Use of Peer Assessment to Improve Writing Skills in A2 Students

Abstract

Writing is one of the most important skills when learning English. “Writing helps students to express their ideas in written form and to achieve a high level of communication” (Harmer, 2004, as cited in Cabrera et al., 2014, p. 1). Nevertheless, this skill usually receives little attention from teachers and students. A particular situation that has occurred with my students is that they have no problem writing separated sentences. However, in regards to writing a paragraph, they usually do not know how to voice themselves and connect their ideas. Nunan (1999) mentioned that producing a coherent, fluent, and extended piece of writing is the most difficult activity to do in language learning, especially in a second or, in this case, a foreign language (as cited in Kareva & Spirovska, 2020). One strategy that can be used to improve writing skills in a different and subtle way is peer assessment. This strategy is basically students assessing other students. “It has been demonstrated that by focusing on their peers’ work as well as on their own strengths and weaknesses, self-regulation, strategy learning and motivation are enhanced” (Ballantyne et al. 2002, as cited in Ramon-Casas et al., 2019, p. 2). This innovation aims to improve students´ writing skills through activities in which learners can peer assess each other