Open Access
The impact of textual enhancement on the acquisition of third person possessive pronouns by child EFL learners
(De Gruyter, 2023) Luquin Urtasun, María; García Mayo, María del Pilar; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
A key concern in L2 research and pedagogy is how learner attention can be directed to linguistic forms. Research has shown that textual enhancement (TE) facilitates the noticing of targeted L2 features, leading to cognitive processes beneficial for L2 learning. However, very few studies on TE have had children as participants. This longitudinal study investigated the extent to which TE in model texts could have an effect on the development of third person possessive pronouns (his/her) among young EFL learners. The participants, 30 dyads of 11- to 12-year-old Spanish children from three EFL classes, were randomly assigned to a control group (CG), a treatment group (TG) and a long-term treatment group (LTG). The groups were engaged in two four-stage collaborative writing cycles of 3 weeks each separated by four months. The CG, which self-corrected their own texts, was not exposed to TE, the TG was only exposed to it during the two cycles and the LTG benefitted from this technique during the two writing cycles and the period in-between. The findings revealed statistically significant differences between the LTG and the other two groups after a sustained exposure to TE, which seems to be a useful pedagogical tool to facilitate the children¿s noticing of third person possessives.
Embargo
A longitudinal study of the effects of model texts on EFL children's written production
(Elsevier, 2024-02-01) Luquin Urtasun, María; García Mayo, María del Pilar; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
As written corrective feedback tools, it has been claimed that model texts improve language learners' subsequent production, but almost exclusively in terms of lexical gains. However, little research has been carried out with EFL children, an underrepresented population in the literature, and much less from a longitudinal perspective. The main aim of this study was to determine the extent to which sustained exposure to models can have an impact on the written production of child EFL learners. Thirty pairs of 11–12-year-old Spanish EFL children were randomly assigned to a control group, a treatment group, and a long-term treatment group, who engaged in two four-stage collaborative writing cycles of three weeks each. The children's collaborative texts were transcribed and analyzed considering different measures (types of clause, syntactic complexity, lexical diversity, accuracy, fluency, and holistic assessment). Our findings reveal that model texts led to a reduction in the number of pre-clauses and an increase in the syntactic complexity of the texts in the short run. Sustained exposure to models showed that the children were able to produce fewer proto-clauses and more clauses, feature higher lexical diversity in their texts, and make fewer errors.
Open Access
Investigating EFL children's task motivation concerning the use of models as written corrective feedback
(Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan, 2024-12-23) García Mayo, María del Pilar; Luquin Urtasun, María; Ciencias humanas y de la educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
This study investigated how the inclusion of model texts as a feedback technique affected students' task motivation and engagement in writing tasks. Adopting a longitudinal design, 60 English as a foreign language (EFL) children (aged 11-12) were divided into three groups: a treatment group, a long-term treatment group, and a control group. The treatment groups received feedback that incorporated model texts as examples of proficient writing, while the control group self-corrected their texts. Task motivation was assessed through self-report questionnaires and focus group interviews. The findings showed that the children responded positively to the use of model texts, particularly those children who had been exposed to this type of feedback over a longer period. While some expressed a preference for more explicit error correction, their overall enjoyment, improvement, as well as enthusiasm for collaborative work highlight the value of integrating model texts into the EFL classroom. Based on these findings, pedagogical implications will be discussed.
Open Access
Tracking EFL children's learning: a longitudinal study of noticing and incorporation of features in model-based and self-correction tasks
(SAGE, 2025-08-25) Luquin Urtasun, María; García Mayo, María del Pilar; Ciencias humanas y de la educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
The current body of literature on model texts as a written corrective feedback (WCF) technique has primarily examined the interaction among participants, or the quality of written drafts. However, there is a notable gap in understanding the impact of a child’s oral interaction on their written output and the traceability of their noticing. Using a longitudinal design, the research involved 60 children (aged 11–12 years) studying English as a foreign language (EFL) who were divided into three groups: a treatment group (TG); a long-term treatment group (LTG); and a control group (CG). The treatment groups received either short-term or long-term feedback incorporating model texts as exemplars of proficient writing, while the CG relied on self-correction of their texts. The results indicate that (1) the LTG made significantly more (acceptable) revisions compared to other groups; (2) they incorporated a broader range of features in their revisions compared to previous instances and compared to their counterparts; (3) the traceability of many of these changes originated in the first draft, indicating a connection to their prior work with model texts; (4) these improvements were observed in the post-test as well; (5) some second language (L2) features emerged later in the writing process, suggesting a delayed effect of the WCF; and (6) the LTG also showed a statistically significant improvement in the accuracy of features incorporated into their subsequent writing. A number of pedagogical implications will be discussed.

Luquin Urtasun, María

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