Abstract:

The effect of first language on foreign language learning process has been widely investigated. On the other hand, the number of studies focusing on the effect of learning a foreign language on the first language abilities is quite limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of foreign language composition writing ability on first language composition writing ability. The participants of the study were 42 university students attending the intensive English language teaching program of a state university in Turkey. During the second semester of this one-year intensive English program, students took a specific course on composition writing in English. The participants were asked to write a composition in their first language (Turkish) before and after taking the course. The compositions were evaluate by two experts and the participants’ scores were compared by using paired-samples t-tests. Results of the study indicated that participants’ scores on the introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and conclusion paragraph were increased after taking the English composition writing course. Results and implications of the study were discussed in the light of the relevant literature.