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ERIC Number: EJ990140
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Dec
Pages: 32
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0039-8322
EISSN: N/A
Oral Fluency, Accuracy, and Complexity in Formal Instruction and Study Abroad Learning Contexts
Mora, Joan C.; Valls-Ferrer, Margalida
TESOL Quarterly: A Journal for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and of Standard English as a Second Dialect, v46 n4 p610-641 Dec 2012
This study investigates the differential effects of two learning contexts, formal instruction (FI) at home and a study abroad period (SA), on the oral production skills of advanced-level Catalan-Spanish undergraduate learners of English. Speech samples elicited through an interview at three data collection times over a 2-year period were quantitatively assessed for fluency, accuracy, and complexity. The results reveal robust fluency gains during SA, moderate improvement in accuracy, and lack of gains in complexity. No gains were obtained during FI. Initial fluency scores, rather than post-FI scores, accounted for a substantial amount of variance in the fluency scores after SA. These findings provide strong evidence for the positive impact of an SA period on the development of oral fluency. (Contains 4 figures, 4 footnotes and 12 tables.)
Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Spain
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A