Writing Like a Native: The Process of Reformulation.

ABSTRACT A procedure for providing feedback on compositions of advanced second language learners is described. Under this procedure, called reformulation, a native speaker rewrites second language learners' essays so that the ideas are preserved but presented in a native-like manner. A case study in reformulating Hebrew-as-a-second-language essay and a small study involving the reformulation of university level English-as-a-second-language and Hebrew-as-a-second language essays are reported. The case study demonstrates how a reformulation provides information not provided by a reconstruction, especially in regard to vocabulary appropriate for a written technical register, syntactic structures, and cohesive markers. The second study provides a comparison of the typical teacher correction or reconstruction and reformulation. The reformulations gave more extensive feedback on improving the essays, especially in the area of cohesion. Student reactions were mostly positive in that reformulation provided them with a complete example of a more native-like way to express their own ideas. (Author/RW)