Threshold to Transfer Writing Skills From L1 to L2

Abstract

Over the past three decades, many researchers have been investigating the presence of a threshold level of linguistic competence, below which low L2 reading proficiency hampers transfer of L1 reading skills to L2. However, less emphasis has been placed on the threshold level in L2 writing, below which low L2 proficiency is an obstacle to transfer of LI writing skills to the writing of L2 texts. Therefore, this study investigates the existence of the threshold level in L2 writing. Based on 317 Japanese (L1) and English (L2) essays, and English proficiency scores gathered in a four-year Japanese university, it is tentatively concluded that EFL university students in Japan need to establish some knowledge of L2 proficiency before they can successfully draw on their L1 writing skills to help with L2 writing.