EFFECTS OF MEANING-FOCUSED FEEDBACK ON STUDENTS’ FEEDBACK PERCEPTION, WRITING ACHIEVEMENT AND MOTIVATION

Abstract

This research aimed to assess the effects of meaning-focused comment on students’ essay writing achievement and writing motivation. Additionally, it sought to evaluate the effects of meaning focused feedback at the present level students’ perception of teacher feedback experienced by Ethiopian secondary school students. Instruments used to collect data were: Essay Test, Motivation Inventory and Questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the tools were confirmed. The research sample was made up of 95 grade eleven students at Arbaminch Limat Secondary School, Gamo Zone. They were split up into two groups:( 47/48). Both groups were comparable with regard to writing achievement, writing motivation and perception of feedback in terms of pretest. The participants in the experimental group were presented with session for meaning-focused feedback. Participants in the control group however, were instructed using the conventional error feedback. Then, the EFL teacher was selected and given orientation and training on giving meaning-focused feedback for one week. Then, the groups wrote six essays within 12 weeks. The data analysis findings demonstrated the enhanced influence of meaning-focused feedback on the participants in the experimental group higher-level writing components achievement, writing motivation, and perception of teacher feedback. Implications for using meaning-focused feedback in EFL writing were discussed. In light of the results, it was recommended that the main purpose of meaning focused feedback should be to motivate students to revise their writings in order to improve their writing skills. Teachers in EFL should also make advantage of meaning-focused to help students write better in the areas of content, organization, cohesion and vocabulary. Teachers are also encouraged to use this feedback to help students become more motivated writers. Finally, given the small sample size and time frame of this study, it would seem that more research is strongly advised in order to examine the topic in various scenarios