时间限制对EFL作文成绩的影响

Investigating the effects of time restraint on EFL writing,

本研究采用开放式问卷、周记、作文测试等定量与定性调查方法,探究了时间限制对EFL作文成绩的影响。定量调查结果表明,实验组与对照组的非限时作文成绩有显著性差异,而30分钟完成的限时作文成绩的差异却不显著。这一调查结果说明,时间限制对不同写作水平的被试可能产生不同程度的影响。定量研究不仅验证了这一调查结果,还进一步显示出时间限制对语言水平较高习作者的写作过程有以下负面影响:降低写作标准、采用被动应对的写作策略、产生消极的写作体验。鉴于此,作者强调了非限时作文练习的重要性,并根据相关调查结果提出了理想的“45分钟”作文测试时间。

An increasing amount of research has been undertaken on the design of EFL writing tasks. This study examines the effects of time restraint on students' writing performance. A variety of research instruments are employed, such as an open-ended questionnaire, weekly journals, writing tests. The exploratory longitudinal study reveals that the subjects in the experimental group performed significantly better in the untimed writing task than the control group, yet with regard to timed writing assignments, no significant difference exists between the groups. The horizontal study and case study further confirm that time restraint exerts greater negative effects on successful EFL learners than on unsuccessful ones. Based on the relevant research findings, the importance of untimed writing assignments is stressed, and the best length of the writing test (i.e. 45 minutes) is recommended.