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The Literacy Trek
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This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Online) 2602-3768
Published by DergiPark

[185 journals]

An error analysis on Turkish EFL learners’ writing tasks
- Authors: Berfu DUYGUN; Pınar KARABACAK
  Abstract: This descriptive qualitative study aimed to investigate the types and sources of errors committed by Turkish students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) in their foreign language (L2) writings as well as find out whether there is a difference in terms of the number, classification, and sources of errors between students at two different proficiency levels. To this end, the study was carried out at the School of Foreign Languages at a non-profit foundation university in Turkey in the 2020-2021 academic year. The students participating in the study (N= 32), who were selected using the convenient sampling method and participated in the study voluntarily, were Turkish preparatory class students having two different English proficiency levels, namely A1 level (n= 16) and A2 level (n= 16). Data for the study came from three different narrative paragraphs (each ranging in a 100 - 200 word band) written by the students, and a total of 96 paragraphs were collected for the study. The analysis revealed that the most frequent type of error was grammatical errors overall, a large part of which was the inappropriate use of verb forms. Moreover, findings concerning the potential differences between two proficiency levels showed that A1 level learners committed more errors than A2 level learners in all types except the semantic errors. Based on these findings, a number of implications for L2 writing teachers are discussed.
  PubDate: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +030
Professional identity of language teacher trainees during practicum: A
metaphor analysis
- Authors: Burcu TURHAN
  Abstract: Teachers may face dilemmas when they realize certain discrepancies between theory and practice throughout their career. Especially for teacher trainees, such dilemmatic spaces may be beneficial in uncovering multiple identities developing and being shaped especially during practicum. More specifically, the most frequent discrepancy could be between the desire to explore one’s own teacher identity and to please mentors and supervisors. Therefore, teacher training programs should provide spaces for teacher trainees to reflect and analyze those dilemmas so that they could develop their teacher professional identity (TPI) in an unproblematic and smooth manner. To this end, this study involved twelve senior English teacher trainees into a five-week process when they expressed their growing professional identities through metaphorical discourse within the scope of Teaching Practice I course. The thematic analyses of the elicited metaphors revealed vital hints about the TPI of language teacher trainees. Besides, the place and importance of metaphors for understanding TPI were discussed in the context of teacher education.
  PubDate: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +030
Stand-up that stands out: Analysis of gendered sequences from a
Foucauldian perspective
- Authors: Nur SÜRÜÇ ŞEN
  Abstract: This article intends to unveil the conceptualization of gender and power dynamics buried in the sequences uttered by Turkish female comedians in their stand-up performances. Investigating ten clips of staged performances, 69 gendered and 28 failed utterances are given a closer look with the help of thematic analysis under in vivo coding framework. Furthermore, the utterances are transcribed and analyzed in line with conversation analysis premises. The findings might shed light upon the content of the instances alongside discursive strategies that the comedians use to tackle gender and power issues. This defined artifact analysis attempts to put forward how the Turkish female comedians place themselves and other women with regards to power dynamics in the society under the roof of their story lines. Basing on their reactions, audiences’ attitudes towards the subject matter have been analyzed. In this respect, humor functioned in many ways such as depicting others’ expectations and impositions upon women, eradicating passivized roles assigned by the society, and so on. Overall, the analysis demonstrates that humor can have several dimensions, operating as reflecting on the experiences and societal perceptions in the eyes of a woman. Within the analyzed dataset, the instances seem to be unearthing certain patterns and recursive experiences found in the stories of the comedians.
  PubDate: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +030
Exploring the relationship between L2 writing self-efficacy and language
proficiency level
- Authors: Tuba DEMİRKOL; Hakan DEMİRÖZ
  Abstract: This study aims to explore if EFL learners’ self-efficacy perceptions of their L2 writing performance vary by proficiency level. As the research design, the quantitative method was employed and a questionnaire measuring EFL learners’ L2 writing self-efficacy on a Likert scale was used as the data collection instrument. The participants were EFL students (n=47) enrolled in the preparatory program of an English-medium instruction state university in Türkiye. Data analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between the participants’ proficiency level and their perceptions of L2 writing self-efficacy. The findings indicate that EFL students develop a more positive attitude towards L2 writing as they progress in language mastery and the preparatory programs appear to be feeding into the appearance of this positive perception. Nevertheless, some points among which idea production represents the biggest concern continue to be an issue deserving much attention across the levels. This finding suggests that L2 writing training should be enhanced with strategies as well as activities that can assist students in producing ideas on given topics.
  PubDate: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +030
Structural repetitions and discourse relations in English-Turkish
translations of TED talks
- Authors: Özgür ŞEN BARTAN
  Abstract: This study attempts to analyse translations of the discourse relations of the arguments with structural repetitions in the TED-MDB corpora consisting three texts (English) and their translations (Turkish). The main questions addressed in this paper are: a) Are connective relations used explicitly or implicitly together with repetitions' b) Which discourse relations are being used with repetitions' c) Do translators translate repetitions or omit them' The analysis shows that speakers of TED Talks mostly prefer to use these repetitions in their speeches with implicit discourse relations (66.6%), and translators translate them through implicit forms (54.8%). Moreover, the dominantly explicit usage of and in repetitive structures shows that the relations can be associated with an explicit connective and. Accordingly, ExpansionConjunction (addition) relations are frequently being used with repetitions at the beginning (73.8%). Also, mostly, the translators tend to omit repetitions at the beginning (92.9%).
  PubDate: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +030
Does developing research skills increase academic motivation among foreign
language learners'
- Authors: Ferdane DENKÇİ AKKAŞ; Işıl TEKİN, Selami AYDIN
  Abstract: Academic motivation is one of the most significant affective factors in the learning of English as a foreign language (EFL). Moreover, research skills can be vital in foreign language learning and teaching processes. However, the number of studies on academic motivation, research skills, and the relationship between the two seems too limited to draw a conclusion. The current study aims to explore whether or how academic research skills and academic motivation are related. In this experimental study, an information test for measuring their knowledge of EFL research and the Academic Motivation Scale were administered to 16 participants before and after the instruction process. The results showed that developing foreign language research skills increases intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation among language learners. It was recommended that issues relating to research skills should be integrated into language course programs.
  PubDate: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +030

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