Sleeping with strangers

Author(s):  
Phil Benson

Abstract Based on narratives from Hong Kong students on one-semester programmes at universities in Australia, Britain and Canada, this study focused on the emotional charge of expectations and day-to-day realities of homestay. It showed how, for many of the students, this emotional charge was related to the adoption of imagined identities as family members within the homestay. It also showed how a corresponding sense of inclusion or exclusion could arise from recognition or non-recognition of these imagined identities. The students’ experiences of homestay were often shaped by an expectation that a degree of emotional intensity within a family environment would lead to a successful language learning experience. Paradoxically, emotionally disturbing experiences could also contribute to a positive overall experience from the student’s perspective, if they led to a stronger sense of emotional inclusion. The experience was least satisfying overall in homestays where students were unable to feel this sense of inclusion.

2021 ◽  
pp. 026553222110506
Author(s):  
Chi Lai Tsang ◽  
Talia Isaacs

This sequential mixed-methods study investigates washback on learning in a high-stakes school exit examination by examining learner perceptions and reported behaviours in relation to learners’ beliefs and language learning experience, the role of other stakeholders in the washback mechanism, and socio-educational forces. The focus is the graded approach of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education English Language Examination (HKDSE-English), incorporated in 2012, that allows test-takers to choose between easier and more difficult sections for reading and listening-integrated skills papers. Inductive coding of focus groups involving 12 secondary students fed into the development of the Washback on Students’ Learning questionnaire, which was administered to another 150 learners. Exploratory factor analyses of identified washback effects revealed four major types straddling different settings (classrooms, tutorial schools, learners’ personal environment), and seven categories of mediating variables pertaining to learners themselves, other stakeholders, and societal influences. Simultaneous multiple regressions identified influential clusters of mediating variables and showed the strongest predictors for each macro-level washback type varied. At least one intrinsic and one extrinsic factor category significantly contributed to all types, reaffirming learner washback as a socially situated, negotiated construct. Implications related to the consequences, use, and fairness of the graded approach are discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 57-69
Author(s):  
晓东 岳 ◽  
雪丽 甄

本研究结果表明,香港与长沙的青少年在对钦佩人物的选择上存在着明显的差异。概括起来,香港的青少年更喜欢理想-浪漫-绝对型名人,这些人突出表现为歌星、影星和体育明星;而长沙的青少年更喜欢现实-理性-相对型名人,这些人突出表现为著名政治家和文学家。在怎样看待所提名钦佩人物时,两地的青少年多将演艺界、体育界和政治界的名人当偶像看,而将自己的家人和朋友师长当榜样看。此外,港的青少年选择亲朋好友作为自己最钦佩人物的倾向要高於长沙的青少年,长沙的青少年则选择政治名人作为自己最钦佩人物。此次研究再次证明,偶像和榜样是两个不同的概念。根据上述结果,本文提出,当今青少年崇拜的主流是对歌星、影星和体育明星的“三星崇拜”,这与当今社会的商业化炒作有密切关系。本文还提出,在看待青少年偶像崇拜行为时,应区分遥亲感和即亲感两个概念。其中对遥亲感的满足可谓青少年偶像崇拜的主要目标和精神需求之所在。 The present study asked 258 high school students in Hong Kong and Changsha to nominate three most admired people in their lives and rate them on degrees to which they could become their idols and models. Hong Kong students mostly nominated celebrities in entertainment and sports industries while Changsha students mostly nominated celebrities in politics. Hong Kong students were more inclined than Changsha students to nominate family members, friends and teachers to be their most admired people. A clear distinction was also noted between idols and models. Based on the above results, the authors argued that "tri-star idol worship" constituted the mainstream of idol worship for young people nowadays and that a distinction could be made between remote intimacy and immediate intimacy in understanding adolescent idol worship.


Author(s):  
Ruth Swanwick

This chapter proposes a pedagogical framework for deaf education that builds on a sociocultural perspective and the role of interaction in learning. Pedagogical principles are argued that recognize the dialogic nature of learning and teaching and the role of language as “the tool of all tools” in this process. Building on established work on classroom talk in deaf education, the issues of dialogue in deaf education are extended to consider deaf children’s current learning contexts and their diverse and plural use of sign and spoken languages. Within this broad language context, the languaging and translanguaging practices of learners and teachers are explained as central to a pedagogical framework that is responsive to the diverse learning needs of deaf children. Within this pedagogical framework practical teaching strategies are suggested that draw on successful approaches in the wider field of language learning and take into account the particular learning experience and contexts of deaf children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-32
Author(s):  
Anila R. Scott-Monkhouse ◽  
Michal Tal ◽  
Maria Yelenevskaya

Abstract This paper describes a joint programme developed in 2018 by the University of Parma Language Centre (Italy) and the Humanities and Arts Department of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The aim of the project was to involve students of English for General Academic Purposes in delivering presentations to an unfamiliar foreign audience on a topic relevant to their academic interests. The students were required to prepare for the presentation by exploring and personalising the chosen topic so as to be able to explain it to a group which they had had no previous contact with or information about. Through the active involvement of the students in a realistic implementation of their prospective professional use of English, language learning became a holistic experience where a traditional approach to language learning focusing mainly on vocabulary and macro-skills was integrated with a pragmatic approach which addressed the so-called ‘21st-century skills’ (specifically critical thinking, communication, collaboration and digital literacy). The simulation of situations that they are likely to encounter in their professional lives helped students build their confidence, with the whole learning experience carrying both emotional and social implications. This paper offers an insight into the challenges and issues which arose, and ideas for improving the learning experience. We describe the preparation carried out by the teachers at both universities, and the guided and autonomous work carried out by students in the different stages. A post-conference survey triggered the students’ self-reflection in relation to learning and personal development. The survey was also valuable for the teachers regarding reassessment of teaching strategies and preparation for future joint projects.


Author(s):  
Fahad SS Alfallaj ◽  
Ahmed AH Al-Ma'amari ◽  
Fahad IA Aldhali

This study aims to identify the epistemological and cultural beliefs that act as barriers in English learning by Saudi undergraduate learners. English is a compulsory component of education from the early school years in Saudi Arabia, and the Ministry of Education invests a great deal of workforce and financial resources in this sector in a concerted effort to ensure that Saudi students attain language proficiency. The study employed a mixed-method research design and was conducted with 85 undergraduate learners at Qassim University. It used a questionnaire and interviews to obtain insight into the factors that inhibit the English learning experience. Results revealed that the respondents' resistance to the learning of others' culture stems mainly from the epistemic and cultural barriers embedded in English language learning. Implications of the study will provide the basis to policymakers, educationists, institutions, and learners for contextualizing the English language curriculum of Saudi Arabia.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Banan Hassan Alhajaji ◽  
Jalila Saleh Algmadi ◽  
Amal Abdelsattar Metwally

Vocabulary is an essential element of language learning. Wide ranges of vocabulary along with grammatical competence guarantee learners to communicate in the language effectively. This study proposes an edutainment method for learning vocabulary by simply combining education and entertainment. This study aims to gain insights about learners’ opinions and perspectives about the use of a technique developed by the researchers as well as how participants feel about their learning. The study investigates the effect of employing Games, Mind-mapping and Twitter Hashtags as the GMT technique, on female Saudi university students’ achievement in English vocabulary. The study suggests that this technique which consists of interactive games, cognitive mind-mapping and the exploitation of technology in the form of twitter hashtags, all employed together, constitute a unified framework for activating students’ vocabulary learning. The sample in the study consisted of 150 students enrolled in the vocabulary building course during the second semester of the academic year 2018/2019. The participants were asked to respond to the questionnaire and they also took variant assessment tests, then their scores were compared to the results of other students who were not taught vocabulary using the technique in question. The findings ascertain the improvement and significant in the experimental group. In addition, the results reveal that the learners had mostly positive opinions on implementing the GMT technique which facilitated their language learning experience. The researchers conclude that the GMT technique can be an effective tool to promote students’ active engagement, motivation, and interaction in vocabulary learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
ERWIN Erwin ◽  
ELLY Nurachmah ◽  
TUTI Herawati

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background The client"s condition for heart failure requires environmental support to be able to be confident and able to carry out activities according to the directions given while the patient is undergoing treatment in the hospital, but sometimes in the client"s time period at home there will be situations where patients may experience complaints or changes in conditions that can affect his cardiovascular status. Purpose this study is conducted to identify psychological and social problems and needs of heart failure clients with a qualitative approach of observation, invite individuals or families to participate, motivate individuals to develop the potential to maintain optimal health. In addition, this study was conducted to assess the need and effectiveness of the practice of consulting for heart failure nursing in hospital outpatients Method qualitative observation approach in nursing consulting practice using steps of the nursing process consisting of an assessment of physical, psychological and social conditions and client needs, formulating problems, making plans and taking care of actions in accordance with the problems that exist by nurses in the outpatient clinic at home sick. Results Clients who came to the outpatient clinic had various  psychological and social problems. From the observations and interviews it was found that psychological and social problems were the most common causes. Psychosocial problems arise due to the client himself, life companion (husband or wife) and family members who live together. So that the family system to support clients with heart failure is not awakened. Health education and promotion to clients, life companions, and family members of heart failure clients who live at home are needed when the client controls health to maintain the client"s health support system while at home. All clients and families in this study stated that the practice of nursing consultations in hospital outpatients is very helpful for clients and families to improve the situation they face. Conclusion the practice of nursing consultations can identify the problems and needs of clients and families. Strengthening the client support system for heart failure at home is needed so that psychological and social problems can be reduced when the client is in the family environment. Nursing consultation practices at outpatient hospitals are needed to help motivate clients and families in maintaining and increasing care and support for clients who suffer from heart failure while at home. Psychosocial problems The client felt anxious, lack of attention, complained sleeping difficulty, often forgot taking medicine, and forgot managing fluid intakeThe client,while at home, was fastidious and wanted to many, was difficult to be told or managed, was always suspicious with their spouse"s activity easily got angry or temperamental, the client"s child felt annoyed because the client acted annoying, the client"s spouse felt annoyed because the client was impatient and temperamentalPsychological, and social problems in heart failure patients


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