The relationship between task repetition and language proficiency

Task  repetition  is  now  considered  as  an  important  task-based  implementation  variable  which can affect complexity, accuracy, and fluency of L۲ speech. However, in order to move towards theorizing  the  role  of  task  repetition  in  second  language  acquisition,  it  is  necessary  that individual variables be taken into account. The present study aimed to investigate the way task repetition  correlates  with  language  proficiency  and  the  differential  effects  that  task  repetition might  have  on  the  complexity,  accuracy,  and  fluency  of  L۲  learners  with  different  levels  of proficiency.  Fifty  language  learners  of  different  levels  of  proficiency,  selected  from  two different  language  centers,  participated  in  this  study.  They  were  asked  to  perform  an  oral narrative  task  twice  with  a  one-week  interval.  Results  revealed  that,  compared  to  the participants  with  lower  L۲  proficiency,  participants  with  higher  levels  of  L۲  proficiency produced  more  complex,  accurate,  and  fluent  speech  on  the  second  encounter  with  the  same task.

Keywords:

Accuracy , Complexity , Fluency , language proficiency , task repetition