scholarly journals Improving Refugee Well-Being With Better Language Skills and More Intergroup Contact

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda K. Tip ◽  
Rupert Brown ◽  
Linda Morrice ◽  
Michael Collyer ◽  
Matthew J. Easterbrook
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Intergroup Contact ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Path Modeling ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Majority Culture

The effects of intergroup contact on prejudice are well established. However, its effects on minority group well-being have been rarely studied. We hypothesized that contact with members of the majority culture will be related to better well-being, and that this is facilitated by majority language proficiency. We tested this hypothesis in a three-wave longitudinal study of refugees over 2 years ( N = 180). Cross-lagged path modeling confirmed that intergroup contact at earlier time points was associated with increased well-being at later time points; the reverse associations (from earlier well-being to later contact) were not reliable. Self-rated earlier English language competence was positively associated with later intergroup contact (but not the reverse), suggesting that improving majority language proficiency might be the key to better well-being of refugees, with intergroup contact being the mediator between language and well-being.

‘I'm Telling You … The Language Barrier is the Most, the Biggest Challenge’: Barriers to Education among Karen Refugee Women in Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula G. Watkins ◽  
Husna Razee ◽  
Juliet Richters
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Well Being ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Barriers To Education ◽  
Refugee Women ◽  
Education Participation ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Impact

This article examines factors influencing English language education, participation and achievement among Karen refugee women in Australia. Data were drawn from ethnographic observations and interviews with 67 participants between 2009 and 2011, collected as part of a larger qualitative study exploring the well-being of Karen refugee women in Sydney. Participants unanimously described difficulty with English language proficiency and communication as the ‘number one’ problem affecting their well-being. Gendered, cultural and socio-political factors act as barriers to education. We argue that greater sensitivity to refugees' backgrounds, culture and gender is necessary in education. Research is needed into the combined relationships between culture and gender across pre-displacement, displacement and resettlement and the impact of these factors on post-immigration educational opportunities. Training is needed to sensitise educators to the complex issues of refugee resettlement. The paper concludes with recommendations for service provision and policy.

PELATIHAN BAHASA INGGRIS BAGI MAHASISWA AKPARTA SURAKARTA

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 221-225
Author(s):  
Eka Susylowati ◽  
Ika Oktaria ◽  
Arini Hidayah ◽  
Yunita Widiyantari ◽  
Anik Astuti
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Community Service ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Service Activities ◽  
English Language Skills

This study aims to train English language skills for Akparta students to be proficient in English. The research methods used include presentations, lectures, observations and discussions. The results showed that the level of English mastery of the Surakarta Akparta students had progressed in speaking English. Community service activities carried out at Akparta Surakarta are helpful for students to improve their English language competence so that students can become professional tourism workers

scholarly journals Improving English Language Proficiency of Graduate Students by Online Learning Apps available on Smartphone

2019 ◽  
Vol IV (III) ◽  
pp. 535-543
Author(s):  
Shahida Naz ◽  
Mamuna Ghani ◽  
Shahid Nawaz
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language Skills

The field of digital literacy is developing rapidly; consequently, the interest of researchers has also shifted now. The current research study was to explore the role of online learning Apps available on smartphones in improving graduate students' English language proficiency. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this study. Data were collected through a questionnaire that had close-ended and open-ended questions. Questionnaires were distributed among 480 graduate-level students studying in 6 universities of Punjab, Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0) to find out results in the form of Percentage, Mean Score, Standard Deviation by applying the Independent Sample T-Test. The results of the study demonstrated the potential of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) as an anticipatory approach to improving English language skills. Results showed that students were pleased to use smartphones to improve their English language proficiency. They responded positively about the role of smartphones in improving English language skills. On the basis of findings, the researcher concluded that smartphone plays an important role in improving students' English language proficiency.

scholarly journals What happens to international students’ english after one semester at university?

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 4.1-4.17
Author(s):  
Neomy Storch ◽  
Kathryn Hill
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Language Test ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Number Of Factors ◽  
The Impact

There is a common expectation, particularly amongst international students, that studying in an English-medium university should automatically produce a significant improvement in their English language skills. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that this is not necessarily the case.This paper reports on a study which investigated the impact of one semester of study at a university on the English language proficiency of a sample of 40 international students. This was measured by comparing the students’ scores on a diagnostic English language test at the beginning and end of their first semester. A comparison of discourse measures of writing in terms of fluency, complexity and accuracy was also undertaken. Background information, including details of ESL support, if any, was collected for all participants via questionnaires, and interviews were conducted with a subset of the participants.It was found that studying in an English-medium university generally led to an improvement in English language proficiency. The paper identifies a number of factors which appear to support language development, as well as factors that may inhibit it.

Effective Usage Of Game Activities, Dialogues And Role-Plays In Communicative Language Teaching

2021 ◽  
Vol 03 (02) ◽  
pp. 72-79
Author(s):  
Fotima Abduvosiyevna Rafikova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Educational System ◽  
English Language ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Foreign Language Skills

At present, the English language is being taught by adapting world standards of Common European Framework Reference (CEFR) for teaching foreign languages to our national educational system. According to the Uzbek national standard the knowledge of the foreign language competence from the first to fourth grade is defined as A 1- for the beginner level. This article will disclose the formation and development of primary school learners’ foreign language skills through communicative competence.

scholarly journals Do Enclaves Matter in Immigrant Adjustment?

2019 ◽  
pp. 323-360
Author(s):  
George J. Borjas ◽  
Barry R. Chiswick ◽  
George J. Borjas ◽  
Barry R. Chiswick ◽  
George J. Borjas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Adult Male ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Ethnic Concentration ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
English Language Skills

This chapter is concerned with the determinants and consequences of immigrant/linguistic concentrations (enclaves). The reasons for the formation of these concentrations are discussed. Hypotheses are developed regarding “ethnic goods” and the effect of concentrations on the immigrant's language skills, as well as the effects on immigrant earnings of destination language skills and the linguistic concentration. These hypotheses are tested using PUMS data from the 1990 U.S. Census on adult male immigrants from non-English-speaking countries. Linguistic concentrations reduce the immigrant’s own English language skills. Moreover, immigrants’ earnings are lower the lower their English language proficiency and the greater the linguistic/ethnic concentration in their origin language of the area in which they live. The adverse effects on earnings of poor destination language skills and of immigrant concentrations exist independently of each other. The hypotheses regarding ethnic goods are supported by the data.

scholarly journals How to Improve Communication within an Organization? The Relationship between Cultural Intelligence and Language Competence

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-81
Author(s):  
Miroslav Jurásek ◽  
Tomislav Potocký
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Cultural Intelligence ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Internal Communication ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Effective Functioning ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractObjective: This article deals with the effective functioning of an organization in the international context. It focuses on the two key aspects of the communication in this respects: cultural intelligence (CQ), the capacity to operate successfully in the multicultural setting, and the quality of internal communication; it is investigated whether CQ (and its components: metacognitive, cognitive, motivational and behavioural) are rather related to the number of foreign languages or the language proficiency a person (or an employee) knows (has).Methodology: The sample of 132 undergraduate students of the English and Czech study programs at one private business university in the Czech Republic was used. The Spearman correlation coefficient, Chi–Square test for independence and the one–way ANOVA test (all of them conducted in the statistical program IBM SPSS Statistics 21) are calculated in the paper.Findings: CQ depends on the quality (the level of proficiency) rather than the quantity (the number) of foreign language skills. This conclusion applies regardless of gender: our data did not confirm that language skills were gender-dependent.Value Added: Recently a very fashionable cultural intelligence (CQ) construct has been explored in relation to a variety of variables and outputs. Nevertheless, insufficient attention has been given to the relationship between cultural intelligence and language competence so far; moreover, the research has brought contradictory results up to now. This study fills the actual knowledge gap.Recommendations: It is shown that in terms of the effective functioning in a culturally unknown environment and with a restricted time to learn foreign languages, it is preferable to develop continuously one´s skills in lingua franca than parallel and more superficial studies of several languages.

scholarly journals OMANI SCHOOL SUPERVISOR PERSPECTIVES OF CONTEXTUAL FACTORS IMPACTING UPON STUDENTS’ LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
RAHMA AL-MAHROOQI ◽  
CHRISTOPHER DENMAN ◽  
FAISAL AL-MAAMARI
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Contextual Factors ◽  
School Students ◽  
English Language Skills

Since the beginning of Oman’s “modern era” in 1970, English has assumed a central role in the country’s education system and has acted as a lingua franca across a variety of domains. However, despite this, graduates of Omani public schools are often reported as lacking the English-language linguistic and communicative abilities demanded by higher education institutions and the world of work. Consequently, most high school graduates entering tertiary education are required to enrol in foundation programs to improve their English language skills, while the employability of graduates seeking jobs straight from high school has also been reported as being negatively affected. Within this context, the current research explored the ways in which contextual factors relate to Omani school graduates’ development of English language skills. To achieve this, eight high school English language teaching supervisors responded to an on-line, open-ended question about the contextual factors they believed caused Omani school students to graduate with low English language proficiency. Results indicate that participants believed families, parents, and “Englishness” are the most important contextual factors contributing to this issue. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Enriching Cognizance at the Tertiary Level Students During Transition

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.36) ◽  
pp. 665
Author(s):  
K. Jeyagowri ◽  
R. Abilasha ◽  
M. Ilankumaran
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Educational Background ◽  
Cognitive Skill ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
College Level ◽  
Learning Skills

English language, as a global lingua franca, has its own respect and importance throughout the world. It is considered to be the shrine of knowledge. It is significant to acquire the English language proficiency, to be placed in good jobs. Though every college gives prime importance to English language, unfortunately most of the students fail to acquire good command over the language. In certain cases, students have the poor ability to comprehend learning at the college level because of their different educational background or capability. There are certain hurdles that affect the students from learning the language. Cognizance is an important component of the tertiary level students. Enriching cognizance of students refers to how the learners develop their knowledge in order to get a better idea of learning, awareness of the language skills they notice, and the observation of language learning. The objective of cognizance is to provide more knowledge to students. It promotes self-motivation of the students and enhances their basic skills of learning. Cognitive skill develops the student’s learning skills, notice, recollection and thoughts. This article deals with how cognizance in language learning is developed and thereby to sharpen their skills of learning. Furthermore, this paper analyses the causes and effects of the students’ transitional dilemma at the tertiary level in acquiring language efficacy. It offers some ideas and results based on the problems among the students in attaining the fluency in communication through developing cognition skills. Moreover, the study proposes to help the students to achieve the objective of education.   

scholarly journals THE IMPORTANCE AND ROLE OF ENGLISH IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE WORLD ECONOMY

2020 ◽  
pp. 103-110
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
World Economy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Acceptable Result ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
The World ◽  
Personal Competencies

The article gives an idea of the role and significance of the English language as a means of communication in the world economy. Demand for a foreign language in a market economy and its perceived needs, economic examples of outstanding and frequent shortcomings of specialists in the field of language proficiency and at the same time, many of the problems and indicators of language proficiency in the countries of the world are given. It is noted that the development of foreign language skills in education based on effective methods and practices. To date, a number of studies have been conducted around the world on the process of teaching English and at the same time, such studies are continuing. Training is a complex process, constantly commenting on the updates and research. For future professionals to acquire knowledge only in their field and simply rely on the program a wrong idea. If you pay attention to the development of each area, it has concentrated a number of disciplines. This can be cited as an example of the direction of economic development. It is important to educate well-developed generation, which is the most important value and decisive force in achieving the set goals of increasing investment in human capital from year to year, democratic development, modernization and renewal. For example, the need for language is manifested in the process of interaction and communication with foreign partners. After all, Economics, in a broad sense, is the production, distribution, exchange, and consumption of products. For consumer and producer, common language skills are considered not only a condition for achieving a mutually acceptable result, but also a necessity to negotiate. Integration of the world community, the development of science, technology requires the young generation to master several languages perfectly.Practical skills for specialists in the field of Economics, rules of business relations in a foreign language, both oral and written is necessary to create conditions for the development of cognitive ability, as well as the ability to a foreign language in the professional sphere. In this case, in order to enrich the theoretical and practical achievements, scholars in the field of language, pay attention to get wide outlook learning language according to specialty in direction of Economics. Today, teaching of foreign languages in higher education based on professional and personal competencies, that graduates achieve effective results in their professional career.

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