Educational Selectivity and Language Acquisition among Recently Arrived Immigrants

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 1148-1170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Spörlein ◽  
Cornelia Kristen

This article investigates destination language proficiency upon arrival and subsequent proficiency growth among recently arrived immigrants in Germany, Great Britain, and Ireland. We introduce selectivity considerations to a model of language acquisition, arguing that positively selected individuals should display higher levels of language skills upon arrival and faster growth in destination language proficiency thereafter. The results show that upon arrival, positively selected immigrants are less proficient, holding absolute levels of educational attainment constant. In terms of language proficiency growth, however, our longitudinal findings suggest that positively selected immigrants, net of differences in pre-migration investments, post-migration exposure, and incentives, acquire the destination language faster. The findings add to a growing body of literature demonstrating the benefits of using novel measurement approaches to migrant selectivity.

Author(s):  
Е.С. Устинова

Задача статьи — доказать, что профессиональная подготовка будущих лингвистов-перевод-чиков начинается с самого начала обучения на первом курсе, то есть уже за два года до начала изучения теории и практики перевода. Если рассматривать лингвистическую составляющую переводческой компетенции с точки зрения вычленения значимых сем и их передачи иными лингвистическими средствами, то готовить к профессиональному переводу можно через «внутриязыковой перевод» и учебный перевод в условиях интеграции языковых и переводческих навыков, которые взаимно подкрепляют друг друга. Принятие творческих переводческих решений, не являясь задачей младших курсов, может применяться как средство более глубокого проникновения в коммуникативную интенцию автора художественного текста. На практических примерах статья призвана показать, что элементы профессиональной подготовки переводчика на младших курсах «врастают» в процесс совершенствования речевой компетенции как на иностранном, так и на родном языках. The author’s goal is to demonstrate that foreign language acquisition at translation/interpretation colleges may incorporate the development of professional skills from the very beginning, rather than wait for two years until students are offered a course in the Theory of Translation. If we regard the linguistic component of translator/interpreter professional education from the viewpoint of rendering the essential semantic features of a message in a different code, it is possible to use “intralinguistic translation”, in R. Jacobson’s idiom, — that is, to paraphrase native language utterances, since paraphrasing is one of the most universal skills, equally necessary for language proficiency and effective translation. It helps to weigh one translation decision against another, to see which semantic components are rendered and which are lost and to decide how the lost components of meaning can be reconstructed in another “translation”. Language acquisition is fostered by the so-called “pedagogical translation”, which has a purely utilitarian purpose of grammar and vocabulary skill formation. And here elements of professional translation may come in unobtrusively. Not only is it feasible to teach standard “algorithmic” translation strategies along with imparting language skills, but also individual (non-standard, “heuristic”) translator decisions. “Infiltration” of professional translation into the early stages of foreign language acquisition enhances language skills and shows students how a slight modification of the structure, wording or intonation can alter the message. Translation-focused semantic awareness makes language learning more motivated and intellectually satisfying.


Author(s):  
Julie M. Sykes

AbstractThe recent surge in a growing body of empirical research is evidence of a strong theoretical push towards L2 pragmatic acquisition in the field of second language acquisition; yet, the reality is that we see very little evidence of pragmatics instruction in L2 contexts, suggesting a notable disconnect between theory and practice. This viewpoints article explores the valuable role both researchers and practitioners play in bridging the gap between theory and practice with the intention of bringing pragmatics to the forefront of the language classroom. It briefly discusses the importance of including pragmatics as a primary component of second language (L2) learning and then explores various obstacles to pragmatics instruction, paying special attention to the role both researchers and practitioners can play in overcoming them. Examples from current projects related to L2 Spanish pragmatics are presented where relevant.


2000 ◽  
Vol 145 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
June B. Reeves ◽  
William Newell ◽  
Barbara Ray Holcomb ◽  
Michael Stinson

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-69
Author(s):  
Hafilah Zainal Abidin ◽  
Taufik Lock Kim Wai

Learning literature, as part of the English Language Syllabus, has been practiced in many countries. In Malaysia, literature is incorporated as a component and an authentic means of learning the language with the hope that students acquire the desired language skills. However, poetry, one of the genres in the component, is the least favourable among students. This paper investigates students’ attitude towards learning poetry and the challenges they encountered learning poetry. Data from 120 respondents were collected through questionnaire and interviews. The findings revealed that the selection of texts for poetry in the literature component and teacher’s methodology play a role in cultivating students' interest in learning not only the language but also the context, culture, and values as well as inculcating a positive attitude towards learning poetry in second language acquisition.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-43
Author(s):  
Olesia Sadovets

AbstractIt has been substantiated that Academic English must be an integral component of ESL students’ study at foreign languages departments to achieve success as professionals and be ready to realize themselves in a demanding world of today. We have defined the main problem on the way to it, namely the insufficient provision of the Academic English discipline in curricula of foreign language departments or its absence. The necessity to elaborate a syllabus for Academic English discipline being taught throughout all the course of study has been substantiated. Educational programs of Academic English in a number of foreign educational establishments of Great Britain, the USA, Canada and Australia have been analyzed and their defining features have been outlined. Strategies and conditions for effective teaching of Academic English have been characterized. It has been defined that in general, in spite of slight differences in the topics covered by different EAP programs, all of them are aimed at: developing strategies and vocabulary for reading and understanding academic texts; finding, understanding, describing and evaluating information for academic purposes; developing active listening and effective note-taking skills; building on language skills to describe problems and cause-and-effect; gathering a range of information, using the skills learned, to integrate it into a written report; engaging in peer-to-peer feedback before finalising one’s piece of academic work. Requirements for students’ achievements at the end of the course have been determined. As a basis for Academic English syllabus elaboration has been chosen a course by M. Hewings and C. Thaine (upper-intermediate and advanced levels). On its basis we have defined units to be covered by the course as well as skills to be developed. Recommendations as to better and more efficient teaching of the discipline have been outlined.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine E. Snow

The lessons I have learned over the last many years seem always to come in pairs – a lesson about the findings that brings with it a lesson about life as a researcher...Lesson 1. Even as a doctoral student, I believed that the sorts of social interactions young children had with adults supported language acquisition. In 1971, when I completed my dissertation, that was a minority view, and one ridiculed by many. I was, unfortunately, deflected from a full-on commitment to research on the relationship between social environment and language development for many years by the general atmosphere of disdain for such claims. In the intervening years, of course, evidence to support the claim has accumulated, and now it is generally acknowledged that a large part of the variance among children in language skills can be explained by their language environments. This consensus might have been achieved earlier had I and others been braver about pursuing it.[Download the PDF and read more...]


2019 ◽  
Vol IV (III) ◽  
pp. 535-543
Author(s):  
Shahida Naz ◽  
Mamuna Ghani ◽  
Shahid Nawaz

The field of digital literacy is developing rapidly; consequently, the interest of researchers has also shifted now. The current research study was to explore the role of online learning Apps available on smartphones in improving graduate students' English language proficiency. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this study. Data were collected through a questionnaire that had close-ended and open-ended questions. Questionnaires were distributed among 480 graduate-level students studying in 6 universities of Punjab, Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0) to find out results in the form of Percentage, Mean Score, Standard Deviation by applying the Independent Sample T-Test. The results of the study demonstrated the potential of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) as an anticipatory approach to improving English language skills. Results showed that students were pleased to use smartphones to improve their English language proficiency. They responded positively about the role of smartphones in improving English language skills. On the basis of findings, the researcher concluded that smartphone plays an important role in improving students' English language proficiency.


2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 4.1-4.17
Author(s):  
Neomy Storch ◽  
Kathryn Hill

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.


Author(s):  
Piven N.M.

Мета роботи – дослідити проблеми функціонування державної мови в сучасному бізнес-просторі, оскільки відомо, що тривалий час представники приватних бізнес-компаній нею майже не послуговувалися; відповідно до цього було поставлено завдання: сформулювати основні етапи опанування української мови як державної для фахівців зазначеної категорії осіб.Методи. У дослідженні використано теоретичні методи (аналіз стандартів і стану функціонування державної мови в різних галузях господарства); ретроспективний аналіз власного педагогічного досвіду з організації й проведення навчальних занять; емпіричні – педагогічні спостереження, тестування й спеціальні завдання для діагностичного зрізу рівня знань працівників бізнес-сфери; статистичні методи для кількісного та якісного аналізу отриманих емпіричних та експериментальних даних.Результати. З’ясовано, що тема функціонування державної мови в бізнес-сфері залишається малодослідженою. Мате-ріалом послугувала практична мовна діяльність групи слухачів одного з приватних підприємств. Проаналізовано загальну характеристику слухачів, рівень володіння державною мовою перед навчанням і після, розроблено шкалу оцінювання рівня мовних навичок. Зазначено, що в російськомовному середовищі серед представників великого й малого бізнесу виникають труднощі стосовно україномовної комунікації, спричинені низьким рівнем мовленнєвих умінь і навичок, відсутністю необхід-ної лексичної бази, наявністю суржику й росіянізмів тощо.Висновки. У результаті навчального процесу було визначено основні етапи опанування української мови як державної. Заува-жено, що важливе місце в підготовці слухачів належить мотиваційному та базовому етапам; надано методичні рекомендації сто-совно їх мовної підготовки. Доведено, що навіть при низькій мовній базі, але за умови високої мотивації можна досягти достатньо-го рівня мовленнєвих знань, умінь і навичок для подальшої професійної діяльності й комунікації державною мовою. The purpose. The objective of the article is to study the problems concerning state language functioning within current business environment. It is known that for a long period of time representatives of private businesses have hardly ever used it. It caused the necessity to define the basic stages of Ukrainian language acquisition as a state one by professionals in business sphere.Methods. The set of scientific methods are applied in the article: theoretical (analysis of standards and status of state language functioning in different economical spheres); retrospective analysis of own pedagogical experience in educational process organization and training sessions; empirical (pedagogical observations, testing and special sessions to detect the level of expertise among business sphere representatives; statistical methods (qualitative and quantitative analysis of empirical and experimental data received).Results. It is found that the issue of state language functioning in business sphere is still poorly investigated. Practical activity by the employees of a private enterprise is served as a ground for this study. General characteristic of trainees, their level of state language acquisition before and after training is analysed, and the evaluation scale of language skills level is developed. It is noted that in Russian-speaking environment representatives of large-scale and small-sized businesses face a lot of challenges while communicating in Ukrainian, caused by low level of language skills, lack of necessary basic vocabulary, existence of surzhik (mixed Russian-Ukrainian dialect) and russicismes (use of Russian words instead of Ukrainian ones).Conclusions. The educational process resulted in defining the main stages of Ukrainian acquisition as a state language. It is emphasized that it is motivational and basic stages that play the important role in preparation of trainees which led to developing methodical recommendations concerning state language acquisition. It is proved that in spite of a low level of language improved motivation helps business people achieve sufficient level of language knowledge and skills for further professional activity and communicating in state language.


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