The effect of language proficiency on the negotiation in peer review in EFL context

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Bahram Mowlaie Parviz Maftoon

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of language proficiency level on using negotiation categories in peer feedback in EFL context. Thirty high and thirty low proficient EFL learners participated in this study and their audiotaped negotiations were transcribed and analyzed based on Mendonça and Johnson's (1994) category. In four categories of restatement, suggestion, grammar correction, and explanation of opinion which were generated by the writers and the reviewers, although reviewers dominated the negotiation in both high and low proficient groups, in low proficient groups, the difference between the writers and the reviewer was more significant. In comprehension check and explanation categories used mainly by the writers, there was a significant difference in explanation between high and low proficient groups, but no such difference was found in comprehension check. In request for explanation category used mainly by the reviewers, no significant difference was found between the reviewers in high and low proficient group. The study has pedagogical implication for writing classes as it suggests audience awareness, critical thinking, and realization of output hypothesis as the pedagogically beneficial result of negotiation. It also suggests peer feedback as an alternative to teacher feedback.

 

Keywords: high and low proficient EFL learners, negotiation, peer feedback.

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