Speaker
Description
The present study investigates the use of formulaic sequences or chunks by fourth-year High-Quality English Studies students at Can Tho University, with a dual objective of identifying correct and incorrect usage in their written language. The study sample consisted of 30 EFL learners, all of whom were tasked with writing a paragraph to narrate their most memorable life experiences. To ensure reliability and precision in data analysis, three American ESOL/ESL teachers were invited to serve as independent raters. The formulaic sequences were classified according to the typology of Vespoor et al. (2012), and the frequency of their occurrence was measured. The findings reveal an accuracy rate of 86.5% in overall chunk usage, with compounds emerging as the dominant category, constituting 35.4% of the total usage. However, despite this proficiency, areas of challenge are evident, particularly in the misuse of particles, which account for 35.2% of incorrectly used chunks. These findings suggest an emerging utilization of formulaic sequences by Vietnamese EFL learners in their writing. However, as learners, they are prone to making mistakes. Recognizing and rectifying these errors can support their advancement towards higher competency in utilizing more fluent and natural language, ultimately enhancing their ability to command English in a more native-like manner. Pedagogical implications and suggestions for further research are also given.
Biography
Huynh Khoa is a graduate of Can Tho University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English Studies. Having developed a sustained interest in the field of language and linguistics, his key areas of work and research focus on language acquisition, teaching methodology, and linguistics. He presently works as a freelance tutor and an ESL teacher at Kyna English.
