The role of input and output in the acquisition of language has been a source of controversy in Second Language Acquisition (SLA) research. This present study aimed to investigate the relative effects of processing instruction (PI) as a type of input-based instruction and traditional instruction (TI) as a type of output-based instruction. Specifically, this experiment examined whether PI and TI bring about any improvement in comprehension and production of the Arabic subjunctive by beginner-level learners of Arabic. The PI instructional technique was based on the principles of input processing suggested by VanPatten (1993, 2002, 2004). It has three main elements: (a) an explicit explanation of grammar, (b) information on processing strategies, and (c) structured input activities. The study involved second semester students of Arabic and it aimed at assessing the impact of PI and traditional output instruction on the interpretation and production of the Arabic subjunctive on immediate and delayed posttests. One instructional package was developed for the PI group and another package was developed for the TI group. To assess the effects of instruction, a pretest/posttest/delayed posttest procedure with three tests was used. Each test included: 1) interpretation task with sixteen multiple choice items and 2) production task with sixteen sentence-completion items. The results from this study showed that participants who received PI outperformed participants from the TI as measured by Interpretation tasks of the subjunctive. However, the performance of both groups were statistically similar as was measured by the production tasks of the subjunctive. These results supported those of previous research that had compared PI with TI (Benati, 2001, 2005; Cadierno, 1995; VanPatten & Cadierno, 1993a, 1993b; VanPatten & Wong, 2004).

This thesis investigates the effects of explicit input-based focus on form on the comprehension and production of noun clauses by the intermediate level students studying at Atilim University. To this end, a comparison was made between the comprehension and production scores of two groups of students from this context, one receiving explicit input-based focus on form (Group 1) and the other receiving no additional instruction other than the one suggested in the syllabus they were following (Group 2). Before and after this instructional intervention, both groups were given three different tests, namely an interpretation test (to evaluate how the students comprehended noun clauses), a production test (to evaluate how they used noun clauses), and a grammaticality judgment test (to evaluate the students&amp / #8223 / explicit knowledge of noun clauses). The comparisons between Group 1 and Group 2 revealed that explicit input-based instruction may have a power to influence the L2 learners&amp / #8223 / comprehension and explicit knowledge of noun clauses. However, the results indicated that this type of instruction may not be effective on the production of learners as it is on their comprehension of L2 forms.

In an effort to better understand the mental processing connected to different kinds of CALL activities, this study collected data on time subjects spent, as well as buttons subjects clicked while doing 10 different CALL activities accompanying a beginning French text book. In addition, a group of subjects thought out loud as they completed the same activities. These subjects were recorded on video, their thinking out loud was transcribed and the transcriptions were coded according to how they indicated they were dealing with the language input. The frequencies of coded categories were compared to see if there were connections between certain activity types and the kind of mental processing that should lead to language acquisition. It found that activities which required language production at least at the sentence level had higher occurrences of the kind of processing that one expects to lead to acquisition. The study also found that activities which required the learners to click as a response were connected to what could be considered shallower processing, or processing that is less likely to lead to language acquisition. It found similar results concerning True/False activities. In investigating the connection between behavior and mental processing in the CALL setting, the study found that button-use does seem to be connected to more effective processing, but that time spent on an activity is something that is perhaps too ambiguous to draw conclusions from.

Este presente estudo comparou o efeito de duas combinações de instrução com foco na forma no ensino da flexão de adjetivos I e NA da língua japonesa, em sua forma predicativa, aplicadas em duas turmas de nível básico. Uma combinação foi baseada no composto: instrução para processamento com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada, e a outra, na atividade de consciousness raising com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada. A primeira combinação teve como principal intervenção pedagógica a instrução para processamento formulada por VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), e a segunda, a atividade de consciousness raising defendida por alguns autores como Fotos & Ellis (1991). O objetivo principal foi avaliar qual das duas intervenções é mais eficaz na aprendizagem a curto e a longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos. Para tanto, o desempenho dos aprendizes foi avaliado por cinco pós-testes e por um teste postergado, todos em formato de produção escrita, aplicados após os respectivos tratamentos. Os resultados obtidos pela análise estatística constatam que, apesar de ambas as combinações apresentarem um efeito positivo, a instrução para processamento é mais eficaz tanto na aprendizagem a curto prazo como na de longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos I e NA. / This study focused on comparing the effects of two combinations of form-focused instruction on the learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection, in their predicative form, applied to two elementary level student groups. One combination was based on the composite: processing instruction with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity, and the other one was formed by consciousness raising activity with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity. The main classroom intervention of the first combination was the processing instruction formulated by VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), and of the second was the consciousness raising activity advocated by some authors like Fotos & Ellis (1991). The main purpose was to evaluate which of the two interventions is more effective in the short and long term learning of adjective inflection. To that end, the learner`s performance was evaluated through five post-tests and one postponed test, all in written production form, applied after the respective treatments. The results obtained by statistical analysis found that, although both combinations of instruction showed positive learning results, the processing instruction appeared more effective in the short and in the long term learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection.

Este presente estudo comparou o efeito de duas combinações de instrução com foco na forma no ensino da flexão de adjetivos I e NA da língua japonesa, em sua forma predicativa, aplicadas em duas turmas de nível básico. Uma combinação foi baseada no composto: instrução para processamento com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada, e a outra, na atividade de consciousness raising com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada. A primeira combinação teve como principal intervenção pedagógica a instrução para processamento formulada por VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), e a segunda, a atividade de consciousness raising defendida por alguns autores como Fotos & Ellis (1991). O objetivo principal foi avaliar qual das duas intervenções é mais eficaz na aprendizagem a curto e a longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos. Para tanto, o desempenho dos aprendizes foi avaliado por cinco pós-testes e por um teste postergado, todos em formato de produção escrita, aplicados após os respectivos tratamentos. Os resultados obtidos pela análise estatística constatam que, apesar de ambas as combinações apresentarem um efeito positivo, a instrução para processamento é mais eficaz tanto na aprendizagem a curto prazo como na de longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos I e NA. / This study focused on comparing the effects of two combinations of form-focused instruction on the learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection, in their predicative form, applied to two elementary level student groups. One combination was based on the composite: processing instruction with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity, and the other one was formed by consciousness raising activity with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity. The main classroom intervention of the first combination was the processing instruction formulated by VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), and of the second was the consciousness raising activity advocated by some authors like Fotos & Ellis (1991). The main purpose was to evaluate which of the two interventions is more effective in the short and long term learning of adjective inflection. To that end, the learner`s performance was evaluated through five post-tests and one postponed test, all in written production form, applied after the respective treatments. The results obtained by statistical analysis found that, although both combinations of instruction showed positive learning results, the processing instruction appeared more effective in the short and in the long term learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection.

Orientador: Linda Gentry El-Dash / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-06T06:03:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sousa_DenilsonAmade_M.pdf: 683113 bytes, checksum: b56e92e2cf7ccf5d2606b65b00c15c99 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Este estudo realizou uma descrição de um fenômeno lingüístico chamado alternância das formas dativas em inglês (dative alternation) e verificou, através de um teste de julgamento de gramaticalidade, se professores e alunos brasileiros de inglês têm conhecimento implícito ou explícito acerca deste fenômeno. Comparando a intuição de nativos americanos com a intuição de alunos e professores brasileiros, chegou-se à conclusão de que nem os professores nem os alunos possuem esse conhecimento. A partir desses resultados foram realizadas intervenções em sala de aula com o intuito de fazer com que aprendizes de inglês de nível intermediário adquirissem a alternância das formas dativas. Essas intervenções foram baseadas em processamento de insumo e instrução para processamento (como formulados por VanPatten, 1993,1996) e tiveram um design de pré-teste/pós-teste. As análises estatísticas desse segundo experimento ¿ intervenção ¿ mostraram, com uma diferença significativa ao nível de 5%, que o grupo que sofreu o tratamento baseado em instrução para processamento de insumo aprendeu a alternância das formas dativas apenas no nível imediato, já que essa aprendizagem se perdeu depois de passado um mês. As análises estatísticas referentes ao grupo que sofreu um tratamento baseado numa abordagem tradicional indicaram que não houve aprendizagem imediata estatisticamente relevante. Essas análises também apontaram, com uma diferença significativa ao nível de 10%, para a perda do conhecimento, estatisticamente não significativo, adquirido na intervenção. O conhecimento do grupo de controle ¿ aquele que não sofreu nenhum tipo de tratamento ¿ se manteve o mesmo durante o período da pesquisa. Evidenciou-se, assim, que, pelo menos para esse tipo de estrutura, a Instrução para Processamento de Insumo surtiu um efeito apenas imediato, que não durou muito tempo. Essa descoberta é interessante, pois se pode imaginar o motivo pelo qual isso tenha ocorrido e conseqüentemente se especular acerca daquilo que pode ser feito para se evitar a perda do conhecimento adquirido na intervenção / Abstract: This study was designed to describe a linguistic phenomenon in English known as dative alternation. A grammaticality judgment task was used to ascertain whether Brazilian teachers and learners of English have any knowledge of that phenomenon, either implicit or explicit. When the intuition of native Americans was compared with that of Brazilian teachers and learners, it was attested that neither the teachers nor the students possess that kind of knowledge. Based on these results, two kinds of classroom intervention were carried out in an attempt to investigate the acquisition of the possession constraint underlying dative alternation by intermediate level English students. These interventions, based on input processing and processing instruction (as formulated by VanPatten, 1993, 1996), involved a pre-test/post-test design. The statistical analysis of this experiment showed, with a level of significance of 5%, that the group submitted to processing instruction learned the restriction underlying dative alternation, but only in the short term, since this learning was lost after a month. The statistical analysis of the group submitted to a treatment involving a traditional approach did not reveal any statistically significant kind of short term learning. Although the analysis suggested, with a level of significance of 10%, that any knowledge acquired during intervention was lost. The knowledge of dative alternation of the control group ¿ a group which did not undergo any kind of treatment ¿ remained unaltered. Thus, it was demonstrated that, at least for this kind of structure, processing instruction had only a short term effect, which did not last as long as a month. These findings are interesting because one may wonder why this happened and, consequently, speculate about what can be done in order to avoid the loss of the knowledge acquired through the processing instruction intervention / Mestrado / Mestre em Linguística Aplicada