
The Effects of Integrated and Isolated Focus-on-Form Instruction with Consciousness-Raising Tasks on University Students’ Writing Accuracy, Fluency, and Grammar Recognition
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Abstract
This study examined the effects of integrated and isolated Focus on Form (FonF) instructional models on writing accuracy, fluency, and grammar recognition among Korean university students. Ninety participants were randomly assigned to three groups: Integrated FonF (IG), Sequential Isolated FonF (SIG), and Reverse Sequential Isolated FonF (RSIG). Over a 15-week semester, participants completed pre- and post-tests involving essay writing and grammar recognition tasks. Writing accuracy was measured by error rates, fluency by words produced per minute (WPM), and grammar recognition through a targeted test. Results showed significant improvements in all groups, with IG and SIG groups outperforming RSIG. IG demonstrated the greatest gains in accuracy and fluency, benefiting from simultaneous attention to grammar and meaning, supported by real-time feedback. SIG showed notable improvements attributed to form-focused instruction preceding writing. RSIG, where form-focused activities occurred after writing, showed relatively limited progress. Statistical analyses confirmed these differences, highlighting the critical role of timing and integration in FonF instruction. Findings emphasize that integrating form and meaning-focused activities, timed to match learner needs and task demands, maximizes L2 writing development. This study offers pedagogical insights for curriculum design, advocating for real-time, contextualized grammar instruction to enhance writing proficiency in higher education.
Keywords:
Focus on Form (FonF), integrated FonF, isolated FonF, writing accuracy, writing fluency, grammar recognitionReferences
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