Emotions in second language poetry writing: a poetic inquiry into Japanese EFL students’ language learning experiences

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Atsushi Iida ◽  
Bee Chamcharatsri
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Language Poetry ◽  
Poetic Inquiry ◽  
Poetry Writing ◽  
Efl Students

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Learning Strategies as Bias Factors in Second Language Cloze Tests

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 91
Author(s):  
Parviz Ajideh ◽  
Massoud Yaghoubi-Notash ◽  
Abdolreza Khalili
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Language Tests ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Cloze Test

The present study investigated the contribution of the EFL students’ learning strategies to the explanation of the variance in their results on language tests. More specifically, it examined the role of these strategies as bias factors in the results of English cloze tests.  Based on this aim, first, 158 intermediate EFL learners were selected from among 324 language learners of a private language institute in Urmia (Iran) as the participants of the study based on their results on a proficiency test. Second, the selected participants respectively received Oxford’s (1990) Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) and the cloze test of the study for the assessment of their learning strategies and English cloze test performance during two sessions in a one-week period. The standard multiple regression was employed for data analysis. The results of the study showed that, there were significant positive correlations between the learners’ metacognitive strategies and cognitive strategies and their cloze test performance. Based on these results, it was argued that, the learners’ learning strategies may be systematic test bias factors in second language cloze tests. The results of the present study may have useful practical implications for the EFL teachers and syllabus designers. Moreover, these results may provide certain theoretical guidelines for second language testing specialists. 

scholarly journals Toward Linguistically and Culturally Responsive Teaching in the French as a Second Language Classroom

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meike Wernicke
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teacher Candidates ◽  
Culturally Responsive ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Prior Learning ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Critical Language Awareness ◽  
Langue Seconde

In English-majority contexts such as British Columbia, French second language (FSL) teachers are increasingly encountering students who are also learning French in addition to English and their home languages. Research findings show that dual language learners are successfully supported through multilingual pedagogies that acknowledge and explicitly value students’ prior learning experiences and multilingual knowledge as an integral resource in their language learning. This poses a particular challenge for FSL teacher candidates whose own language learning experiences have been shaped by institutional bilingualism and monoglossic approaches in bilingual education contexts. This article sets out the implications of this challenge and then describes a teacher education course that specifically addresses the Teaching of English as an additional language (TEAL) with teacher candidates in an elementary French specialist cohort program at a university in British Columbia. The discussion provides an overview of the course and then describes some of the ways in which critical language awareness can be fostered among FSL teacher candidates’ strategies to encourage a linguistically and culturally responsive approach to FSL teaching. Dans un contexte majoritairement anglophone comme celui de la Colombie-Britannique, les enseignantes et enseignants de français langue seconde (FLS) se trouvent de plus en plus souvent face à des élèves qui apprennent le français en plus de l’anglais et de la langue qu’ils ou elles parlent à la maison. Les recherches démontrent que les élèves qui apprennent deux langues bénéficient de pédagogies multilingues efficaces qui reconnaissent et mettent explicitement en valeur leurs expériences d’apprentissage antérieures et leurs connaissances multilingues, et ce, en en faisant une partie intégrante des ressources dans lesquelles ils peuvent puiser au cours de leur apprentissage linguistique. Cela pose un défi particulier pour les enseignantes et enseignants de FLS en formation dont les expériences d’apprentissage linguistique ont été façonnées par le bilinguisme institutionnel et une conception monoglossique des contextes éducatifs bilingues. Le présent article expose les implications de ce défi et décrit ensuite un cours de formation d’enseignantes et d’enseignants qui porte spécifiquement sur l’enseignement de l’anglais comme langue complémentaire (TEAL) dans le cadre d’un programme offert par une université britannico-colombienne à une cohorte de spécialistes de la langue française au niveau élémentaire. La discussion présente un aperçu du cours et décrit ensuite certaines façons de favoriser le développement d’une conscience linguistique critique dans le cadre des stratégies des enseignantes et enseignants de FLS en formation afin de promouvoir le développement d’une conception de l’enseignement qui prenne en compte les réalités linguistiques et culturelles.

Attitudes and Motivation of Turkish EFL Students towards Second Language Learning

2000 ◽  
Vol 129-130 ◽  
pp. 141-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Kiziltepe
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
English Teacher ◽  
English Classes ◽  
Motivational Intensity ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Learning English

This paper presents the results of a study of the influence of attitudes and motivation on the acquisition of English by Turkish students. It investigates the following factors : attitudes. towards the British and Americans; motivational intensity; interest in English and foreign languages in general; instrumental and integrative orientation; anxiety in English classes; family encouragement; the English teacher and course. Results indicate that students are highly motivated instrumentally as well as integratively although a moderate interest in the-British and the American community and culture is reported. Respondents' motivational intensity is high, their attitudes towards learning English and languages in general are positive. They do not show anxiety in class and their families are very supportive. Results about their attitudes towards their English teachers and courses vary according to the school they attend. Implications for EFL/ESL classrooms are also discussed at the end of the paper.

Culture Through Poetry

2020 ◽  
pp. 29-43
Author(s):  
Hannah Grace Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Language Poetry ◽  
Cultural Artifact ◽  
Language Structure ◽  
Basic Language ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
The Many ◽  
Culture And Language

Culture is an essential and challenging part of teaching a second language. For the basic language classroom, instructors play a fundamental role in presenting and creating a space for learning about language forms themselves and learning about how that language is used in context. Poetry is a unique way to analyze both language and cultural artifact. There are a plethora of forms that are represented within poetry, and there are many ways to connect language learning to culture itself. Instructors must take initiative and be intentional with each activity that is incorporated into learning a new language. Poetry is but one of the many ways that culture and language can be analyzed thoroughly, and in this chapter, poetry forms are analyzed as both language structure examples and as a cultural and contextual resource that enriches the classroom environment.

scholarly journals Understanding the information literacy experiences of EFL (English as a foreign language) students

2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Johnston ◽  
Helen Partridge ◽  
Hilary Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Literacy Practice ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Literacy Experiences ◽  
Relational Approach ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper aims to outline research that explores the information literacy experiences of English as a foreign language (EFL) students. The question explored in this research was: how do EFL students experience information literacy? Design/methodology/approach – This study used phenomenography, a relational approach to explore the information literacy experiences of EFL students. Phenomenography studies the qualitatively different ways a phenomenon is experienced in the world around us. Findings – This research revealed that EFL students experienced information literacy in four qualitatively different ways. The four categories revealed through the data were: process, quality, language and knowledge. This research found that language impacted on EFL students’ experiences of information literacy and revealed that EFL students applied various techniques and strategies when they read, understood, organised and translated information. Research limitations/implications – This research was conducted in a specific cultural and educational context; therefore, the results might not reflect the experiences of EFL students in other cultural or educational contexts. Practical implications – The findings from this research offer an important contribution to information literacy practice by providing important insights about EFL students’ experiences and perceptions of information and learning that can be used to inform curriculum development in second language learning contexts. Originality/value – There is currently a lack of research using a relational approach to investigate EFL students’ experiences of information literacy. There is also limited research that explores the impact language has on information literary and learning in EFL or English as a second language (ESL) contexts.

scholarly journals Intelligent personal assistants for autonomous second language learning: An investigation of Alexa

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-120
Author(s):  
Gilbert Dizon ◽  
Daniel Tang
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Learning Technology ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Communication Difficulties ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Collection Period ◽  
Personal Assistants ◽  
Japanese English

The ubiquity of smartphones and the growing popularity of smart speakers have given rise to cloud-based, intelligent personal assistants (IPAs), such as Siri and Google Assistant. However, little is known about the use of IPAs for Autonomous Second Language Learning (ASLL). Thus, the aims of this study were twofold: to assess Japanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ perceptions towards IPAs, also known as virtual assistants, for ASLL, and to better understand learner behavior of these technologies. A total of 14 Japanese university students were given smart speakers and interacted with a companion IPA, Amazon Alexa, over a two-month period in their homes. Moreover, the participants completed a survey consisting of Likert-scale items and open-ended questions to obtain their views of the IPA for ASLL. While the results indicated that the students had mostly favorable views of Alexa for L2 learning, many of them did not actively engage with the virtual assistant during the data collection period. Furthermore, students tended to give up when faced with communication difficulties with the IPA. These findings highlight the potential of IPAs for ASLL and underscore the gap between what students say, and what they actually do, with language learning technology.

scholarly journals Autonomy, Technology, and Language-Learning in a Sheltered ESL Immersion Program

1999 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garold L. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Learning Goals ◽  
Immersion Program ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
Language Needs

This article reports on a classroom-based research project exploring the learning experiences of 30 Japanese English-as-a-second-language (ESL) exchange students in an environment highlighting learner autonomy and the use of technology. It first addresses a growing concern among practitioners, that is, how to create a learning environment that facilitates learner autonomy. One possible answer is a learning structure that first requires students to reflect on their second-language needs and interests. They then set their learning goals, devise projects to help meet these goals, and self-assess their learning. This model was implemented in three multimedia lab classes of two content-based language courses of a sheltered immersion program. The students' learning experiences are examined in a multiple case study relying on data collected through questionnaires and interviews, as well as participants' learning logs, teacher observation, and measures of academic achievement. The data suggest that promoting learner autonomy through experiential learning enhances motivation, metacognitive knowledge, and personal growth. The article concludes by exploring possibilities for the application of this model in regular ESL classrooms.

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