Startseite The Effect of the Continuation Task on the Acquisition of the Chinese Spatial Phrase Structure by L2 Chinese Learners
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The Effect of the Continuation Task on the Acquisition of the Chinese Spatial Phrase Structure by L2 Chinese Learners

  • Zeng Liyun

    Zeng Liyun is an English teacher at Tianfulu Primary School, Guangzhou. Her research efforts have focused on second language acquisition and English language teaching.

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    , Mao Zhicheng

    Mao Zhicheng is a postgraduate at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. His research interests are in second language acquisition and its application to language teaching.

    und Jiang Lin

    Dr. Jiang Lin is a professor of applied linguistics at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. Her research focus is on L2 development and on SLA theories and research findings to L2 teaching.

Veröffentlicht/Copyright: 17. Oktober 2017
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Abstract

This study aims to investigate the effect of the continuation task (CT) on the acquisition of the Chinese spatial phrase structure (SPS) by learners of various L1 backgrounds learning Chinese as a second language (CSL). Two groups of participants were formed: a continuation group and a reading comprehension group. The former was required to continue in Chinese a text with its ending removed, while the latter needed to complete the Q&A questions after reading the same text. The effect of the tasks was measured by examining the CSL learners’ correct use of the Chinese SPS in three aspects — the circum-construction, the use of prepositions and the use of the locative. The study found that the continuation group made significant improvement from the pretest to the posttests while the reading comprehension group did not. Moreover, the continuation group outperformed the reading comprehension group significantly in the posttests, though there was no significant difference between them in the pretest. The results showed that CT can facilitate CSL learners’ acquisition of the Chinese SPS, with a better effect than the reading comprehension task.

About the authors

Zeng Liyun

Zeng Liyun is an English teacher at Tianfulu Primary School, Guangzhou. Her research efforts have focused on second language acquisition and English language teaching.

Mao Zhicheng

Mao Zhicheng is a postgraduate at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. His research interests are in second language acquisition and its application to language teaching.

Jiang Lin

Dr. Jiang Lin is a professor of applied linguistics at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. Her research focus is on L2 development and on SLA theories and research findings to L2 teaching.

Acknowledgements

We are deeply grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable feedback. This research was supported by a grant from the China National Social Science Foundation (14CYY018).

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Published Online: 2017-10-17
Published in Print: 2017-10-26

© 2017 FLTRP, Walter de Gruyter, Cultural and Education Section British Embassy

Heruntergeladen am 20.11.2025 von https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/cjal-2017-0017/html
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