View in EDS PDF Full Text

Fluency Development in Timed Writing: The Role of Proficiency.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Fluency Development in Timed Writing: The Role of Proficiency.
Authors: Doe, Timothy1 timdoe@meiji.ac.jp, Nakao, Teruyo2 teruyo.nakao@tyg.jp
Source: TESL-EJ. May2026, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p1-22. 22p.
Subject Terms: *Fluency (Language learning), *Foreign language education, *Lexicology, *Communicative competence, Japanese students, Linguistic complexity
Abstract: While research examining foreign language fluency development in timed writing has shown its potential to bring about improvement in language proficiency, it remains unclear how different groups of learners can benefit from this activity. To investigate the role of proficiency, this study examined the writing produced by 35 Japanese English as a foreign language university students from low- and higher-level classes. 422 samples of timed writing were collected over 13 weeks and analyzed for development in complexity, accuracy, lexis, and fluency (CALF). Results showed significant improvement in writing fluency for both groups. However, the higher-level group made steady gains across the semester, while growth in the lower-level group was limited to the initial weeks of the study. Furthermore, examination of the developmental trajectories of the CALF measures suggested the higher-level group was able to attend to both fluency and complexity, but the lower-level group was unable to do so. Both groups showed a great deal of variation in lexis and accuracy. The results suggest that learners need to pass a proficiency threshold in order for timed writing to benefit fluency development. Finally, although both groups reacted positively to the activity, differences were also seen in their reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of TESL-EJ is the property of TESL-EJ and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 194541081
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Fluency Development in Timed Writing: The Role of Proficiency.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Doe%2C+Timothy%22">Doe, Timothy</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> timdoe@meiji.ac.jp</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nakao%2C+Teruyo%22">Nakao, Teruyo</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> teruyo.nakao@tyg.jp</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22TESL-EJ%22">TESL-EJ</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 30 Issue 1, p1-22. 22p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Fluency+%28Language+learning%29%22">Fluency (Language learning)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+language+education%22">Foreign language education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lexicology%22">Lexicology</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communicative+competence%22">Communicative competence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Japanese+students%22">Japanese students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Linguistic+complexity%22">Linguistic complexity</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: While research examining foreign language fluency development in timed writing has shown its potential to bring about improvement in language proficiency, it remains unclear how different groups of learners can benefit from this activity. To investigate the role of proficiency, this study examined the writing produced by 35 Japanese English as a foreign language university students from low- and higher-level classes. 422 samples of timed writing were collected over 13 weeks and analyzed for development in complexity, accuracy, lexis, and fluency (CALF). Results showed significant improvement in writing fluency for both groups. However, the higher-level group made steady gains across the semester, while growth in the lower-level group was limited to the initial weeks of the study. Furthermore, examination of the developmental trajectories of the CALF measures suggested the higher-level group was able to attend to both fluency and complexity, but the lower-level group was unable to do so. Both groups showed a great deal of variation in lexis and accuracy. The results suggest that learners need to pass a proficiency threshold in order for timed writing to benefit fluency development. Finally, although both groups reacted positively to the activity, differences were also seen in their reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of TESL-EJ is the property of TESL-EJ and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=194541081
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.55593/ej.30117a7
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 22
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Fluency (Language learning)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign language education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Lexicology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Communicative competence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Japanese students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Linguistic complexity
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Fluency Development in Timed Writing: The Role of Proficiency.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Doe, Timothy
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Nakao, Teruyo
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10724303
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 30
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: TESL-EJ
              Type: main
ResultId 1