Enhancing The Efficacy Of Written Corrective Feedback In Second Language Writing

The roles of written corrective feedback(WCF) in second language writing(SLW) have always been a subject of controversy in second language research field, and no agreement reached about whether it contributes to improving second language learners’ language accuracy, writing capacity and second language acquisition(SLA), while it is still an important teaching means in SLW classrooms(Ellis, Loewen & Erlarm, 2006; Li, 2014; Su, 2015; Truscott, 1999). This paper aims to enhance the efficacy of WCF, exploring the possibility of improving error correction rate in SLW by adding two supplementary means, oral conference and tally sheet, to the conventional WCF. Ninety-four students participated in this research and they were divided into four groups. The three experimental groups, besides WCF, received different treatments. Group One received both treatments of tally sheets and oral conference, Group Twoutilized tally sheets, Group Fourutilized oral conference, and Group Three, the control group, receivedonly conventional WCF.After revision, they filled in the questionnaire of investigation into participants’ attitudes towards WCF and the two means.Results revealed that the experimental groups receiving treatments performed better than the control group in error correction, and significant difference existed between the conference plus tally sheet group and the control group, between the tally sheet group and the control group in total and deep level error correction rate and between the conference plus tally sheet group and the conference group in deep level error correction rate. The questionnaire also revealed that the two supplementary means had positive effects on participants’ error correction, and participants held positive attitudes towards the function of the two supplementary means. It proved both objectively and subjectively that tally sheet and oral conference were effective in improving the efficacy of WCF. Therefore, this paper provides possible teaching techniques for teachers to enhance the efficacy of WCF, and offers a new research perspective for WCF researchers.