scholarly journals Language learners’ identities in EFL settings: resistance and power through discourse

2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
July Carolina Gomez Lobaton
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Private University ◽  
Classroom Community ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Social Actors ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
New Perspective

This research project aims at identifying and analyzing different identities students construct as learners of a foreign language wheninteracting within an EFL classroom, and how this identity construction might have possible effects on students’ language learning process.This study, which was carried out with undergraduate students from a private university in Bogotá, was the product of permanent observationto the development of students language learning process (specially speaking skill) and how the implicit or explicit student-teacher interactionmight constitute an important element to this development, relies under the principles of CCDA (Critical Classroom Discourse Analysis). Theidea of implementing this research methodology has to do with the need of looking beyond fixed categorizations and rather listen to howlearners negotiate different identities as they employ diverse cultural and linguistic resources to construct knowledge in classrooms. Throughoutthe process of data collection, with transcripts of oral interactions undertaken in the classroom and interviews to students as main sources ofanalysis, a new perspective of pupils as social actors who hold multiple social identities was discovered. The results show that issues such asthe use of L1 in the EFL classroom, the teacher‘s conception of language learning and teaching and the silent fight for power among teacherand students constitute important elements in the struggle of students when constructing their social and individual identities as learners withina given classroom community.

scholarly journals Student’s strategies in online autonomous English language learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67
Author(s):  
Nina Inayati ◽  
Rachyani Ayulis Rachmadhani ◽  
Berliana Nurmustika Utami
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Goal Setting ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Private University ◽  
Autonomous Learning

This study investigates the integration of online technology by English language learners, especially those done in autonomous learning. To be more specific, this study aims to discover how systematic is students’ strategies in online autonomous language learning and the supports they expect from the educational institutions and teachers/lecturers in terms of conducting effective online autonomous learning. This study mainly employs survey design which is supported by interview. The population of the study was the undergraduate students of English Language Education Department in a private university in Malang, East Java, Indonesia. The findings suggest that learners were less systematic in their strategy use when conducting autonomous language learning. They showed lack of long term goal setting and reported difficulty in evaluation, and mostly resort to short term planning, resource finding and execution of learning. For the reasons, avoidance of classroom-like feeling and not knowing how to evaluate was repeatedly noted. Further, they also reported high expectation of teachers and institutions’ support and assistance in conducting autonomous language learning. The current study and some previous studies in the area have noted that learners tend to consider goal setting and evaluation as teachers’ areas, influenced by the fixed curriculum imposed in schools and university. As such, some flexibility in curriculum enactment is proposed and stronger intervention by teachers and institutions to support learners’ autonomy are proposed.  

scholarly journals Identity, language learning, and social change

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 412-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonny Norton ◽  
Kelleen Toohey
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Digital Technologies ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Imagined Communities ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Language Identity ◽  
The World

In this review article on identity, language learning, and social change, we argue that contemporary poststructuralist theories of language, identity, and power offer new perspectives on language learning and teaching, and have been of considerable interest in our field. We first review poststructuralist theories of language, subjectivity, and positioning and explain sociocultural theories of language learning. We then discuss constructs ofinvestmentandimagined communities/imagined identities(Norton Peirce 1995; Norton 1997, 2000, 2001), showing how these have been used by diverse identity researchers. Illustrative examples of studies that investigate how identity categories like race, gender, and sexuality interact with language learning are discussed. Common qualitative research methods used in studies of identity and language learning are presented, and we review the research on identity and language teaching in different regions of the world. We examine how digital technologies may be affecting language learners' identities, and how learner resistance impacts language learning. Recent critiques of research on identity and language learning are explored, and we consider directions for research in an era of increasing globalization. We anticipate that the identities and investments of language learners, as well as their teachers, will continue to generate exciting and innovative research in the future.

scholarly journals Case Study of the Commercially Published ELT materials in Foundation of English Course Books 1 & 2

IIUC Studies ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 173-182
Author(s):  
Md Yousuf Uddin Khaled Chowdhury
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Global Markets ◽  
Local Market ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
The Right

Brumfit (1979) has suggested that many commercially published ELT materials are little more than ‘masses of rubbish, skilfully marketed’. He perhaps rejects most of the published materials. However, in reality, it is observed that these ELT resources are the only available alternatives in the contexts where infra-structural limitations of language classrooms and the inefficiency of the language-teachers make the goal of language learning and teaching unreachable or unattainable for many of the learners. This paper, through a case study, aims at justifying the use of commercially published ELT coursebooks that are designed and used, considering the limitations and problems of the personally produced materials by untrained teachers. Nevertheless, these materials must consider the local market rather than the global markets so that they meet the needs of the local language learners and instructors. The case study implies that it is the selection or adaptation of the right materials for the specific learners that makes them effective or ineffective. It also suggests that the personally designed or locally produced materials too may make teaching and learning difficult and impossible sometimes.IIUC Studies Vol.10 & 11 December 2014: 173-182

scholarly journals Idiomaticity as a Language Learning Barrier: The EFL Context of Saudi Arabia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Abdalla Elkheir Elgobshawi
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
The Social ◽  
Idiomatic Expressions ◽  
Efl College Students ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of Idiomaticity on language learning and the extent to which it can be a language learning barrier. It contrasts the perspective of language teachers and the attitude of language learners regarding how idioms can influence language learning. The theoretical framework provides a description of the general properties of English idiomatic expressions and shows the relevance of idiomaticity to linguistic theory. The paper is based on an analytical analysis and follows a quantitative approach in which two questionnaires are used to collect the data. The two questionnaires are administered to two independent samples: 20 participants representing ELT teachers at the tertiary level and 80 subjects representing Saudi EFL college students. The data are then analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). The study reveals learners’ reasonable consensus on the issues assessed. They generally acknowledge the significance of idioms for language learning but with a general dissatisfaction with their status in learning and teaching contexts. Both teachers and learners view idioms as odd pieces of language that lack a uniform character and do not receive due attention in language syllabi and curricula. Teachers give different ratings on the pedagogical value of idioms, but they generally show low interest in teaching them.

scholarly journals LEARNERS’ STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP THEIR COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 271-279
Author(s):  
Durga Bhusal
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Affecting Factors ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
The One

Language Learning Strategies (LLSs) are specific actions, behaviors, steps, or techniques that the learners use them to improve their performance which is important for L2/FL learning and teaching. These strategies are as affecting factors on success or failure of the language learning process. Hence, this paper explores the English language learners’ learning strategies to develop their communicative competence within the theoretical stance of Oxford’s 1990 Language Learning Strategies (LLSs). The study is qualitative in nature where four participants were interviewed to understand their ontological perspectives and practices of different LLSs to enhance their communicative ability in English. The findings show the learners seemed to be usual strategy users. However, social, affective, and metacognitive strategies frequent strategies for developing their communicative competence. It further depicts learners are not always aware of the influence of consciously using language learning strategies for making their learning quicker and more effective. Thus, the teachers need to be the one who helps their students develop the awareness of language learning strategies and enable them to use a wider range of appropriate strategies for further success in their communicative competence.

scholarly journals ‘transformative’ potential of translanguaging and other heteroglossic educational practices

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-289
Author(s):  
M. Rafael Salaberry
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Heritage Speakers ◽  
Linguistic Resources ◽  
The Us ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Heritage Speakers Of Spanish

Over the last few decades, there has been an increased awareness about imprecise, inaccurate and, thus, unfair conceptualisations of language based on monoglossic views of language that delegitimise the linguistic repertoire of multilingual minorities as is the case of heritage speakers of Spanish in the US or speakers of Lingua Franca English worldwide. At the same time, there are theoretical and educational proposals that offer new conceptualisations of multilingualism focused on the concept of heteroglossia, which, in contrast with monoglossic views, focuses our attention on the fluid and full use of all linguistic resources available to language learners/users as they engage in the process of interacting with their interlocutors. In the present paper, I describe an important challenge that compromises the valuable agenda of heteroglossic approaches to develop multilingualism: the effect of listeners’ biases and reverse linguistic stereotyping. That is, educational programmes designed to counteract the negative effect of monoglossic approaches to second language learning in general cannot adopt a segregationist approach (neither in their theoretical design nor in their practical implementation). To place this challenge in context, I describe in detail the specific example of Spanish heritage second language learners at the tertiary level of education in the US setting and I also provide a broad outline of potential improvements in the curricular design of such programmes.

scholarly journals C2+-DaF-Lernende reflektieren über eine perfekte Sprachbeherrschung – ist diese vor dem Hintergrund der postulierten funktionalen Mehrsprachigkeit in Alltag und Beruf künftig noch gefragt?

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Schumacher
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Foreign Language Education ◽  
Third Language ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Oriented Approach

AbstractBy adopting “functional plurilingualism” – a recurring concept in its new curriculum, “Lehrplan 21” – Switzerland is pursuing new avenues in foreign language education. The term refers to a goal-oriented approach to foreign language learning and teaching in primary and secondary schools, and implies that barriers to communication can be overcome by exploiting the sum of the individual’s linguistic capacities. In future, language learners will be expected to build on the interrelatedness of languages instead of developing abilities in languages that they keep separate from one another. This view of foreign language education coincides with the recommendations of the Council of Europe’sHaving reached the highest level specified by the CEFR, some learners continue their studies, seeking to maintain or reinforce their competences or to address individual weaknesses. In this article, a group of C2+ learners of German as a foreign language reflect on their desire for linguistic perfection and the notion of “functional plurilingualism” against the background of their own biographies. These learners have a high awareness and knowledge of German (often their third language) and of the learning process, which allows them to make informative statements. The data was analysed qualitatively and subjective theories were reconstructed – an approach that took account both of the multiperspectivity of the topic and of the uniqueness of the individual cases.

Pronunciation among adult Indigenous language learners

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya Bird
Keyword(s):  
Adult Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Acoustic Analysis ◽  
Indigenous Language ◽  
Coast Salish ◽  
Learning And Teaching

Abstract This paper describes the features that set adult Indigenous language learning apart from other types second language learning, examining in particular the role that unique teaching and learning contexts might play in the acquisition of pronunciation. As a case study, the pronunciation of SENĆOŦEN (Coast Salish) /t’/ is compared across four groups of speakers, including two groups of adult learners. Acoustic analysis shows that /t’/, described as a weak ejective in previous work, is now consistently realized as a strong ejective, especially among learners and teachers. These findings are discussed with reference to factors relevant to language learning and teaching in general, as well as to ones relevant to Indigenous language learning and teaching in particular.

scholarly journals Iranian EFL Teachers’ Perceptions, Practices and Problems Regarding Raising Students’ Intercultural Awareness

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
Jafar Zamanian ◽  
Mahnaz Saeidi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Intercultural Communicative Competence ◽  
Training Time ◽  
Teachers Perceptions ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Mixed Method Design ◽  
Efl Teachers

<p>Intercultural approaches to language learning and teaching are strongly advocated and implemented in ESL contexts. However, little empirical research has addressed the extent to which such approaches are actually operationalized in EFL contexts and what the roles of the teachers are. This study investigated perceptions, practices and problems of 100 Iranian EFL teachers regarding raising students’ Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) awareness. Based on a mixed-method design, using questionnaire, observation, and interview, the findings indicated an apparent disparity between teachers’ perceptions about ICC and their current classroom practices. Teachers also identified and discussed a lack of training, time, and support to raise language learners’ ICC awareness. This study provides strong empirical evidence supporting the claim that it is difficult for EFL teachers to integrate culture into their teaching in order to develop learners’ intercultural competence.</p>

scholarly journals A Case Study of Using Online Communities and Virtual Environment in Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) as a Learning and Teaching Tool for Second Language Learners

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isara Kongmee ◽  
Rebecca Strachan ◽  
Alison Pickard ◽  
Catherine Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Virtual Communities ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Role Playing Games ◽  
Second Language Speakers ◽  
Massively Multiplayer

Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) create large virtual communities. Online gaming shows potential not just for entertaining, but also in education. This research investigates the use of commercial MMORPGs to support second language teaching. MMORPGs offer virtual safe spaces in which students can communicate by using their target second language with global players. Using a mix of ethnography and action research, this study explores the students’ experiences of language learning and performing while playing MMORPGs. The results show that the use of MMORPGs can facilitate language development by offering fun, informal, individualised and secure virtual spaces for students to practise their language with native and other second language speakers.

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