Understanding the impact of teacher feedback on EFL students’ use of self-regulated writing strategies

Drawing on Hattie and Timperley’s (2007) feedback model, the current study explored how feedback at the process and self-regulation levels impacted the development of EFL learners’ self-regulated writing strategies. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and artefacts from nine participants in a Chinese university writing classroom. Data analysis revealed that students increased their goal-oriented planning for the writing task and the monitoring of their learning process in metacognitive learning activities. Changes in cognitive writing strategies for the enhancement of strategic text processing were apparent, as well as the development and use of strategies for processing learning resources. While students heightened their interest in the multiple-draft practice, developed self-reinforcement in motivational regulation strategies, and became more proactive in feedback inquiry, they remained less active in peer learning. The findings suggest that process and self-regulatory oriented feedback can facilitate EFL writers to develop and deploy self-regulated writing strategies. A number of theoretical and pedagogical implications are offered based on the findings of the study.