The Feedback Dilemma: Aligning L2 Writing Instruction with Student Preferences

  • Sabariah Abd Rahim Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8321-3575
  • Alice Alim Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
  • Qiuxiang Cui Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
  • Xiangxian Yang Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Keywords: Written Corrective Feedback, L2 teacher practices, L2 students’ preferences, Writing instruction

Abstract

In writing classes, teachers implement Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) as a form of Corrective Feedback (CF). It is an instructional strategy teachers used in the classroom to improve L2 students' writing skills. Nevertheless, the incongruity between the preferences of students and the instructional strategies employed by teachers for WCF has resulted in challenges for teachers and perplexity for the students. The study aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) to examine the forms of CF used by L2 teachers when assessing students' writing, 2) to explore the types of CF that students prefer when receiving feedback on their writing, and 3) to determine whether the teachers' WCF practices align with the students' preferences. The researchers employed the Feedback Scale to gather data for the study. Additionally, purposive opportunistic sampling was utilised in selecting the study’s participants. The findings show that the L2 teachers provide more indirect WCF and focused WCF, whereas the L2 students prefer direct WCF and unfocused WCF. This demonstrates the concept of a disparity between the pedagogical approaches that teachers employ and the preferences that students have expressed regarding WCF. The study has implications on the writing instruction of English Language writing class.

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Author Biographies

Sabariah Abd Rahim, Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

I am a lecturer in the English Unit of Pusat Penataran Ilmu dan Bahasa, UMS. I have a degree in English Language (B.A. Hons, UPM), a Master's in English as a Second Language (MESL, UM) and a PhD in English Language Skills (USM). Before joining UMS, I was an editor in one of the multilevel marketing companies in Kedah (GANO EXCEL), where I was responsible for the writing up and editing of articles to be published in the company’s monthly bulletin. Then I joined PPIB, UMS in 2004 and I have been teaching English Language skills to undergraduates for more than 15 years in PPIB, UMS. My area of expertise includes English as a Second Language, Second Language Learning and Second Language Writing. 

 

Alice Alim, Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Alice Alim is a lecturer at the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. 

Qiuxiang Cui, Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Cui Qiuxiang is a postgraduate student at the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning at Universiti Malaysia Sabah. 

Xiangxian Yang, Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

Yang Xiangxian is a postgraduate student at the Centre for the Promotion of Knowledge and Language Learning at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

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Published
2024-12-29
Section
Articles

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