scholarly journals The Importance of Writing Scoring Rubrics for Saudi EFL Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. p16
Author(s):  
Hayat Rasheed Alamri ◽  
Rania Daifullah Adawi
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Writing Classes ◽  
Efl Writing ◽  
Peer Editing ◽  
Scoring Rubrics ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Assessment Techniques

This mixed-method study explored the perspectives of Saudi EFL teachers concerning the use of Writing Scoring Rubrics (WSRs) to correct students' written work and instruct EFL writing classes. The study sample included 106 Saudi EFL teachers, who answered the twenty-one close-ended questions and the first open-ended question, with twenty-five answering the second open-ended question. The findings reveal that the teachers frequently employed in-class correction and feedback to correct their students' written work, with nearly one-third used assessment techniques that included WSRs, self-assessment, peer editing, journals, and portfolios. The results of the second question indicate that Saudi EFL teachers generally engage students in creating customized WSRs. The findings also revealed that Saudi EFL teachers consider WSRs beneficial to both students and teachers and might be viewed by some experienced EFL teachers as a practical correction or assessment method that improves students' writing. Therefore, this study contributes to a growing body of literature highlighting the importance of WSRs in teaching and assessing writing skills.

scholarly journals Genre-based Approach to Writing in EFL Contexts

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Vu Phi Ho Pham ◽  
Thi Kim Loan Bui
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Efl Writing ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Step Structure ◽  
Writing Course ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teachers And Students

Writing is a challenging and demanding skill for EFL learners in Vietnam. Teaching writing skills at Vietnamese universities is problematic since different approaches to writing have not been implemented effectively. Mainly, a genre-based approach to writing has not yet been implemented in EFL writing classrooms successfully. This paper investigates how the genre-based writing approach has been taught and learned at Van Lang University. The study mentions some critical notions of systemic functional linguistics, genre-based writing approach, and the importance and effects of genre-based approach to writing. 128 students turned in their midterm essays in week 5 of the 10-week writing course. These 128 expository essays were analyzed and synthesized using Microsoft Excel to calculate the differences in move-step structure. The findings indicated that the students had difficulty following the fixed move-step structure, and they also faced challenges of lexico-grammatical usage for the expository. Hence, the study suggests some implications for applying a genre-based approach to writing for EFL teachers and students and suggests further research.

scholarly journals Improving L2 Oral Accuracy and Grammatical Range Through Self-Assessment of Video Speech Drafts

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-142
Author(s):  
Martin Javier Caicedo Pereira ◽  
Jhonny Alexander Lozano Bermúdez ◽  
Luis Alfonso Vanegas Medina
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Oral Language ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Self Evaluation ◽  
Scoring Rubrics ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
English Speaking

This action research study examines the effect of self-evaluation on grammatical range and grammar accuracy on the English speaking performance of 27 foreign language university and pre-university students enrolled in three different language centers, in three different cities in Colombia. Participants were asked to record themselves answering different IELTS-type tasks for four times during a 6-week period and score and reflect towards their performance using IELTS-type analytical scoring rubrics and journals. Researchers used journals to register impressions, thoughts, and judgments observed during the process. The findings led to conclude that learners highly benefit from applying self-assessment techniques using videos of their production and a language benchmark to compare with in the improvement of their oral language accuracy and grammatical range.

scholarly journals An Insight into Female EFL Learners’ Difficulties and Needs in Writing: The Case of Secondary High Schools in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
pp. 343-359
Author(s):  
Fatima Yousef Alzahrani ◽  
Eatedal Mohammed Alghamdi ◽  
Maysa Mohammad Sadiq Qutob
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Efl Writing ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
12Th Grade ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Insight Into

Curriculum development has been carried out to improve English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses in Saudi public schools; however, EFL learners still have difficulties in writing. This study examines the difficulties that Saudi female EFL learners face in writing in secondary high schools. The study also aims to identify 12th grade female EFL learners’ needs in improving their writing skills. The research findings might help curriculum designers and EFL teachers to make improvements to a curriculum that meet EFL learners’ needs. The participants were 216 female EFL learners studying in public schools in Jeddah. A questionnaire including closed items on a Likert scale and one open-ended question were used to collect data, which were then analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results illustrate that female EFL learners’ main difficulties in EFL writing are mechanics, use of proper vocabulary, and organization of texts. Additionally, female learners expressed their needs and suggestions for improving their writing skills which are related to the specific difficulties they face. Accordingly, the researchers suggest establishing a well-designed writing program which provides learners with sufficient training in writing skills by increasing the number of hours given to writing.

scholarly journals An Insight into Female EFL Learners’ Difficulties and Needs in Writing: The Case of Secondary High Schools in Saudi Arabia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Yousef Alzahrani ◽  
Eatedal Mohammed Alghamdi ◽  
Maysa Mohammad Sadiq Qutob
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
High Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Efl Writing ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
12Th Grade ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Insight Into

Curriculum development has been carried out to improve English as a Foreign Language (EFL) courses in Saudi public schools; however, EFL learners still have difficulties in writing. This study examines the difficulties that Saudi female EFL learners face in writing in secondary high schools. The study also aims to identify 12th grade female EFL learners’ needs in improving their writing skills. The research findings might help curriculum designers and EFL teachers to make improvements to a curriculum that meet EFL learners’ needs. The participants were 216 female EFL learners studying in public schools in Jeddah. A questionnaire including closed items on a Likert scale and one open-ended question were used to collect data, which were then analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results illustrate that female EFL learners’ main difficulties in EFL writing are mechanics, use of proper vocabulary, and organization of texts. Additionally, female learners expressed their needs and suggestions for improving their writing skills which are related to the specific difficulties they face. Accordingly, the researchers suggest establishing a well-designed writing program which provides learners with sufficient training in writing skills by increasing the number of hours given to writing.

scholarly journals Evaluation: and Grading of Students' Writing: Holistic and Analytic Scoring Rubrics

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Abeer Al-Ghazo ◽  
Issam Ta'amneh
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Writing Assignments ◽  
Efl Writing ◽  
High Agreement ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
High Interest ◽  
Scoring Rubrics ◽  
Analytic Scoring ◽  
Efl Teachers

The paper tries to investigate the most preferable writing scoring rubrics when assessing students' writing assignments and to find the dimensions that teachers who teach English as a foreign language (EFL) emphasize when scoring EFL writing summaries. Thirty male and female Jordanian EFL teachers who teach English in both basic and secondary schools were participated to collect the necessary data. To conduct the study, a questionnaire consisting of twenty-seven items was prepared and disturbed by the researchers to suit the purpose of the study. In order to analyze the participants' respondents in the questionnaire, the researchers calculate Percentages, Means, Standard Deviations. The results revealed that there is a high interest in using analytic scoring rubrics to correct their students’ writing. The total mean reached 3.27 with standard deviation (0.65) by high agreement degree. Moreover, the results also highlight the importance of using scoring rubrics as precise and effective   methods to assess the learners’ writing performance.

scholarly journals Exploring EFL Writing Teaching Through the Integrated Skills Approach: A Case Study in the Saudi Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 800-809
Author(s):  
Waad Aljahdali ◽  
Abdullah Alshakhi
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Writing Classes ◽  
Efl Writing ◽  
Diary Writing ◽  
Preparatory Year

This study aims to explore the teaching practices of EFL writing that employ the integrated skills approach. It investigates the benefits and challenges associated with teaching writing that uses the integrated skills approach. The study also aims to provide solutions to the challenges faced by the EFL teachers in teaching writing skills. This study uses a qualitative approach by utilizing two instruments: diary writing of event logs in the first phase, and semi-structured interviews in the second phase. The data were collected in a Saudi university at a Preparatory Year Program (PYP). The sample included four general track teachers. After the analysis of the data, the findings revealed that the integrated skills approach can facilitate students’ output; however, students’ lower-level of proficiency, a large number of students in writing classes, and time constraints can negatively affect the teaching practices. Suggestive measures were proposed to eliminate the negative aspects that might hinder the implementation of the integrated skills approach while teaching writing skills. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications and directions for future research have been put forward.

scholarly journals Exploring EFL Teachers’ Perspectives on Sources of Challenges in Writing Classroom

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. p73
Author(s):  
Dr. Hayat Rasheed Alamri ◽  
Hadeel Ahmed Saad Yaseen
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Writing Classroom ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Teachers Perspectives ◽  
Practical Recommendations

This mixed-method study explores Saudi EFL teachers’ perspectives on students’ writing competencies and their concerns regarding the writing challenges, particularly in relation to EFL teachers, learners, and textbooks. The study sample consisted of 139 female EFL teachers working in Saudi Arabia. Data was gathered using a questionnaire composed of three sections: demographic information, 15 close-ended items, and three open-ended questions. The findings revealed that Saudi students’ writing skills are poor and fall below expectations. The results mainly showed their lack of vocabulary, grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, transition words, legible handwriting, logical paragraph arrangement, concept flow, and genuine and supportive examples. The first open-ended question results revealed that these EFL teachers highlighted ten issues as negatively impacting the quality of students’ writing. The second open-ended question results showed eleven potential sources of these challenges related to learners. Finally, the results of the third open-ended question revealed six factors focusing on problems associated with textbooks potentially exerting a negative influence on the quality of students’ writing. The study concludes with some practical recommendations and suggestions for further research.

scholarly journals Self-Assessment of the Sounds of the English Language that Pre-Service EFL Teachers Consider Problematic to Pronounce

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-99
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Kapranov
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
English Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Intermediate Level ◽  
Mixed Method Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Efl Teachers

The article presents and discusses a mixed-method study that aimed at establishing how pre-service teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) self-assessed those sounds of the English language that would cause problems for their pronunciation in EFL. Fourteen pre-service EFL teachers on the intermediate level of EFL proficiency whose first language (L1) was Norwegian were recruited for the study. They were asked to write reflectiveessays concerning the sounds of the English language that they considered problematic to pronounce. The participants’ essays were contrasted with the essays written by the control group that was comprised of 14 in-service EFL teachers whose L1 was Norwegian. The results of the analysis revealed that the participants identified several English sounds that they self-assessed as problematic to pronounce, e.g. /z/, /ð/, /θ/, and /ʌ/. The analysis of the controls’ essays yielded similar results. These findings and their linguo-didactic implications are discussed in the article.

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