Social and political dimensions of communication in grammar instruction: what teachers should contemplate

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wu Shinian
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Nonnative Speakers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Grammar Instruction ◽  
Grammatical Accuracy ◽  
Nonnative Speakers Of English ◽  
Political Dimensions

AbstractSuccessful language learning entails two levels of competence: adequate control of the grammatical system of the target language and ability to effectively communicate in pragmatic contexts. Espoused by the mantra of much inculcated communicative orientation in English language teaching and learning, the divination points to pedagogical trends which essentially jettison grammar instruction in the classroom. However, language is not merely a tool of communication but an instrument of social control, political power, and economic mobility, all of which require not only skills to “get your message across” by whatever means, but more importantly, the accurate use of and facility with language that has been codified and assessed formally by standardized tests. This paper critically examines the role of grammatical accuracy and its relation to communication in terms of social and academic functions of English and advocates a revival of currently penurious grammar instruction. Examples from both native and nonnative speakers of English are used to illustrate the interface between grammar and social and political dimensions of communication through language.

scholarly journals FILTERING CULTURAL INFLUENCES IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING IN THE INDONESIAN CONTEXT: THE CONTROVERSY AND SUGGESTED ACTIONS

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 34
Author(s):  
Ari Purnawan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Learning Approaches

There has been a prolonging controversy on why teachers need to filter the cultural load in foreign language learning. Some educators guarantee that the best way of learning a new language is by presenting the target language situations in the classroom, which usually includes the values, culture, habits, or ways of behaving and thinking of the target language users; however, some others believe that, for the sake of nation’s future and pride, they have to filter and block any influences that come from the value loads. Throughout the long history of foreign language learning approaches and methods, this issue has been one of their hot flavors. In fact, cultural contents are unavoidable in foreign language learning. Therefore, the type of culture to be included in the materials and the goal of study are two important aspects to consider (Kramsch, 2013). The paper aims to present ways that teachers can do to deal with the above issue. Involving culture in a selective manner may become a moderate compromise, and cautious actions in selecting the values to be loaded in the process of teaching and learning needs to be formulated and carefully listed. Some suggested items based on some intensive observations and teacher interviews are presented in the paper. It is expected that the culture issue in English language teaching settings develops into a good awareness of the importance of culture in language learning on the one hand, and of the preservation of own national identity and  values on the other hand.

scholarly journals Washback of English national exams at ninth-grade level in Thailand and Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wachyu Sundayana ◽  
Panusak Meekaeo ◽  
Pupung Purnawarman ◽  
Didi Sukyadi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Grade Level ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Ninth Grade ◽  
Ninth Graders ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Ninth Grade Students

Washback refers to influences of testing on teaching and learning. In Thailand and Indonesia, washback of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) and Ujian Nasional (UN) inevitably occurs on teaching and learning in classrooms at every level. This present study aims to explore and compare the washback effects of the O-NET and UN on English language learning as perceived by Thai and Indonesian ninth-grade students. It is a multi-case study (Thailand case and Indonesia case) by using triangulation design as the research design. The questionnaires concerning washback effects of national exams on English language learning were distributed to 200 ninth-graders in the two cases. In addition, six students from each case were interviewed. The results reveal that in both cases, the participants focus to learn on contents and skills that were likely to appear in the national exams. The participants learned English harder to perform well in the tests rather than to improve their English ability. Moreover, the students had high anxiety during the test preparations and feared for low O-NET and UN scores. The results of the study contribute to future washback study and improvement of English language teaching and learning at ninth-grade in Thailand and Indonesia.

scholarly journals Update Chapter English Language Learning Using Social Media

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-271
Author(s):  
Evi Mahsunah
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Strategy ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Media Technology ◽  
The Social ◽  
Language Teaching And Learning

This study explores the changing students’ habit update status in social media into update chapter to increase their achievement in English. It is a learning strategy in English language teaching and learning using social media technology. The aim is to motivate students more active to read their literature and then share and discuss their reading in social media. The students not only have to update their chapter in reading, but also have to give comment or respond to their friends update. So, this strategy makes the students discuss their lesson more than usual. This study uses questioner and documentation technic to collect the data. Based on the data, it is known that students are already using social media for purposes that include the social and the educational. Update chapter make them using this technology in class/after class. Social media brings learning outside the classroom autonomous, independent, motivational and fun. Therefore, the students‘achievement in English language teaching and learning also increases significant.

Becoming a process drama practitioner: An exploratory study of higher education language teachers in Japan

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110609
Author(s):  
Kim Murray ◽  
José Reis-Jorge ◽  
Julie-Anne Regan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Process Drama ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Japanese Higher Education

Research in language learning indicates that process drama (PD), an educational approach where students and teachers work in and out of role to explore themes and issues, can be well suited to the Japanese higher education (HE) context. Despite the benefits highlighted in the literature, PD remains a niche approach to language teaching and learning, with a limited number of practitioners in Japan. This study seeks to uncover language teachers’ experiences of becoming Process Drama Practitioners (PDPs) and using and sharing PD as an English language teaching approach in Japanese HE. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with six experienced PDPs. The findings indicate that prior positive experiences with drama was an encouraging factor of the adoption and self-directed initial use of PD in their teaching practices. Positive student outcomes and feedback were primary motivators for continued use of PD. Experiences of sharing PD led to a perceived need to distinguish PD from theatre-based approaches and establish connections to familiar approaches to language teaching.

Language Skills Training through Mobile Apps

2017 ◽  
pp. 142-167
Author(s):  
Revathi Viswanathan
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Skills Training ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Mobile Assisted Language Learning

With the advancement in technological tools and devices, language teachers can foster learning of communication skills through mobile devices. There is a growing interest among students to use the latest gadgets for getting connected with their peers. It must be admitted that the usage of these devices would bring in a real revolution in the teaching and learning process. It has been widely accepted that mobile learning promotes students' active participation. Teachers also now understand that one of their responsibilities is to create more opportunities to make their students practice language skills. Although numerous researches has been done in the field of English Language Teaching in India, research on mobile assisted language learning is still in an infancy stage. In this chapter, the author discusses the possibility of offering training through mobile apps, based on research she conducted recently.

scholarly journals ‘There’s an App for That!’ Writing Technology Reviews for Academic Journals

RELC Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 003368822094541
Author(s):  
Lucas Kohnke ◽  
Benjamin Luke Moorhouse
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Short Article ◽  
Online Appendix ◽  
Learning Journals ◽  
Writing Technology ◽  
Language Teaching And Learning

Technology reviews are becoming an increasingly common genre within English language teaching and learning journals. This is due to the proliferation of technologies and their affordance in language learning. Although journals provide editorial guidelines for how to write technology reviews, they can be quite general. This short article offers some practical considerations and ideas, and includes published technology review as an example in the online appendix, showing the rhetorical moves for writing technology reviews in the field of English language teaching and learning.

scholarly journals DESIGNING AFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT BASED ON SCIENTIFIC APPROACH FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 00068
Author(s):  
Ira Maisarah ◽  
M. Zaim ◽  
Hermawati Syarif ◽  
Alwen Bentri
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Scientific Approach ◽  
Affective Assessment ◽  
Addie Model ◽  
Affective Taxonomy

This research was describing the designing of instrument for affective assessment in English language teaching. The focus of the designing was only for observation sheet that will be used by English teachers during the teaching and learning process. The instrument was designed based on scientific approach that has five stages namely observing, questioning, experimenting, associating, and communicating. In the designing process, ADDIE Model was used as the method of research. The designing of instrument was considering the gap between the reality and the teachers’ need. The result showed that the designing was also notice to the affective taxonomy such as receiving, responding, valuing, organization, and characterization. Then, three key words were used as the indicator to show the five levels of affective taxonomy such as seriously, volunteer, and without asked by teacher. Furthermore, eighteen types of affective such as religious, honesty, responsible, discipline, hard work, self confidence, logical thinking, critical thinking, creative, innovative, independent, curiosity, love knowledge, respect, polite, democracy, emotional intelligence, and pluralist were put on each stage of scientific approach. So, it is hoped that can be implemented in all of context of English language teaching at schools and can assess the students’ affective comprehensively.

scholarly journals Impact of English Language Teaching and Learning through Language Laboratory in Engineering in Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-103
Author(s):  
Rup Narayan Shrestha ◽  
Bharat Pahari ◽  
Jai Raj Awasti
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Present Article ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Language Laboratory ◽  
Job Opportunities

The present article discusses the importance of language, in general, and English, in particular, in the context of engineering education in Nepal. It mainly discusses the importance and application of language laboratory for the enhancement of skills and proficiency of English language in the learners of Bachelor's level in engineering in Nepal. The main objective of the present article is to highlight the importance of teaching and learning of English language in the B.E. level in engineering by using language laboratory. In course of the present study, literature available in different accessible sources was reviewed for collecting necessary data and designing theoretical framework for the same. From the study, it has been found that language laboratory is tremendously helpful in creating favourable atmoshphere for language learning and helping the learners to acquire necessary language skills useful to them in sharpening their study at present and streamlining their research and innovative activities in their further studies in the future. English language is now the language of worldwide communication, and therefore, it is very essential for the students of engineering to be proficient in communication through English not only for grabbing job opportunities open at present but also to furthering their future research and innovative endeavors and publishing their reports and research articles based on them. Language Laboratory is highly instrumental for attaining ample proficiency in English language, the means of global communication.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jie.v10i1.10882Journal of the Institute of Engineering, Vol. 10, No. 1, 2014, pp. 94–103

scholarly journals Counteractive Measures for the Tribulations Faced by Intermediate Students of Selected Colleges of Lucknow, While Teaching and Learning English

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 516
Author(s):  
Mohammad Owais Khan
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
College Education ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Intermediate Students ◽  
Learning English

The present study attempts to highlight the issues related to the Tribulations and Counteractive measures for teaching and learning English to Intermediate students of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP), India. The language policy in intermediate college education emerged as a social and personal problem. The quality of English Language teaching in majority of Indian Intermediate Colleges presents a very appalling picture. Teachers’ language proficiency, exposure to language and teaching materials is major concerns for quality English language learning. In reality intermediate students’ situation in UP is very difficult. They don’t have good opportunities as the big cities’ students have. These students consider English as a subject not as a language. So they focus only on examination not on the learning. This is an area which needs proper investigation. This study and the remedial measures suggested at the end will hopefully help students and teachers in learning and teaching English easily and appropriately. The study will also be useful for teachers, scholars, course designers and material producers of English language teaching.

scholarly journals Blended Learning Mobility Approach and English Language Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Mazen Ismaeel Ghareb ◽  
Saman Ali Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Kurdistan Region ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
The University

Although the benefits of blended learning have been well documented in educational research, relatively few studies have examined blended mobilities in education in Kurdistan region government and in Iraq. This study discusses a blended mobility approach for a teacher training program designed for in-service English language teachers (ELT) and investigates its effectiveness by comparing the latest participation of the University of Human Development for computer science and proposing the same program for training English for lecturers and students. The research involved proposes new mobility program for teaching and learning English language and using their language skills in an ongoing business project using several software for communication and management of their projects. Results will show the framework for new blended learning and blended mobilities of many different English language teaching (ELT) aspects.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document