Navigating feedback in collaborative writing: The impact of student backgrounds and expectations on transitions to new academic and social spaces

This article examines how international students navigate feedback from a supervisor while working on a group writing project in a diverse English medium of instruction (EMI) bachelor’s program at a public university in Denmark, where no formalized writing or language support resources are offered i...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Gruber, Lindsey, Fernández Agüero, María
Format: article
Publication Date:2026
Country:España
Institution:Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
Repository:Biblos-e Archivo. Repositorio Institucional de la UAM
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:biblosearchi::ba498aad8b1a2f3907cdef611fdbd35e
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10486/774881
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:second language writing
Feedback
English medium of instruction
collaborative writing
international education
Filología
Description
Summary:This article examines how international students navigate feedback from a supervisor while working on a group writing project in a diverse English medium of instruction (EMI) bachelor’s program at a public university in Denmark, where no formalized writing or language support resources are offered in the students’ first year of instruction. Data were collected in qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 11 students who were identified through a survey of a first-year bachelor of arts cohort. Results from the survey showed that despite using a supervision model of education, few students perceived changes in feedback compared to their secondary school experiences, and most did not deploy their own past writing experiences to aid their groups. Three student portraits drawn from the interview pool provide a qualitative, “thick description” of experiences, focusing on feedback. The study ultimately uncovered that student expectations about feedback are intimately related to secondary school experiences regardless of country of origin. In addition, complicated emotions arise as a result of specific misunderstandings about supervisor feedback. The findings highlight the need for more attention to communicating clear expectations about feedback, and the article concludes with recommendations for institutionally led feedback literacy