Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study

Abstract While there is a growing body of studies on written corrective feedback (WCF) in current literature, little is known about how L2 learners attend to synchronous WCF (SWCF), an innovation of providing WCF, and what factors influence their engagement. To fill the gaps, our study examined L2 l...

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Main Authors: Xiaolong Cheng, Jinfen Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-05-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05007-3
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author Xiaolong Cheng
Jinfen Xu
author_facet Xiaolong Cheng
Jinfen Xu
author_sort Xiaolong Cheng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract While there is a growing body of studies on written corrective feedback (WCF) in current literature, little is known about how L2 learners attend to synchronous WCF (SWCF), an innovation of providing WCF, and what factors influence their engagement. To fill the gaps, our study examined L2 learners’ affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement with such a practice, and the factors contributing to their engagement in the Chinese EFL contexts. Drawing upon a mixed-methods approach, our study comprised two phases (survey study and in-depth study) and collected data from multiple sources including questionnaires, students’ revised drafts of writing, teacher SWCF, semi-structured interviews, and writing journals. The results from survey study and in-depth study showed that Chinese EFL learners generally displayed positive engagement with SWCF in affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions, and their engagement was influenced by factors related to students significantly. Specifically, factors including students’ English proficiency, enjoyment of English learning, digital literacy, beliefs about SWCF, and teacher-student relationships were found to mediate whether students could make full use of SWCF and reap benefits from it. The findings of our study contribute to a fine-grained understanding of how learners attended to SWCF from the three perspectives and generate useful implications for promoting their engagement.
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spelling doaj-art-2ccedefea3004b3c9d0c6494f9c556aa2025-08-20T03:16:40ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-05-0112111310.1057/s41599-025-05007-3Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods studyXiaolong Cheng0Jinfen Xu1School of Foreign Languages, Hubei University of TechnologySchool of Foreign Languages, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyAbstract While there is a growing body of studies on written corrective feedback (WCF) in current literature, little is known about how L2 learners attend to synchronous WCF (SWCF), an innovation of providing WCF, and what factors influence their engagement. To fill the gaps, our study examined L2 learners’ affective, behavioral, and cognitive engagement with such a practice, and the factors contributing to their engagement in the Chinese EFL contexts. Drawing upon a mixed-methods approach, our study comprised two phases (survey study and in-depth study) and collected data from multiple sources including questionnaires, students’ revised drafts of writing, teacher SWCF, semi-structured interviews, and writing journals. The results from survey study and in-depth study showed that Chinese EFL learners generally displayed positive engagement with SWCF in affective, behavioral, and cognitive dimensions, and their engagement was influenced by factors related to students significantly. Specifically, factors including students’ English proficiency, enjoyment of English learning, digital literacy, beliefs about SWCF, and teacher-student relationships were found to mediate whether students could make full use of SWCF and reap benefits from it. The findings of our study contribute to a fine-grained understanding of how learners attended to SWCF from the three perspectives and generate useful implications for promoting their engagement.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05007-3
spellingShingle Xiaolong Cheng
Jinfen Xu
Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study
title_full Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study
title_fullStr Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study
title_full_unstemmed Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study
title_short Engaging second language (L2) students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology-enhanced learning contexts: A mixed-methods study
title_sort engaging second language l2 students with synchronous written corrective feedback in technology enhanced learning contexts a mixed methods study
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05007-3
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AT jinfenxu engagingsecondlanguagel2studentswithsynchronouswrittencorrectivefeedbackintechnologyenhancedlearningcontextsamixedmethodsstudy