Assessing The Practice Of Efl Teachers’ Written Feedback On Students’ Written Activities:

Abstract

This study principally focused on assessing the practice of EFL teachers’ written feedback on students’ written task. Besides, it investigates the techniques of feedback provision EFL teachers employ, the challenges EFL teachers face in the provision of written feedback on students’ written activities and how far the feedback has helped students improve their writing skill. On the bases of these objectives, general and specific research questions were designed and employed.The study utilized both qualitative and quantitative designs to elucidate credible data from the subjects. Sixty-one grade eleven students and the available grade eleven EFL teachers were involved in the study. The instruments used for the collection of data were classroom observation, document review, questionnaire (students), and interview (teachers).The result of the study indicated that currently the EFL teachers at Guder preparatory school most commonly provide oral correction and written correction on the blackboard. Moreover, the finding indicated that the teachers used direct feedback and product-oriented approach which do not enhance student revision. Besides, greater attention was given to surface errors. As interview findings indicated large class size, copying from friends, illegibility of some students hand writing and the bulky content of text book were some of the contextual factors which hampered the implementation of effective written feedback. Finally, it was suggested that different strategies of written feedback should be used at every stages of writing process based on the types of errors and objectives of the writing lesson. Moreover, teacher written feedback strategies should be adapted so that they will address the writing weaknesses unique to each individual student and in a way they lead to successful revision in order to engage students’ mind. To this end, workshops, seminars, and in-service trainings for EFL teachers are recommended.