Content in Second-Language Writing: An Analysis of Skill Learning and On-line Processing

This chapter examines second-language sentence production both as a skill and as an on-line process by measuring relationships among linguistic and content characteristics of language samples both between and within participants. Written language samples were obtained from high school students enrolled in an intermediate-level English as a Second Language (ESL) class with embedded science instruction. Across participants, the skills of producing sentences with correct English grammar and accurate science content were positively associated with the skills of producing complex syntactic structures and more elaborate science content. Within participants, the on-line production of correct grammar was compromised when complex science content was expressed. The pattern of results obtained highlight the importance of analyzing bilingual language acquisition data in terms of both skill learning and on-line performance.