Analyzing the Essay Writing Patterns of Iranian Intermediate-Level Korean Language Learners: A Study Based on the TOPIK Exam

This study examines the writing abilities of Iranian intermediate Korean learners,specifically their performance in the compositional writing section of the Test of Proficiency in Korean(TOPIK).By utilizing the many FACETS-Rasch Model,we meticulously analyzed nine writing samples from the 52nd TOPIK.These samples were evaluated using a modified rubric ranging from 0 to 3 based on predefined criteria for written composition.The results underscored that the sections on“appropriateness of spacing and spelling,”“relevance of vocabulary,”and“content diversity”presented the most significant challenges for the learners.On the other hand,“the quantity of writing”emerged as the least challenging aspect.These findings reveal substantial disparities in various aspects of writing proficiency among learners.The study not only pinpoints issue areas in writing skills,but also underscores the necessity of customized teaching strategies within the TOPIK framework to address these weaknesses.Consequently,it offers valuable insights that could bolster the effectiveness of teaching writing to Korean language learners.The findings of this study are not only significant for the field of language education,but also contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by intermediate learners and provide a roadmap for improving language instruction.

Genre Effect on L2 Syntactic Complexity and Holistic Rating for Writing Quality of Intermediate EFL Learners

This exploratory study examines whether genre has an impact on syntactic complexity and holistic rating in EFL writing. Over 300 sample texts produced by intermediate learners were collected from a test and some regular after-class assignments for English writing courses. Each participant completed two writing tasks, one argumentative and the other narrative. Results show that genre type has a significant impact on L2 syntactic complexity. Genre effect is found stronger with timed writing tasks. L2 holistic ratings show correlation with syntactic complexity on the different measure(s) depending on genre type and planning conditions. Regression analyses reveal that for timed writing tasks, clausal density(clauses per sentence) is a reliable predictor for holistic assessment on intermediate EFL learners’ writing quality. It is found to account for 6% of the score variance for timed writing and 10% for timed argumentative writing. Genre is evidenced to be related to EFL writing holistic ratings. Closer examination indicates that while syntactic complexity is predictive of holistic writing scores for argumentative writing, it does not correlate with holistic scores for narrative writing. Other linguistic features rather than syntactic complexity may be accountable. Overall, the study lends support to genre effect in the relationship between syntactic complexity and L2 writing quality holistic rating.

A Discussion of Foreign Language Listening Problems and Their Causes among Intermediate EFL learners in Chinese universities

Listening has been considered as the most important language skill by many researchers but in Chinese context it has been overlooked for years.The Foreign Language(FL)listening problems gradually reveal when students attend to the Listening Course in universities or colleges.This paper at first illustrates the importance of listening in foreign language learning and provides a discussion on the top-down and bottom-up processes with the analysis of Anderson's three-model of language comprehension[9]as well as the factors affecting listening comprehension in Foreign Language in general,aiming at the illustration of the necessity on one of the bottom-up processes-the Spoken Word Recognition(SWR).The analysis of two issued official guiding documents for Chinese university students and the current situation of English listening teaching in Chinese universities are followed,providing a general background on English listening teaching in Chinese context.Three possible foreign language listening problems and their causes are proposed,followed by the pedagogical suggestions to EFL learners who are improving their listening skills and instructors who are advancing their teaching procedures.

Enhancing Grammar Learning with a Multimedia Instructional Module:Design and Teaching of“Shì...de”Construction for CFL learners

This pilot study examined the effectiveness and students’perceptions of a multimedia module on intermediate Chinese-as-a-Foreign-Language(CFL)learners’understanding and use of the“shì...de”construction.The module was designed based on the First Principles of Instruction(Morrill,2002)and the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning(Mayer,2009;2014).It provided a systematic and comprehensive approach to teaching the“shì...de”construction,one of the most challenging grammar points in CFL.Twenty-two CFL learners participated in this mixed-methods study.Data were collected using pre-and post-tests,a survey,think-alouds,and semi-structured interviews.Findings show that after using the module,students’understanding and use of the construction significantly improved,except for their understanding of the second usage.The students enjoyed using the module and appreciated how it was designed,the way it was presented,and its availability.The reasons for the effectiveness of the module were analyzed and led to suggested improvements to the design of the module.The detailed description of the design process and the research result contribute to the knowledge of designing grammar teaching modules with multimedia for online,blended,and flipped learning.

A Case Study on Intermediate CSL Learners' Word Recognition Processes and Strategies in Contextual Reading Settings

This study investigates word recognition processes and strategies of intermediate learners of Chinese as a Second Language （CSL） in contextual reading settings. Two intermediate CSL learners were chosen as research participants, and think-aloud methods and retrospective interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed by using Moustakas＇ data analysis procedure, CresweU＇s three steps and Bogdon and Biklen＇s data analysis methods. Results indicated that intermediate CSL learners go through different processes of word recognition as it might be automatic, based on context, pronunciation, previous knowledge and the meaning of characters, or, in case of word recognition failure, skipping the words or skipping them but reading them again later; and their word recognition strategies in contextual reading settings mainly include cognitive strategies and self-regulatory strategies. Among these strategies, cognitive strategies consist of direct transformation, translation, interpretation, guessing, inferring and finding key words; and self-regulatory strategies include metacognitive strategies, behavior regulating strategies, emotion regulating strategies and motivation regulating strategies. A model of intermediate CSL learners＇ word recognition strategies can be constructed based on the results. The present study provides both theoretical and pedagogical implications in the field of CSL vocabulary acquisition and teaching.