Improving English L2 Writing in Web Communication: Can Peer Feedback Help?

Fachsprache ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 94-121
Author(s):  
Marian Flanagan ◽  
Carmen Heine
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Peer Feedback ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Teacher Feedback ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Feedback Process ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Web Communication

As teachers of English as a second language (L2) in web communication, our aim is to help L2 students improve their spoken and written English language skills. Teacher feedback has been shown to do this in some cases. However, only using teacher feedback can put huge pressure on the teacher, both in terms of time and resources. This paper describes and discusses our attempt at introducing peer feedback as an additional way of providing students with feedback on their English writing. Before conducting this study, we did not know if peer feedback would be feasible in our teaching environment or whether it would benefit the students and teachers. Our aim was to establish a status quo of our students’ abilities in providing and implementing peer feedback. We introduced peer-feedback tasks and focused on the types of feedback provided by the students, the phrasing of the feedback, both when implemented and not implemented by the students, and the types of revisions made by the students. Our findings allowed us to develop peer-feedback process guidelines for web communication as a way towards improving written feedback processes in higher education, and hopefully for others to adapt and implement in their own communication classrooms.

Improving English L2 Writing in Web Communication: Can Peer Feedback Help?

Fachsprache ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 94-121
Author(s):  
Marian Flanagan ◽  
Carmen Heine
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Peer Feedback ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Teacher Feedback ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Feedback Process ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Web Communication

As teachers of English as a second language (L2) in web communication, our aim is to help L2 students improve their spoken and written English language skills. Teacher feedback has been shown to do this in some cases. However, only using teacher feedback can put huge pressure on the teacher, both in terms of time and resources. This paper describes and discusses our attempt at introducing peer feedback as an additional way of providing students with feedback on their English writing. Before conducting this study, we did not know if peer feedback would be feasible in our teaching environment or whether it would benefit the students and teachers. Our aim was to establish a status quo of our students’ abilities in providing and implementing peer feedback. We introduced peer-feedback tasks and focused on the types of feedback provided by the students, the phrasing of the feedback, both when implemented and not implemented by the students, and the types of revisions made by the students. Our findings allowed us to develop peer-feedback process guidelines for web communication as a way towards improving written feedback processes in higher education, and hopefully for others to adapt and implement in their own communication classrooms.

Postgraduate Internationalisation in Brazil

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (07) ◽  
pp. 1791-1805
Author(s):  
Concepta McManus ◽  
Abilio Afonso Baeta Neves ◽  
Cyntia Oliveira ◽  
Henrique De Oliveira Castro
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Strategic Planning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Funding Agency ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Current State ◽  
Funding Agencies ◽  
Almost All

Understanding the current state of the Internationalisation of postgraduate courses in Brazil was essential to serve as a basis for constructing effective policies in funding agencies. It also helps to understand the capacity of the higher education institution to carry out more effective strategic planning and internationalisation plans. This study looks at replies to a Brazilian national funding agency (CAPES) questionnaire on Internationalisation within Higher Education Institutes in Brazil, based on the postgraduate experience. Results showed that Internationalisation is based on mobility with little comprehensive thinking on its role towards academic achievement within the Postgraduate Programs realities, beyond the mobile individual.  English language skills need to be improved. While most institutions have offices that treat this theme, they lack an active engagement with the postgraduate programs and strategic planning, seen as vital for almost all institutions.  Resources are necessary to build infrastructure and capacitate lecturers and staff to this end.

scholarly journals Tricks To Master English Vocabulary Through Interactive Activities At The Puri Kasih Orphanage Tembilahan

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (02) ◽  
pp. 127-135
Author(s):  
Samsul Amri ◽  
Syafrizal Syafrizal ◽  
Maizarah Maizarah
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Community Service ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Initial Test ◽  
Final Test ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Good Level ◽  
Service Activity

English language skills are also often used as a requirement when they want to continue to a higher education level. However, it cannot be denied that the limited understanding of English vocabulary results in obstruction of language competence achievement. Therefore, this activity is a form of service to the community, especially as a form of implementation of the Tri Dharma obligations of higher education, which aims to help students at the Puri Kasih Tembilahan Orphanage to master English vocabulary quickly. The method used is Training of easy tricks to master English vocabulary through interactive activities. In this Community Service activity, several activities are carried out, namely: words puzzle, words matching, pictures, games, and watching short movies. The results of this Community Service activity showed that the participants gave a positive responses to this activity. They are also more courageous and motivated to use the vocabulary they have by participating in every activity they do. Furthermore, the initial test results showed 8.3% of participants in the Very Good category, 12.5% of participants in the Good category, 41.7% of participants in the Enough category, and 37.5% of participants in the Low category. Then, the final test results showed that 16.7% of participants were at the Very Good level, 25% of participants were at the Good level, 45.9% of participants were at the Enough level, and only 12.5% were at the Low level. This shows that interactive activities can help students at the Puri Kasih Tembilahan Orphanage more easily master English vocabulary.  

scholarly journals Using author-devised cover letters instead of instructor-devised rubrics to generate useful written peer feedback comments

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-44
Author(s):  
Roger Yallop ◽  
Djuddah A. J. Leijen
Keyword(s):  
Social Presence ◽  
Writing Assessment ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Peer Feedback ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Writing Groups ◽  
Feedback Process ◽  
Quantitative Research Methods ◽  
Writing Community ◽  
Teaching Instruction

This study uses both qualitative and quantitative research methods in a mixed-methods approach to investigate whether the principled use of author-devised cover letters (CLs) within doctorate writing groups can result in more useful reviewer feedback comments than would be attained through the use of instructor-devised writing assessment rubrics. In this context, CLs are self-devised written documents that help the reviewers give the author useful and critical written feedback comments. Twenty participants in different discipline-specific writing groups were given explicit instruction about the importance and content of CLs during the peer feedback process. Their perceptions of a useful CL were obtained from post-course questionnaires and analysed qualitatively. In addition, their CLs at various stages of the feedback process were analysed quantitatively for genre, social presence, and evidence of teaching instruction, and compared to the CLs produced by 20 PhD students in similar writing groups who received minimal CL instruction. The study found that author-devised CLs, as opposed to instructor-devised rubrics, can allow the authors the flexibility of providing text-specific background details, requesting reviewer help on specific textual aspects, using social presence to develop a sense of writing community, and provide reflection upon their own writing.

scholarly journals Book Review: Integrated Language Skills: Writing

BELTA Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-45
Author(s):  
Takad Ahmed Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Intermediate Level ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Language Studies ◽  
Writing Skill ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
Teaching Of Writing

Integrated Language Skills: Writing is a resourceful book for learning and teaching of writing skill by Dr. Naginder Kaur and Ms. Noorazalia Izha Haron, two lecturers at the Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Technologi MARA (UiTM). The book is tailor made for students pursuing pre-intermediate or intermediate level English language courses and a practical guide for anyone who wants to teach English writing skill at the pre-intermediate or intermediate level.

Increasing Retention of Linguistically-Disadvantaged College Students in South Africa

2020 ◽  
pp. 146-180
Author(s):  
Denise Carpenter Mussman ◽  
Venicia F. McGhie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Historically Black ◽  
English Language ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
The Self ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Course Assessment ◽  
Historically Black University

This chapter discusses a two-week pre-semester course in English academic language skills to improve learning outcomes of second and additional English language speaking students at a historically Black university in South Africa, a country that faces tremendous challenges with educational inequities. Prof. Venicia McGhie created and organized the program, and Dr. Denise C. Mussman taught the course content. This chapter reports on and discusses the challenges that cause many students to fail or dropout of higher education studies, the curriculum of the pilot course, assessment results, and written feedback from students on which lessons helped them most. The smaller class size, speaking activities, and explicit lessons on grammar and writing all contributed positively to the self-efficacy of the students.

scholarly journals A Feedback Investigation of Comparing Teacher and Students’ Preferences on Writing Conference in a Novice EFL Writing Class

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 315
Author(s):  
Naria Fitriani ◽  
Sabarniati Sabarniati
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Feedback ◽  
Written Feedback ◽  
Writing Conference ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Writing Problems ◽  
Writing Class ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Feedback Strategies ◽  
Writing Assignment ◽  
Giving Feedback

To enrich students writing aptitude, it is significant to identify the effective feedback process in the language classroom. While the teacher is presenting the appropriate feedback strategies, it is needed to find whether the students prefer what their teacher applied in order to solve their writing problems. The teacher carried out both written and oral (writing conference) in giving feedback, however, this study aims at comparing the teacher and students’ preferences on the teacher feedback practice qualitatively. The students’ writing assignment of 200 words was submitted before the conference schedule. Receiving the written feedback on their writing sheets, the students read and review their teacher feedback. Next, participating in this study, the students were required to contribute on the questionnaire about their preferences during the conference, while the teacher was interviewed. The results show that the students (58%) in the novice writing class preferred on the writing conference. There were 79% students in English writing program would rather work in personal with their teacher which means each of students work one-to-one. Meanwhile, the teacher preferred providing the written feedback, though she realized that the conference might work better on the novice level.

scholarly journals Internationalization and English as a Medium of Instruction in Mongolian Higher Education: A New Concept

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-66
Author(s):  
Sainbayar Gundsambuu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Current Process ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
International Profile ◽  
The Impact

The impact of globalization leaves no choice to universities but to go toward internationalization in order to survive in the growing competition in higher education. Following the global trend of internationalization, Mongolian universities plan to increase courses and programs in English in order to improve their competitiveness and ultimately to become internationally visible, at least in Asia. Based on two types of data, documents and an online survey, this study discusses the current process of internationalization at Mongolian universities and explores how faculty members perceive the rationales of implementing English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI). The findings revealed that the Mongolian government is the key player in internationalization through policies, taking initiatives, and encouraging national universities. The faculty members of the two leading private universities in Mongolia perceived that the introduction of EMI at their universities intends to improve their graduates’ English language skills to operate globally and as well as to promote their university’s international profile.

scholarly journals Research on the Effect of Peer Feedback Training in English Writing Teaching—A Case Study of Students in Business English Major

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Jialiang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Perspective ◽  
Peer Feedback ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Teacher Feedback ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Feedback Training ◽  
Training Stage ◽  
English Major

Based on peer feedback, this paper further explores the application of peer feedback training to English writing teaching in China. From the theoretical perspective, compared with teacher feedback, peer feedback is beneficial to motivate students to take the initiative in learning, practice the student-centered concept, and promote cooperative learning among students. Peer feedback training, namely peer feedback under teacher intervention in this paper, combines the advantages of teacher feedback and peer feedback, which can not only be accepted by learners but also achieve significant pragmatic effects. From a practical point of view, peer feedback training can be applied to teach large groups of students, thus reducing the pressure and burden of teachers and improving the quality of peer feedback. The results also show that peer feedback training mainly works during the training stage rather than the modification stage. It is crucial to pay attention to the mechanism of peer feedback training and apply it to practice to promote the quality of English writing teaching.

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