scholarly journals Low foreign language proficiency reduces optimism about the personal future

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-75
Author(s):  
Yulia Oganian ◽  
Hauke R Heekeren ◽  
Christoph W Korn
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Online Experiments ◽  
Decision Bias ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Comparative Optimism ◽  
Probability Estimates ◽  
Decision Biases ◽  
Baseline Probability

Optimistic estimates about the personal future constitute one of the best-described and most-debated decision biases related to emotion. Nevertheless, it has been difficult to isolate manipulations that reduce optimistic estimates. Eliciting estimates in a foreign language is a promising candidate manipulation because foreign language use alters decision biases in scenarios with emotional components. Consequently, we tested whether foreign language use reduces optimistic estimates. In a laboratory experiment, participants ( n = 45) estimated their probability of experiencing life events either in their native language or a foreign language, in which they were highly proficient. We found no differences in these estimates or in the updating of these estimates after receiving feedback about the population baseline probability. Importantly, three online experiments with large sample sizes ( ns = 706, 530, and 473) showed that using a foreign language with low proficiency reduced comparative optimism. Participants in the online experiments had diverse proficiency levels and were matched on a variety of control metrics. Fine-grained analyses indicated that low proficiency weakens the coupling between probability estimates and rated arousal. Overall, our findings suggest that an important decision bias can be reduced when using a foreign language with low proficiency.

Factors predicting classroom WTC in English and French as foreign languages among adult learners in Spain

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110540
Author(s):  
Elvira Barrios ◽  
Irene Acosta-Manzano
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
French Language ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Relative Standing

This study aimed to identify associations and predictors of willingness to communicate (WTC) of adult foreign language (FL) learners and whether they are contingent upon the FL being learned. To this end, our research investigated learner variables associated with WTC in adult FL learners of English and of French in an under-researched field of WTC studies in Spain. More specifically, the following variables were studied: gender, age, level of multilingualism, perceived relative standing in the class, language proficiency, teacher’s use of the FL in class, out-of-class foreign language use (OCFLU) and the two emotions of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA). Of the 9 independent variables examined, FLCA and language proficiency were found to be predictors of the WTC of both English and French language learners; additionally, enjoyment was found to be a predictor of WTC of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) and OCFLU, of learners of French as a foreign language (FFL). Our findings indicate that the construct of WTC needs to be further studied as research may produce dissimilar results depending on the instructional setting, population and foreign language. Pedagogical implications for language teaching practices seeking to enhance adult FL learners’ WTC were also drawn from the study results.

A contextualised examination of target language use in the primary school foreign language classroom

2004 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Carless
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Classroom Language

Abstract This article discusses an issue which is of longstanding and central importance to foreign language teachers in a variety of contexts, namely teacher use of classroom language. It uses detailed qualitative case study data to explore how and why an expert practitioner uses English in her Hong Kong Primary school language classroom. Through the interplay between teacher beliefs, experiences and classroom transcript data, the paper develops a contextualised picture of classroom language use with young foreign language learners. The paper suggests that it is not necessarily the language proficiency of the learners which plays a major role in the quantity of target language use, but the teachers’ own proficiency, experience and beliefs.

scholarly journals SURZHIK AS A LANGUAGE BARRIER IN THE PROCESS OF MASTERING THE LITERARY NORM OF THE LANGUAGE

2021 ◽  
pp. 151-160
Author(s):  
O. Pryshchepa ◽  
O. Chernysh ◽  
Z. Biloshytska
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Statistical Processing ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Cultural Development ◽  
National Language ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Readiness To Learn

The topicality of the study lies in the fact that the level of language proficiency is considered a criterion in characterizing intellectual and cultural development of the society. Nowadays in Ukraine we have the problem of so called surzhik, which is the result of long-term coexistence of Ukrainian and Russian languages in Ukraine. Surzhik is a mixture of grammatical features of two languages − Ukrainian and Russian, thus it is a mixed language that grammatically is neither of the languages mentioned above. Surzhik negatively contributes to the foundations of the national language. Moreover, it is the result of illiterate language use. Therefore, it becomes a serious obstacle in communication between students and teachers during the classes. Furthermore, the results of a poll of 200 students of higher education institutions in Zhytomyr prove that students who speak surzhik speak neither Ukrainian nor Russian fluently. In addition, they have low speech self-esteem. Thus, at least 22% of respondents do not have a clear understanding of which language they speak. Consequently, it signifies about the immaturity of their linguistic personality. Therefore, the aim of the study is to determine, based on the survey data, for which language group and to what extent surzhik is a speech barrier in the process of studying the literary norm of Ukrainian and whether there is any relationship between the ability to master its literary norm and readiness to learn a foreign language. The authors use the methods of sociology − questionnaires and statistical processing of data. The results of the research prove that surzhik is a speech barrier not only in mastering the literary norm of native language, but also in learning a foreign language.

The effect of collaborative writing in an EFL secondary setting

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 874-897 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izaskun Villarreal ◽  
Nora Gil-Sarratea
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Collaborative Writing ◽  
School Context ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Experimental Group

Collaborative writing (CW) has been proven advantageous to enhance the second and foreign language skills of university students. However, little research to date has explored whether CW practices are fruitful for secondary school learners in foreign language (FL) contexts, a population characterized by low language proficiency levels, and few opportunities to engage with the FL. The present classroom-based study examines CW in this setting and aims to determine whether CW fosters language opportunities, operationalized as language-related episodes (LREs), which will allow learners in low-input scenarios to compose better texts. Two parallel intact classes were studied: a control group ( n = 16) which produced an argumentative essay individually, and an experimental group ( n = 16) which did so in pairs while recording their interactions. The findings revealed that the pairs produced shorter but more accurate and slightly more lexically and grammatically complex texts and obtained higher scores in content, structure and organization. Collaboration afforded students the opportunity to pool ideas, deliberate over language use, and provide each other with feedback (collective scaffolding). Most importantly, collaborating seemed to be beneficial for all intermediate secondary learners and, thus, a useful strategy for improving FL writing skills in the secondary school context.

scholarly journals Out-of-class English Practicing

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15
Author(s):  
Zhakaw H. Ahmed ◽  
Wrya I. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Activity Type ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
University Level

Research in Second/Foreign language learning indicates that using English outside of the classroom is an essential part of the language learning process. However, certain studies have been cared out on university-level EFL students indicate that students use English minimally when outside of the classroom. This study furthers the research on English use outside of the classroom to more fully understand out-of-d all types of language learners and the link between language proficiency and out-of-class English language use. For methodology, three private universities in Erbil are concerned. The tools that are used in this study is a questionnaire and also interview. Validity and reliabilities are regarded here. The aims are to investigate the use of of-out-of class activity type that promotes using English and even their attitudes toward the benefits of using English outside of class. Research explores some recommendations to English language departments in the three universities which are helpful for the students’ language proficiency, the research also provides some suggestions for further studies.

Can-Do descriptors – Realigning English Language Curriculum at Higher Education Institution to CEFR

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Erda Wati Bakar
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Language Curriculum ◽  
English Curriculum ◽  
The Common ◽  
The University

The Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) has become the standard used to describe and evaluate students’ command of a second or foreign language. It is an internationally acknowledged standard language proficiency framework which many countries have adopted such as China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. Malaysia Ministry of Education is aware and realise the need for the current English language curriculum to be validated as to reach the international standard as prescribed by the CEFR. The implementation of CEFR has begun at primary and secondary level since 2017 and now higher education institutions are urged to align their English Language Curriculum to CEFR as part of preparation in receiving students who have been taught using CEFR-aligned curriculum at schools by year 2022. This critical reflection article elucidates the meticulous processes that we have embarked on in re-aligning our English Language Curriculum to the standard and requirements of CEFR. The paper concludes with a remark that the alignment of the English curriculum at the university needs full support from the management in ensuring that all the stakeholders are fully prepared, informed and familiar with the framework.

scholarly journals The university as a terrain for hidden language conflicts? German, English and the silence beyond them

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-154
Author(s):  
Monika Dannerer
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Administrative Staff ◽  
Higher Education Administrators ◽  
Language Management ◽  
Institutional Level ◽  
Internationalisation At Home ◽  
Education Administrators ◽  
The University ◽  
Linguistic Backgrounds

AbstractIn this paper, language policy (LP) at the University of Salzburg (Austria), a mid-size seemingly monolingual university, serves as an example to analyse (potential) language conflicts at the institutional level considering the roles played by German, English and ‘immigrant’ languages at the university. Language management, beliefs, and (reported) language use by different stakeholders in higher education (administrators, academic and administrative staff and students) are contrasted, also taking into consideration different linguistic backgrounds (German as L1, German as L2 and German as a foreign language). This offers an overall perspective on institutional LP that is still group sensitive, one that reveals two different hidden language conflicts: the non-addressed conflict between the two most important and visible languages at the university by far, German and English, as well as the neglected and negated conflict between German and the hidden “immigrant” languages. A consistent ‘internationalisation at home’ strategy would address these hidden conflicts and show backwash effects on ideas of language use in education as well as in society in general.

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