JALT2025 - Tokyo

An MD Analysis of Korean EFL Learners’ Argumentative Essays

Oct 31, 2025, 2:15 PM

30m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Research-oriented Presentation (30-minutes) Learner Development Room 305

Speaker

Seonwoong Kim (Seoul National University)

Description

This presentation examines the linguistic variations in a corpus of argumentative essays written by Korean EFL learners. By conducting an additional MDA using the five dimensions established in Biber (1988), learner essays were compared with their native counterparts and across four proficiency levels using dimension scores. Native essays were more narrative and persuasive compared to Korean essays, whereas more proficient Korean writers produced essays that were more narrative and focused on delivering information.

Summary

This presentation examines the linguistic variations in a corpus of argumentative essays written by Korean EFL learners. By conducting an additional MDA using the five dimensions established in Biber (1988), learner essays were compared with their native counterparts and across four proficiency levels using dimension scores. Native essays were more narrative and persuasive compared to Korean essays, whereas more proficient Korean writers produced essays that were more narrative and focused on delivering information.