Abstract

How learners perceive written corrective feedback (CF) associates with its effectiveness in language learning. This research investigates students’ preferences for three types of written CF, i.e., direct, indirect and metalinguistic written CF, and explores the factors that encourage the teachers to employ these CFs in teaching practice. The findings include: (1) indirect written CF is preferred by most Chinese secondary EFL learners and there exist significant differences among their preferences, (2) gender difference significantly influences learners’ preference for metalinguistic written CF and proficiency differences significantly influence their preference for indirect written CF, (3) indirect written CF is most commonly used by the teachers of secondary levels and (4) there are no significant differences between learners’ preferences and teachers’ practice in Chinese secondary schools. This research thus presents a new acquaintance with learners’ preferences and teachers’ justification for their execution.

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