects through the evaluation of tutors' performance by students. A sample of 57 students responded to the questionnaires designed based on Kaplan's 7 EFL writing objectives proposed in his theory of contrastive rhetoric with minor revision, and 12 participated the structured in-depth interviews. Results demonstrate that tutors have achieved higher level of satisfaction in objectives of vocabulary and expressions (86%), sentence and grammar(85%), etc., but lower satisfaction level in those of awareness of audience(37%), discourse structure (34%), and rhetoric and writing knowledge (40%). The findings indicate no significant correlation between tutoring duration and students' improvement extent, yet a strong negative association between students' language proficiency and their improvement. Finally, some measures about enhancing tutoring effects are suggested.


2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Maiko Nakatake

In recent years, interest in English writing centers as a support service for students’ writing beyond the regular curriculum has been growing in Japanese universities. Our writing center at the University of Tokyo was established under a first-year scientific English writing course in 2008. Our writing center offers tutorial sessions for students’ L2 (English) writing in L1 (Japanese) on a one-to-one basis. This article provides a brief introduction to our writing center and describes the challenges that tutors face, which are unique to writing centers in contexts where English is a foreign language. In this article, I would like to focus on three major points: the issue of grammar correction, tutors’ English proficiency, and tutees’ unfamiliarity with the writing center and tutoring style. This article also discusses the roles and possibilities of writing centers in Japan for both tutors and students. 近年、日本の大学において、正規課程外で学生の英語ライティングを支援する機関として、ライティング・センターへの関心が高まっている。東京大学のライティング・センターは、2008年に、理科系1年生のための英語アカデミック・ライティング・プログラムのもとに設立され、学生の科学英語論文に対するチュートリアルを1対1の形式で、日本語で提供している。本論では、本ライティング・センターの取り組みを紹介し、さらに現在直面している3つの問題点(文法の修正に関する問題、チューターの英語力に関する問題、学生のライティング・センター及びチュートリアルに対する認知度の低さの問題)に焦点をあてる。また、EFL環境下にある日本のライティング・センターが学生とチューターの両方に与える影響を明らかにし、日本の英語ライティング・センターが果たす今後の役割と可能性について検討する。


2016 ◽  
pp. 355-364
Author(s):  
Shawn Andersson ◽  
Maho Nakahashi

English writing centers in Japan are a somewhat new phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to gain a perspective of actual operations of writing centers abroad. We visited the English writing centers of three universities in California with well-established, large centers to get a perspective of the day-to-day operations and best practices on how to run a writing center. The universities that we visited include the Hume Center for Writing and Speaking at Stanford University; the University of California, Berkeley Student Learning Center; and the University of California, Davis Student Academic Success Center.


SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 215824402110622
Author(s):  
Yvette Denise Murdoch ◽  
Hyejung Lim ◽  
Jiyoung Cho

This study investigated the influence of acquired L1 writing skills on exophonic writings of students ( N = 147) from diverse majors, who visited an English writing center for assistance. Affective differences revealed students with L1 writing tutelage (WL1) had lower avoidance behavior and higher extrinsic motivation and writing self-efficacy. Self-perceived L2 writing ability was found to be a principal factor for WL1. Writing self-efficacy appeared essential for students without L1 writing tutelage (WOL1). Regression analysis found learner self-beliefs and somatic anxiety (negative) influenced self-perceived L2 writing ability for WL1, and holistic self-beliefs on English writing (HSE) and cognitive ability (negative) for WOL1. Acquired L1 writing skills did not tangibly influence L2 performance. No large impact factors were found for WL1, but HSE and attitudes & reaction (negative) impacted WOL1 performance. Implications such as performance may not be a main concern among exophonic writers, and the need for English writing centers in non-L1 (English) countries are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 265
Author(s):  
Dayna Epley ◽  
Rebecca Day Babcock ◽  
Matt Linnenkugel

<p><em>This paper explains the process of a group from a regional public university in Texas, USA attempting a short-term project to start a writing center at a private technical university in Taiwan. The group encountered several challenges and this paper attempts to reflect on and analyze what happened and to assist others who may have similar plans. Writing centers are growing in Asia but may need a different approach than just transplanting a US approach uncritically. Also cultural knowledge is key in endeavoring to re-establish a current concept in a new context.</em></p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Pham Thi Thu Hien

Twitter and Microblogging are two separate entities but completes each other. Both of them can be used as language learning tools and their potential has been proved by several scholars. This study tries to examine students’ experiences in integrating microblogging with twitter. It is also study about the beneficial roles of microblogging with Twitter in language learning, its relation to writing, and its appropriateness in language learning. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, and case study as its research design. Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were employed in this study to find out about participants' views about microblogging and Twitter. From this study, it can be concluded that the participants of the study underwent various experiences during the implementation of microblogging with Twitter. They also felt that microblogging with Twitter at some point advantages them to systematically arrange their ideas, and allows them to choose appropriate diction of their ideas. They also stated that Twitter can be an appropriate means in language learning, especially in English writing<em>.</em>


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