| In recent years, formulaic sequence study has been a hot topic home and abroad. Formulaic sequence instruction is also highly accepted. Formulaic sequence is a multi-word unit, continuous or discontinuous, fixed or semi-fixed, which can express integrated meaning, which is stored and retrieved whole from memory at the time of use. Formulaic sequence can help ease the burden of information process to some degree and improve language learners' speed of understanding and fluency of expression.formulaic sequence is a multi-word unit, continuous or discontinuous, fixed or semi-fixed, which can express integrated meaning, which is stored and retrieved whole from memory at the time of use.By reviewing related literature, the author found that most of the previous formulaic sequence studies mainly focused on language learners'mastery degree of formulaic sequences, the relationship between formulaic sequence competence and spoken and written English level, and some empirical studies to test the teaching method of formulaic sequences. The author also found that there were very few studies done about the effects of noticing on language output, let alone the study which centered on the effects of formulaic sequence noticing training on formulaic sequence output and writing proficiency.This study conducted a small-scale experiment that was set up to address the following issues:(1) Can noticing training of formulaic sequences increase the output of them in college English writing? (2) Will the amount of formulaic sequences they output correlates with their writing proficiency scores? (3) Can the instructional approach that emphasizes'noticing'of formulaic sequence result in improved proficiency of college English writing?Participants were 101 college students majoring in mechanics and chemistry in Nanjing University of Science and Technology. During the period of three months'instruction, the experimental group students (mechanics N=47) were made aware of the formulaic sequences, while in the control group (chemistry N=54), traditional grammar and vocabulary instruction approach was upheld. Afterwards, participants'writing proficiency was measured and the amount of formulaic sequences they output in the following writing was counted.The experimental data have shown that (1) the experimental group students output more formulaic sequences than the control group students do; (2) The amount of formulaic sequences they output correlates with the writing proficiency scores; (3) The instructional approach that emphasizes noticing training of formulaic sequences results in improved proficiency of college English writing.By analysis, it is concluded that helping second language learners build a repertoire of formulaic sequences is a very useful contribution to improving their writing proficiency. We have gained some theoretical and practical implications from the study. In theory, it will further our understanding of the effects of formulaic sequence noticing training on formulaic sequence output and writing proficiency. In practice, it is necessary for teachers to explore kinds of teaching strategies to intensify noticing training on formulaic sequences and encourage students to build up a large formulaic sequence repertoire. |
