The Role of Corrective Feedback in Second Language Acquisition: New Research Possibilities by Combining Computer-Based Instruction

The main idea of this paper was prompted by Truscott (1996) extreme and controversial article in which he rejects every possible positive effect of written feedback given by language teachers to the students. This study designed in order to improve students writing and minimize their errors but with no reference to students believes and preferences in one hand and finding about the positive effect of modern teaching system on the other hand. The role of corrective feedback (CF) is debated in second language acquisition (SLA). It has not been unequivocally shown that corrective feedback is effective in SLA, in particular not in the case of on-line processing, as in writing second language (L2) proficiency. We claim that these problems can be alleviated by resorting to a computer assisted language learning (CALL) environment in which learners receive computer-based feedbacks, on writing output. The central question in this project is whether computer-based feedback on grammar and essay writing contributes to the development of SLA when it is provided under near-optimal conditions. The result shows the significance effect of computer-based feedback in both acquisition and motivation of second language learners. Also it has been found that the result of Truscott (1996) maybe due to lack of teacher's ability in how to use of feedbacks.

کلیدواژه ها:

SLA ، L2 ، computer-based feedback ، teachers' comments ، corrective feedback