Abstract

This study aims at investigating if the third- person singular as a learnt property can be released from the monitor conditions of time and form focuses as long as the trainees keep practicing it orally. The study also aims to identify if such property can be developed to the automatic extreme of the continuum when the trainees are aware of the rule. To achieve this, 30 trainees who produced conditions- focused and unfocused singular present verbs were identified in certain instances at the beginning of the program for later observation. Accordingly, tape- recordings of the trainees’ oral translations were obtained as they kept practicing and semi- structured interviews were conducted with them along the program. The results showed that the trainees who were checked to say correct forms of the conditions- unfocused singular present verbs were affected more than those who just merely saying the conditions- focused counterparts. The effect was in the form of focusing on the conditions less and less as well as developing their cognitive skills as few trainees followed mentally new mechanisms to say correct forms of the unfocused present verbs. Consequently, it can be said that such trainees reached the automaticity of the knowledge they produced earlier as learnt one.

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