Speaker
Description
Grounded in the usage-based linguistic framework which considers inter-individual variation as an inherent feature of language use and production, this study attempted to explore what linguistic complexity measures significantly differed among individual learners of similar learning conditions and how these variations were comparable to the differences in essay quality. The study analyzed 56 IELTS Task 2 essays written by five Vietnamese learners enrolled in an IELTS Preparation Course, capturing inter-learner variations in all three key dimensions of complexity, i.e. lexical complexity, syntactic complexity, and discoursal complexity which were operationalized by a wide range of computational indices. Statistical analyses exhibited significant differences in complexity measures across learners, especially in lexical control and discoursal cohesion. However, comparisons with human ratings revealed inconsistent relationships. While inter-learner variations were found to be well aligned with differences in human judgement in in certain complexity, they failed to fully explain the score differences across all learner pairs. These findings underscore the need for personalized instruction since learners develop linguistic complexity in diverse and individual ways. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of integrating complexity analytic assessment with rubric-based holistic assessment.
Biography
Trinh Thi Giang Thanh (Ms.) is currently a full-time lecturer at Faculty of Foreign Languages, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Vietnam. She has intensive and extensive experience in teaching EAP, ESP, Linguistics and English Teaching Methodology Courses to English-majored students at higher education institutions. She obtained her Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from University of Groningen, the Netherlands. Her research interests include but are not limited to language development, bilingualism, teacher well-being and global citizenship. Over the past few years, she has attended and presented at numerous national and international TESOL conferences.
