A Glimpse into Intra-individual Oral Performance in a Semester-long Audio Journal

Abstract

This paper provides an initial, experimental look into the language development of an EFL university student by means of both quantitative and qualitative analyses of intra-individual variability in oral performance in a semester-long online audio journal. As dynamic systems theory has become a prevalent framework in the literature in recent years, the question of how best to go about applying this promising theory to language development has arisen. This paper is an attempt to apply the ideas offered by Larsen-Freeman (2006) in a deeper look into the development of the language system of an individual learner. Using a semester-long series of learner self-recorded online audio journals, quantitative analysis of utterances as well as qualitative analysis of emergent idea units was attempted. Initial quantitative findings displayed an overall increase in fluency, as measured by words per utterance, and the use of compound sentences, despite an overall decrease in accuracy. Qualitative findings included a change from more reporting-type language to the use of more personalized and affective elements.