Research Paper Writing Strategies of Professional Japanese EFL Writers

Abstract

Four Japanese university professors were interviewed on their processes and strategies for writing a research paper in English as a Foreign language (EFL). The results show that these professional EFL writers use strategies similar to those used by skilled native English and proficient ESL writers as reported in previous studies, have an explicit view of writing as a nonlinear dynamic process and as a way of discovering meaning and ideas, supplement writing at the computer with writing with pen and paper, and basically do not rely on L1 Japanese in the EFL writing process. It was also found that their L2 research paper writing process is perceived as virtually equivalent to their L1 counterpart, which suggests that already existing L1 writing strategies transfer to L2 writing.