L2 Writing Proficiency and Mastery of Complex Sentence: A Study of Indonesian English Education Major University Students

  • Adaninggar Septi Subekti Duta Wacana Christian University
Keywords: L2 writing proficiency, complex sentences, mastery

Abstract

This study investigated the extent of learners’ mastery of complex sentences in predicting L2 writing proficiency. This study used forty essays of ten students of English Education Department. It found that complex sentences became the most frequently written sentences in the analysed essays. The mean of their level of mastery was 57.58%, suggesting that their mastery in general was quite low. Furthermore, learners’ number of complex sentences did not have any significant relationship with L2 writing proficiency, r (40) = -.08, p > .05, but their level of mastery of complex sentences positively correlated with their writing proficiency, r (40) = .44, p < .01, suggesting that number of complex sentences regardless of grammaticality did not significantly correlate with L2 writing proficiency and only grammatically correct complex sentences, seen through learners’ mastery, had positive correlation with L2 writing proficiency. Furthermore, learners’ mastery of complex sentences could predict 19% of their writing proficiency, R2 = .19. From the results, implications and limitations of the study as well as suggestions on future studies were stated.

Keywords: L2 writing proficiency, complex sentences, mastery

Author Biography

Adaninggar Septi Subekti, Duta Wacana Christian University
Obtaining her M.Sc. in TESOL from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, the author, who obtained her Bachelor of Education from Sanata Dharma University, currently works as a lecturer at the English Education Department of Duta Wacana Christian University. Her research interest includes learners’ individual differences, Global Englishes, language teaching methodologies, and critical literacies and pedagogies in L1 and L2 contexts. Throughout her teaching career, she has taught students from various levels of education, including teaching ESP to non-English teachers of High Schools, and university lecturers. Though her specialty is in English teaching, she was once also a teacher of Indonesian language at Arizona State University from 2013 to 2014.

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Published
2018-03-12
How to Cite
Subekti, A. (2018). L2 Writing Proficiency and Mastery of Complex Sentence: A Study of Indonesian English Education Major University Students. Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 3(1), 19-32. https://doi.org/10.21462/ijefll.v3i1.48