A look into the practices and challenges of assessing young EFL learners’ writing in Croatia

Language Learners ◽

English Language ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Assessment Literacy ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Young Learners ◽

Language Tests ◽

Writing in a foreign language is a particularly difficult skill to develop, especially when young learners are concerned because they are parallelly learning to write in their L1 and do not have strong oral foundations in their L2. The issue becomes even more complex when the ways to assess young learners’ writing are considered, given that research has shown there is room for improvement regarding English language teachers’ assessment literacy. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to examine the practices and challenges of assessing the writing of young EFL learners in Croatia. In the first part of the study, 97 English language teachers working with learners from year 1 to year 4 of elementary school (children aged 7 to 10) took an online questionnaire with close-ended and open-ended questions. In the second part, I analyzed the writing tasks that the learners were assigned by the teachers in the school. The results show that teachers do not always use appropriate writing tasks for summative assessment, that they need more support in creating language tests, and that Croatian universities need to do more to prepare future teachers to teach and assess young English language learners.

Teaching and Learning Vocabulary: What English Language Learners Perceive to Be Effective and Ineffective Strategies

Center for Educational Policy Studies Journal ◽

10.26529/cepsj.492 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 139

Author(s):

Seyyed Hatam Tamimi Sa’d ◽

Fereshte Rajabi

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

Learning Strategies ◽

Language Learners ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

English Language ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Strategy Training ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Vocabulary constitutes an essential part of every language-learning endeavour and deserves scholarly attention. The objective of the present study was three-fold: 1) exploring Iranian English language learners’Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLSs), 2) examining language learners’ perceptions of vocabulary learning, and 3) exploring Iranian English language teachers’ Vocabulary Teaching Strategies (VTSs). In total, 145 intermediate learners of English as a foreign language, consisting of 114 males and 31 females aged 15 to 27, participated in the study. The triangulated data were collected using three tools: questionnaires, interviews, and class observations. Sixty-seven learners (31 females and 36 males) filled out a 56-statement questionnaire, adopted and adapted from Takač (2008) and translated into Persian. The questionnaire comprised two parts, enquiring as to the learners’ VLSs and the teachers’ VTSs. The findings indicated that females and males differed significantly in their reported VLSs and their teachers’ use of various VTSs. Additionally, 78 learners were interviewed as to their perceptions of effective and ineffective VLSs as well as VTSs. The findings revealed that the most effective VLSs were reported to be: a) reciting, repeating and listening to words, b) using words, and c) memorising words while the most effective VTSs revolved around: a) explanation, b) repetition, and c) dictation. The observations also confirmed the findings obtained via the questionnaire and interviews. In general, the findings are indicative of the limited repertoire of vocabulary acquisition techniques employed by Iranian EFL learners, hence the need for strategy training in how to acquire vocabulary.

The Role of Counselling in English Language Teaching

Journal of English Language and Literature ◽

10.17722/jell.v1i2.15 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 48-55

Author(s):

M. John Britto

Keyword(s):

Language Learners ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

English Language ◽

Language Teaching ◽

Language Teachers ◽

English Language Teaching ◽

Remarkable Change ◽

Teachers And Students ◽

Counselling plays a significant role in bringing out a remarkable change in an individual’s personal and professional life. It has entered a number of domains including education. As human problems are mushrooming day by day in this hi-tech world, there is a dire need for finding solutions to those problems. It is counselling that comes to one’s aid to solve one’s problems that are psychological and personal. In English language teaching and learning too, there are multiple problems encountered by teachers and students as well. This paper discusses how counselling is indispensable to English Language Teaching (ELT) for finding solutions to problems faced by English language learners. Exploring the relevance of counselling to ELT, it also seeks to highlight the benefits of integrating it with ELT. It brings out the need for introspection of English language teachers to provide counselling to students. It enumerates various counselling skills, and presents an account of problem-solving method in ELT and eight approaches to counselling.

Recognizing Visual and Auditory Cues in the Detection of Foreign-Language Anxiety

TESL Canada Journal ◽

10.18806/tesl.v26i2.414 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 46 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Tammy Gregersen

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Language Learners ◽

English Language ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Language Anxiety ◽

Foreign Language Anxiety ◽

Nonverbal Behaviors ◽

English Language Teachers ◽

Oral Presentations

.This study examines whether nonverbal visual and/or auditory channels are more effective in detecting foreign-language anxiety. Recent research suggests that language teachers are often able to successfully decode the nonverbal behaviors indicative of foreign-language anxiety; however, relatively little is known about whether visual and/or auditory channels are more effective. To this end, a group of 36 preservice English-language teachers were asked to view videotaped oral presentations of seven beginning English-language learners under three conditions: visual only, audio only, and a combination of visual and audio in order to judge their foreign-language anxiety status. The evidence gathered through this study did not conclusively determine the channel though which foreign-language anxiety could be most accurately decoded, but it did suggest indicators in the auditory and visual modes that could lead to more successful determination of behaviors indicative of negative affect.

Study of Consonant Pronunciations Errors Committed by EFL Learners

English Literature and Language Review ◽

10.32861/ellr.55.48.56 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 48-56

Author(s):

Ali Akbar Khansir ◽

Afsaneh Salehabadi

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Language Learners ◽

English Language ◽

Age Group ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Listening Skill ◽

English Pronunciation ◽

Efl Students ◽

Knowledge Of Language

As the topic suggests, the research paper presents Study of Consonant Pronunciations Errors Committed by EFL Learners. Error analysis always tries to resolve language learners’ problems in acquiring second or foreign language setting. Learning to English pronunciation is perhaps as important as learning listening skill, speaking, and spelling. Errors in English pronunciation create several problems for English language learners in their works. In other words, most of the English language errors of pronunciation are due to the lack of knowledge of language learners. However, all the students in our sample are of age group (16-25) at Bushehr language institute and they are all Iranian nationals. In addition, all of them were female learners. An English pronunciation (consonant) test was used to get information about the knowledge of the learners in English pronunciation. Findings of this article indicated that the first and second hypotheses of this article were accepted, but the third hypothesis was rejected. However, the findings of this paper showed that the Iranian EFL students have problem to pronounce English sounds correctly.

A Study of Language Anxiety among English Language Learners in Saudi Arabia

10.31235/osf.io/nk4em ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Badia Muntazer Hakim

Keyword(s):

Language Learning ◽

Language Learners ◽

English Language ◽

Group Discussion ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Target Language ◽

Language Anxiety ◽

Self Awareness

Classroom anxiety is a recurrent phenomenon for language learners. There are various factors that cause language anxiety, the most common of which include learners’ excessive self-consciousness and self-awareness concerning their oral reproduction and performance and their peculiar, and quite often misplaced and mistaken, views and beliefs regarding different approaches. Other potential reasons for this problem could include the fear, and the consequent deterrence occasioned thereof, of encountering difficulties in language learning, specifically learners’ individual problems regarding the culture of the target language and the varying social statuses of speakers. The most important fear is, perhaps, the deterrent fear of causing damage to one’s self-identity. Therefore, while needing to paying special attention to language learners’ anxiety reactions, language teachers have a crucial role in helping their students achieve the expected performance goals in the target language. Another factor that could potentially lead to language anxiety is simply the poor command of the target language. This problem could be attributed to linguistic barriers and obstacles language learners encounter in learning and using the target language. In the current study, using a qualitative, semi-structured interview and the focus-group discussion technique, the researcher aims to investigate the factors that contribute to language anxiety among Arab language learners. It focuses on learners both within the classroom setting and without, i.e. in the social context, and recommends a number of approaches to manage and overcome this problem.

FROM INLAND TO OUTLAND: EXPERIENCES OF NON-NATIVE EXPATRIATE TEACHERS TEACHING IN A FOREIGN CONTEXT

Journal of English Education ◽

10.31327/jee.v4i1.898 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 24-37

Author(s):

Remart Padua Dumlao ◽

Trixia Mengorio

Keyword(s):

Language Learners ◽

Personal Development ◽

Cultural Awareness ◽

English Language ◽

Linguistic Diversity ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Future Research ◽

English Speaking ◽

Native English Speaking

The numbers of English language learners and limited domestic English language teachers have grown exponentially in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as to the ASEAN region over the past decades due to the demand of globalization. Given the huge cultural and linguistic diversity among learners, educating these populations of English language learners can be a challenging but also beneficial for foreign language teachers. This study aimed to analyse the experiences of fifteen Non-native English Speaking Foreign Teachers (NNESFT) teaching in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. The results of this study suggested that although teachers’ reasons in teaching English language in a foreign classroom were more extrinsic reasons rather that intrinsic and altruistic. NNESFT recognized benefits of teaching in foreign classroom, namely, financial aspects, personal development, and building cultural awareness. Meanwhile, challenges were reported include as a non-native English speaking teachers in a foreign classroom, on the part of textbooks and curriculum, and cultural differences in the classroom. Implications were discussed in light of the findings and recommendations formulated for future research directions.

Integrating Online Tools to Motivate Young English Language Learners to Practice English Outside the Classroom

Explorations of Language Teaching and Learning with Computational Assistance ◽

10.4018/978-1-4666-1855-8.ch012 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 184-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Shelly Sanchez Terrell

Keyword(s):

Language Learners ◽

English Language ◽

Older Learners ◽

Young Learners ◽

Online Tools ◽

Study Results ◽

Web Space ◽

Listening And Speaking

Recent research shows that online tools such as: games, wikis, speaking avatars, and interactive stories can be a positive force for English Language Learners (ELLs). It also shows that when ELLs have access to online tools, they are motivated to practice English outside the classroom (Aydin, 2007; Colombo & Colombo, 2007; Son, 2007). Most of this research is undertaken with older learners. This case study attempts to determine if young learners are motivated to practice English outside the classroom if provided with access to various online tools managed via a wiki. A wiki is a free educational web space, which allows a number of people to work together collaboratively on documents with embedded elements and linking. The teacher interviewed parents and kept observational notes. The study results suggest that the online tools improve the listening and speaking skills of young learners.

Role of Content Schema in Reading Comprehension Among Saudi EFL Students: EFL Teachers’ Perspective and Use of Appropriate Classroom Strategies

International Journal of English Linguistics ◽

10.5539/ijel.v8n4p96 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 96

Author(s):

AbdulRahman Al Asmari ◽

Choudhary Zahid Javid

Keyword(s):

Reading Comprehension ◽

Reading Strategies ◽

English Language ◽

Reading Skills ◽

Background Knowledge ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Classroom Strategies ◽

This empirical survey investigates the perceptions of English language teachers towards the role of content schemata in reading comprehension among Saudi EFL learners. Furthermore, it also attempts to explore the use of appropriate classroom strategies employed by English language teachers to activate content schemata to enhance learners’ reading comprehension. A modified Likert-scale strongly-agree to strongly-disagree questionnaire was administered to 61 male and female EFL faculty from English Language Center (ELC), Taif University to generate data. The findings have reinforced that background knowledge of Saudi EFL learners help them significantly in reading faster with better understanding. It has also been reported that pre-reading strategies of brainstorming, classroom discussions about the topic and questioning are the most favored ones to activate Saudi EFL learners’ background knowledge. It has also been learnt that while-reading strategies of directing the students’ attention to signal words, main idea, important phrases, titles, subtitles and effectively linking the target text to their students’ cultural and social experiences also contribute towards reading comprehension. The findings have also revealed that English language teachers consider low English language proficiency and poor reading skills of Saudi ELF leaners as well as the lack of appropriate teaching aids as the major obstacles in activating the content schemata. Several recommendations have been forwarded which have significant pedagogical implications in materializing much sought-after goal of effective ELT in the KSA by ensuring better reading skills among Saudi EFL learners.

Use of Mobile Dictionary in University Students’ Class: A Study of Teachers’ Perspective in Pakistan

Education and Linguistics Research ◽

10.5296/elr.v5i2.15839 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 147

Author(s):

Muhammad Din

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

English Language ◽

Point Of View ◽

Language Teachers ◽

Learning Tools ◽

College Teachers ◽

Efl Learners ◽

English Class ◽

Revolutionary changes have been brought about in teaching and learning environment with the introduction of electronic formats in classrooms. Mobile dictionaries are potentially valuable learning tools today. This study has strived to get insight into the prospects of using mobile dictionary in an EFL classroom of university students of Pakistan with reference to teachers’ perspective. The aims of this study are to know foreign language teachers’ point of view regarding the use of mobile dictionary in English class, investigate the challenges in introducing this e-tool and explore the benefits EFL learners can have through the use of mobile dictionaries in English class. To achieve the objectives of this quantitative study, the researcher has got a questionnaire filled by fifty English language teachers working at different government colleges in Pakistan. The questionnaire which was used to collect data from college teachers consisted of two sections. The first section comprised of fifteen questionnaire items on five-point Likert scale the second section consisted of two open-ended questions. The reliability of the first part of the questionnaire was computed through SPSS (XX). It has been found that most of the college teachers are of the view that the use of mobile dictionary in an EFL class of university students will help them learn vocabulary, pronunciation of words and word origin. These EFL learners can also access authentic content and develop their language competence through the use of mobile phone dictionary in the class. Apart from this, the participants have also pointed out some problems which can be a hindrance in using mobile dictionary in an EFL classroom in the context of Pakistan.

How EFL Learners Fill in the Blanks of an X-test: Think-Aloud Protocol

International Journal of English Linguistics ◽

10.5539/ijel.v7n1p178 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 178

Author(s):

Hamid Ashraf ◽

Mona Tabatabaee Yazdi ◽

Aynaz Samir

Keyword(s):

Language Learners ◽

English Language ◽

Cognitive Strategies ◽

Think Aloud ◽

Research Papers ◽

Efl Learners ◽

Test Taking ◽

English Instruction ◽

Shed Light

Since SLA literature remains researchers unaware of the mental processes involved in the X-Test taking (in contrast to C-Test which there are plenty of available related studies), this article aims at exploring cognitive strategies that EFL learners may use while answering an English X-test, which like the C-Test has been modified, adapted and used in many research papers. To this aim, thirty EFL respondents from Mashhad, Iran, were randomly asked to answer a reliable and valid X-test. All of them participated in introspective methods of think-aloud and retrospective interviews during and after the test administration. To analyze the data only the exact word scoring procedure was employed. The results showed participants used various cognitive strategies in taking the X-Test. It was also revealed that respondents experienced more strategies when filling out an X-Test comparing to related literature of C-test, which could be an indicator of the importance job of cognition in X-Test taking. It is hoped that the article can shed light on the underling cognitive strategies that English language learners’ use, and provide a chance for educators who want to better understand the learners’ cognitive processes in order to assist them identify problems and improve their English instruction.