Iranian EFL Learners’ Preferences for Oral Corrective Feedback and the Realization of Their Expectations in Classroom Settings

This study intends to take into account the oral corrective feedback provided in Iranian EFL context. In particular, the study presents and discusses the results of Katayama’s (2006) questionnaire administered to Iranian EFL learners to examine (1) learners attitudes toward classroom oral CF; (2) their preferences for CF of different types of errors in speaking; and (3) their preferences for particular methods of CF. To this end, 56 lower intermediate Iranian EFL learners were recruited based on their performance on Oxford Placement Test. In addition, via observation, the researcher examined whether there was a match or mismatch between the expectations of Iranian EFL learners in this regard and what is actually practiced in chat classes held in Iranian language institutes. The findings revealed that the majority of the participants wanted their teachers to correct all the oral errors they make. The learners also expressed highly favorable attitudes toward correction of grammatical errors. In addition, it was also found that there is a match between the expectation and preferences of EFL learners with the actual practice of employing oral CF by Iranian EFL instructors.

Keywords:

Corrective feedback , Learners , Preferences , Errors