Writing Across Communicative Contexts: The Role of English Proficiency and Native Language

• In Event: 29.082 - Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: 29.082-5 - Developing Language Proficiency in Multilingual Settings

Abstract

Observing the profound disconnect between some EFL learners’ high-level performance on test-based writing and less satisfactory performance to address various social contexts in the real world, we examined EFL writing across communicative contexts, namely formal and informal writing. We analyzed 746 English texts written by EFL learners from diverse socio-cultural background. The findings revealed better quality in informal writing than formal writing. Additionally, we identified several lexico-syntactic and discourse measures that significantly differentiated EFL writing across contexts. Moreover, while the cross-context variation in lexico-syntactic complexity was more of a function of English proficiency, variation in discourse stance was better predicted by one’s native language. The results were discussed in relation to effective approach to assessing and teaching EFL writing.

Authors

• Wenjuan Qin, Harvard University

• Paola Uccelli, Harvard University