Investigating the Effect of Strategic Planning on the High Working Memory Upper- Intermediate EFL Learners’ Lexical Complexity of Descriptive and Argumentative Writings

Farrokhi, Farahman; Hadidi, Yaser; Tadayyon, Parya

doi:10.22049/jalda.2024.29669.1678

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ Professor of TEFL, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

² Associate Professor of TEFL, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Persian Literature and Foreign Languages, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

³ PhD Candidate in ELT, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22049/jalda.2024.29669.1678

Abstract

Considering the overwhelming nature of Pre-Task Planning (PTP) in writing for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of a factor of PTP called Strategic Planning (SP) on lexical complexity of Iranian EFL learners. The data collection procedure in this mixed-method research, which took 5 weeks, utilized the Oxford Quick Placement test (OQPT) to separate the sample of upper-intermediate learners. Following OQPT, the participants with a high working memory capacity (WMC), measured by the Operation Span Test (OST), were selected as the members of the final sample. They were categorized into three SP groups: form-focused (FF), content-focused (CF), and no planning (NP). After administrating the pre-tests of descriptive and argumentative tasks, each group received a different form of SP guidance, either FF or CF, in two different writing tasks for 4 sessions, whereas the NP group acted as the control group without any intervention. Then the post-tests were run in all three groups. The lexical sophistication of the post-tests was analyzed using the CELEX data center on the Coh-Metrix website. Based on ANOVA tests, FF instruction led to better and highly sophisticated writings in terms of lexis in both descriptive and argumentative tasks. The results can be helpful for syllabus designers, educators, and EFL learners to consider the type of SP in the PTP stage according to the WMC, in the case of different task types.

Keywords

Main Subjects

1. Applied Linguistics (Language Teaching and Learning)

Article Title [Persian]

بررسی تأثیر برنامه ریزی راهبردی بر پیچیدگل لغوی نوشتار استدلالی و توصیفی زبان آموزان با حافظه کوتاه مدت قوی و سطح متوسط رو به بالا

Authors [Persian]

دکتر فرهمن فرخی ¹
دکتر یاسر حدیدی ²
پریا تدین ³

¹ استاد آموزش زبان انگلیسی، گروه زبان و ادبیات انگلیسی، دانشکده ادبیات و زبان‌های خارجی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران

² دانشیار آموزش زبان انگلیسی، گروه زبان و ادبیات انگلیسی، دانشکده ادبیات و زبان‌های خارجی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران

³ دانشجوی دکتری آموزش زبان انگلیسی، دانشگاه تبریز، تبریز، ایران

Abstract [Persian]

با توجه به ماهیت دشوار برنامه ریزی قبل از نوشتن متن برای زبان آموزان انگلیسی، هدف مطالعه فعلی بررسی تأثیر برنامه ریزی راهبردی به عنوان زیرمجموعه ای از برنامه ریزی قبل از نوشتن، بر روی پیچیدگی لغوی زبان آموزان ایرانی می باشد. روند جمع آوری داده در این مطالعه ترکیبی که ۵ هفته به طول انجامید، از آزمون تعیین سطح سریع آکسفورد برای جداسازی نمونهای از زبانآموزان سطح متوسط رو به بالا استفاده کرد. پس از این آزمون زبان آموزانی که دارای درجه بالایی از حافظه کاری بر اساس نتایج آزمون حافظه کاری بودند، به عنوان اعضای نمونه انتخاب شدند. بر اساس نوع برنامه ریزی راهبردی، زبان آموزان در سه گروه مختلف قرار گرفتند. در گروه اول آموزش برنامه ریزی راهبردی پیش از نوشتن متن، متمرکز بر ساختار و در گروه دوم متمرکز بر محتوا بود؛ در حالی که گروه سوم (گواه) هیچ گونه آموزشی دریافت نکرد. پس از اجرای پیش آزمونهای متون استدلالی و توصیفی، هر گروه شکل متفاوتی از آموزش برنامه ریزی راهبردی را به مدت چهار جلسه دریافت نمودند. سپس، پس آزمونهایی در سه گروه انجام پذیرفت و پیچیدگی لغوی با استفاده از عامل سلکس در وبسایت کومتریکس تحلیل گردید. بر اساس نتایج آزمونهای انووا، آموزش برنامه ریزی راهبردی متمرکز بر ساختار منجر به ایجاد نوشتارهایی با پیچیدگی لغوی بالا در هر دو نوع نوشتار شد. نتایج میتواند برای طراحان برنامه درسی، مربیان و فراگیران زبان انگلیسی جهت ملاحظه نوع برنامه ریزی راهبردی در مرحله برنامه ریزی پیش از نوشتن بر اساس ظرفیت حافظه کاری مؤثر باشد.

Keywords [Persian]

کلید واژه ها: برنامه ریزی راهبردی
حافظه ی کاری
پیچیدگی لغوی

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Journal of Applied Linguistics and Applied Literature: Dynamics and Advances

Investigating the Effect of Strategic Planning on the High Working Memory Upper- Intermediate EFL Learners’ Lexical Complexity of Descriptive and Argumentative Writings

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 September 2024

Investigating the Effect of Strategic Planning on the High Working Memory Upper- Intermediate EFL Learners’ Lexical Complexity of Descriptive and Argumentative Writings

References

References

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript Available Online from 13 September 2024

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 September 2024