Constructivist pedagogy in strategic reading instruction: exploring pathways to learner development in the English as a second language (ESL) classroom

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Jun Zhang
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madoda Cekiso

The aim of this study was to examine the reading strategies used by Grade 11 English Second Language (ESL) learners and the possible effects of reading instruction on their reading comprehension and strategy awareness. A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test control group design was used. The participants included a total of 60 Grade 11 learners from a high school. The results of this study indicate that (1) learners who received reading strategy instruction scored both statistically and practically significantly higher marks on the reading comprehension test than those in the control group and (2) explicit instruction in the use of reading strategies was essential to bring about the increased use of reading strategies of learners in the experimental group. The study has implications for learners, teachers, university students and lecturers.


2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuemei Li ◽  
Anita Girvan

This study focuses on a multicultural ESL classroom with the purpose of exploring the creation of new individual and cultural identities and the formation of interculture. Through on-site observations and interviews with second-language learners and their teacher, the study presents findings about the dynamics, quandaries, complexity, and diversity of classroom interculture. The metaphor of the 'third place' (Kramsch, 1993) aptly captures the nature of this interculture in its fluidity and ambiguity. Perceiving language-learning in this way allows one to look beyond the traditional dichotomous views and approaches to culture and identity in ESL settings and to describe properly the enriching process of creating new identity and new cultural space that is greater than the sum of individual cultures.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Momoye Sugiman

In this paper, I focus on the affective atmosphere of the Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom. I argue that a humanistic learning approach can be a form of strategic resistance against the bureaucratization and standardization of publicly funded ESL programs for adult newcomers in Canada. Given the growing, top-down trend in our economically driven and technologically dependent society, there is a need to humanize the Canadian ESL classroom as a space for empathy and critical thinking. Through a literature review and semi-structured, in-depth interviews with former ESL learners and former ESL teachers, this paper reveals the psychological and political complexities of second language learning and cultural identity, as well as the pivotal role that an ESL teacher can play during the first few years of settlement. In this context, I also critique the racialized linguistic hierarchy embedded in Canada’s multiculturalism policy and exclusionary immigration and language policies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-552
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Hongbing Liu ◽  
Yan Xu ◽  
Hongying Lu

With the development of Internet technology, teachers are constantly seeking innovative methods to match the potential enhancement of technology. Although many studies have been done before, these are not enough in this field. The purpose of this article is to explore innovative designs to change traditional instruction mode and test its impact. The case was carried out in English as a Second Language (ESL), classroom of NO.9 middle school of Bengbu, an underdeveloped area of China. We compared online instruction with traditional textbook literature methods to improve the reading skills of students; a questionnaire survey designed specifically for this study was conducted at the end of semester; and the collected data were processed. The findings of this study indicated that online instruction is effective, students have gained more knowledge and information through Internet than before, it helped them to improve reading skills, arouse students’ interest and motivation in learning, exam results of students have been improved significantly, and it created a positive learning situation.


1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rod Ellis

It is now generally accepted that second language (L2) acquisition can take place as a result of learning how to communicate in the L2. It is less clear, however, whether the kind of communication that occurs in a classroom is sufficient to ensure development of full target language competence. This article examines the extent to which the opportunities for communication in an English as a Second Language (ESL) classroom result in the acquisition of one particular illocutionary act—requests. A total of 410 requests produced by two child learners over 15–21 months were examined. The results suggest that although considerable development took place over this period, both learners failed to develop either the full range of request types or a broad linguistic repertoire for performing those types that they did acquire. The learners also failed to develop the sociolinguistic competence needed to vary their choice of request to take account of different addressees. One explanation for these results is that although the classroom context fostered interpersonal and expressive needs in the two learners, it did not provide the conditions for real sociolinguistic needs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huong Nguyen ◽  
Marilyn Abbott

When teaching listening, second language instructors tend to rely on product-oriented approaches that test learners’ abilities to identify words and answer comprehension questions, but this does li le to help learners improve upon their listening skills (e.g., Vandergri & Goh, 2012). To address this issue, alternative approaches that guide learners through the listening process toward improved comprehension and uency have been recommended in the literature. Based on a review of 6 popular intermediate adult English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) textbooks, we found that most of the listening activities in the texts exemplified a product-oriented approach (testing word recognition or listening comprehension) rather than a process-oriented approach (providing instruction to aid in word recognition and comprehension). To enhance the integration of process-oriented approaches for teaching listening, we provide suggestions for activities to supplement product-oriented teacher-made and textbook activities. We begin with an overview of second language listening theory and research that justi es the incorporation of process-oriented instructional approaches in the ESL classroom. Then we report the results of our textbook review and present examples of recommended activity types that teachers and textbook writers could incorporate into their instructional materials to encourage a balanced approach to teaching listening.Quand les enseignants de langue seconde enseignent l’écoute, ils ont tendance à sefier aux approches orientées sur le produit qui évaluent la capacité de leurs élèves à identifier des mots et à répondre à des questions de compréhension. Pourtant, ce e méthode ne contribue que très peu à l’amélioration des habiletés d’écoute des élèves (par ex., Vandergri & Goh, 2012). Pour aborder ce e question, les chercheurs recommandent des approches alternatives qui guident les apprenants au l du processus d’écoute de sorte à améliorer la compréhension et les compétences. Un examen de 6 manuels populaires d’anglais langue seconde ou étrangère pour adulte a révélé que la plupart des activités d’écoute sont orientées sur un produit (évaluation de la reconnaissance des mots ou la compréhension à l’écoute) plutôt que sur un processus (directives pour aider la reconnaissance des mots et la compréhension). Pour me re en valeur l’intégration des approches axées sur le processus dans l’enseignement de l’écoute, nous o rons des suggestions d’activités pour enrichir les activités créés par les enseignants ou provenant des manuels et qui sont axées sur le produit. Nous commençons par un survol de la recherche et de la théorie qui portent sur l’écoute en langue seconde et qui jus- ti ent l’intégration dans les cours d’ALS d’approches pédagogiques axées sur le processus. Ensuite, nous présentons les résultats de notre examen de manuels et recommandons des exemples de types d’activités que les enseignants et les auteurs de manuels pourraient incorporer dans leur matériel pédagogique pour o rir une approche équilibrée à l’enseignement de l’écoute. 


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