L1 USED DURING L2 FREE WRITING: A LOOK AT BEGINNING WRITERS

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the composing process and writing strategiesofthe beginning writers’
free writing product dealing with the writing problem and theory of the writing process. It is seen
from their grammar (minor grammatical errors, such as –s on verbs in third person singular),
vocabulary (knows most words needed to express ideas but lacks vocabulary for finer shades of
meaning), sentence (uses several sentences pattern), organization (somewhat sequenced), and fluency
(writes several sentences). It focuses on how the beginning writers’ L1 influence their L2 free writing
product. Twenty five (25) students invoked by producing twenty five (25) different topics. The result
shows that there is an influence of L1 knowledge to L2 language production in which the participants
translate their ideas in L1 knowledge to L2 language directly without considering the structures and
forms.