The Effects of Explicit Metapragmatic Instruction on Chinese English Language Learners’ Acquisition of Compliment Responses

2017 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhou Wen ◽  
Deng Jun
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Compliment Responses ◽  
English Major ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Experimental Group

AbstractThe present study investigated the effects of explicit metapragmatic instruction on foreign language learners’ performance of compliment responses (CRs). Eighty-two non-English major students participated in this study. They were randomly assigned to two groups, an experimental group that received explicit metapragmatic instruction on compliment responses and a control group that did not. A pretest-posttest research design was adopted. The data were collected through a written discourse completion task (WDCT) with six scenarios concerning the topics of appearance, performance, and personality. The results revealed that learners who received explicit instruction dramatically decreased their use of Accept strategy and increased Combination (CB) strategy at the macro level; more specifically, a decrease in Appreciation and an increase in Accept + Accept at the micro level. The learners of the control group made little progress in their performance. The study sheds light on pragmatics learning in an EFL setting and provides implications for pragmatics pedagogy.

scholarly journals The Impact of Scaffolding Techniques on Saudi English-Language Learners’ Speaking Abilities

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Khalid Mohammed Alwahibee
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Language And Literature ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Level 3 ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

This study investigated the extent to which scaffolding techniques improve Saudi English-language students’ speaking abilities. The study’s main aims involved determining why most Saudi students do not want to participate in communication tasks and activities and identifying other ways to encourage teachers and students to be more active during speaking classes. A mixed-methods technique, a special rubric, and an attitude questionnaire to collect this study’s data were used. The participants included 50 students from Level 3 in the Department of English Language and Literature at the College of Languages and Translation at Al-Imam Mohammed Bin Saud Islamic University. The experiment lasted for 7 weeks. A teacher met with each group for 2 hours per week. The participants were divided into two groups and experimental and a control group of 25 students each. The experimental group used various scaffolding techniques in each session—which allowed the learners to use their existing knowledge, skills, and strategies in several contexts and for many purposes when speaking. The control group received standard speaking instruction, in which the teacher gave the students time to speak freely without intervention. An independent-sample t test for was used of the analysis. The posttest results showed that the experimental group’s speaking ability improved after the pretest. Moreover, the posttests’ overall results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group. This result emphasized the usefulness of using new techniques to teach speaking to nonnative speakers.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Cognitive Research Trust Program for Development of Thinking Skills on the Achievement of the Jordanian English Language Learners

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samer Radwan Ahmed Hmeadat
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Conventional Method ◽  
English Language ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cognitive Research ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Experimental Group

Aim: To investigate the effect of the CoRT(Cognitive Research Trust) program for the development of thinking skills on the achievement of the Jordanian English language learners. The length of the program did not exceed more than three months and a half, starting from the warming-up period in the first semester to the achievement test. Methods: The study sample consisted of (86) students from the seventh grade in Al Nahda Islamic Modern Private Schools, The First Directorate of Education in Zarqa District. The subjects were divided into four groups. Two experimental groups consisted of (34) male students who were taught two units in the curriculum (Aim High1) through the CoRT program. The other two control groups consisted of (34) male students who were taught the same content through the conventional strategy. Analysis of ANOVA was performed to test the statistical significance of the differences between the experimental group who was taught through the CoRT and the control group who was taught through the conventional method. Result: It revealed that there was a statistical significant difference at the level (α =0.05) in the mean scores between the experimental group and the control group in favor of the experimental group. Interestingly, the current study adopted the experimental design. Conclusion: There were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the subjects of the experimental groups who studied through the CoRT as a new instructional model and the control group who studied through the conventional method in favor of the experimental groups.

The Effect of Self-Assessment on EFL Learners’ Self-Efficacy

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasan Baleghizadeh ◽  
Atieh Masoun
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
English Language Institute ◽  
Experimental Group

This study investigated the continuous influence of self-assessment on EFL (English as a foreign language) learners’ self-efficacy. The participants, divided into an experimental and a control group, were 57 Iranian EFL learners in an English-language institute. The participants’ self-efficacy was measured through a questionnaire that was the same for both groups. Additionally, the participants in the experimental group completed a biweekly self-assessment questionnaire throughout the semester. The obtained data were analyzed through an Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings showed that the students’ self-efficacy improved significantly in the experimental group. This suggests that applying self-assessment on a formative basis in an EFL setting leads to increased self-effi- cacy. This study thus highlights the pedagogical implications of self-assessment in EFL classrooms.Cette étude a porté sur l’influence continue de l’auto-évaluation sur l’auto-effi- cacité des apprenants en ALE. Les participants, 57 Iraniens étudiant l’ALE dans un institut de langue anglaise, ont été répartis parmi un groupe expérimental et un groupe témoin. Le même questionnaire a été administré aux deux groupes et a servi d’outil pour mesurer l’auto-efficacité des apprenants. Les membres du groupe expérimental ont en plus complété un questionnaire d’autoévaluation chaque deux semaines au cours du semestre. Les données ont été traitées par une analyse de covariance (ANCOVA). Les résultats indiquent que l’auto-efficacité des élèves s’est améliorée de façon significative dans le groupe expérimental, ce qui porte à croire que la mise en pratique d’une auto-évaluation formative dans les cours d’ALE entraine une amélioration de l’auto-efficacité. Cette étude fait donc ressortir les incidences pédagogiques de l’auto-évaluation dans les cours d’ALE.

scholarly journals Fostering cultural competence awareness by engaging in intercultural dialogue – a telecollaboration partnership

2019 ◽  
pp. 379-384
Author(s):  
María Villalobos-Buehner
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
English Language ◽  
Intercultural Dialogue ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Trained Group ◽  
Group Control Group ◽  
Experimental Group

This study measured changes in cultural awareness levels between two groups of US students in their third semester of a Spanish class. One group (experimental group) collaborated via Skype with a group of English language learners from a Colombian university and the other group (control group) did not. The experimental group met seven times during the semester to discuss a variety of cultural topics such as health care and gastronomy. The control group addressed the same topics by examining them among members of the same class. Both groups answered a pre and post self-awareness questionnaire. Mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) results showed significant differences between the two groups. There was no change in scores from pretest to posttest for the control group, but scores in the trained group increased significantly. Students from the treatment group show substantial gains in skills, knowledge, and awareness of themselves in their interactions with others in one semester.

scholarly journals Do EFL Learners Enhance Their knowledge of Their Home Cultures as a Result of comparing them with other Cultures Through Project-Based Learning?

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (08) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akharraz Mohamad ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Project Based Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

The existing research studies have revealed that project-based learning (PjBL) has significantly helped foreign language learners enhance their cultural understanding as a result of completing their projects (e.g., Bouchouk, 2017; Hsu, 2014; Kim, 2019; Liu et al., 2006; Ngo, 2014). While these studies have congruently proved the utility of PjBL in enhancing students’ cultural awareness, none of them has measured the effect of PjBL together with a comparative and contrastive approach on students’ understanding of their home cultures. Hence, the purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of comparing students’ home cultures with the English cultures through PjBL on students’ understanding of their own cultures in terms of cultural products, cultural practices, and cultural perspectives. Two similar intact groups were randomly assigned to control and treatment groups. The two groups were pretested, administered two different treatments for 24 weeks, and post-tested to assess their differences. The independent sample t-tests results exhibited that the experimental group substantially deepened their understanding of their home cultures as a result of comparing them with the English cultures through PjBL. The study also revealed that while the control group significantly improved their cultural products, those in the experimental group greatly enhanced their knowledge of cultural practices and perspectives.

scholarly journals Using Drama and Drama Techniques to Teach English Conversations to English as A Foreign Language Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Saman Masoumi-Moghaddam
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Classroom Context ◽  
The Public ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
English Competence

The present study aimed to examine the ways in which drama and drama techniques and practices, as implemented in the English language classes and combined with pedagogical practices to teach and learn English conversation, can create the appropriate conditions that promote learning environments conducive for learning English conversations. The participants of this study were thirty undergraduate male and female students who had studied English at the secondary and high school levels at the public schools in Ardebil. They were classified into two groups including Control and Experimental groups. The two groups were administered a Test-Retest evaluation to measure the targeted language skills that was to be taught to them. In order to collect the necessary data, two modern plays were taught and rehearsed in classroom context and then a retest were administered after the practice of these two modern dramatic discourse in the classroom. The different data-collecting techniques were used for the current research were participant observation (direct and indirect), and interviews. After analysing the data the results showed that there was no significant improvement in English competence of the Control group but the Experimental group revealed a tremendous achievement in their abilities in English conversations through the use of dramatic discourse.

scholarly journals Improving Upper-intermediate EFL Learners’ Communicative Competence through Authentic Materials

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 956
Author(s):  
Mohammad Hossein Keshmirshekan
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Authentic Materials ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Course Content ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of authentic materials on enhancing Iranian English as a foreign language learners' communicative competence. To this end, 106 upper-intermediate participants out of 136 were selected based on their performance an Oxford Placement Test (OPT) and randomly assigned to two equal groups- one experimental group and one control group. Then a pre-test was administered to assess the participants' communicative competence at the beginning of the course. Then, the experimental group received the treatment. The control group was taught the course content using the regular communicative method through which students received teacher-course from the textbook. After the treatment, the two groups took the post-test. The data analysis through paired and independent sample t-tests revealed that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the posttest. In other words, teaching authentic materials showed to have a significant effect on improving learners' communicative competence. The implications, limitations, and suggestions of this study are explained at the end of the study.

Influence of prestudy on foreign language learning attitude

2010 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ismail Hakki Mirici
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Learning Attitude ◽  
Target Unit ◽  
Reading Activities

In this experimental study, based on qualitative and quantitative data collection from an experimental and a control group, the influence of 2 different ways of prestudy on foreign language learning attitude of the upper-intermediate level of English language learners was investigated. One prestudy program was based on specially designed familiarization handout-materials comprising topic-related reading activities, the other program entailed using a dictionary focusing on the words used in the target unit. Students who worked with the handout were significantly more motivated, active, and interactive than those who worked with a dictionary. In addition, teachers felt that students who did prestudy using handouts found the unit more meaningful and developed a better attitude towards learning a foreign language than did those who relied on a dictionary.

scholarly journals The Effect of Metacognitive Instruction on L2 Learners’ Listening Abilities and Beliefs about Listening

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Karim Shabani ◽  
Mahsa Heidarian
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Metacognitive Instruction ◽  
Quantitative Data Analysis ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Listening Instruction ◽  
Experimental Group

<p class="2M-body">Framed in metacognition and sociocultural theory, the present study aims at probing the effect of metacognitive instruction on the learners’ perceptions about listening in one hand, and examining whether this pedagogical sequence of teaching listening may lead to the learners’ listening development in the course of one semester on the other. To gather desirable data, 90 (50 males and 40 females) young Iranian EFL (English as a foreign language) learners, who were studying English in a private language institute, were the potential participants of the study. Data was gathered through semi-structured interview, open-ended questionnaire, as well as KET (Key English Test) listening test. Findings highlighted the occurrence of changes in the learners’ beliefs about listening at the end of the term after they received metacognitive listening instruction. Similarly, quantitative data analysis of the pre-and post-test indicated that the participants in the experimental group outperformed those of the control group. Results revealed that metacognitive listening instruction seems to be more beneficial for less-skilled (novice) listeners to take advantage of a process-based listening instruction to improve their listening abilities.</p>

scholarly journals The Effect of Swain's Push Out Hypothesis on Promoting Jordanian Language Learners' Reading Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Abeer Al-Ghazo
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Reading Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Comprehension Test ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Push Out ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study investigates the effect of push out hypothesis in language acquisition that is based on Swain’s push out hypothesis (1985) on promoting Jordanian language learners' reading performance. The sample of the study consists of two classes of English reading comprehension  Course , Level one with 60 EFL students, 30 in the control group and 30 in the experimental group. Those students were belonging to the Department of English Language and Literature. The researchers choose the reading texts from reading comprehension course which was published by Macmillan Education LTD, intermediate level (2001). The researchers construct a multiple-choice reading comprehension test to assess the students reading comprehension. The participants in the two groups took a vocabulary test and an achievement reading comprehension test as a pre-test  in order to be sure that the participants formed a homogenous sample. The experimental group underwent a treatment based on Swains’ push out task, while the control group did not receive any treatment. Then, Proper statistical analyses were used to analyze the results. The scores of control and experimental group were compared at the end of the treatment period. The results reveal that the scores of the experimental group on the post-test were significantly higher than those of the control group. These results prove that teaching on the basis of the Swains’ push out hypothesis was successful to develop the students’ reading comprehension as well as their performance.

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