The Effect of Output Processing on Subsequent Input Processing: A Free Recall Study

Abstract

There is now growing evidence that output promotes second language acquisition. Recently, interest has been shown in examining (a) the effect of output processing on subsequent input processing, and (b) what factors mediate that effect. An experiment was conducted for two proficiency levels of Japanese learners of English under two conditions (output and non-output). First, participants in the output condition wrote a story in English based on four cartoon pictures (output task processing). Second, participants in both conditions read a model story describing the four cartoon pictures (subsequent input processing). Third, both sets of participants were asked, without any advance notice, to recall what they had read (written free recall test). Performance on the written free recall test suggests that (a) output tasks facilitated subsequent input processing, and (b) complex relationships existed among L2 proficiency levels, experiment conditions, and linguistic domains during subsequent input processing. These findings are discussed with reference to second language acquisition research. Implications for pedagogical practice are also considered.