Original scientific paper

WRITING IN ENGLISH – THE PROFICIENCY OF CROATIAN STUDENTS AT THE END OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

Lovorka Zergollern-Miletić ; Filozofski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu

Abstract

The article describes the aims, the methodology and the results
of a study on writing profi cieny in English as a foreign language. The study was
conducted within the project English in Croatia (130514). The aim of the study
was to establish the respective levels of writing profi ciency in Croatian learners
of English at the end of their primar, and at the end of their secondary education
– whether they attain the levels envisaged and required by the national curriculum:
level A2 at the end of primary school, and level B1 at the end of secondary school.
The results have shown that students have attained those levels. The results have
also shown that the profi ciency in writing, the most complex of the language skills,
is affected by the length of English tuition (years), the intensity of tuition (applies
only to secondary school students), learning other foreign languages (primarily
German), as well as the use of the Internet. Ther research has proved that the girls
attending primary and secondary schools have scored better at the English writing
test than their male counterparts. The students’ overall profi ciency in English is in
line with their results at the writing test. Writing is the best predictor of the mark
in English. In addition to the results and comments, the article offers suggestions
for further research.

Keywords

level A2; level B1; primary school; secondary school; writing skills

Hrčak ID:

26953

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/26953

Publication date:

14.5.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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