On The Application Of Dictogloss In TEFL

Dictogloss is a text-based, task-based and learner-centered teaching procedure to help learners to notice both meaning and form and develop their receptive skill and productive skill; it is believed to be a reasonably powerful and effective teaching and learning for TEFL in China. Some empirical studies are conducted on dictogloss by many foreign scholars such as Kowal and Swain (1994), Nabei (1996), Folkert and Vedder (2002). Results show that dictogloss stimulates noticing and encourages learners to move from the semantic processing dominant in comprehension to the grammatical processing needed for production, and no significant differences exist between the two groups at the post-test, nor at the delayed post-test. However, fewer empirical studies have investigated in Chinese academic circle. Gao Xiaofang (高晓芳, 1998) and Zhang Hongxia (张红霞, 2004) advocate dictogloss in TEFL. Liang Hongmei's study (梁红梅, 2004) reveals the effectiveness of dictogloss in creating conditions for SLA. Based on these previous empirical studies, this study attempts to investigate whether systematic dictogloss practice has any effect on Chinese learners of English and whether this method promotes learner to focus on meaning and form.The study reports an experiment with two groups (CG and EG) of subjects in the same teaching curriculum. Various forms of data are collected through language tests, questionnaires, transcript of group discussion, etc. SPSS is used to manage, analyze, and display data, two-tailed t-test and correlation. The two groups are homogeneous in their English language proficiency before theexperiment. The posttest results show that systematic dictogloss practice helps improve learners' performance on dictation and dictogloss tests, listening comprehension, grammar acquisition and writing ability. Moreover, a qualitative analysis of the discussion and survey demonstrates that dictogloss helps learners notice both meaning and form; intermediate and lower-intermediate learners of English consider dictogloss practice as an effect method to improve their competence and motivation. Hence, the study in this aspect is of theoretical values and practical significance.