Succeeding against the odds

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia C Lo ◽  
Mantak Yuen

This small-scale exploratory study identified strategies used by three intellectually very able university students with specific learning difficulties for maintaining motivation on their path to achievement. All three participants were located in Hong Kong. The research questions were: (a) What coping strategies are used by intellectually very able university students with specific learning difficulties? (b) What are the critical influences driving and supporting their motivation to achieve? A narrative inquiry method was used to obtain and analyze data. Two gifted university graduates and one undergraduate, all with specific learning difficulties, were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire and open discussion. Data indicated that they developed strategies to cope largely in response to adverse learning environments. The support of significant persons, such as parents and teachers, were also seen to be essential for sustaining their motivation to achieve. Implications for supporting university students with specific learning difficulties are briefly discussed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 59-76
Author(s):  
Ali SIMSEK ◽  
Fahme DABAJ ◽  
Eylem SIMSEK

The use of Facebook in everyday life has become widespread all around the world regardless of countries and cultures. The largest group of Facebook users consists of young people, particularly university students. This study investigated the attitudes of university students toward Facebook, their major reasons for using this social media application in everyday life, and the factors affecting the types of desired relationships with Facebook friends. A survey consisting of 63 items about demographics of participants and their preferences for the use of Facebook was administered to collect data. The sample of the study included 924 undergraduate students from a large public university in North Cyprus. A number of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were employed to analyze data in relation to the research questions. Results suggested that the students generally had positive attitudes toward Facebook, although there were certain differences in terms of demographics. The primary reason for using Facebook was interpersonal communications with close friends. The most powerful factor affecting the types of relationships in Facebook was perceived quality of communication and/or socialization. Along with the other findings, implications of the results for future research were discussed.


EL LE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Benzo

It is easy to teach a good student who shows no difficulty in learning. A greater commitment is necessary however, with a learner who is unable to follow the set pace and pursue the set educational objectives. This paper is the fruit of a collaborative, didactic experience centered on the use of mental maps which has led to excellent results. This tool is often associated with didactics for learners who have specific learning difficulties. We have used mental maps in the organizational stage of learner’s study, for their presentations, in the review stage and for their written French work, increasing both the performance and concentration of university students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39
Author(s):  
Ani Zlateva

The article examines some modern deffinitions of system of difficulties in learning process which children and students experience. Тhe main understanding of the educational difficulties and the children experiencing them have outlined. The creative potential these children have is presented by the studies of authors from different countries. The development of their giftedness and talent in different art fields could be used as means of improving their learning abilities in various school subjects, in which they experience difficulties.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Besin Gaspar ◽  
Yenny Hartanto

Recently the university students are required by their institutions to have the TOEFL score in the fisrt year or in the last year of their study before graduation. Some other higher institutions require their students to submit TOEIC, not TOEFL, before graduation. Companies, in the recruitment process, require the applicants to submit TOEFL score to show their level of English proficiency. The first question is which one is more appropriate for job applicants in the compay: TOEFL  or TOEIC. Another question for university students before graduation is whether to have TOEFL  in the first year or in the last year before graduation. This article aims at answering the two questions raised. The first part will give an overview of various versions of TOEFL  and  TOEIC  and the second part proposes the appropriate English proficiency test  for the recruitment process for new employees and for the university graduates, that is, TOEIC for the company  and TOEFL  for universities  and  colleges. 


Author(s):  
Esmira Mehdiyev ◽  
Celal Teyyar Uğurlu ◽  
Gonca Usta

This study aims to determine the university students’ level of motivation in terms of different variables. A study group of this research has been designed through one of the non-random sampling methods, Using appropriate sampling, 606 students from Faculty of Education of C.U. have been involved in this study. Motivation scale in English Language Learning developed by Mehdiyev,Usta,Uğurlu (2015) was used as an instrument of data collection. T-test and one - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to resolve problems of this research. As a result of the research the motivation level of university students hasn’t been revealed significantly different regarding to the gender variable. However, considering the t-test results of motivation scale dimensions, confidence, attitude and personal use, significant difference is seen in favour of women in personal use dimension. The level of language learning motivation of female students is higher than men’s regarding to personal use dimension. However, men’s and women’s views don’t differ significantly in attitude and confidence dimensions. University students don’t present significant differences in terms of birth place, parent’s education level, total motivation scores and confident, attitude and personal dimensions. Students’ motivation levels are seen not to be influenced by the places such as village, provision or city where they have spent the most of their lifetime. At the same time the findings revealed that parental status variable in terms of primary, secondary and university graduates has no effects on students’ motivation.


2019 ◽  
pp. 201-208
Author(s):  
Emeka Promise u. ◽  
Ohagwu Gold Chiamaka

This study was carried out to determine the measures for promoting democracy in a depressed economy through business education for national security in Enugu State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were used for the study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population for the study was 41 business educators from four government owned tertiary institutions in Enugu State. There was no sampling since the population was manageable. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire developed by the researchers and validated by the experts. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach Alpha, which yielded an overall index 0.72. Mean and standard deviation were used in answering research questions while hypotheses were tested using t-test. It was found that governmental measures items promoted democracy through business education for national security. The study also revealed that lecturers‟ measures also promotes democracy through business education for national security. It was recommended that: government should make adequate budgetary provision for business education. Democrats should be involved in business teacher‟s conferences and seminars.


2021 ◽  
pp. 136700692110231
Author(s):  
Francesca Romana Moro

Aims and Objectives/Purpose/Research Questions: The Alorese in eastern Indonesia are an Austronesian community who have inhabited two Papuan-speaking islands for approximately 600 years. Their language presents a paradox: contact with the neighbouring Papuan languages has led to both complexification and simplification. This article argues that these opposite outcomes of contact result from two distinct scenarios, and formulates a hypothesis about a shift in multilingual patterns in Alorese history. Design/Methodology/Approach: To formulate a hypothesis about the discontinuity of multilingual patterns, this article first sketches the past and present multilingual patterns of the Alorese by modelling language contact outcomes in terms of bilingual optimisation strategies. This is followed by a comparison of the two scenarios to pinpoint similarities and differences. Data and Analysis: Previous research shows that two types of contact phenomena are attested in Alorese: (a) complexification arising from grammatical borrowings from Papuan languages, and (b) morphological simplification. The first change is associated with prolonged child bilingualism and is the result of Papuan-oriented bilingual strategies, while the latter change is associated with adult second language (L2) learning and is the result of universal communicative strategies. Findings/Conclusions Complexification and simplification are the results of two different layers of contact. Alorese was first used in small-scale bilingual communities, with widespread symmetric multilingualism. Later, multilingualism became more asymmetric, and the language started to undergo a simplification process due to the considerable number of L2 speakers. Originality: This article is innovative in providing a clear case study showing discontinuity of multilingual patterns, supported by linguistic and non-linguistic evidence. Significance/Implications: This article provides a plausible explanation for the apparent paradox found in Alorese, by showing that different outcomes of contact in the same language are due to different patterns of acquisition and socialisation. This discontinuity should be taken into account by models of language contact.


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