Open Access
Teachers’ beliefs about oral corrective feedback: a comparison of secondary and adult education
(Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, 2018) Roothooft, Hanne; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
Aunque existe un gran número de estudios que demuestran la eficacia del feedback oral para la adquisición de una segunda lengua, no está claro hasta qué punto los profesores creen que el feedback es útil. Algunos estudios han mostrado que los alumnos generalmente quieren que se les corrija mucho más de lo que sus profesores estiman necesario. Sin embargo, otros aspectos relacionados con el feedback oral, como por ejemplo los tipos de feedback y el momento adecuado de dar feedback, han recibido muy poca atención en dichos estudios. Por eso, el presente estudio compara las creencias de dos grupos de profesores de inglés como lengua extranjera sobre: cuándo corregir, cuánto corregir y qué tipos de errores corregir. A pesar de las diferencias de contexto, los dos grupos estaban de acuerdo en que el feedback es importante, pero que demasiadas correcciones pueden interferir con el desarrollo de la fluidez y la confianza de los alumnos. La mayoría de los profesores también preferían tipos más implícitos de feedback. Estos resultados indican que existe la necesidad de incrementar la formación del profesorado en el tema del feedback oral.
Open Access
Investigating the interrelationship between rated L2 proficiency and linguistic complexity in L2 speech
(Elsevier, 2020) Bulté, Bram; Roothooft, Hanne; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
This study investigates the relationship between nine quantitative measures of L2 speech complexity and subjectively rated L2 proficiency by comparing the oral productions of English L2 learners at five IELTS proficiency levels. We carry out ANOVAs with pairwise comparisons to identify differences between proficiency levels, as well as ordinal logistic regression modelling, allowing us to combine multiple complexity dimensions in a single analysis. The results show that for eight out of nine measures, targeting syntactic, lexical and morphological complexity, a significant overall effect of proficiency level was found, with measures of lexical diversity (i.e. Guiraud's index and HD-D), overall syntactic complexity (mean length of AS-unit), phrasal elaboration (mean length of noun phrase) and morphological richness (morphological complexity index) showing the strongest association with proficiency level. Three complexity measures emerged as significant predictors in our logistic regression model, each targeting different linguistic dimensions: Guiraud's index, the subordination ratio and the morphological complexity index.
Open Access
Pronunciation in EMI: conceptualization, interlocutor anxiety and attitudes towards lecturer speech
(Equinox Publishing, 2023) Gómez Lacabex, Esther; Roothooft, Hanne; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
The consolidation of English as a global language has brought with it the need to reconceptualise aspects such as English pronunciation, which seems to be experiencing a detachment from the native norm and the integration of multicultural identities. EMI students have been reported to favour intelligibility over accurate pronunciation, as they represent a community of learners for whom English is a tool rather than a target. As previous research has reported that pronunciation may be an anxiety factor for students in speaking exchanges, this study explored how 126 EMI students envision the learning of pronunciation, their attitudes towards EMI teachers¿ pronunciation and their pronunciation anxiety upon interaction with different interlocutors in their EMI context: teachers, local peers, L1 English international peers and L2 English international peers. The data from a questionnaire and focus groups revealed that these EMI learners conceptualize pronunciation as a communication tool rather than a subject to be learnt; they revealed that they do not experience uneasiness during lessons owing to their lecturers¿ pronunciation, expressing that fluency is more important than pronunciation accuracy. Finally, they showed more pronunciation anxiety if the interlocutor was the teacher or an L1 English speaker than if it was a local peer or L2 English speaker.
Open Access
Comparing the effects of two types of output-pushing feedback on adult EFL students' oral accuracy
(Universidad de Sevilla, 2016) Roothooft, Hanne; Filología y Didáctica de la Lengua; Filologia eta Hizkuntzaren Didaktika
Aunque numerosos trabajos han demostrado que la retroalimentación oral inmediata puede ayudar a los alumnos de una segunda lengua a hablar más correctamente, no hay acuerdo sobre qué tipo de corrección es más adecuado. Si bien un gran número de estudios apoyan el uso de reformulaciones, autores como Lyster y Saito (2010) afirman que, en el contexto escolar, puede resultar más beneficioso proporcionar a los estudiantes los denominados 'prompts', que constituyen un tipo de retroalimentación que obliga a los alumnos a producir 'output'. A día de hoy, apenas se conocen los efectos de diferentes tipos de 'prompts', por ello, este estudio a pequeña escala compara dos tipos: la retroalimentación metalingüística y la elicitación. Dos grupos de alumnos universitarios de nivel intermedio (n=31) recibieron o bien elicitación o bien retroalimentación metalingüística mientras efectuaron actividades orales comunicativas. Los resultados muestran que los alumnos que recibieron retroalimentación metalingüística mejoraron más entre el test previo y posterior, aunque esta mejora no fue significativa. Asimismo, estos alumnos fueron más capaces de corregir sus errores durante la intervención en el aula.
Open Access
Teaching note-taking in EMI: an experimental study in economics and business administration
(De Gruyter, 2024) Breeze, Ruth; Roothooft, Hanne; Meyer, Marcel; Ciencias humanas y de la educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
Learning to take effective notes is particularly difficult for non-English-native university students enrolled on English Medium Instruction (EMI) courses. However, time and cost constraints mean that many universities provide no support in English for academic purposes or academic skills. One solution to this problem would be to work closely with subject lecturers to develop training that can be delivered within the framework of the EMI content courses themselves. We developed a pilot programme for training students to take effective notes in English and applied it within the context of a first-year content course in Economics and Business Administration at a Spanish university. The students improved on several measures from the pre-test to the post-test, and provided positive feedback. They particularly appreciated learning how to build outlines, simplify information, and use abbreviations and symbols. Questionnaire responses indicated that they had found the training useful and appreciated the possibilities for direct application of the new skills acquired in their other EMI courses. Further research on how to train students in academic language competences within the ecologically valid setting of the EMI classroom itself could include support with subject-focused academic writing and speaking skills.
Open Access
Primary teachers' beliefs about teaching english to young learners
(Universidad de Alcalá: Escuela Universitaria Cardenal Cisneros, 2017) Roothooft, Hanne; Filología y Didáctica de la Lengua; Filologia eta Hizkuntzaren Didaktika
Aunque se considera a menudo que el inglés debería enseñarse a partir de edades tempranas para mejorar los resultados, se sabe poco sobre las prácticas y actitudes de los profesores de inglés de primaria en España. Por eso, se elaboró un estudio cualitativo basado en entrevistas con 22 profesores de inglés de primaria con el fin de investigar las creencias de estos profesores sobre la metodología, el uso del trabajo en grupo y el uso de la primera lengua. Se observó que todos los profesores creen en el uso de un método comunicativo enfocado en las habilidades orales y de escucha, en lo cual la enseñanza explícita de la gramática es de menor importancia. La mayoría de los profesores también dicen que usan solo la lengua meta en clase y que hacen un uso frecuente del trabajo en grupos. Uno de los aspectos que parece haber influido en las actitudes de estos profesores es su propia experiencia negativa como alumnos en las aulas tradicionales, enfocadas en la gramática.
Open Access
Investigating the development of "grammatical range and accuracy" at different proficiency levels in the IELTS Speaking test
(IELTS Partners, 2019) Roothooft, Hanne; Breeze, Ruth; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
This project sheds light on the morphemes and grammatical structures used at different band levels, as well as on the error rates and types associated with their use. The authors provide information that is relevant for examiner and teacher training, and make suggestions for improving rating scales and exam tasks. A sample of 73 IELTS Speaking tests from band levels 4 to 8 was analysed in order to identify grammatical structures that distinguish different band levels and to calculate the error rates which characterise their use. The results showed that different features followed different paths. Although some features, such as plural -s, were acquired early, others, like the irregular past, seemed to follow a path of gradual improvement from bands 4 to 8, while one, namely third person -s, was found to undergo dramatic improvement only at bands 7 and 8. These findings bear some interesting similarities to patterns observed in second language acquisition studies. A second focus of this study was to characterise the range of more complex structures attempted by candidates at different levels, centring on the use of conditionals, relative clauses, indirect questions and passive structures. It was found that attempts at these structures did indeed tend to increase at higher band levels, though this was often accompanied by a high failure rate. This study contributes to our understanding of the order in which grammatical morphemes and complex structures are acquired, while at the same time providing useful information for IELTS examiners, teachers and course book writers on what structures candidates are likely to produce and what errors are typical of candidates at different levels.
Open Access
The impact of CLIL intensity and extramural English on the receptive skills of young EFL learners: CLIL intensity and extramural English
(John Benjamins Publishing, 2025-04-28) Lázaro Ibarrola, Amparo; Roothooft, Hanne; Ciencias humanas y de la educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
Research on proficiency levels among instructed learners is abundant but still has significant gaps. There is little research with young learners, barely any research comparing different degrees of CLIL intensity, and very few studies considering exposure to extramural English (EE), that is, exposure to English outside of school via informal activities or private lessons. To address these gaps, our study investigates how the intensity of exposure in school and EE impact the reading and listening skills of 219 learners (aged 11-12) of English following high-CLIL (n= 85), low-CLIL (n= 82), and non-CLIL (n = 52) tracks. The results for reading and listening, without considering EE, indicate that the high-CLIL group obtained a significantly higher score in reading, but without significant differences in listening. EE was frequent, particularly among high-CLIL participants, and reading, watching TV, and listening to music positively correlated with scores. Private English lessons were associated with higher scores in the non-CLIL group.
Open Access
Feedback in second language writing: contexts and issues: reseña
(Asociación Europea de Lenguas para Fines Específicos (AELFE), 2020) Roothooft, Hanne; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
Given the growing number of studies dedicated to feedback in second language writing in the last two decades, Ken Hyland and Fiona Hyland felt it was time for a second edition of the edited volume which was first published in 2006. Only four of the original chapters have been maintained, in an updated form, and ten new chapters have been added. The second edition of ‘Feedback in Second Language Writing’ touches upon a wide range of important issues, many of which are in need of further research.
Open Access
Pronunciation anxiety, pronunciation-related views and pronunciation learning actions of EMI and english major students
(University of Lodz, 2023) Gómez Lacabex, Esther; Roothooft, Hanne; Ciencias Humanas y de la Educación; Giza eta Hezkuntza Zientziak
The present study explored pronunciation views, learning actions and anxiety in two differentiated English learner groups: one group which was studying English in an engineering degree and another group enrolled in an English major degree. The results froma questionnaire and focus group sessions revealed that the groups share some views such as a wish to improve their English pronunciation and adherence to native pronunciation references as well as pronunciation learning actions such as watching series ortalking to native speakers. However, we also observed significant differences between the groups as the English major students tended to view pronunciation learning as a discipline, while the engineering students saw it as a communicative skill. The English majors also exhibited more pronunciation anxiety, specifically fear of ridicule and worry of making mistakes. They also revealed more anxiety-related themes in the focus group discussions such as worry about their pronunciation, pronunciation shame or unease because they do not know how to pronounce a word or cannot understand. Finally, the English major group was also more demanding of lecturers¿ accurate pronunciation. These results suggest that differences regarding English pronunciation anxiety between different learner profiles may need to be considered during their English language learning progress.