The Oxford Dictionary of Idioms

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Ayto
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Oxford Dictionary ◽  
Thematic Index ◽  
Figurative Expressions ◽  
Drag And Drop

Over 10,000 entries What is it to ‘cock a snook’? Where is the land of Nod? Who was first to go the extra mile? Find the answers to these questions (and many more!) in the new edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms. This dictionary uncovers the meanings of myriad phrases and sayings that are used daily in the English language, encompassing more than 10,000 figurative expressions, similes, sayings, and proverbs. More than 400 idioms have been added to this new edition, and comprise recently coined and common sayings alike. New additions include ‘back of the net’, ‘drag and drop’, ‘go it alone’, ‘how come?’, ‘if you ask me’, ‘make your skin crawl’, and ‘wind your neck in’. Illustrative quotations sourced from the Oxford Corpora give contextual examples of the idioms and their standard usage, and many entries include background information on the origins of the idiom in question. An updated thematic index makes for easy navigation, and anyone who is interested in the origins and diversity of English vernacular will have hours of fun browsing this fascinating dictionary.

Searching Online for Methods of Suicide

Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Christian Ulrich Eriksen ◽  
Flemming Konradsen ◽  
Thilde Vildekilde
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
English Language ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Access To Information ◽  
Online Content ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Search Terms ◽  
Methods Of Suicide

Abstract. Background: Information on methods of suicide is available online, and access to information on methods of suicide appears to contribute to a small but significant proportion of suicides. There is limited documentation of how methods of suicide are being profiled, as well as what content exists in other languages than English. Aim: We aimed to analyze and compare how methods of suicide are profiled on Danish and English-language websites. Method: We applied a categorization and content analysis of websites describing methods of suicide. Sites were retrieved by applying widely used Danish and English-language search terms. Results: A total of 136 English-language websites and 106 Danish-language websites were included for analysis. Websites were more often categorized as prevention or support sites, academic or policy sites, and against suicide sites than dedicated suicide sites (i.e., pro-suicide sites), or information sites. However, information on methods of suicide was available, and 20.1% and 8.9% of the English and Danish-language sites, respectively, suggested that a particular method of suicide was quick, easy, painless, or certain to result in death. Limitations: Only one author coded and analyzed all websites. A further operationalization of the content analysis checklist is warranted to increase reliability. Conclusion: The websites primarily had a prevention or anti-suicide focus, but information on methods of suicide was available, requiring an increased focus on how to diminish the negative effects of harmful online content.

Brexanolone: A Novel Drug for the Treatment of Postpartum Depression

2020 ◽  
pp. 089719002097962
Author(s):  
Edna Patatanian ◽  
David R. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
English Language ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Pharmacologic Therapy ◽  
Loss Of Consciousness ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Pubmed Search

Objectives: To review the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of Brexanolone and define its role in the treatment of postpartum depression. Date Sources: A MEDLINE/PubMed search was conducted (1980-May 2020) using the following keywords: postpartum depression, antidepressants, pharmacologic therapy, drug therapy, and brexanolone to identify relevant articles. Study Selection/Data Extraction: Literature search was limited to human studies published in the English language. Phase I, II, and III studies evaluating the pharmacology, efficacy, safety of brexanolone for postpartum depression were included. Bibliographies of relevant articles evaluating postpartum depression and treatment were reviewed for additional citations and background information. Data Synthesis: Brexanolone is a soluble, proprietary, injectable formulation of allopregnanolone, a neuroactive steroid that modulates neuronal excitability. Allopregnanolone levels increase during pregnancy and decrease substantially after birth. These fluctuations have profound effects on anxiety and depression. Three clinical trials established the efficacy and safety of brexanolone in the treatment of postpartum depression. In all 3 trials, brexanolone had an acceptable safety profile and was well tolerated. The most common adverse effects were loss of consciousness, sedation, dry mouth, headache, dizziness, and flushing. Due to sudden loss of consciousness and excessive sedation, continuous pulse oximetry is recommended. Conclusion: Brexanolone has a novel mechanism of action and appears to be safe and effective for the treatment of moderate to severe postpartum depression. At present, high cost, serious adverse effects, and restricted access may limit its use in clinical practice.

Leukotriene-Receptor Antagonists and 5-Lipoxygenase Inhibitors in Asthma

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 898-903 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie S. Larsen ◽  
Edward P. Acosta
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
English Language ◽  
Data Extraction ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Lipoxygenase Inhibitors ◽  
Medline Search ◽  
Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Patient Tolerance ◽  
Leukotriene Receptor

OBJECTIVE: To familiarize readers with a potentially new class of compounds for treating asthma. Background information on leukotrienes is provided in addition to an indepth review of pertinent clinical trials. DATA SOURCES: Information was obtained from controlled clinical trials, abstracts, and review articles identified through a MEDLINE search of English-language articles. STUDY SELECTION: Emphasis was placed on early clinical trials that showed some benefit with these compounds as well as more recent studies using newer agents that produced more promising results. DATA EXTRACTION: Information regarding leukotriene biochemistry was extracted from basic science research and data from human studies were evaluated by the authors according to patient selection, study design, methodology, and therapeutic response. DATA SYNTHESIS: Leukotrienes have a pathophysiologic role in asthma. Two distinct but pharmacologically similar classes of leukotriene inhibitors are currently being clinically evaluated. These are leukotriene receptor antagonists and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. Early clinical trials with these agents yielded unfavorable results primarily because of lack of drug potency and selectivity, poor patient tolerance, and possibly the route of administration. Subsequent studies with more potent and selective agents have further implicated leukotrienes as biochemical mediators in asthma and, consequently, have shown promising clinical outcomes with respect to pulmonary function testing and patient tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Advancements in the pathogenesis of asthma are beginning to define a role for the leukotrienes. Although more studies are needed to assess the efficacy of leukotriene inhibitors, recent clinical trials using leukotriene-receptor antagonists and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors indicate a potential for the expansion of therapeutic regimens currently used in the treatment of asthma.

scholarly journals What happens to international students’ english after one semester at university?

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 4.1-4.17
Author(s):  
Neomy Storch ◽  
Kathryn Hill
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Language Test ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
The Impact

There is a common expectation, particularly amongst international students, that studying in an English-medium university should automatically produce a significant improvement in their English language skills. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that this is not necessarily the case.This paper reports on a study which investigated the impact of one semester of study at a university on the English language proficiency of a sample of 40 international students. This was measured by comparing the students’ scores on a diagnostic English language test at the beginning and end of their first semester. A comparison of discourse measures of writing in terms of fluency, complexity and accuracy was also undertaken. Background information, including details of ESL support, if any, was collected for all participants via questionnaires, and interviews were conducted with a subset of the participants.It was found that studying in an English-medium university generally led to an improvement in English language proficiency. The paper identifies a number of factors which appear to support language development, as well as factors that may inhibit it.

scholarly journals A case study of the L2 development of Mohammad – An Iraqi child who is an immigrant in Australia – considering psychological and social factors that affect the development of his L2

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1005-1007
Author(s):  
Amal Alasmari
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
English Language ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Learning Theories ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Second Language Development ◽  
L2 Development ◽  
Based Instruction

This paper examines the factors that influence the second language development of Mohammed, an Iraqi child who came to Australia as a refugee one year ago. The factors that affect the linguistic development of the target which will be considered in this paper are: similarities and differences between the first language L1 and the second language L2, psychological factors, and social factors. The paper will provide sufficient background information on the learner and draw on a number of language learning theories in the discussion of each factor. The examination of the various factors revealed that the most suitable approach in teaching is content-based instruction in which the target can learn the subject matter content and at the same time develop proficiency in English language. He must also be highly encouraged to speak L2 in and outside school to achieve suitable level of fluency.

scholarly journals Listening Skills: Important but Difficult to Learn

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jwahir Alzamil
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Speech Rate ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Spoken English ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Frequency Of Use ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Learning To Listen

This study of 87 Saudi female university students aimed to discover whether they experience difficulties learning to listen to spoken English. Acknowledging that listening is an important part not just of learning a new language but also of day-to-day communication, data was collected using an online questionnaire. Participants were asked to respond to a series of statements designed to test four constructs relating to their attitudes to learning English language skills in general (a); learning listening skills specifically (b); their attitudes towards listening activities (c); and (d) their attitudes towards improving their listening skills. The results showed that most of participants felt that speaking and listening were the most important skills to learn, but listening was also the most challenging. Reading was felt to be the most effortless skill to learn, as well as the most commonly used, suggesting that frequency of use contributes to students’ perceptions of the ease of learning a skill. Participants’ difficulties with learning to listen to English were associated with speech rate, pronunciation, nervousness, limited vocabulary, and lack of background information. However, students also expressed positive attitudes towards improving their listening skills. Understanding students’ attitudes to listening skills and their problems with listening may help teachers improve the way they teach these skills. This may in turn improve students’ listening comprehension not only in universities but also in schools.

scholarly journals A Development of Foreign Language Training Course for Local Youth Guides of Dankwian Community in Thailand

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 187
Author(s):  
Pitchayapa Chavangklang ◽  
Thanaset Chavangklang
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
English Language ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Language Ability ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Language Training ◽  
Training Course ◽  
Industrial Sectors

English language has become increasingly more important as it is used as an international language to communicate with people from other countries, especially in the tourism, which is one of Thailand’s most growing industrial sectors today. Although English is taught at all educational levels in Thailand for general purposes, there is still need for specific use of English in some areas such as local tourism places. This leads to the need for improving the English language ability of people in such areas, particularly young people, who are most likely to have influential effects not only on themselves but also their families and community as a whole. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a foreign language training course for Local Youth Guide at Dankwian Community - a famous pottery-making village in Thailand. The course was developed in four stages: 1) Studying background information; 2) Developing the training course of Foreign Language for Local Youth Guide; 3) Trying-out the course; and 4) Evaluating the course. The training course was implemented with a group of 60 junior high school students. The study was designed for one group pretest-posttest, using pre-post tests and a satisfaction questionnaire as study tools. The study revealed the following results. 1) The community members needed a foreign language training course which has both lecturing and workshops. 2) The course consisted of one ice-breaking module and five language modules. 3) While attending the course, participants were enthusiastic, asking questions, and actively contributing to the discussions. 4) After the course, participants significantly improved their language ability at the.05 level. The participants’ satisfaction on the training course was at the ‘very high’ level. They indicated that the course emphasized on the real life applications. These results revealed the usefulness of a short training course for local youth guides in Thailand. It can be applied to other local areas in Thailand that have foreign tourists. A similar training course can be developed by making some modifications to this course to fit their local contents.

scholarly journals Attitudes and Motivation of Turkish Undergraduate EFL Students towards Learning English Language

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatma Tokoz Goktepe
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Motivational Orientation ◽  
Family Influence ◽  
Background Information ◽  
First Year ◽  
Integrative Motivation ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Learning English

<p><em>The purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes and motivation of first-year Turkish undergraduates toward English language learning as a foreign language. The study was carried out with 90 students majoring in business studies at Cag University, Mersin in Turkey by administering a survey designed on a five-point Likert scale with 43 items including demographic questions about the learners’ background information such as gender, age, and how long they have been learning English. The items on the survey were chosen from Dörnyei and Csizér (2006) in a variety of Hungarian researches and from a recently designed questionnaire by Ryan (2005). The domains used for the purpose of the study were: integrativeness, attitudes to L2 community, cultural interest, attitudes to learning English, criterion measures, ideal L2 self, ought-to L2 self, family influence, instrumentality (promotion and prevention), and fear of assimilation. </em></p> <p><em>The data collected were analysed through descriptive statistics in SPSS statistical program. The results revealed that Turkish first-year university students learn English as a foreign language mostly for instrumental reasons, and it also showed that integrative motivation is dominant motivational orientation for the participants in some</em> degree.</p>

The Integration of Popular Culture in K-12 and Higher Education English Language Curricula

2022 ◽  
pp. 276-295
Author(s):  
Brittany Ann Garling ◽  
Ashley Steele Heiberger
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Teaching Approaches ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
K 12

In this chapter, the authors present the approaches and benefits of integrating popular culture into the English language learning classroom. They provide background information on classroom use of technology and popular culture as well as student demographics. This chapter addresses counterarguments against the inclusion of popular culture for literacy development and explains why the advantages outweigh the concerns. Also discussing the teaching approaches that are supported by the incorporation of popular culture, the authors provide reasons and examples of effective curricula, including lessons, materials, and topics. The authors base their argument on research as well as personal experience to claim that the incorporation of popular culture will support linguistically and culturally responsive teaching approaches and will promote student engagement, connections, and motivation in ways that support learning for English language learners in both K-12 and higher education settings.

Video in teacher training: the use of local materials

ELT Journal ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Cullen
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Training ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Practice ◽  
Good Deal ◽  
New Technique ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Language Teacher ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Local Materials

Abstract This article discusses two approaches to using video excerpts of real lessons for English language teacher training. The first approach may be described as trainer-directed: the points to be focused on are predetermined by the trainer in the form of a worksheet, which is given to the trainees to complete as they watch the excerpt. The second approach is only semi-directed by the trainer: the trainees themselves decide which points to focus on, on the basis of given background information about the excerpt, while the trainer uses these points as a springboard for further questions for discussion. It is argued that the second approach has the advantage of relating more closely to the trainees' own concerns, although it requires a good deal more flexibility and experience on the part of the trainer. In neither approach is the excerpt set up as a model to follow, but rather as an example of one teacher’ practice for analysis and discussion. The purpose of the analysis is for the trainees to discover the rationale behind a particular procedure, on the principle that the successful adoption of any new technique or procedure must be based on a clear understanding of the reasons for it.

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