Counting and dis-counting learner group variation

2002 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Davison ◽  
Penny McKay
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language And Literacy ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Valuable Component ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Group Variation ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
National Literacy ◽  
Esl Learners ◽  
Or Benchmarks

Australia is a multilingual multicultural country with an impressive record of educational provision for students from language other than English (LOTE) backgrounds. The recent widespread development of common standards and benchmarks in English language and literacy in schools can be seen as a valuable component of this provision. However, care needs to be taken to avoid projecting a false picture of linguistic homogeneity by ignoring variation between English-speaking background (ESB) and English as a Second Language (ESL) learner groups. This paper demonstrates how the recent introduction of national Literacy Benchmarks, unlike the earlier development of curriculum and standards frameworks, has dis-counted ESL achievement by failing to take sufficient account of learner variation. Problems have also occurred in balancing the conflicting motivations for benchmarking: assessment, accountability and education, which result in different “standards” for standard-setting being assumed by the various stakeholders. The paper concludes that real accountability and progress in ESL learning and teaching can only be shown effectively through the use of a complementary but distinctive set of standards or benchmarks for ESL learners at different stages of schooling.

scholarly journals Teaching English Speaking Online versus Face-to-Face: Saudi Students’ Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-27
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Alzamil
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Face To Face Learning ◽  
Students Attitudes

In March 2020, schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were suspended. Online learning became a substitute for traditional face-to-face learning. This study addresses the implications of this shift for the attitudes of university-level English majored Saudi students taking a listening and speaking course. The study investigated the students’ attitudes towards: a) the importance of speaking in English; b) teachers use of emails to communicate their feedback on students’ English-speaking tasks; c) online teaching of English speaking; and d) online learning and teaching of the English language. The data collection tool was a 21-item questionnaire. The participants were 18 second-year male Saudi students who were studying English at a Saudi university. The findings showed that the participants: a) had positive attitudes towards the importance of speaking English; b) appreciated the benefits that online learning offers, but felt it could not replace face-to-face learning.

Best Practices for Teaching ESL in Higher Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 52-64
Author(s):  
Bryan Christiansen
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Performance ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
British Council ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Enhance Student Learning

This chapter examines three realities in the typical higher education English as a second language (ESL) classroom in non-English speaking countries and how they can be resolved to enhance student learning and teaching performance by native- and non-native English-speaking instructors alike. The British Council in 2018 estimated approximately 1.7 billion people were learning and using the English language worldwide in 2015, and the number is only expected to grow in the coming years. Therefore, the importance of this chapter in examining best ESL teaching practices should be obvious. The chapter is based on the author's extensive ESL background in seven nations since 1982 at higher education institutions as well as an integrated literature review related to the practice of teaching ESL.

Good Teachers Know Where to Scratch When Learners Feel Itchy: Korean Learners' Views of Native-Speaking Teachers of English

2005 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song-Ae Han
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Cultural Bias ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Korean Adult ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Korean Learners ◽  
Native Speaking Teachers

Cross-border education has been growing dramatically in both English-speaking countries and non-native English-speaking countries. While more and more students, particularly from Asian countries such as Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan choose to study in English-speaking countries, many native English speakers go to Asian countries to teach English. In this context, cross-cultural misunderstanding and cultural bias between English language learners and native-speaking teachers of English are becoming major issues. This article focuses on 12 Korean adult learners' views about native-speaking teachers of English working in Korea. Korean learners' expectations and needs regarding English language learning and teaching are explored through the investigation and analysis of the learners' views. It aims to provide educators both in non-English and English-speaking countries, including Australia, with insights to inform the development of effective learning and teaching environments not only for Korean students, but also for those in similar cultural contexts.

scholarly journals Teaching English Speaking Online versus Face-to-Face: Saudi Students’ Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Alzamil
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Face To Face Learning ◽  
Students Attitudes

In March 2020, schools in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were suspended. Online learning became a substitute for traditional face-to-face learning. This study addresses the implications of this shift for the attitudes of university-level English majored Saudi students taking a listening and speaking course. The study investigated the students’ attitudes towards: a) the importance of speaking in English; b) teachers use of emails to communicate their feedback on students’ English-speaking tasks; c) online teaching of English speaking; and d) online learning and teaching of the English language. The data collection tool was a 21-item questionnaire. The participants were 18 second-year male Saudi students who were studying English at a Saudi university. The findings showed that the participants: a) had positive attitudes towards the importance of speaking English; b) appreciated the benefits that online learning offers, but felt it could not replace face-to-face learning.

scholarly journals Investigating Speaking Skills Problems of Pakistani Learners in ESL Context

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 62
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mooneeb Ali ◽  
Nayla Uzma Khizar ◽  
Humaira Yaqub ◽  
Jawaria Afzaal ◽  
Amna Shahid
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Official Language ◽  
Current Investigation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
The People ◽  
Efficient Communication ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Esl Learners

A pivotal skill that needs focus and concentration for efficient communication is speaking. It is taken as one of the toughest skill for learning of language. However, the issue to attain speaking proficiency becomes more problematic in Second language contexts. Specifically in English language speaking situations and ESL contexts, the learners are unable to communicate effectively and they are reluctant to speak due to various problems. Particularly in Pakistan English is regarded as official language for communication, yet only small percentage can communicate in English effectively. This investigation objects to explore the hindrances and problems faced by Pakistani ESL learners while speaking English. The population for this current investigation comes from Pakistan whereas the sample comes from four provincial capitals (Sindh, KPK, Punjab, Baluchistan) and one federal capital of Pakistan i.e. Islamabad. The sample size from the population was 100 (20 each from provincial and federal capital). Quantitative research design was used in which questionnaire was conducted from the people to explore various factors affecting the English speaking in Pakistani peoples. The results revealed that ESL learners in Pakistan do face a lot of psychological, linguistic, and social problems while speaking English. The results concluded that these factors create hindrances to achieve fluency in English language speaking. The outcomes of this study are significant to help concerned administrators, institutions, educators and teachers to eliminate these problems to attain efficiency in speaking English.

scholarly journals Teaching English Speaking Skills to the Arab Students in the Saudi School in Kuala Lumpur: Problems and Solutions

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Bandar Mohammad Saeed Al-Sobhi ◽  
Abdul Shakour Preece
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Arab Students ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Speaking Skills

Of the four English language skills, speaking enjoys a superior status. Accordingly, it should be given high priority while teaching. In spite of its importance, teaching English speaking skill to Arab EFL learners has always been an exacting task for Arab teachers of English because it is considered a foreign language, i.e. not widely spoken or used in everyday interactions. For such a reason, Arab teachers of English are required to persistently implement new teaching strategies to tackle the problems regarding speaking skills in the classroom. Although a number of studies have been carried out to investigate the difficulties related to teaching English language skills to the Arab students in the Arab World, the current study is regarded the first study which highlights the problems in learning and teaching English speaking skill in the Saudi School in Kuala Lumpur where English is actively spoken as a second language. The main objective of this paper is to investigate the common problems which affect the teaching of English speaking skills to the Arab learners in the Saudi School in Kuala Lumpur. Additionally, it aims at exploring the areas of difficulty that prevent the Arab students from learning to speak in the English classes. This research also scrutinises the role of Kuala Lumpur ESL context on the Arab students’ English language speaking skills. The current study adheres to qualitative method, and its data were collected via classroom observations and face-to-face interviews with four teachers of English and four students selected purposively. Findings included areas like learning and teaching difficulties. The study suggested some techniques to improve the teaching quality and enable the students to overcome their lack of speaking ability such as implementing communicative approach in the English classes.      

scholarly journals Can We Find the Washback Effects of International English Language Testing System on IELTS Learners?

LEKSIKA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Diki Riswandi ◽  
Didik Tri Wahyudi
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Analysis ◽  
Standardized Tests ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Processes ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Library Research ◽  
The World ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
International English

IELTS test nowadays becomes one of the most important thing to get for those especially who want to continue their study in English speaking country especially UK or Australia. Because of the important roles of this standardized tests, it effects on students’ lives around the world. This study is conducted to find out the IELTS test influence on learners preparing for a test on learning and teaching outcomes and an obvious path for IELTS teachers in order to modify their methods and strategy of teaching. Therefore, the present study has tried to investigate whether IELTS preparation classes have any influence on the learning processes and the achievement of students in such an examination. To obtain the data, the writers used library research. A qualitative analysis was employed by identifying and classifying the finding of previous research of washback effects of the IELTS test toward the learners. It was found that there are positive and negative washback effects of IELTS test toward the learners. 

scholarly journals The Use of Audio-Visual Materials as Strategies to Enhance Speaking Skills among ESL Young Learners

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunmi Miyane
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
English Language ◽  
Reading And Writing ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
High Level ◽  
Visual Materials ◽  
Esl Learners ◽  
Positive Results ◽  
Speaking Skills

There are four main skills in English language namely listening, speaking, reading and writing respectively. Speaking skills is considered the most essential skills as it helps the learners to communicate with others effectively. Some of the factors that contributing to the low level of speaking skills are lack of exposure, low confidence level, and high level of anxiety towards English Language. Thus, these issues should be addressed in order to enhance ESL learners’ speaking skills. In this 21st-century learning and teaching, various strategies involving ICT have been invented by teachers to improve speaking skills among ESL learners. One of the strategies is the use of audio-visual materials to enhance speaking skills. An audio-visual material is a technology-based strategy that has gotten many positive results from the ESL learners. Therefore, it is believed that this strategy would develop speaking skills among ESL learners. Hence, this paper explains how audio-visual materials assist in improving speaking skills and the benefits of using audio-visual materials.

The Speech-Language Assessment of English Language Learning Students: A Non-Standardized Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kraemer ◽  
Allison Coltisor ◽  
Meesha Kalra ◽  
Megan Martinez ◽  
Bailey Savage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Impairment ◽  
Specific Language Impairment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
English Speaking

English language learning (ELL) children suspected of having specific-language impairment (SLI) should be assessed using the same methods as monolingual English-speaking children born and raised in the United States. In an effort to reduce over- and under-identification of ELL children as SLI, speech-language pathologists (SLP) must employ nonbiased assessment practices. This article presents several evidence-based, nonstandarized assessment practices SLPs can implement in place of standardized tools. As the number of ELL children SLPs come in contact with increases, the need for well-trained and knowledgeable SLPs grows. The goal of the authors is to present several well-establish, evidence-based assessment methods for assessing ELL children suspected of SLI.

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