English Teacher's Written Corrective Feedback on Students with Intellectual Disabilities' Writing Assignments: A Case Study

Authors

  • Sahmiral Amri Raja Guk Guk Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, Indonesia
  • Rahmah Fithriani Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29240/ef.v10i1%20May.16200

Keywords:

affective support, inclusive EFL, intellectual disabilities, written corrective feedback

Abstract

Written corrective feedback plays an important role in supporting writing development, yet limited attention has been given to how it is adapted for students with intellectual disabilities in inclusive EFL classrooms. This study aims to examine the types of written corrective feedback provided by an English teacher and to explain how feedback is adapted to meet students’ cognitive and emotional needs. Employing a qualitative case study design, data were collected from eighteen writing tasks produced by three students with intellectual disabilities and one semi-structured interview with the teacher. Document analysis was conducted using Ellis’s feedback typology, while interview data were analyzed thematically to interpret pedagogical reasoning. The findings reveal a strong predominance of direct feedback, supported by selective correction, concrete modeling, and affective language. These practices reflect feedback adaptation that regulates cognitive demand, provides clear instructional support, and sustains student motivation. The study concludes that effective written corrective feedback in inclusive EFL contexts prioritizes functional meaning, clarity, and emotional safety to support meaningful participation in writing activities.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Ariyani, N., Suyatno, S., & Sukirman, S. (2025). The role of teachers in increasing independence in students with special needs who are intellectual disabilities. Edusoshum: Journal of Islamic Education and Social Humanities, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.52366/edusoshum.v5i1.184

Bakry, M. S., & Emam, M. M. (2023). Teaching expository writing to Arabic-speaking students with intellectual disability in inclusive classrooms: Effect of four-square method and sentence frames. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2023.2177796

Borg, S. (2006). Teacher cognition and language education: Research and practice. London, England: Continuum.

Bowen, G. A. (2009). Document analysis as a qualitative research method. Qualitative Research Journal, 9(2), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3316/QRJ0902027

Bülbül, Ö., & Özmen, E. (2020). Effectiveness of teaching story-writing strategy to students with intellectual disabilities and their non-disabled peers. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 46, 204–216. https://doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2019.1698286

Carless, D. (2020). From teacher transmission of information to student feedback literacy: Activating the learner role in feedback processes. Active Learning in Higher Education, 23, 143–153. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787420945845

Dalilan, Sartika, E., & Lestari, D. I. (2021). The practices and obstacles of English language teaching in intellectual disability classroom: A case study at special school (SLB) in Palembang. Panyonara: Journal of English Education, 3(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.19105/panyonara.v3i1.4319

Davidova, S. S. Q. (2024). The importance of inclusive education in teaching writing. Current Research Journal of Pedagogics, 5(11), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.37547/pedagogics-crjp-05-11-05

Daulay, S. H., Saragih, L., & Hasibuan, W. A. A. T. (2025). Teachers’ Perception of Tongue Twisters in Teaching Phonology and Listening. EXCELLENCE: Journal of English and English Education, 5(2), 269-278.

Ellis, R. (2009). A typology of written corrective feedback types. ELT Journal, 63(2), 97–107. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccn023

Evmenova, A., Regan, K., Mergen, R., & Hrisseh, R. (2024). Improving writing feedback for struggling writers: Generative AI to the rescue? TechTrends. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-024-00965-y

Fryer, L., & Leenknecht, M. (2023). Toward an organising theoretical model for teacher clarity, feedback and self-efficacy in the classroom. Educational Psychology Review, 35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09787-5

Gadd, M., Berthén, D., & Lundgren, L. (2019). Helping students with intellectual disabilities become better writers: An inquiry into writing instruction. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 68, 395–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2019.1687855

Harmer, J. (2004). How to teach writing. Pearson Education Limited.

Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81–112. https://doi.org/10.3102/003465430298487

Horn, A. (2021). eCoaching in rural secondary settings when teaching students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Rural Special Education Quarterly, 40, 167–175. https://doi.org/10.1177/87568705211027980

Huang, S., Lehr, D. H., Rossetti, Z., & Wang, M. (2023). Individualizing instruction for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in China: Teachers’ perceptions and practices. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, 61(5), 385–398. https://doi.org/10.1352/1934-9556-61.5.385

Hyland, K. (2003). Second language writing. Cambridge University Press.

Kallio, H., Pietilä, A.-M., Johnson, M., & Kangasniemi, M. (2016). Systematic methodological review: Developing a framework for a qualitative semi-structured interview guide. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 72(12), 2954–2965. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13031

Lee, I. (2008). Understanding teachers’ written feedback practices in Hong Kong secondary classrooms. Journal of Second Language Writing, 17, 69–85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2007.10.001

Mangrio, R., Ali, A., & Naz, H. (2025). The effect of English language teachers' feedback on writing skills of secondary level. Academia International Journal for Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.63056/acad.004.03.0404

Mao, S., & Crosthwaite, P. (2019). Investigating written corrective feedback: (Mis)alignment of teachers’ beliefs and practice. Journal of Second Language Writing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2019.05.004

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Park, Y., Ambrose, G., Coleman, M., & Moore, T. (2017). The effects of teacher-directed writing instruction combined with SOLO Literacy Suite. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 33, 20–34. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12163

Rodgers, D., & Datchuk, S. (2020). Improving the paragraph text-writing skills of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A single-case design study. Education and Treatment of Children, 43, 347–360. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-020-00029-9

Rodgers, D., & Loveall, S. (2022). Writing interventions for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A meta-analysis. Remedial and Special Education, 44, 239–252. https://doi.org/10.1177/07419325221108896

Shulman, L. S. (1987). Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform. Harvard Educational Review, 57(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.57.1.j463w79r56455411

Sweller, J. (1988). Cognitive load during problem solving: Effects on learning. Cognitive Science, 12(2), 257–285. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15516709cog1202_4

Utami, R., Suharyadi, S., & Astuti, U. (2021). EFL teachers’ problems and solutions in teaching English to students with intellectual and developmental disability. IJELTAL (Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching and Applied Linguistics). https://doi.org/10.21093/ijeltal.v6i1.912

van Kraayenoord, C. E., Miller, R., Moni, K., & Jobling, A. (2009). Teaching writing to students with learning difficulties in inclusive English classrooms: Lessons from an exemplary teacher. English Teaching: Practice and Critique, 8(1), 23–41.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Yao, Y., Zhu, X., Xiao, L., & Lu, Q. (2025). Secondary school English teachers’ application of artificial intelligence-guided chatbot in the provision of feedback on student writing: An activity theory perspective. Journal of Second Language Writing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2025.101179

Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.

Zhou, L. (2025). A case study on the impact of ChatGPT feedback on underachieving students’ writing ability in senior high school English instruction. International Journal of Educational Development. https://doi.org/10.63313/ijed.9008

Published

2026-03-04

How to Cite

Raja Guk Guk, S. A., & Fithriani, R. (2026). English Teacher’s Written Corrective Feedback on Students with Intellectual Disabilities’ Writing Assignments: A Case Study. ENGLISH FRANCA : Academic Journal of English Language and Education, 10(1 May). https://doi.org/10.29240/ef.v10i1 May.16200

Issue

Section

Articles

Citation Check