What my Students Heard that I Didn't Know I Said: Reflections on Learner Feedback in a Spanish Composition Course

Abstract

This study analyzed the implementation of a pre-writing activity that was designed to address L2 student writers' tendency to focus on grammatical accuracy to the exclusion of content and structure. The participants, students in a university-level Spanish composition course, were given a rubric with which to evaluate three previously written compositions. These evaluations, along with a tape-recorded whole group discussion and follow-up questionnaires, constitute the database. The analysis focused on two specific aspects of the pre-writing activity: its impact on learners' views about writing and its usefulness as a pedagogical tool. Though indicating support for the activity, learners' comments also revealed a contradiction between the instructor's reportedly student-centred pedagogical beliefs and the teacher-centred nature of the activity. These findings elevate the role of learner feedback beyond evaluative and administrative purposes to constitute a key element in teacher development and professionalization.