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When Different Language Groups Meet Online: Covert and Overt Focus on Form in Text-Based Chats
Ruiling Feng1,2, Kyunghee Pyun3, Wenzhong Zhang4
1Foreign Language College, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, China.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 11, 2021
Summary
This study examined focus on form in international online group chats, finding differences in error feedback based on interlocutor type. Students preferred self-repair and lexical focus, with limited error correction overall.
Area of Science:
- Second Language Acquisition
- Computer-Mediated Communication
- Applied Linguistics
Background:
- Focus on form (FonF) is well-researched in dyadic online chats, but less so in multilingual group settings.
- Covert (implicit) focus on form in text-based group interactions remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of interlocutor types on errors and focus on form episodes in online group chats.
- To compare overt and covert focus on form characteristics across two distinct international learning projects.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of chat logs from two collaborative online international learning projects (China-US and China-Mexico).
- Comparison of errors, feedback, and focus on form episode characteristics (overtness, linguistic focus, source).
Main Results:
- Significant differences observed in overtness, linguistic focus (mechanical, lexical, grammatical), and source of focus on form.
- No significant differences in focus on form type, uptake presence/quality, or repair provider.
- Students favored self-repair and lexical focus; a small proportion of errors received feedback, leading to limited uptake.
Conclusions:
- Interlocutor type influences specific aspects of focus on form in online group chats.
- Learner preferences for self-repair and lexical focus are consistent across different international collaborations.
- Findings suggest opportunities for instructors to enhance virtual exchange projects through targeted scaffolding and task design.
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