scholarly journals Textbook-assigned and self-selected topics of Iranian male EFL learners: topic interest, topic familiarity, topic importance, and topic difficulty

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Latifeh Shakourzadeh ◽  
Siros Izadpanah
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Topic Familiarity ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Topic Importance ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Topic Interest ◽  
Negotiation For Meaning

Abstract In recent years, learner-centered teaching has emphasized the demand for making healthy environment where learners’ preferences, interests, personal experiences, cultural backgrounds and lifestyles are taken into account when making decisions about various characteristics of language learning/teaching The choice of topics, which are used in EFL discussion classes, is considered to play an important role in learners’ propensity to engage in a negotiation for meaning. This study was aimed to investigate the perception of Textbook-Assigned and Self-Selected Topics of Iranian male EFL Learners: topic interest, topic familiarity, topic importance, and topic difficulty based on correlational design. It was carried out with 200 male Intermediate EFL learners who were selected by convenience sampling. Although most teachers might be aware of the importance of a good assessment strategy on the topic interest and topic familiarity, rarely do they use it for topic importance and topic difficulty. The results of the study showed that Iranian male EFL learners mostly preferred the topics to be more interesting and familiar in both textbook-assigned (M = 3.1259, SD = .21553, Sig = .000) and self-selected topics (M = 4.0531, SD = .13334, Sig = .000). In addition, there was a significant difference between the learners’ perceptions of textbook-assigned and self-selected topics in terms of interest and familiarity, but less difference in terms of importance and difficulty. The findings of the study indicated that learners’ selection of their own topics can provide the potential implications for their willingness to participate in second and foreign language learning and take responsibility for their own learning process.

scholarly journals A Comparison Between Teacher-Led and Online Text-to-Speech Dictation for Students’ Vocabulary Performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Hui-Hua Chiang
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Text To Speech ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Significant Difference

Researchers have long supported the use of dictation as a test for language learners (Fountain & Nation, 2000), and dictation has been used as a test for learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). With the advantages of productive learning and reinforcing short-term memory, dictation is a commonly used technique to develop language skills, and it can be considered to be an assessment of foreign language learning (Kazazoğlu, 2013). However, the previous research has not fully explored how technology, such as text-to-speech (TTS), can be used in EFL classrooms. To address this issue, the researcher explored the use of traditional teacher-led dictation (TLD) and TTS dictation to compare the vocabulary performance of EFL learners. Forty-two college students participated in the study. The results indicated a significant difference between TTS and TLD on the participants’ vocabulary performance. Additionally, there was a correlation between the scores with TTS and TLD: the students who performed better with TLD also obtained higher grades with TTS. Based on the results, future studies and pedagogical suggestions are presented.

scholarly journals Using social networking tools for teaching requests to undergraduate Arab EFL learners: a study of pragmatics

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adil Mohammed Qadha ◽  
Baleigh Qassem Al-Wasy ◽  
Hassan Saleh Mahdi
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Social Networking Tools

PurposeThis study aimed to investigate the impact of social networks on learning requests by Arab undergraduate EFL students.Design/methodology/approachFurthermore, both types of requests (i.e. direct and indirect) have been compared under the same condition. A total of 40 Saudi EFL learners participated in this study. Their scores in the pre-test and post-test were compared.FindingsResults of the post-tests indicated that the experimental groups' performance significantly outscored the control groups. However, no significant difference was reported between the two experimental groups (i.e. direct and indirect).Originality/valueRequests, as a component of pragmatics, have been investigated extensively in the literature to aid second/foreign language learning. However, little is known about the manner by which social networks could foster learning requests.

Machine Translation for EFL

Relay Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 228-235
Author(s):  
Paul J. Moore ◽  
Phil Murphy ◽  
Luann Pascucci ◽  
Scott Sustenance
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Machine Translation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
English Language Institute ◽  
Changing Role

This paper reports on an ongoing study into the affordances of free online machine translation for students learning English as a foreign language (EFL) at the tertiary level in Japan. The researchers are currently collecting data from a questionnaire, task performance, and interviews with 10-15 EFL learners in an English Language Institute in a university in Japan. The paper provides some background on the changing role of translation in language learning theory and pedagogy, before focusing literature related to technical developments in machine translation technology, and its application to foreign language learning. An overview of the research methodology is provided, along with some insights into potential findings. Findings will be presented in subsequent publications.

scholarly journals The Effect of Brain-Based Teaching on Young EFL Learners’ Self-Efficacy

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parastoo Alizadeh Oghyanous
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Approach ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Group A ◽  
Age Range

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of brain-based teaching on the self-efficacy of young EFL learners. The initial participants of the study were 90 learners within the age range of 13-16 who were selected based on convenience sampling. Theses 90 young EFL learners were given a Flyers test the scores of which were used to choose 60 homogeneous learners whose scores fell within the range of +/- one standard deviation from the mean. The 60 selected learners were then divided into an experimental and a control group. A Self-Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (SEQ-C), developed by Muris (2001) was administered to the participants in both groups before and after the treatment after being translated into Persian and piloted for reliability check. To implement brain-based teaching in the experimental group, the researcher taught the lessons based on the three techniques of Brain Based Teaching Approach (BBTA). The three techniques used were Relaxed Alertness (RA), Orchestrated Immersion (OI) and Active Processing (AP) in line with Thomas and Swamy (2014). The results of statistical analyses indicated that brain-based teaching approach had a significant effect on students’ self-efficacy. The findings of the study can have implications for both students and EFL teachers in the realm of foreign language learning and teaching.

scholarly journals EXTENSIVE READING IN L2 LEARNING: CURRENT TRENDS AND FUTURE POSSIBILITIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Made Frida Yulia
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Foreign Language Reading ◽  
L2 Learners ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Language Exposure

Due to the minimum language exposure that EFL learners have, one recommended way to promote interest in foreign language reading is through Extensive Reading. This kind of reading has gained popularity over the years, ever since it was introduced to the realm of foreign language learning. Extensive Reading has been shown to bring a lot of benefits for L2 learners in many respects, and, consequently, it has been implemented in a variety of contexts. This paper aims at revisiting Extensive Reading along with its pertaining principles. In addition, it attempts to scrutinize a number of recent studies conducted in the area of Extensive Reading to discover current trends and possible areas which are open for further exploration. 

scholarly journals The effectiveness of computers on vocabulary learning among preschool children: a semiotic approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 02 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tutku Basöz ◽  
Dilek Tüfekci Can
Keyword(s):  
Preschool Children ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Instruction ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Instruction Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Semiotic Approach

Semiotics in foreign language learning has recently achieved some prominence as a theoretical foundation for language teaching and learning. Although there have been a number of research on the semiotics in foreign language learning, the practical use of semiotics in preschool classroom environment still remains unanswered. What is more, the effectiveness of computers on vocabulary learning among preschool children is still an obscure area, which attracts the attentions of researchers, scholars and practitioners. Thus, the present study aims to investigate whether there is a significant difference in preschool children’s vocabulary gain depending upon the computer assisted vocabulary instruction or the traditional vocabulary instruction both adopting a semiotic approach. The sample group of the study included 35 preschool children (5-years) who are studying at Balıkesir University Necatibey Faculty of Education Kindergarten. In this quasi-experimental study, the children were assigned to computer assisted vocabulary instruction group (16) or traditional vocabulary instruction group (19), which were the experimental and control groups. Before the experiment, the children were given a pre-test, which measured the number of target vocabulary the children had already known. While the experimental group learned the target vocabulary through computer-assisted instruction, the control group was taught the same target vocabulary via traditional vocabulary instruction. After the experiment, the same test was given to the children as the post-test. The results of the study showed that both instruction types were successful in teaching vocabulary and there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of their vocabulary gain. Keywords: Vocabulary learning; semiotic approach; computer assisted vocabulary instruction; preschool children; foreign language learning 

scholarly journals I LOVE INDONESIA: EFL LEARNERS� PERCEPTIONS ON WEB-FACILITATED LANGUAGE LEARNING

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 273
Author(s):  
Muzakki Bashori
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Generation Z ◽  
Use Of The Internet

The integration of computer in the service of FL (Foreign Language) learning is expected to be inevitable in the future. It is seemingly due to (a) its considerable affordances for EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners, (b) the characteristics of today�s learners as the Generation Z (Gonz�lez-Lloret & Ortega, 2014), and (c) the widespread use of the internet in the 21st century. This situation then leads to transforming CALL (Computer-Assisted Language Learning) into WFLL (Web-Facilitated Language Learning) as an alternative paradigm for EFL teachers and learners. Furthermore, TBLT (Task-Based Language Teaching) is likely to serve as a pedagogical framework in designing the Web for the purpose of FL learning. The present study was therefore mainly aimed at (a) developing a particularly teacher-designed learning website, namely I Love Indonesia, and (b) investigating high school learners of English in Indonesia with different attitudes towards CALL (positive/moderate/negative) in correlation with how they perceive WFLL (agree/disagree) and perform web-based activities. Descriptive Statistics, IF Function in Excel, Correlation Analysis, and Independent-samples t-test were employed in the study. Finally, the findings of the study showed that (a) the website seems to benefit EFL learners in some certain aspects, and (b) positive attitude learners are likely to perceive more positively (agree) than moderate and negative attitude learners (disagree) on the use of the website for the purpose of language learning. A greater number of learners over a longer period of time should be taken into account when conducting further studies on the effectiveness of the website for EFL learners in order to be able to shed some light on learners� language development.�Keyword: attitude, perception, task-based language teaching, web-facilitated language learning

scholarly journals The effect of Bilingualism on EFL elementary learners’ listening comprehension: The case of Azeri- Turkish vs. Persian students

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-64
Author(s):  
Ali ARABMOFRAD ◽  
Majid SAEIDI ◽  
Mohammad MOTAMEDI
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Elementary Students ◽  
Listening Comprehension ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Listening Skill ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Multicultural Context ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Since the phenomenon of bilingualism is gradually increasing in the world, the theory-driven and practically oriented investigation on bilingualism have increased recently. However, a few studies have been conducted on the effect of bilingualism on language learning in the multilingual and multicultural context of Iran. Therefore, the main aim of the present study is to examine the effect of bilingualism on Iranian EFL learners' listening comprehension in the case of Azeri-Turkish vs. Persian students. The study employed a quasi-experimental design over 8 weeks with 44 female students assigned to one of the two experimental groups. To select bilingual and monolingual groups, a biographical questionnaire was used. Then, Nelson elementary proficiency test was administered to ensure the homogeneity of the students. To fulfill the purpose of the study, 15 bilingual (Azeri-Persian) elementary students in Fazilat high school in Ramian and 29 monolingual (Persian) elementary students in Sama high school in Azadshahr were selected to participate in the present study. Each group received 16 sessions of treatment in listening skill. Then, the two groups' performance was compared on pretest and posttest consisting of a multiple-choice and matching listening comprehension test. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the bilingual and monolingual groups regarding their performance on listening comprehension, that is, bilingualism did not affect listening comprehension.

Game On With Kahoot!

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 40-53
Author(s):  
Eric D. Reynolds ◽  
Richard W. Fuchs ◽  
Peter Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Student Response ◽  
Bring Your Own Device ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Efl Students

The landscape of technology in language classrooms is changing so quickly that it's hard for us to keep pace. Games-based student response systems (GBSRS) in a bring-your-own-device environment have only recently become widely available for language classrooms; consequently, little research has been conducted into the efficacy of GBSRSs for foreign language learning. This quasi-experimental study explores the efficacy of one application called Kahoot! at a medium-sized university in South Korea for vocabulary learning and motivation. Both the traditional control group and the experimental group learned more vocabulary during the course of the study; however, no significant difference in vocabulary learning was found between the groups. The change in motivation level, on the other hand, was significantly higher for the Kahoot! group. Therefore, the findings recommend the use of the Kahoot! GBSRS particularly for often low motivated Asian university EFL students.

Assessment of Language Learning Strategies in Technology-Enhanced Learning Environment

2020 ◽  
pp. 83-99
Author(s):  
Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady ◽  
Abdu Al-kadi ◽  
Ali Abbas Falah Alzubi ◽  
Hassan Saleh Mahdi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Technology Enhanced Learning ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Gender

This chapter reports on the Yemeni and Saudi EFL learners' use of language learning strategies (LLSs) in technology-mediated language learning contexts. The study examines whether nationality and gender play a significant role in using LLSs on electronic platforms. The study adopted a correlative design in which 100 Yemeni and Saudi university students were recruited to respond to an online close-ended questionnaire. Drawing on Oxford's classification of learning strategies, the findings of this study showed that metacognitive and cognitive strategies were used more frequently compared to the other LLSs. Moreover, the findings of t-test showed a significant difference in the use of LLSs attributed to nationality in favor of the Saudi learners and no significant difference in the choice of LLSs attributed to gender. The study provided some suggestions for EFL learners to benefit from technology in their English language learning.

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