The present study aims to explore the effects of using a mind map on EFL students’ L2 writing development through descriptive writing activities. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 30 Thai high school students. They were placed into three groups depending on their English proficiency, including advanced, intermediate, and novice, and data was gathered using quantitative and qualitative methods. A Pre-test and post-test, a participant observation, and a semi-structured interview were used as instruments. The results demonstrated an enlargement in post-test scores after EFL students used a mind map to write. Furthermore, the students had overall positive feedback on using a mind map to develop EFL writing performance. As a result, the significant findings of this study lead to educational suggestions concerning the importance of thinking tools regarding the connections between pictorial and written information.  
 

https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/elt/article/download/0/0/47919/51462

Using Mind-Mapping to Develop EFL Students’ Writing Performance

The ever-changing nature of modern L2 writing enterprises has added incremental challenges for worldwide EFL learners to continue their productivity, participation, and commitment in this long-lengthy process as they are required to become more proficient L2 writers. Concerning this issue, this study aimed to investigate the positive effects of mind mapping strategy integration in elevating EFL learners’ writing skills. Thus, the researcher reviewed the research results taken from 25 mind mapping strategy studies with the help of a thematic analysis to generate more robust and reliable research results. After analyzing the prior research results forming in 25 previous mind mapping strategy studies, the researcher subsumed them into some main specific themes to ascertain the comprehensibility of the targeted data. Two major specific themes were stipulated namely: (1) Mind mapping strategy enables EFL learners to become more organized L2 writers and (2) Mind mapping strategy transforms EFL learners into more avid L2 writers. It was revealed that mind mapping strategy can potentially elevate EFL learners’ writing motivation, confidence, autonomy, and skills.

T he p ositive e ffects of m ind m apping s trategy i ntegration on i mproving e fl l earners ’ w riting s kill

This article aims to describe the use of mind-mapping techniques in language learning as a way to assist students in developing their analytical, organizational, collaborative, and creative skills in addition to their language capabilities. During the 2020 academic year, mind-mapping was utilised as a teaching and learning tool in an English class composed of 93 12th-grade students. The research tools used for the purpose of a quasi-experiment included lesson plans, integrated mind-mapping techniques and unit tests. Through a one-group posttest-only design, cognitive-related data was collected by way of unit tests while a questionnaire was used for gathering opinions related to the use of mind maps in English classes. The results showed that the use of mind maps in English language classrooms provide an opportunity for students to be an active learner by acquiring data, processing information, organizing details and constructing knowledge by themselves. In addition, mind-mapping techniques also improve students’ skills such as creative and critical thinking, collaborative and organizational skills, alongside their English-language skills. They also develop positive attitudes towards mind-mapping techniques in which they can apply to other subjects.

Manita Srisitanont Luangkrajang

Papers

Use of Mind-Mapping in Language Learning: A Cognitive Approach