The relationship between explicit learning and consciousness-raising tasks within a communicative language context

This study aims at investigating whether consciousness-raising tasks, used in a communicative learning environment of EFL, can be considered a valid instrument for eliciting explicit learning in that context. Five participants enrolled in the second level of a language course answered a cycle of tas...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Roscioli, Deise Caldart, Toassi, Pâmela Freitas Pereira, Farias, Priscila Fabiane, D'Ely, Raquel Carolina Souza Ferraz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Editora da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (EDIPUCRS) 2015-01-01
Series:Brazilian English Language Teaching Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistaseletronicas.pucrs.br/ojs/index.php/belt/article/view/20187/13631
Description
Summary:This study aims at investigating whether consciousness-raising tasks, used in a communicative learning environment of EFL, can be considered a valid instrument for eliciting explicit learning in that context. Five participants enrolled in the second level of a language course answered a cycle of tasks that intended to teach the use of comparatives. The materials used in this study consisted of a pre-task, consciousness-raising tasks, an untimed grammaticality judgment test, and a self-report questionnaire. Results showed that the instruments used in this research were of a valid nature for eliciting explicit learning. The findings also provide empirical support regarding the importance of consciousness-raising tasks to assist students’ second language learning in a communicative classroom environment. Despite being a small scale research, this study may contribute to a greater understanding of the SLA processes within a communicative context and highlight the importance of explicit knowledge learning within a meaning focused approach
ISSN:2178-3640