Sunday 2:15 - 3:05 PM
TTI 303/4
Preparation and second language acquisition: effects on learner
language
Gillian Wigglesworth
Macquarie University, Australia
This research reports the results of a highly controlled study designed
to investigate the interaction of preparation time (no time, one minute
or five minutes) and task type (picture description, picture comparison
or picture narrative) on the accuracy, fluency and complexity of the language
of intermediate level English as a second language learners. The learners
were recorded undertaking these monologic tasks in a laboratory situation.
Responses were recorded and subsequently transcribed and coded.
The findings suggest a clear interaction between amount of planning
time and task type for certain tasks (e.g. the comparison) for fluency.
However, this does not extend across all task types. Other tasks are more
likely to promote complex language. The implications of these findings
are discussed both from a theoretical point of view in relation to second
language acquisition, and from a practical point of view in relation to
what they might mean for the classroom teacher.
Dr. Gillian Wigglesworthis a senior lecturer in Linguistics at Macquarie
University, Australia, where she is coordinator of the Master of Applied
Linguistics programs. Her publications include several journal articles
and edited books, and these reflect her research interests, which include
first and second language acquisition, and language assessment and evaluation. |
