Date of Award

1-1-2001

Thesis Type

Masters

Document Type

Thesis

Divisions

Faculty of Languages and Linguistics

Department

-

Institution

Universiti Malaya

Abstract

This study attempts to trace the composing processes of pre-intermediate ESL students in their first language and the English language. It is also to test the hypothesis that pre-­intermediate ESL students use L1 as the dominant language to think when writing in their first language and the English Language. This is a qualitative research project using a case-study approach obtaining data through multiple data collection method. Sources of data were think-aloud protocol, semi-structured questionnaire, retrospective interview and analysis of students' written products. Five Malaysian Chinese students from a private college were asked to write two descriptive essays using one topic, first in their L1 and then in English, verbalizing as they wrote, which was audio and video taped. After writing, they completed a retrospective process questionnaire followed by an interview. This study found subjects displaying similar behaviors when writing in their L1 and in English. This finding indicates that pre-intermediate ESL students in this study transfer their L1 writing skills to L2 writing. Apart from similarities, the researcher noted differences such as higher occurrences of behavior in LI writing and usage of other languages i.e. L1 and Malay language when students composed in English. The present study also validated the hypothesis that pre-intermediate ESL students in this study used L1 as the dominant language to think when writing in their first language and the English Language.

Initial

snms

Additional Information

Dissertation (M.A) -- Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, 2001.

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