Beliefs, practices, and awareness of written corrective feedback among EFL teachers: a mixed-methods study

Written Corrective Feedback (WCF) is a critical yet complex aspect of second language writing pedagogy. While teachers' beliefs and practices regarding WCF have been studied, inconsistencies often exist, and the Iranian university context remains underexplored. This study is grounded in Sociocultural Theory (SCT) and Teacher Cognition, framing WCF not just as a pedagogical technique but as a socially mediated activity shaped by teachers' beliefs and contextual constraints. The present study aimed to investigate the beliefs, practices, and awareness of WCF among Iranian EFL university teachers.

A mixed-methods design was employed in two phases. In the first phase, 100 teachers provided 1500 corrected student assignments and completed a questionnaire on their WCF beliefs and self-reported practices. The feedback was analyzed for strategy (direct/indirect, comprehensive/selective), focus, and potential gender bias. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 teachers to explore their awareness and knowledge, with the data analyzed using MAXQDA to develop a thematic model.

The analysis revealed a predominant use of direct (71%) and selective (84%) feedback strategies, with a primary focus on form and organization. No significant gender bias was detected. While teachers demonstrated a strong belief in the utility of WCF, some discrepancies were observed between their stated beliefs and actual practices, particularly concerning comprehensive feedback and the use of error codes. Interview data, however, indicated a high level of practical awareness, conceptualized here as a form of mediated agency within their sociocultural context, leading to the development of a model of teacher WCF awareness and practice.

Iranian EFL teachers employ varied but principled WCF strategies, showing good awareness despite some belief-practice misalignments. The findings underscore the role of experiential knowledge as a key mediator in teacher cognition and highlight implications for teacher training to bridge the theoretical knowledge and practical application.