The Effect of Learner Proficiency and L1 Transfer on the Use of Make by Korean EFL Learners of English

Abstract

The present study investigates how learner proficiency and L1 transfer affect Korean EFL learners use of the high frequency verb, make. Using the Korean learner corpus of English, which is composed of 1,030 argumentative essays, the study first analyzes the use of make and compares that with the findings of Altenberg and Granger (2001). Results showed that Korean learners overuse make in produce and causative uses. Study, secondly, examines the effect of learners proficiency and L1 transfer on the use of make. It was found that lower-proficiency learners misuse the verb make much more frequently than advanced learners. In addition, with regard to L1 transfer, the majority of learners misuse result from L1 transfer and even advanced learners are not free from interlingual interference. As a result, this study demonstrates that Korean EFL learners errors with the use of the verb make are largely a product of L1 transfer. Pedagogical implications are provided.