Investigating Voice in Korean EFL College Writing

Abstract

The concept of voice in L2 writing is related to how writers show their presence, identities, and assertiveness. Voice in L1 writing has received considerable attention and has been found to be an important element that can influence writing quality. However, in L2 writing research, there is still a debate on the importance of voice in L2 writing instruction and its relationship with essay quality. The current study examined the L2 writers’ use of voice and the relationship between voice and essay quality. One hundred twenty-six essays from forty-two students enrolled in a practical English course in a university in Korea were collected and voice and essay quality were assessed. Results show that essay quality positively and significantly correlated with voice. Furthermore, examples of how L2 writers expressed voice were analyzed to show the strategies of voice used by L2 writers. Based on the findings of the study, pedagogical implications are discussed on addressing voice in L2 writing instruction.