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Article published In: Revista Española de Lingüística Aplicada/Spanish Journal of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 32:2 (2019) ► pp.543–572

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Written feedback in heritage Spanish classrooms

A national survey of students and instructors

 | Penn State University
 | Texas Tech University
 | Texas Tech University
 | Penn State University
Published online: 5 November 2019
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https://doi.org/10.1075/resla.18018.mik
Abstract
Although feedback is a well-established and widespread technique in L1 and L2 writing, little is known about written feedback practices in Spanish heritage language (SHL) classrooms. This study examines how written feedback is used in SHL courses across the United States. Professors, instructors, graduate teaching assistants, program directors, and students who had taught, directed, or taken an SHL course completed online questionnaires about instructional practices and their perceptions of the feedback provided on writing assignments. Both instructors and students reported that written comments, correction codes, circles/underlines, and correct forms were frequently provided. Instructors indicated the most challenges when providing feedback on organization, grammar, and orthography. Nevertheless, students reported that every kind of feedback that they received was useful and comprehensible. Although further exploration of writing in the SHL classroom is needed to more concretely delineate best practices, the current findings suggest that several effective feedback practices are already in place.
Resumen
Aunque la retroalimentación es una técnica bien establecida y popular en la escritura de la primera y de la segunda lengua, poco sabemos de las prácticas de retroalimentación en la escritura de los estudiantes de español como lengua de herencia. Este estudio aborda cómo la retroalimentación en la escritura se lleva a cabo en los cursos de español como lengua de herencia en los Estados Unidos. Diferentes profesores, instructores, auxiliares de lengua (estudiantes graduados), directores de programas y estudiantes que han enseñado, dirigido o recibido cursos de español como lengua de herencia completaron cuestionarios sobre prácticas y percepciones acerca de la retroalimentación en las actividades de escritura. Tanto los docentes como los estudiantes revelaron que los comentarios escritos, los códigos de corrección, los círculos/subrayados y las formas correctas eran frecuentes. Los docentes destacaron que proporcionar retroalimentación sobre la organización, la gramática y la ortografía eran las áreas más complicadas. Sin embargo, los estudiantes evidenciaron que toda la retroalimentación recibida fue útil y comprensible. Aunque es necesario una mayor exploración para delinear mejores prácticas de escritura, los resultados actuales indican que ya se llevan a cabo determinadas prácticas efectivas en cuanto a la retroalimentación en este tipo de clases.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1Written feedback
    • 2.2SHL learner writing in Spanish
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Participants
      • 3.1.1Gender and language background
      • 3.1.2Instructors: Education and teaching experience
      • 3.1.3Students: Age and undergraduate major
    • 3.2Materials
    • 3.3Procedure
    • 3.4Analyses
  • 4.Results
    • 4.1Feedback practices
      • 4.1.1Instructors
      • 4.1.2Students
    • 4.2Revision practices
      • 4.2.1Instructors
      • 4.2.2Students
    • 4.3Perceptions of feedback
      • 4.3.1Instructors
        • 4.3.1.1Challenges
        • 4.3.1.2Electronic feedback
      • 4.3.2Students
        • 4.3.2.1Ease of understanding
        • 4.3.2.2Perceived usefulness
        • 4.3.2.3Electronic feedback
  • 5.Discussion
  • 6.Limitations and conclusions
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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