scholarly journals “It comes from you”: Agency in adult asylum seekers’ language learning through Process Drama

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-32
Author(s):  
Fiona Dalziel ◽  
Erika Piazzoli
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Role Reversal ◽  
Process Drama ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
The University ◽  
Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Abstract In this paper, we present a study of adult asylum seekers learning Italian as a Second Language through Process Drama. Adopting an ecology of language approach, we first set the scene by examining some of the most salient issues regarding the language learning needs of asylum seekers and refugees, including the challenge of fostering both language proficiency and a sense of autonomy and agency. We then introduce the topic of performative, or drama-based pedagogy, focussing on how this has been adopted for second-language learning, presenting the main features of Process Drama. We go on to evaluate a number of drama-based projects aimed specifically at adult asylum seekers and refugees before presenting the specific context of this study. The Process Drama sessions, organised in the 2016/2107 year, were part of a project called “Cultura e Accoglienza”, which allowed for the enrolment of 30 asylum seekers as “guest students” at the University of Padova in Northern Italy. In particular, we look at one of the Process Drama sessions, in which the participants became members of an association of community workers welcoming migrants, and the teacher took on the role of the asylum seeker. Through the dramatic frame, we, as facilitators, drew on the learners’ expertise in settling into the Italian culture, and in welcoming new arrivals. Our aim was that of using ‘time’, ‘place’ and ‘role reversal’ as distancing devices to challenge the notion of ‘otherness’. The analysis from videos, focus groups and teacher journals suggests that the drama gave participants the chance to shift perspective, and that this impacted on their sense of agency as second language learners.

Teaching Adult Second Language Learners Who Are Emergent Readers

2011 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 120-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha Bigelow ◽  
Patsy Vinogradov
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Formal Schooling ◽  
Emergent Readers ◽  
Print Literacy ◽  
Historical Issues

Some second language (L2) learners are unique in that they bring low print literacy and limited formal schooling to the language learning enterprise. A range of personal, economic, historical, and political circumstances bring them to highly literate, industrialized societies where print literacy becomes not only desirable but necessary to earn a living and participate in a range of everyday activities. This article is a review of current research related to this population of learners for the purpose of informing educators about their particular teaching and learning needs. While the emphasis is on scholarship focused on adult L2 emergent readers, attention is also given to related research with bi- and multilingual children and monolingual adults who are not print literate. Finally, sociopolitical and historical issues are touched upon with regard to broader policy matters that may have contributed to or perpetuate low print literacy.

scholarly journals The impact of the objectives of Arabic language learners as a second language and their involvement in the learning engagement on their language proficiency- field study on two Malaysian universities – Malaysia: علاقة الدافعية بتحسين الكفايات اللغوية لمتعلمي اللغة العربية كلغةٍ ثانيةٍ وانخراطهم في العملية التعلمية - دراسة ميدانية على طلبة جامعتي العلوم الإسلامية الماليزية والإسلامية العالمية الماليزيتين-

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikail Ibrahim, Zainalabidin Hajib, Yuslina Mohammad, Essamo
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Linguistic Competence ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact

This research aims to study the correlative relationships between the orientation towards the goal and engage in the learning process, and their relationship to the acquisition of Arabic language skills as a second language between students of the University of Islamic Science Malaysia and International Islamic University Malaysia. The study followed the correlative approach. The questionnaire consisted of a questionnaire that was distributed to a random stratified sample. The study population consisted of students from the University of Islamic Sciences Malaysia and the International Islamic University Malaysia. It reached 451 students (males = 170, females = 281). The researchers used the typical structural equation for statistical treatments. The result of the analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between the goal of empowerment, the goal of performance on the one hand, and linguistic competence on the other. While the negative relationship between avoiding schoolwork and language competence. The study also revealed that there is a strong positive relationship between engaging in the learning process mentally, behaviorally, emotionally and linguistic competence, and the behavioral involvement factor obtained the strongest relationship in determining the fate of the language learning process. Finally, the analysis showed that females are more capable than males. In light of the results, the current study recommended the application of such studies in some countries where Arabic is considered a second language to ensure the validity and consistency of the scale, and the possibility of generalizing it. Developing the skills of Arabic language teachers through training workshops and introducing them to modern teaching methods in teaching the Arabic language.

Bridging the L1-L2 Divide

2020 ◽  
pp. 309-325
Author(s):  
Bridget M. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Intermediate Level ◽  
Heritage Learners ◽  
Learning Challenges ◽  
Learner Centered ◽  
Writing Course ◽  
The University

This chapter engages the reality of the university classroom that includes Heritage-Learners (HL) and second-language learners (L2) of Spanish. Rather than furthering the “what if” considerations of the idealized heritage learner in a quasi-homogenous group and specialized course track, the author focuses on the very pressing question of ways in which HL and L2 populations face similar learning challenges in an intermediate-level Spanish writing course. Drawing on research about learner-centered and HL and L2 language-learning pedagogies, the author discusses how implementation of progressive assignment design and targeted learning skills development supported L2 students and transitional bilinguals in the mixed classroom. Finally, the limits of this mixed classroom model for HL and L2 learners are discussed.

Learner beliefs about sociolinguistic competence: A qualitative case study of four university second language learners

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinsuk Yang ◽  
Katherine Rehner
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Learner Beliefs ◽  
The Social ◽  
Sociolinguistic Competence ◽  
The University

AbstractThis article explores the beliefs about second language (L2) sociolinguistic competence of four university-level advanced L2 learners. It places particular emphasis on 1) how these university learners conceptualized L2 sociolinguistic competence; 2) how they thought about two different language learning contexts (viz., the L2 classroom versus study abroad) for their development of sociolinguistic competence; and 3) the L2 strategies they employed to develop their L2 sociolinguistic knowledge. The study found, first, that the university learners conceived of sociolinguistic competence as the ability to adjust their language to reflect the social distance between themselves and other speakers. Second, it demonstrates that the university learners believed that the classroom environment might provide them with insufficient opportunities to utilize those L2 registers that are most sensitive to context. Nevertheless, their beliefs about the necessity of having sociolinguistic competence played a pivotal role in helping most of them to find meaningful L2 learning opportunities in the classroom, as well as in study-abroad contexts. Finally, while immersive experiences can help learners sustain L2 motivational strategies according to their ultimate L2-related goals, the present study lends support to the observation that contexts

Bridging the L1-L2 Divide

2017 ◽  
pp. 270-286
Author(s):  
Bridget M. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Intermediate Level ◽  
Heritage Learners ◽  
Learning Challenges ◽  
Learner Centered ◽  
Writing Course ◽  
The University

This chapter engages the reality of the university classroom that includes Heritage-Learners (HL) and second-language learners (L2) of Spanish. Rather than furthering the “what if” considerations of the idealized heritage learner in a quasi-homogenous group and specialized course track, the author focuses on the very pressing question of ways in which HL and L2 populations face similar learning challenges in an intermediate-level Spanish writing course. Drawing on research about learner-centered and HL and L2 language-learning pedagogies, the author discusses how implementation of progressive assignment design and targeted learning skills development supported L2 students and transitional bilinguals in the mixed classroom. Finally, the limits of this mixed classroom model for HL and L2 learners are discussed.

Using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) materials in English as Second Language (ESL) classrooms: perspectives of teachers and students in United Arab Emirates

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramia DIRAR SHEHADEH MUSMAR
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Technologies ◽  
Student Diversity ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching

Integrating scaffolding-learning technologies has been recognized for its potential to create intellectual and engaging classroom interactions. In the United Arab Emirates, having language teachers employ computers as a medium of new pedagogical instrument for teaching second languages generated the idea of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) as a medium of an innovative pedagogical instrument for facilitating and scaffolding language learning, with an aspiration that it will lead to improved English language attainment and better assessment results. This study aims at investigating the perspectives of students and teachers on the advantageous and disadvantageous impacts of CALL on learning and teaching English as a second language in one public school in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The results show that CALL has a facilitating role in L2 classroom and that using CALL activities is advantageous in reducing English learning tension, boosting motivation, catering for student diversity, promoting self-directed language learning and scaffolding while learning English. The results additionally report that numerous aspects like time constraints, teachers’ unsatisfactory computer skills, insufficient computer facilities, and inflexible school courses undesirably affect the implementation of CALL in English classrooms. It is recommended that further studies should be undertaken to investigate the actual effect of CALL on students’ language proficiency. 

College English Learning Center Planning Based on Language Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 4493-4499
Author(s):  
Diwen Dong
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Learning Center ◽  
Learning Centers ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
College English ◽  
The University ◽  
Functional Areas

Objectives: Planning for English learning centers for college students can meet the needs of students’ independent learning and achieve the purpose of enhancing students’ comprehensive English practice and application ability. Methods: This study proposed the characteristics and functions of the English learning center, as well as the resources and facilities of the learning center when planning the university English learning center, and explained the construction of the English learning center’s learning materials and the division of functional areas. The influencing factors of the construction of learning center materials mainly include students’ language level, learning needs, authority and applicability of learning materials. Results: On this basis, taking the English learning center plan of a university library as an example, the functional areas are divided into four functional areas: English listening, speaking, reading and writing. Conclusion: It is hoped that this research will provide some reference and reference for the planning study of university English learning center based on language learning.

Googleology for second language learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-469
Author(s):  
Patrizia Giampieri
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Second Language Learning ◽  
Second Language Learners ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Linguistic Research ◽  
Advanced Search ◽  
The World ◽  
Google Search

Abstract The World Wide Web has often been considered too vast to be consulted for linguistic purposes or for language learning. This paper will explore whether second language learners can be taught how to navigate the web (i.e., how to perform Google linguistic research, or “Googleology”), in order to improve their language skills. To this aim, a 2 h trial lesson was organized. The trial lesson was delivered to 78 apprentices, divided into groups of 10–15, over a period of six months. During the lesson, the participants were taught how to work with Google Advanced Search syntax. At the end of the lesson, they applied the newly-acquired skills by completing a few tasks concerning term and/or collocational search. The paper findings will highlight that, despite initial hesitation or inaccuracies in completing the exercises, the tasks were performed well. The participants considered the lesson interesting, useful and enjoyable. They felt engaged irrespective of the level of their second language (L2) knowledge, and were more confident in approaching Google Search for linguistic purposes.

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