scholarly journals Cross-country comparison of EFL teacher preparedness to include dyslexic learners: Validation of a questionnaire

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 779-805
Author(s):  
Joanna Nijakowska ◽  
Dina Tsagari ◽  
George Spanoudis
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Instructional Practices ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Teacher Preparedness ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Efl Teacher ◽  
Service Training ◽  
Cross Country ◽  
Training Schemes

The aim of this study was to validate a 24-item TEPID (Teachers of EFL Preparedness to Include Dyslexics) scale measuring the beliefs of 546 pre-service and in-service teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) across three countries (Cyprus, Greece, and Poland) on their preparedness to include learners with dyslexia in mainstream foreign language (FL) classes. Principal component analysis of the scale led to a two-factor structure, that is, knowledge and self-efficacy in implementing inclusive instructional practices with dyslexic EFL learners, and stance towards inclusion. The analysis of measurement invariance confirmed the generalizability of the TEPID across all subgroups and allowed valid comparisons between factor variances and covariances. The scale is a useful tool for investigating perceived teacher preparedness to include dyslexic learners and variables that influence TEPID, comparing the results across countries, and designing tailored pre-service and in-service training schemes on inclusion.

scholarly journals A Text-Driven, Task-Based Approach to the Design of Materials for Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
John Harper
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Guangdong Province ◽  
Materials Design ◽  
Teacher Preparedness ◽  
Intercultural Communicative Competence ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Materials Used

<p>Although a large body of research points to the need of providing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners with intercultural communicative competence (ICC), questions remain as to exactly how ICC should be incorporated into the EFL curriculum. These questions arise in part due to issues of already-packed curricula which seem not to leave time for the teaching of ICC and in part due to issues of teacher preparedness. Additionally, questions arise concerning which culture should be taught. Taking into account materials used in the English Language Center (ELC) of Shantou University (Guangdong Province, China), this paper argues that a text-driven, task-based method of materials design allows for the inclusion of ICC across the EFL curriculum. It also argues that such a method lends itself to the teaching of ICC through a consideration of a variety of cultures.</p>

scholarly journals Upgrading EFL teachers’ Quality through An Online Mentoring System, An Innovative In-Service Training Model: The Case of Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Zifirdaus Adnan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Training Model ◽  
Online Mentoring ◽  
Efl Teacher ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Service Training ◽  
The Government ◽  
Efl Teacher Education ◽  
Mentoring System

Many studies have been conducted in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher education to improve teachers’ quality, some of these have been on mentoring teachers, with the purpose of improving teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). However, TEFL teaching is still problematic worldwide including Indonesia. Indonesian TEFL is seriously problematic because the expected levels of competencies are not adequately achieved. A major factor, teacher quality, is at issue. Even though the Government has provided models of training for its teachers, they have not been effective. This paper addresses this issue and proposes an innovative but cheaper mentoring system. This system also overcomes the shortcomings of the existing models of in-service training including its ad hoc nature, lack of practice and feedback, lack of the opportunity to upgrade poor English skills. The paper argues that the system can overcome these issues, and Indonesia is capable of running the system with its existing resources. The model could be adapted to address similar TEFL issues found elsewhere.

scholarly journals Diversity in Utilization of Reading Strategies: A Cross Gender Study on Iranian EFL Learners

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Saeedeh Karbalaee Kamran
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Reading Strategies ◽  
Reading Strategy ◽  
Demographic Information ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Teacher ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Insight Into

Current study aims to examine whether any statistically significant difference existed between Iranian<br />male and female English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' reading strategy utilization. The data<br />was collected employing three instruments of Survey of Reading Strategy (SORS), a reading test, and a<br />questionnaire on demographic information. Several analyses of independent samples t-test were<br />executed to answer the research questions. The findings revealed no statistically significant difference<br />between male and female participants on their overall reading strategy use. No gender impact was<br />sought in use of global and support subscales of reading strategies; however, female participants were<br />found to outperform their male counterparts in use of problem solving subscale of reading strategies.<br />Implications were provided for EFL teacher and researchers to upgrade their insight into nuance<br />differences between male and female readers' interaction with a text.

scholarly journals Upgrading EFL teachers’ Quality through An Online Mentoring System, An Innovative In-Service Training Model: The Case of Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Zifirdaus Adnan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Training Model ◽  
Online Mentoring ◽  
Efl Teacher ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Service Training ◽  
The Government ◽  
Efl Teacher Education ◽  
Mentoring System

Many studies have been conducted in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher education to improve teachers’ quality, some of these have been on mentoring teachers, with the purpose of improving teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). However, TEFL teaching is still problematic worldwide including Indonesia. Indonesian TEFL is seriously problematic because the expected levels of competencies are not adequately achieved. A major factor, teacher quality, is at issue. Even though the Government has provided models of training for its teachers, they have not been effective. This paper addresses this issue and proposes an innovative but cheaper mentoring system. This system also overcomes the shortcomings of the existing models of in-service training including its ad hoc nature, lack of practice and feedback, lack of the opportunity to upgrade poor English skills. The paper argues that the system can overcome these issues, and Indonesia is capable of running the system with its existing resources. The model could be adapted to address similar TEFL issues found elsewhere.

What Managerial Skills Are Important for Success: A Cross-Country Comparison

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Patterson ◽  
William A. Gentry ◽  
Sarah A. Stawiski ◽  
David C. Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Managerial Skills ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Cross Country

Decision making in child welfare: A cross-country comparison

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marit Skivenes ◽  
Jill Berrick ◽  
Tarja Poso ◽  
Sue Peckover
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Country Comparison ◽  
Cross Country

Study of Consonant Pronunciations Errors Committed by EFL Learners

2019 ◽  
pp. 48-56
Author(s):  
Ali Akbar Khansir ◽  
Afsaneh Salehabadi
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Listening Skill ◽  
English Pronunciation ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Knowledge Of Language

As the topic suggests, the research paper presents Study of Consonant Pronunciations Errors Committed by EFL Learners. Error analysis always tries to resolve language learners’ problems in acquiring second or foreign language setting. Learning to English pronunciation is perhaps as important as learning listening skill, speaking, and spelling. Errors in English pronunciation create several problems for English language learners in their works. In other words, most of the English language errors of pronunciation are due to the lack of knowledge of language learners. However, all the students in our sample are of age group (16-25) at Bushehr language institute and they are all Iranian nationals. In addition, all of them were female learners. An English pronunciation (consonant) test was used to get information about the knowledge of the learners in English pronunciation. Findings of this article indicated that the first and second hypotheses of this article were accepted, but the third hypothesis was rejected. However, the findings of this paper showed that the Iranian EFL students have problem to pronounce English sounds correctly.

INVESTIGATING ENGLISH DEPARTMENT STUDENTS’ FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKING ANXIETY: A CASE STUDY IN UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA, INDONESIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Dyas Intan Rachmawati ◽  
Jurianto Jurianto
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
English Department ◽  
Common Phenomenon ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Pearson Product Moment Correlation ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Achievement Score ◽  
Anxiety Levels

Anxiety during a speaking performance is a common phenomenon experienced by any EFL learners, including students majoring in English. Focusing on the issue, this study investigates the correlation between students’ foreign language speaking anxiety and speaking achievement. Moreover, this study also observes the levels and the sources of the speaking anxiety among the English Department’s fifth-semester students of Universitas Airlangga. This study used the Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Scale (FLSAS) by Öztürk and Gurbuz (2014). The FLSAS questionnaire was distributed to 114 students in order to explore the correlation between speaking anxiety and speaking achievement, the speaking anxiety levels, and the speaking anxiety sources. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed with SPSS 25.0. Pearson Product Moment Correlation isused to determine the correlation, while descriptive statistic alanalys is isused to investigate the levels and the sources for speaking anxiety. Horwitz, Horwitzand Cope’s(1986) theory and Horwitz and Young (1991) about the source and the levels of foreign language speaking anxiety are also used in this study. This study found that there is a significant negative correlation between speaking anxiety levels and speaking achievement. This means the higher the speaking anxiety they experience, the lower the achievement score they get. Most of the students have moderate levels of speaking anxiety, which is mainly due to the fear of negative evaluation.This study indicates that although the EFL learners are often exposed to English, they still experience speaking anxiety. These findings suggest that the lecturers should be more aware of students’ anxiety and use strategies that might encourage the students to speak more confidently.

An exploration of target L2 morphemes in the oral production of young EFL learners in Croatia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena O'Reilly ◽  
Eva Jakupčević
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Simple Construction ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
The Past ◽  
Base Form ◽  
Production Study ◽  
Efl Students

Although the second language (L2) acquisition of morphology by late L2 learners has been a popular research area over the past decades, comparatively little is known about the acquisition and development of morphology in children who learn English as a foreign language (EFL). Therefore, the current study presents the findings from a longitudinal oral production study with 9/10-year-old L1 Croatian EFL students who were followed up at the age of 11/12. Our results are largely in line with the limited research so far in this area: young EFL learners have few issues using the be copula and, eventually, the irregular past simple forms, but had considerable problems with accurately supplying the 3rd person singular -s at both data collection points. We also observed a be + base form structure, especially at the earlier stage, which appears to be an emergent past simple construction.

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