PE 9

A Study of the Relationship Between Writing Skill in English vs. Persian in Adult EFL Learners in Iran

كارشناسي ارشد

مديريت منابع انساني

91/06/23

فريدون وحداني

مسعود خليلي ثابت

Writing , Skill , Relationship , Persian , EFL Learners , Adult , Iran

وحداني،فريدون , خليلي ثابت،مسعود

Several studies concur that there is a significant relationship between first language (L1) and second language (L2) proficiency, and suggest drawing on the facilitating effect of cross-linguistic transfer in language learning. On the other hand, writing as an important and arduous language skill might be a good candidate for calling for more attention in benefiting such a facilitating effect. In this respect, this research investigated the relationship between writing skill and sub-skills of first language (Persian) and foreign language (English). Therefore, 50 upper-intermediate EFL learners in Iran who were majoring in the English language were asked to write on two different topics in Persian and English. Then, the compositions were evaluated based on ESL Composition Profile (Jacobs et al., 1981). Subsequently, using Pearson product-moment correlation, the correlation between the compositions overall scores in L1 and L2, as well as the correlations between each of five major components of writing, including content, organization, vocabulary, language use, and mechanics in the two languages were examined. The results displayed large correlations between the compositions overall scores as well as between the four writing sub-skills in L1 and L2. The highest correlations were observed between writing sub-skills of vocabulary, mechanics, language use, and content respectively. These findings suggest significant relationships between writing skill as well as between most writing sub-skills in L1 and L2, which entail some pedagogical implications for effective language learning in both L1 and L2, utilizing the enhancing effect of cross-linguistic transfer of writing.

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