This study investigates differential effects of form-focused instruction (FFI) on the development of explicit knowledge versus implicit knowledge of a second language (L2) when the FFI is offered within the context of meaning-focused instruction (MFI). Forty-two adult learners of English participated in the study and were randomly assigned to a group who received FFI before MFI (FM), a group who received FFI after MFI (MF), a group who received MFI only (M), or a control group. Learning was measured by an untimed grammaticality judgment task (UGJT), a primary measure for explicit knowledge, and an elicited oral imitation task (EOIT), a primary measure for implicit knowledge. The results illustrate that, despite both FM and MF groups’ improved performance on the UGJT, only the FM group showed a positive developmental trend on the EOIT. No clear learning effect was observed among the M group learners or the controls. Therefore, the findings suggest that FFI prior to MFI supports the development of implicit knowledge more efficiently than FFI delayed until after MFI has begun.

This study investigates differential effects of form-focused instruction (FFI) to a simple versus complex L2 targets when the FFI is offered within a context of primarily meaning-focused instruction (MFI). Forty-seven Korean-speaking adult learners of English participated in the study and were randomly assigned to one of the two experimental groups or one control group. The experimental participants were instructed in one simple and one complex targets through MFI plus FFI or MFI only. No instruction was provided for the controls. Learning was measured by a grammaticality judgment task, and knowledge types were examined by subjective measures of awareness. The results indicate that the combination of FFI and MFI results in more robust learning effects than the exclusive use of MFI particularly for both simple and complex targets. As for the types of knowledge, the analyses found that FFI positively influences development of implicit and explicit knowledge.

Many educators question the value of explicit grammar instruction in foreign language education and look for alternative ways to enhance the communicative ability. Focusing on Korean leaners’ acquisition of English relative clauses, we examine whether grammar knowledge can result from experiencing English texts without explicit knowledge being provided at the outset of the learning. Our study shows that many grammatical features of English relative clauses can be acquired incidentally without explicit grammar instruction. Further, we found that the knowledge acquired through the implicit incidental learning can be better retained than that through the explicit learning.