scholarly journals Linking the International English Language Competency Assessment suite of examinations to the Common European Framework of Reference

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sahbi Hidri
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Item Difficulty ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Competency Assessment ◽  
Rater Training ◽  
Language Competency ◽  
The Common ◽  
Four Levels ◽  
International English

AbstractThe study investigated the alignment process of the International English Language Competency Assessment (IELCA) suite examinations’ four levels, B1, B2, C1 and C2, onto the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) by explaining and discussing the five linking stages (Council of Europe (CoE 2009). Unlike previous studies, this study used the five linking stages altogether to make fair judgements and informed decisions about the practical consequences and validity arguments of this mapping task. Findings indicated that the useful and in-depth discussions of the relevant CEFR descriptors resulted in a deeper awareness of establishing succinct re-familiarisations and re-definitions of the salient features of the different skills and items, thus making them more specific to reflect the CEFR descriptors. The ample alignment activities provided fertile ground for dependable results. For instance, teacher estimates confirmed the cut scores with high agreement percentages, ranging from 74.4 to 99.34. Also, the FACETS analyses showed a good global model fit with a high reliability value of the judgement process, only after undergoing rater training sessions. Specifically, the majority of item difficulty estimates were within the typical range, thus indicating that the IELCA examinations were measuring the underlying construct traits; however, the empirical validation called for additional data and further implementation practices regarding other judgements on the levels’ boundary for IELCA examinations. Further mapping challenges, implications, and future research were also discussed.

scholarly journals Perspectives of Test Examiners of the Localized Speaking Assessment Framework: A Case Study in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (S3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Nhu Ngoc Truong ◽  
Arshad Abd Samad ◽  
Thi Thanh Phan
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Proficiency Tests ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Speaking Assessment ◽  
The Common ◽  
International English

The present study explores the test examiners'' perspectives on the role and qualitative aspects of the current localized speaking assessment framework used in Vietnam. A case study with two experienced test examiner-cum-English lecturers was conducted. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data findings obtained from individual semi-structured interviews. Drawbacks, merits, and standardization issues of the current localized speaking assessment frameworks, i.e., the Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency (VSTEP), were also discussed, especially in comparison to internationally recognized examinations and frameworks such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) as well as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The study informed both English educators and policymakers to improve localized speaking assessment to suit the local teaching needs while still meeting the requirements of widely accepted international proficiency tests.

scholarly journals Personal resilience in psychiatrists: systematic review

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjita Howard ◽  
Catherine Kirkley ◽  
Nicola Baylis
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
English Language ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Language Studies ◽  
Workplace Factors ◽  
Personal Resilience ◽  
International English

Aims and methodThe concept of personal resilience is relevant to physician well-being, recruitment and retention, and to delivering compassionate patient care. This systematic review aims to explore factors affecting personal resilience among psychiatrists, in particular, those that may impair well-being and those that facilitate resilience practice. A literature search was performed of the Ovid®, Embase®, CINAHL and PsycINFO databases, using keywords to identify empirical studies involving psychiatrists that examined resilience, stress and burnout from the past 15 years.ResultsThirty-three international English language studies were included, showing that a combination of workplace, personal and non-workplace factors negatively and positively influenced well-being and resilience.Clinical implicationsGiven that workplace factors were the most commonly cited, it would appear that any resilience package that predominantly targets interventions at the workplace level would be particularly fruitful. Future research, however, needs to address the absence of a universal measurement of well-being and its moderators so that any potential interventions are better evaluated.

scholarly journals Six Thinking Hats: A Study to Understand the Reasons and Extent of their Application in the English Language Classroom

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 82-92
Author(s):  
Saroja Dhanapal ◽  
Khoo Tabitha Wern Ling
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Educational Beliefs ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Whole School ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Language Competency ◽  
Whole School Approach

A qualitative case study was carried out in a school that encourages the application of the Six Thinking Hats (STH) to understand the reasons and extent of their application in the English Language classroom. The purpose of this study is to fill the gap in the literature in this area with the view to help situate the factors affecting the STH application. Research methods applied in the research include interview as well as the distribution, collection and data analysis of both teachers and students’ survey questionnaires, using systematic and convenience sampling methods. From these, the factors affecting the application of the Six Thinking Hats in the English Language classroom was identified. Moreover, the extent to which the STH are implemented at different levels of education were found to conform with the factors of the STH application. Responses regarding the use of the Six Hats were generally positive but varied mainly according to teachers’ personal educational beliefs as well as students’ language competency levels and thinking skills. In order to increase the effectiveness of the STH application in all classes, beginning from the early levels of education, implications include a whole-school approach to create awareness and to encourage implementation. Positive implications of applying the STH is found to be related to its practicality and further recommendations as to how the STH may be applied in various classes to maximize learning outcomes by directing learners to think independently from an early age are made. Finally, areas which this study may be used for future research are also suggested.

scholarly journals Pre-school Teachers’ Beliefs towards Their Abilities of Teaching English to Pre-schoolers in Pahang, Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-114
Author(s):  
Aisyah Khaleeda Rosli ◽  
Noor Raha Mohd Radzuan
Keyword(s):  
Role Model ◽  
English Language ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Positive View ◽  
Teachers Beliefs ◽  
Language Competency ◽  
Global Language

Recent studies have revealed that English has become a global language that is commonly used, particularly in the education sector, for various purposes. In the education sector, teachers serve as the most important role model in improving learners’ English language competency. Evidently, at the age of 4 to 6 years old, preschoolers are proven to be able to learn a second language sufficiently hence it is critical for pre-school teachers to be able to teach English to the children at this stage precisely. English, however, is not set to become one of the major requirements for pre-school teachers, especially in Pahang, Malaysia. Due to this, the beliefs of the pre-school teachers initiate a critical indicator in deciding if, given the circumstances, pre-school children can receive adequate English inputs and exposure at their age. The aim of this study is to identify the beliefs of pre-school teachers in their ability of teaching English to preschoolers in Pahang, Malaysia. In the study, 60 pre-school teachers in Pahang were given a set of questionnaires consisting of 14 items and all 60 were returned. In the pilot study, the questionnaire showed a 0.9 Cronbach alpha value indicating a high reliability point. The findings of this study suggest a much more positive view of teachers’ beliefs in pre-school English teachings. This can become a stimulus for the growth of English proficiency among Malaysian children and consequently improve the standard of English in Malaysia in the future.

scholarly journals ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETENCY AND OUTSOURCED CALL CENTERS IN BANGLADESH

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Mizanur Rahman ◽  
Saadiyah Darus ◽  
Nazia Hussain
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Call Center ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
English Language ◽  
Call Centers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Call Centre ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Language Competency ◽  
Customer Service Representatives

AbstractThis paper attempts to investigate whether or not the English competency of Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) is hindering the growth and development of outsourced call centers in Bangladesh. It also looks into the problems being faced by call centers in hiring English competent CSRs.  A limited appraisal of the English communication training of the CSRs offered by Call Centre Training Institutes is also within the purview of the paper. With this purpose 33 supervisors of different call centers, who are in charge of monitoring the CSRs, have been interviewed with a questionnaire comprised of both close and open ended questions.  The result shows there is scarcity of skilled English communicators which is one of the major barriers in the growth and development of the call centers. However, factors like product knowledge, intercultural communication skills, service personality are also crucial as they are integral for successful transaction and addressing them will pave the way for the progress of the industry. The result also implicitly indicates that mainstream education system in Bangladesh is still unable to produce competent English communicators.   The findings of the study reveal that the current shortage of skilled manpower can further become more acute when call center industry grows in line with the expectation of the government. It is also revealed that the call center training institutes are incapable of delivering the kind of training required for the aspirant CSRs. This study pinpoints the necessity of future research in several directions to ensure a balance between the demand and supply of native like fluent English communicators for call center Industry in Bangladesh. Keywords: English language competency, outsourced call centers, CRRs Abstrak Tulisan ini mencoba untuk menyelidiki apakah kompetensi bahasa Inggris Perwakilan Layanan Pelanggan (Customer Service Representatives/CSR) menghambat pertumbuhan dan perkembangan pusat-pusat panggilan pengalihluaran di Bangladesh. Tulisan ini juga menyelidiki masalah yang dihadapi oleh pusat panggilan dalam mempekerjakan CSR yang berkompeten dalam bahasa Inggris. Sebuah penilaian terbatas dari pelatihan komunikasi bahasa Inggris bagi CSR yang ditawarkan oleh Lembaga Pelatihan Pusat Panggilan akan menjadi pembahasan dalam artikel ini. Untuk mencapai tujuan ini, 33 pengawas dari pusat-pusat panggilan yang berbeda, yang bertugas memantau CSR, telah diwawancarai dengan kuesioner terdiri dari pertanyaan tertutup dan terbuka. Hasilnya menunjukkan ada kelangkaan staf yang terampil dalam bahasa Inggris yang menjadi salah satu hambatan utama dalam pertumbuhan dan perkembangan pusat panggilan. Namun, faktor-faktor seperti pengetahuan produk, kemampuan komunikasi antarbudaya, kepribadian layanan juga berperan penting karena semuanya merupakan bagian integral transaksi yang berhasil dan upaya peningkatan semua faktor tersebut akan membuka jalan bagi kemajuan industri. Hasilnya juga secara implisit menunjukkan bahwa sistem pendidikan utama di Bangladesh masih mampu menghasilkan individu yang berkompeten dalam bahasa Inggris. Temuan penelitian ini juga mengungkapkan bahwa kekurangan tenaga kerja yang terampil dapat menjadi lebih parah ketika industri pusat panggilan tumbuh sejalan dengan harapan pemerintah. Terungkap juga bahwa lembaga pelatihan pusat panggilan tidak mampu menyediakan jenis pelatihan yang dibutuhkan oleh para calon CSR. Penelitian ini menunjukkan perlunya penelitian masa depan di beberapa aspek untuk memastikan keseimbangan antara permintaan dan pasokan individu yang fasih berbahasa Inggris seperti penutur jati untuk Industri pusat panggilan di Bangladesh. Kata kunci: Kompetensi bahasa Inggris, pusat panggilan pengalihluaran, CSR

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.

Computed Tomography (CT) Attenuation Value in Relation with Body Dimension, Gender and Age in Malay population: A Literature Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Siti Aisyah Munirah Bohang ◽  
Zainul Ibrahim Zainuddin ◽  
Norhanna Suhoimi
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Body Dimension ◽  
Attenuation Value ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Ct Attenuation ◽  
Malay Population ◽  
Ct Attenuation Value

Interaction of CT’s x-ray beams with patient resulted in attenuation process and there are various factors affecting CT attenuation values. The aim of this review is to examine the existed literatures regarding the concept of attenuation in CT and its relationship with body dimension, gender and age in Malay population. Guided by primary question, literature searches were conducted using the established online database; SCOPUS and PubMed. The time frame for literatures was from 2000 to 2019 and only literatures in English language were selected. The size of body dimension has affected the CT attenuation value but it also depending on the type of tissue presence within the region of interest (ROI) such as muscle and fat tissues. Due to larger body framework and higher amount of skeletal muscle mass theoretically males would have higher CT attenuation value than female. CT attenuation value reduces with aging process. Asians including Malay population have smaller body dimension than Caucasians and the mean attenuation value of abdominal region in Asians could differ from 20 HU. Thus, there is a need for future research to investigate the interrelatedness of attenuation in CT (HU) and body dimension within Malay population and close this gap of knowledge. 

IELTS READING AND SOME TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE IELTS READING SKILLS FOR STUDENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Thi Bac Binh ◽  
Dinh Thi Kieu Trinh
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
Training Institution ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
International English

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is recognized as an accountable tool to assess whether aperson is able to study or train in English. Every year, thousandsof students sit for IELTS. However, the number of those who arerecognized to be capable enough to take a course in English issomehow limited, especially for those who are not major inEnglish at their universities.IELTS Reading is considered as a discerning skill and it is of theequal importance to listening, speaking and writing in obtainingthe objectives of IELTS of band 6 or 6.5. Being teachers of Englishat a training institution, the authors recognize that students canmake time-saving improvements in their reading command undertheir teachers’ insightful guidance.

Chasing the Anchor: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Perceptual Anchoring Deficits in Developmental Dyslexia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt D Shulver ◽  
Nicholas A Badcock
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
English Language ◽  
Prediction Interval ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Visual Assessment ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Eligibility Criteria

We report the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the relationship between perceptual anchoring and dyslexia. Our goal was to assess the direction and degree of effect between perceptual anchoring and reading ability in typical and atypical (dyslexic) readers. We performed a literature search of experiments explicitly assessing perceptual anchoring and reading ability using PsycInfo (Ovid, 1860 to 2020), MEDLINE (Ovid, 1860 to 2019), EMBASE (Ovid, 1883 to 2019), and PubMed for all available years up to June (2020). Our eligibility criteria consisted of English-language articles and, at minimum, one experimental group identified as dyslexic - either by reading assessment at the time, or by previous diagnosis. We assessed for risk of bias using an adapted version of the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Six studies were included in this review, but only five (n = 280 participants) were included in the meta-analysis (we were unable to access the necessary data for one study).The overall effect was negative, large and statistically significant; g = -0.87, 95% CI [-1.47, 0.27]: a negative effect size indicating less perceptual anchoring in dyslexic versus non-dyslexic groups. Visual assessment of funnel plot and Egger’s test suggest minimal bias but with significant heterogeneity; Q (4) = 9.70, PI (prediction interval) [-2.32, -0.58]. The primary limitation of the current review is the small number of included studies. We discuss methodological limitations, such as limited power, and how future research may redress these concerns. The variability of effect sizes appears consistent with the inherent variability within subtypes of dyslexia. This level of dispersion seems indicative of the how we define cut-off thresholds between typical reading and dyslexia populations, but also the methodological tools we use to investigate individual performance.

scholarly journals Measuring Digital Competence and ICT Literacy: An Exploratory Study of In-Service English Language Teachers in the Context of Saudi Arabia

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed Abdulteeef M. Al Khateeb
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ict Literacy ◽  
Digital Competence ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
English Language Teachers

The purpose of this research is to measure in-service English language teachers' digital competence, particularly for the enhancement of teaching English as a second/foreign language in schools in Saudi Arabia. Information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge is currently considered as a vital skill for foreign language teachers in addition to their linguistic competence. Recently, there has been a focus on digital competence, since it can be regarded as a gateway for enriching knowledge, economies, societies and individuals. There is also a massive need for teachers to assess their own digital competence according to non-conventional norms (i.e., having the ability to share content and manage information). In light of this rationale, this paper investigates the following research question: to what extent are English language teachers in Saudi Arabia digitally competent and in what aspects? This study used a standardized questionnaire that was constructed using a validated comprehensive framework. This instrument was designed to assess the professional capability of English language teachers in terms of their willingness and readiness to use ICTs along with their current digital competence used throughout their teaching and educational practices. The research included a diverse range of participants who come from various backgrounds, genders and experiences. The study was concluded with a presentation of useful recommendations and key research questions for future research.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document