Work

Examining the relationship between English as a foreign language learners' cognitive abilities and L2 grit in predicting their writing performance

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: This study was designed to explore the interplay among English as a foreign language learners' cognitive abilities and grit in predicting writing performance along different task complexity through path analysis and multiple group analysis. A total of 353 tertiary students from Western China were recruited to participate in this study. Their language aptitude and working memory capacity were evaluated by the LLAMA tests and the automated operation span task, respectively. They were required to complete writing tasks with different complexities: argumentation (complexity+) and narration (complexity-). The results revealed that (1) the effects of perseverance of effort and working memory on L2 writing performance were significant in the argumentative task, whereas the influences of perseverance of effort and consistency of interest on L2 writing performance were significant in the narrative one; (2) task complexity moderated the respective impacts of grammatical inferencing ability and working memory on L2 writing performance. Theoretical and pedagogical implications were discussed.

Source: Learning and Instruction

DOI: 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2023.101808

Authors: Jianhua Zhang, Lawrence Jun Zhang

Institutions: University of Auckland, Sichuan University of Arts and Science

Language: English

Topic: EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,030