A practical inquiry on patterns of corrective feedback and modified output in an adult high-beginning ESL grammar class

Abstract

Corrective feedback has been accorded an important role in second language (L2) acquisition (Chaudron, 1988; Long, 1996), partly because it may allow opportunities for modified output, a process that is claimed to benefit L2 development (Swain, 1985, 1995). Classroom studies have revealed different feedback types associated with different levels of success in inviting modified output depending on various mediating factors, such as characteristics of feedback, learner differences and instructional contexts. The present descriptive self-study examined patterns of corrective feedback and learner responses in an adult high-beginning ESL grammar class. The findings showed that recasts were the most frequent yet least effective feedback type, often followed by a majority of peer-initiated and teacher-initiated topic continuation. The findings also revealed some error patterns in my responses to students’ non-target utterances, but students did not appear to notice my errors. These results suggest some pedagogical implications with respect to my role as a facilitator and monitor as well as raising students’ awareness of self- and peer-corrections. Keywords: self-study, corrective feedback, modified output, ESL, grammar