We observe that current language resource tools only provide limited help for ESL/EFL writers with insufficient language knowledge. In particular, there is no convenient way for ESL/EFL writers to look for answers to the frequent questions of correct and appropriate language use. We have developed a language information retrieval method to exploit corporal resources and provide effective refere...

This study applied design research in designing a mobile-device-supported interactive writing platform (ePoetry Zone, ePZ) for elementary EFL learners in collaborative creation. In the first iteration essential supports needed in interactive writing were identified and became the design foundation of the mobile interactive writing platform (ePZ). In the second iteration, ePZ was developed and t...

In EFL programs, rating scales used in writing assessment are often constructed by intuition. Intuition-based scales tend to provide inaccurate and divisive ratings of learners’ writing performance. Hence, following an empirical approach, this study attempted to develop a rating scale for elementary-level writing at an EFL program in Saudi Arabia. Towards this goal, 98 students’ essays were sco...

This study investigates the validity of a writing model proposed as the underlying structure of the writing skill in English as a foreign language (EFL). Four writing prompts were administered to 178 Iranian EFL learners. The scripts were then scored according to writing benchmarks similar to the IELTS Writing criteria but narrower in scope. After interand intra-rater reliability analysis, a th...

This study seeks to explore five 6 th grade EFL learners' major writing problems by analyzing the nature and distribution of their writing errors and it also investigates factors that cause errors in their writing in English through email communication. This study examined EFL learners’ writing samples and followed taxonomy: grammatical, lexical, semantic, mechanics, and word order types of err...

Writing skill is one of the four language skills in learning English language in EFL setting. The role of self-esteem in learning second language as is one of the major important factors is very vital; because, success or failure of a learner depends mostly on the degree of ones' self-esteem. This research aimed at investigating the correlation between self-esteem and English writing achievemen...

As an indispensable and most difficult part of language acquisition, the importance of English writing has been intensified by the economic globalization and internet revolution due to the special role of English as a universal language (Warshauer, 2000). However, writing teaching and learning has been long perplexing language teachers and learners even in the first language. Therefore many stu...

Two groups of freshman students, enrolled in their first writing course in EFL, participated in the study. Before instruction, no significant differences were found between both groups in their writing ability. Both groups were exposed to the same in-class writing instruction. Since students have difficulty generating ideas in EFL, writing paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details,...