The Effects of Focus on Form Approach via Dictogloss Technique on Developing Linguistic Competence of Iranian EFL Learners

Abstract

The acquisition of passive voice in English was studied in this quasi-experimental research through the use of dictogloss technique as a focus on form approach. The participants, thirty-five male and female students, were English translation majors at BA level at University College of Nabi Akram in Tabriz. They were randomly assigned into two intact classes: the experimental and control groups. Nelson proficiency test indicated that they were at intermediate level of proficiency. The treatments were applied after conducting a proficiency test and a pretest in order to assure the learners' homogeneity in proficiency and their background knowledge in passive voice. The treatment and posttest tests were arranged in two forms, half of which were in multiple-choice format and the other half were supply type ones. The multiple-choice items were selected from <em>Objective Tests</em> (Orleans & Sealy, 1928) and the supply types were selected from two books named: <em>Intermediate Language Practice</em> by Vince (1998) and <em>Oxford Living Grammar: Pre-intermediate</em>. The dictogloss technique was used as a treatment on the experimental group (n=18). Nonetheless, the traditional method of focus on formS was used on the control group (n=17). The results of one-way ANOVA and post hoc test indicated the superiority of focus on form technique over the focus on formS. The findings revealed significant effect of the dictogloss treatment on the performance of the learners. The results showed a significant improvement in the treatment group in posttest over the pretest.