scholarly journals One situation doesn’t fit all: Variability and stability of state willingness to communicate in a Chinese College English classroom

2019 ◽  
pp. 136216881989133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayi Zhang ◽  
Nadin Beckmann ◽  
Jens F. Beckmann
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Dynamic State ◽  
English Classrooms ◽  
Task Interest ◽  
Measurement Design

Willingness to communicate (WTC) used to be studied as a relatively stable, trait-like predisposition; however, recently attention has shifted to the more dynamic, state-like components of WTC. This research investigates variability and stability in state WTC, particularly focusing on within-person variability, which may lead to stable between-person differences, and situational antecedents that can either promote or hinder state WTC in L2 classrooms. To investigate whether, how and why state WTC varies over time, this study used a high-density repeated measurement design and a group of Chinese university students to describe fluctuations in state WTC in English classrooms over one semester. Data related to state WTC and selected situational antecedents were collected through a self-report questionnaire and statistically analysed. It was found that state WTC varied systematically within the person across the semester, and this variability was systematically related to changes in the psychological properties of the learning situations (e.g. teacher and peer support, task-interest, and task-importance). It was also found that within-person variability in state WTC predicted language learning performance, e.g. students whose state WTC increased as a function of perceived task interest tended to achieve higher grades at the end of the semester. This study calls for more attention to be directed at within-person variability in state WTC, and provides novel insights into how relationships between state WTC and its situational antecedents may be investigated within individuals. This work is of interest to researchers and practitioners who aim to enhance L2 learners’ state WTC and language learning performance by systematically shaping their situated learning experience.

scholarly journals More than meets the ear: Individual differences in trait and state willingness to communicate as predictors of language learning performance in a Chinese EFL context

2020 ◽  
pp. 136216882095193
Author(s):  
Jiayi Zhang ◽  
Nadin Beckmann ◽  
Jens F. Beckmann
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Communication Behaviour ◽  
English Classrooms ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Self Report Data ◽  
And Performance

Chinese students are frequently seen as passive learners because of their apparent reluctance to speak, particularly in English classrooms. However, this impression seems to reflect a stereotype which is likely to confound willingness to communicate (WTC) and communication behaviour. In this article we argue for more attention to be paid to individual differences to complement culture-related explanations of differences in WTC. Self-report data on WTC at both trait and state levels and personality characteristics were analysed in relation to L2 language learning performance in a sample of 103 university students. Individual differences in WTCL1 were found to be strongly related to extraversion; whilst individual differences in WTCL2 were associated with openness to experience, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, rather than extraversion. Moreover, this study differentiates state WTCL2 from communication behaviour, and provides evidence for both trait and state WTCL2 being important predictors of L2 learning performance despite being differently related to personality. Our results overall suggest that exclusively relying on observable communication behaviour is likely to overlook effective antecedences of learning and performance. This study pleads for a more differentiated perspective on WTC and its personality correlates at both trait and state levels. It provides further evidence that WTC is a useful construct in working towards a better understanding of language learning processes.

Effect of Learning a New Language on Children's Willingness to Communicate

2009 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Le Pichon-Vorstman ◽  
Henriette E. de Swart ◽  
Jacob Vorstman ◽  
Huub van den Bergh
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Primary Outcome Measure ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Formal Context ◽  
Relevant Factor ◽  
Set Up

The present study was set up to evaluate to what extent multilingual study groups can be considered homogeneous. A series of interviews were conducted to investigate the metacommunicative awareness of 101 children. We compared children who had learned an additional language in a formal context (abbreviated LLE, i.e. Language Learning Experience) to those who had not (abbreviated nLLE, i.e. without a Language Learning Experience). The primary outcome measure consisted of the reactions to an imaginary situation of communication. The results of the current study suggest that LLE children were more inclined to carry out the exchange than the nLLE children. Studying the same outcome measure, no such difference was identified when comparing monolingual to multilingual children. These findings indicate that with regard to the present tasks, the presence or absence of LLE may be a more relevant factor than mono- or multilingualism.

scholarly journals Mobile blogs in language learning: making the most of informal and situated learning opportunities

ReCALL ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Comas-Quinn ◽  
Raquel Mardomingo ◽  
Chris Valentine
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Informal Learning ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Learning Opportunities ◽  
Mobile Technologies ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Educational Environments ◽  
Formal And Informal Learning

AbstractThe application of mobile technologies to learning has the potential to facilitate the active participation of learners in the creation and delivery of content. Mobile technologies can also provide a powerful connection between a variety of formal and informal learning contexts and can help to build a community of learners. However these versatile tools present challenges to educators and learners alike. The paper discusses the pedagogical challenges that result from the introduction of mobile technologies in language learning in the context of an intensive week of study abroad. We describe and evaluate a pilot project that uses mobile blogging to promote a constructivist, situated and informal learning experience of the foreign language and culture based on theories of active learning. We aim to encourage interaction and a sense of community among learners outside formal educational environments and in different locations as we ask them to engage with the foreign culture by capturing, sharing and reflecting on their experiences for their peers.

Effects of second language proficiency and working memory span on novel language learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-105
Author(s):  
Kaitlyn L. Zavaleta ◽  
Janet L. Nicol
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Memory Span ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Test Word ◽  
Learning Performance ◽  
Production Test ◽  
L2 Proficiency ◽  
Comprehension Test

Abstract In this paper we examine the effects of prior language learning experience and working memory capacity on learning a novel language. Participants with a range of proficiency in a second language were trained on a third language. They were presented with 20 Turkish words (to test word-learning) and their plural counterparts (to test rule-learning). After training, participants were asked to judge whether a given label correctly matched the pictured object (comprehension) and to verbally produce the correct label for a given object (production). The comprehension test took place immediately after training and again a week later. The production test was administered after the second comprehension test. We found that performance on the initial comprehension test was predicted by working memory span but not L2 proficiency; L2 proficiency predicted learning performance only for the delayed tests. This suggests that the two variables – L2 Proficiency and Working Memory – play different roles in L3 learning.

scholarly journals The perceptions of a situated learning experience mediated by novice teachers’ autonomy

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Paul Booth ◽  
Isabelle Guinmard ◽  
Elizabeth Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Novice Teachers ◽  
Situated Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Educational Technologies ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Authentic Environment

<p>With the development of online language learning comes a growing need for courses in language teaching to incorporate educational technologies into course content. The challenge this development poses is how to incorporate educational technologies in teacher education programmes to prepare teachers for online language teaching. This study explores the way in which an authentic environment of English online and at a distance is facilitated by novice teachers and how their perceptions of the experience influence their own autonomy. The article presents how novice teachers cope with the complexity of the design of online materials, their pedagogy and their expectations. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and novice teachers’ own evaluations of the course. The study found the opportunities and challenges for novice teachers in materials design, more complex roles and course expectations as they self-direct themselves in terms of both their learning and pedagogical skills. These findings suggest that teachers’ perceptions of situated learning can be shaped by their own teacher autonomy.</p>

Dialogic Teaching and Translanguaging in Deaf Education

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Swanwick
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Deaf Education ◽  
Deaf Children ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Diverse Learning ◽  
Language Context ◽  
Pedagogical Framework

This chapter proposes a pedagogical framework for deaf education that builds on a sociocultural perspective and the role of interaction in learning. Pedagogical principles are argued that recognize the dialogic nature of learning and teaching and the role of language as “the tool of all tools” in this process. Building on established work on classroom talk in deaf education, the issues of dialogue in deaf education are extended to consider deaf children’s current learning contexts and their diverse and plural use of sign and spoken languages. Within this broad language context, the languaging and translanguaging practices of learners and teachers are explained as central to a pedagogical framework that is responsive to the diverse learning needs of deaf children. Within this pedagogical framework practical teaching strategies are suggested that draw on successful approaches in the wider field of language learning and take into account the particular learning experience and contexts of deaf children.

International teleconferences in EGAP courses: preparing students for prospective professional situations

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-32
Author(s):  
Anila R. Scott-Monkhouse ◽  
Michal Tal ◽  
Maria Yelenevskaya
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Israel Institute ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Institute Of Technology

Abstract This paper describes a joint programme developed in 2018 by the University of Parma Language Centre (Italy) and the Humanities and Arts Department of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. The aim of the project was to involve students of English for General Academic Purposes in delivering presentations to an unfamiliar foreign audience on a topic relevant to their academic interests. The students were required to prepare for the presentation by exploring and personalising the chosen topic so as to be able to explain it to a group which they had had no previous contact with or information about. Through the active involvement of the students in a realistic implementation of their prospective professional use of English, language learning became a holistic experience where a traditional approach to language learning focusing mainly on vocabulary and macro-skills was integrated with a pragmatic approach which addressed the so-called ‘21st-century skills’ (specifically critical thinking, communication, collaboration and digital literacy). The simulation of situations that they are likely to encounter in their professional lives helped students build their confidence, with the whole learning experience carrying both emotional and social implications. This paper offers an insight into the challenges and issues which arose, and ideas for improving the learning experience. We describe the preparation carried out by the teachers at both universities, and the guided and autonomous work carried out by students in the different stages. A post-conference survey triggered the students’ self-reflection in relation to learning and personal development. The survey was also valuable for the teachers regarding reassessment of teaching strategies and preparation for future joint projects.

Education of undergraduate: Epistemic and cultural beliefs as obstacles to technology

2021 ◽  
pp. 002072092098431
Author(s):  
Fahad SS Alfallaj ◽  
Ahmed AH Al-Ma'amari ◽  
Fahad IA Aldhali
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Language Curriculum

This study aims to identify the epistemological and cultural beliefs that act as barriers in English learning by Saudi undergraduate learners. English is a compulsory component of education from the early school years in Saudi Arabia, and the Ministry of Education invests a great deal of workforce and financial resources in this sector in a concerted effort to ensure that Saudi students attain language proficiency. The study employed a mixed-method research design and was conducted with 85 undergraduate learners at Qassim University. It used a questionnaire and interviews to obtain insight into the factors that inhibit the English learning experience. Results revealed that the respondents' resistance to the learning of others' culture stems mainly from the epistemic and cultural barriers embedded in English language learning. Implications of the study will provide the basis to policymakers, educationists, institutions, and learners for contextualizing the English language curriculum of Saudi Arabia.

scholarly journals Exploring the Success of GMT Technique: Games, Mind-Mapping, and Twitter Hashtags in Teaching Vocabulary in EFL Higher Education Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Banan Hassan Alhajaji ◽  
Jalila Saleh Algmadi ◽  
Amal Abdelsattar Metwally
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Unified Framework ◽  
Mind Mapping ◽  
Grammatical Competence ◽  
Interactive Games ◽  
Assessment Tests ◽  
Vocabulary Building

Vocabulary is an essential element of language learning. Wide ranges of vocabulary along with grammatical competence guarantee learners to communicate in the language effectively. This study proposes an edutainment method for learning vocabulary by simply combining education and entertainment. This study aims to gain insights about learners’ opinions and perspectives about the use of a technique developed by the researchers as well as how participants feel about their learning. The study investigates the effect of employing Games, Mind-mapping and Twitter Hashtags as the GMT technique, on female Saudi university students’ achievement in English vocabulary. The study suggests that this technique which consists of interactive games, cognitive mind-mapping and the exploitation of technology in the form of twitter hashtags, all employed together, constitute a unified framework for activating students’ vocabulary learning. The sample in the study consisted of 150 students enrolled in the vocabulary building course during the second semester of the academic year 2018/2019. The participants were asked to respond to the questionnaire and they also took variant assessment tests, then their scores were compared to the results of other students who were not taught vocabulary using the technique in question. The findings ascertain the improvement and significant in the experimental group. In addition, the results reveal that the learners had mostly positive opinions on implementing the GMT technique which facilitated their language learning experience. The researchers conclude that the GMT technique can be an effective tool to promote students’ active engagement, motivation, and interaction in vocabulary learning.

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