Understanding the dynamics around text production in an EFL classroom: A systemic functional approach

Abstract

During this research project we tried to identify and describe the morphosyntantic interference between L1 (Spanish) and L2 ( English) and to understand how this interference affects the exchange of information labelled as the interpersonal metafunction of language. In order to acomplished what was previously explained we carried out a two stages intervention where we first tried to identify the students´ topics of interest in order to create stories and materials and activities suitable for their age and context. During the second stage of our intervention which was based on the whole language principales, we made use of pop-up books, discussions, listening and movement activities; we utilized these activities so the students could used them as a guide to produce their own text in the target language (English). The artifacts collected during this intervention were organized in a matrix and analyzed using the Systemic Functional linguistic (SFL) theory proposed by halliday.