Effect of EFL Learners' Knowledge of Collocation on their Writing Skill

Collocations are one of the most important concerns in EFL classes and materials. They play a significant role in second language learning, especially at intermediate and advanced levels as well. The present study intended to investigate the influence of knowledge of collocation on writing ability of Iranian advanced EFL learners. Based on purposive sampling,this thesis was conducted in Navid Language Institution. Eighty Iranian advanced students participated in this study. Whole group samples were selected from Zarghan and Neyriz branches of Navid Language Institution. The students' writing ability was analyzed to determine the collocations they produced.The participants' productive collocational knowledge was measured by free-writing test:3topics were given to them from which one they chose to write a composition. Their receptive collocational knowledge was measured by a multiple-choice test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.Results of the study indicated that knowledge of collocation had no positive effect on production of collocation in free writing by EFL learners, but it had a positive effect on comprehension of collocation by EFl learners.