Exploring General Versus Academic English Proficiency as Predictors of Adolescent EFL Essay Writing

2021 ◽  
pp. 074108832098636
Author(s):  
Claire W. Jo
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Academic English ◽  
Essay Writing ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Proficiency Assessment ◽  
Essay Quality

Language learning is context-dependent and requires learners to employ different sets of language skills to fulfill various tasks. Yet standardized English as a foreign language assessments tend to conceptualize English proficiency as a unidimensional construct. In order to distinguish English proficiency as separate context-driven constructs, I adopted a register-based approach to investigate academic English proficiency (i.e., specific set of language skills that support academic literacy) and general English proficiency (i.e., wide range of language skills undifferentiated by context that are measured by traditional assessments) as separate predictors of overall essay quality. In the study, students completed a general English proficiency assessment and an academic language proficiency assessment, and essays were coded for academic writing features at the lexical, syntactic, and discourse levels. Beyond the contribution of academic writing features and general English proficiency, academic English proficiency emerged as a significant contributor to essay quality. Findings suggest that academic English proficiency scores more precisely identified a subset of academic language skills that is relevant to essay writing. The article concludes by discussing implications for strategic writing instruction that articulates the key expectations of academic writing used in and beyond school contexts.

scholarly journals Academic English is No One’s Mother Tongue: Graduate and Undergraduate Students’ Academic English Language-learning Needs from Students’ and Instructors’ Perspectives

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Shih Huang
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Academic English ◽  
Support Unit ◽  
Academic Communication

A research project designed to assess English-as-first-language (EL1) and English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) undergraduate and graduate students’ academic language-learning needs in the context of an academic language-support unit was conducted. This paper reports findings pertaining to 370 EL1 students and 88 instructors at the graduate and undergraduate levels. These participants responded to questionnaires, which requested them to rate the importance of academic language skills, to assess their own or their students’ skill status, and to respond to open-ended questions regarding their own or their students’ academic communication challenges. In addition to reporting EL1 students’ perceived needs and assessments of their skills, a comparison of findings between EL1 and EAL contexts is presented. Findings point to a match between instructors and students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels in their perceptions of important academic language skills, but a great divergence in their assessments of students’ competence in those skills. These findings indicate a need to re-examine the divide often made in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programmes regarding divergent needs of EAL versus EL1 learners as well as to determine whether the convergence of their needs can be considered when planning EAP courses or workshops, especially during challenging economic times, when priorities must be set in response to the rise of international EAL student enrolment in English-speaking countries.

Moving Towards Translanguaging

2020 ◽  
pp. 208-232
Author(s):  
Mara R. Barbosa
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Teaching Models ◽  
The University ◽  
Pedagogical Changes

Emerging bilinguals at US schools are generally subject to programs that are inadequate for their learning needs. It is crucial to find teaching models through which they can develop their academic language skills. This chapter presents the program Learn from the Experts, a partnership between a university and a high school, that fosters collaboration between Spanish and English learners. In this program, which follows the translanguaging pedagogy, Spanish learners from the university meet to collaborate with Spanish heritage English learners from the high school in lessons designed to develop each of the participants' skills in the language they are learning. The chapter also presents pedagogical changes made to the program resulting from the program team's reflection. It contributes to the development of models that support emerging bilinguals' language learning through collaboration with more experienced speakers without compelling speakers of minoritized languages to distance themselves from their languages and cultures.

scholarly journals Developing Academic English in Speaking and Writing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Július Rozenfeld ◽  
Slávka Tomaščíková
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Scientific Inquiry ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Academic Skills ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Academic English ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Academic Competencies ◽  
Doctoral Dissertations

The academic textbook entitled “Developing Academic English in Speaking and Writing” responds to the need identified by the authors in their own teaching practice to integrate the enhancement of the academic skills of speaking and writing into a single coherent approach. Using complex methodologies of academic speaking and academic writing, the authors offer practical guidelines on how to broaden students’ knowledge of the discourse of Academic English and how to improve their academic competencies and productive language skills in speaking and writing in English. The textbook is designed for university students of English philology, students of literary and cultural studies focusing on Anglophone areas, students of English translation and interpretation study programmes, but also for students who study in English and who are expected to engage in scientific inquiry, document their research in Bachelor and Master theses or in doctoral dissertations written in English, and to present their work to their academic community.

scholarly journals ENHANCING PROFESSIONAL COMPENENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS IN THE ACADEMIC ENGLISH COURSE

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (18) ◽  
pp. 84-89
Author(s):  
Oksana Kovalenko ◽  
Olga Afanasenko
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
English For Academic Purposes ◽  
Academic English ◽  
Academic Texts ◽  
Writing Course ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Selection For

The paper presents the ideas on integration of English language academic writing into the training of Mater of Pharmacy students. The academic literature demonstrates a powerful didactic potential for the development of both language and professional competence of students majoring in pharmacy. This fact is evidenced by the empirical study that demonstrates the finding reflected in students’ graduation academic project performance. As a measurement tools we employed assessment rubrics of the graduate project, content analysis and questionnaire on teachers’ feedback. The participants of the study were students from the Pharmacy faculty and teachers of English for Academic Purposes in cooperation with teachers of pharmacy. Together they outlined the criteria for the texts selection. According to the results, students mastered not only academic writing skills, but also the skills of information processing and evaluation, critical thinking, presentation of information and academic integrity. The paper also presents methodological recommendations on academic texts selection for pharmaceutical students and forms of teachingacademic writing to students of non-linguistic specialties. The results of the study allow to draw the conclusion academic writing course will enhance professional competence and reduce students’ misinterpreting of academic language.

scholarly journals PROMOTING ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING AMONG LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY LEARNERS THROUGH MOVIES

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-138
Author(s):  
ROZMEL ABDUL LATIFF ◽  
NOR HASNI MOKHTAR ◽  
RAJA HANANI RAJA MUSHAHAR ◽  
MICHI FARIDA ABDUL HALIM
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Target Language ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Comprehensible Input

English language learning in a non-native environment is always a challenge. This is especially so among limited English proficiency (LEP) learners. Despite having eleven years of instructions in English in primary and secondary school, there are still quite a number of LEP learners entering the university. This may be attributed to lack of exposure to the language, as classroom instruction alone is not sufficient for mastery of a second language. Although English is widely spoken in Malaysia, this does not apply to all communities, especially in rural areas. In such circumstances, watching movies in the target language can provide the necessary exposure, the ample amount of listening and reading in the target language, which provides the comprehensible input essential for language acquisition. Movies also come with closed captions, which not only help the learner recognize the words but also enable them to look up the words in a dictionary. An action research was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of using movies in a Foundation English course. This paper details the implementation of movie viewing in the course and presents the usability and appropriateness of using English movies in the acquisition of English language skills and creating cultural awareness among LEP learners. Finally, this paper highlights the learners’ responses regarding their experience in watching the movies. These responses provide invaluable insights into the impetus for future use of movies in the ESL classroom. Keywords: Comprehensible input; Cultural awareness; Limited english proficiency (LEP) learners; Language skills; Movies.

Contextualized Culture Integration through Project-Based Learning in EFL Classrooms in Vietnam

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-15
Author(s):  
Elvira Sanatullova Allison ◽  
Thanh Do
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Cultural Perspectives ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Culture Integration ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
Culture And Language

Integrating culture into language contexts in EFL classroom has been an issue of substantial concern for years. Different methods or approaches have been introduced for the integration of culture and language learning. Recently, project-based learning (PBL) seems to be a favorite choice among methodologists. This paper analyzes the syllabi of a drama project and a cultural project to address cultural aspects in PBL in EFL classrooms. The findings show that PBL provides opportunities to enhance and improve students’ language skills and soft skills. More importantly, a wide range of knowledge of different cultural perspectives may be collected during the projects. Journal of NELTA, Vol 20 No. 1-2, December 2015, page 5-15

The English proficiency and academic language skills of Australian bilingual children during the primary school years

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamelia Dennaoui ◽  
Ruth Jane Nicholls ◽  
Meredith O’Connor ◽  
Joanne Tarasuik ◽  
Amanda Kvalsvig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Bilingual Children

scholarly journals From Implicit Norms to Explicit Skills – Focusing on Danish Academic Vocabulary

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Sofie Jakobsen
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Academic Language ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Academic Disciplines ◽  
Academic Vocabulary ◽  
Language Norms ◽  
To Come

Research shows that L1 as well as L2 and L3 students in Danish tertiary education struggle with acquiring the necessary academic language skills for studying in Danish. Research also shows a tendency for educators in the Danish setting to treat academic language norms as implicit norms, making it much harder for students to grasp the language-related demands of academia. This article argues that in order to make the demands and norms of academic language explicit to the students, irrespective of linguistic background, we need more research-based knowledge about Danish academic language. Furthermore, focussing on one particular aspect of academic language, namely academic vocabulary, can be a step towards more explicit approaches to academic language norms. Academic vocabulary is here defined as a non-technical, general purpose vocabulary with distinct academic functions used across a range of academic disciplines. To come nearer an understanding of how we can make the academic language norms more tangible and accessible to both students and staff, the article begins with a review of existing research on Danish academic language and academic vocabulary with a particular focus on Danish SLA research. This is followed by an analysis of Danish guidance literature on academic writing for students. The article concludes with suggestions for further research in relation to teaching Danish academic vocabulary.

scholarly journals Pedagogical Effects of Social Media on Iraqi Kurd EFL learners

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebaz Bahadeen Mohammed Nuri ◽  
Awder Raza Aziz ◽  
Kochar Ali Saeed ◽  
Shaiy Karwan Tofiq ◽  
Soma Soran Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Social Media Platforms

English language learners use social media platforms for improving their language skills through exchanging ideas, sharing their thoughts, and getting exposed to authentic language. The use of social media by learners might yield positive or adverse effects. This study, therefore, explores the pedagogical consequences of some social media platforms on Iraqi Kurd EFL learners. It Highlights the significant impacts of social media on learning English, vocabulary, and spelling. It explicitly attempts to discover how social media affects English language learning, word choices, and spelling for Kurd EFL learners. A questionnaire is used to randomly collect the study data from 96 Kurdish students studying English at various academic institutions. The data was organized and analyzed by SPSS. It was found that Kurd EFL learners use social media platforms extensively for numerous purposes, improving their English language skills being one of them. The results suggest that social media assists learners in learning and practising new vocabulary; However, it has a negative impact on the students spelling and academic writing skills. Kurd EFL learners use abbreviated forms and unnecessarily shortened forms under the influence of social media.

scholarly journals Pedagogical Effects of Social Media on Iraqi Kurd EFL learners

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 202-216
Author(s):  
Rebaz Bahadeen Mohammed Nuri ◽  
Awder Raza Aziz ◽  
Kochar Ali Saeed ◽  
Shaiy Karwan Tofiq ◽  
Soma Soran Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Social Media Platforms

English language learners use social media platforms for improving their language skills through exchanging ideas, sharing their thoughts, and getting exposed to authentic language. The use of social media by learners might yield positive or adverse effects. This study, therefore, explores the pedagogical consequences of some social media platforms on Iraqi Kurd EFL learners. It Highlights the significant impacts of social media on learning English, vocabulary, and spelling. It explicitly attempts to discover how social media affects English language learning, word choices, and spelling for Kurd EFL learners. A questionnaire is used to randomly collect the study data from 96 Kurdish students studying English at various academic institutions. The data was organized and analyzed by SPSS. It was found that Kurd EFL learners use social media platforms extensively for numerous purposes, improving their English language skills being one of them. The results suggest that social media assists learners in learning and practising new vocabulary; However, it has a negative impact on the students spelling and academic writing skills. Kurd EFL learners use abbreviated forms and unnecessarily shortened forms under the influence of social media.

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