Dr.  Simon  Burfoot
Lingnan University,  Hong Kong (China)

Title: A multi-dimensional investigation of English verb-noun collocations in tertiary level Chinese EFL learners.

Abstract:

Collocations occur frequently in written and spoken discourse. Their appropriate selection and deployment contribute to fluent and accurate language use such that they are an important component of language competence. A multidimensional study investigated English high-frequency verb-noun collocation knowledge and use in a group of tertiary level Chinese learners of English. A paper-based test of productive collocation knowledge revealed low levels of knowledge various errors in recall. Rasch analysis of test results provided evidence of the psychological reality of collocations for these learners but suggested lexical and grammatical elements are stored separately. A computer-based reaction time adaptation of the test items showed reaction and assembly times significantly faster for known collocations than compositional responses and comparable to advanced and native English users.  Analysis of temporal phonological features of spoken collocations showed no significant difference between collocations and compositional responses but faster onset times and lower probability of pauses within collocations. The findings have further implications for the study of collocations in learner discourse and their selection, teaching and learning in EFL settings.

Biography:

Dr. Simon Burfoot is a Senior Lecturer in English Language at the Centre for English and Additional Languages (CEAL) of Lingnan University, Hong Kong. He has spent the past 17 years teaching English language and researching English teaching and learning at public universities in Mainland China and Hong Kong. During this time he has been involved in various research projects including investigations into the English vocabulary and collocation knowledge of Chinese learners at tertiary level. He has also taken part in the development of the Diagnostic English Language Testing Assessment (DELTA), a computer-based proficiency tracking test created through a joint project between public universities in Hong Kong. His areas of expertise and interest include language curriculum development, language assessment and second language vocabulary acquisition.