Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Native and Non-native Teachers’ Perceptions of Error Gravity: The Effects of Cultural and Educational Factors

  • Regular Article
  • Published:
The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates the perceptions of error gravity by native and non-native teachers of English in a Chinese context. Drawing on the data collected from a questionnaire, we examined the practices of error evaluation by 22 native English-speaking (NES) teachers and 25 non-native English-speaking (NNES) teachers. Participants were asked to identify student errors based on a random selection of fifty compositions written by Chinese university students, correct the errors of the sentences, and indicate which errors they considered the most serious. General comparison of error evaluation between the two groups of teachers reveals that NES teachers are generally more tolerant of student errors and rely more on intelligibility rather than rule infringement. An in-depth analysis of these findings suggests that these differences are closely connected with the participants’ cultural belief, educational background, teaching style, and English proficiency.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Booth, J. L., Lange, K. E., Koedinger, K. R., & Newton, K. J. (2013). Using example problems to improve student learning in algebra: Differentiating between correct and incorrect examples. Learning and Instruction, 25(1), 24–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bridger, E., & Mecklinger, A. (2014). Errorful and errorless learning: The impact of cue–target constraint in learning from errors. Memory and Cognition, 42(6), 898–911.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brislin, R. (1993). Understanding culture’s influence on behavior. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. D. (1991). Do English and ESL faculties rate writing samples differently? TESOL Quarterly, 25(4), 587–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grobe, C. S., & Renkl, A. (2007). Finding and fixing errors in worked examples: Can this foster learning outcomes? Learning and Instruction, 17(6), 612–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, G. (2002). Potential cultural resistance to pedagogical imports: The case of communicative language teaching in China. Language, Culture and Curriculum, 15(2), 93–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, A., & Lascaratou, C. (1982). Competing criteria for error gravity. ELT Journal, 36(2), 175–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hyland, K., & Anan, E. (2006). Teachers’ perceptions of error: The effects of first language and experience. System, 34(4), 509–519.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, C. (1977). Judgments o f error gravities. ELT Journal, 31(2), 116–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, J., & Lim, G. (2009). The influence of rater language background on writing performance assessment. Language Testing, 26(4), 485–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi, T. (1992). Native and nonnative reactions to ESL composition. TESOL Quarterly, 26(1), 81–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kung, F. (2015). Reexamining the NS and NNS dichotomy in Taiwanese higher EFL education. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 24(1), 27–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lasagabaster, D., & Sierra, J. M. (2005). Error correction: Students’ versus teachers’ perceptions. Language Awareness, 14(2), 112–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, H. K. (2009). Native and nonnative rater behavior in grading Korean students’ English essay. Asian Pacific Education Review, 10, 387–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maharjan, L. B. (2009). Learners’ errors and their evaluation. Journal of NELTA, 14(1), 71–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melton, C. D. (1990). Bridging the cultural gap: A study of Chinese students’ learning style preferences. RELC Journal, 21(1), 29–58.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porte, G. (1999). Where to draw the red line: Error tolerance of native and non-native EFL faculty. Foreign Language Annals, 32(4), 426–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao, Z. (2002). A close look at the Chinese cultural influence on students’ learning styles and strategies. Asian Englishes, 5(1), 40–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rao, Z. (2010). Chinese students’ perceptions of native English-speaking teachers in EFL teaching. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 31(1), 55–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reid, J. (1987). The learning style preferences of ESL students. TESOL Quarterly, 21(1), 87–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheorey, R. (1986). Error perceptions of native-speaking and non-native-speaking teachers of ESL. ELT Journal, 40(4), 306–312.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shi, L. (2001). Native- and nonnative-speaking EFL teachers’ evaluation of Chinese students’ English writing. Language Testing, 18(3), 303–325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Song, B., & Caruso, I. (1996). Do English and ESL faculty differ in evaluation the essays of native English-speaking and ESL students? Journal of Second Language Writing, 5(2), 163–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trandis, H. C. (1995). Individualism and collectivism. Boulder, CO: Westview.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang, Z., Wang, M., Cheng, H., Liu, S., Liu, L., & Chan, T. (2016). The Effects of learning from correct and erroneous examples in individual and collaborative settings. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 25(2), 219–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhenhui Rao.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rao, Z., Li, X. Native and Non-native Teachers’ Perceptions of Error Gravity: The Effects of Cultural and Educational Factors. Asia-Pacific Edu Res 26, 51–59 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-017-0326-5

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-017-0326-5

Keywords

Navigation