University Students’ Perspectives on Synchronous Online Teacher- and Student-led Group Activities: Based on General English Classes

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-50
Author(s):  
Christopher Irvin ◽  
◽  
Seong-Man Park ◽  
Hee-Joo Im
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Rabiul Alam

Abstract In Bangladesh, learning English starts as a compulsory subject like other core subjects from the very early stage of a learner. However, after spending at least 12 years in learning English, learners’ oral skill is not seen up to the mark while they enter into the university for their tertiary education. Sometimes, they are noticed to have their unwillingness to communicate with others. Hence, the current study aims to see the experiences of Bangladeshi university students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) by employing a multiple case study method. 10 undergraduate students from a private university were interviewed. Apart from semi-structured interview, classroom observations were also carried out for data collection. The obtained data were analysed through the content analysis process. The findings show that students’ earlier experiences of learning English have been positive; however, they see grammar-based English learning as an obstacle in their communication development. It also reveals that learners’ WTC is greatly influenced by classroom environment that enhances or declines learners’ interest to communicate with others. Based on the findings, the study suggests incorporating more drills in English classes by engaging learners with real-life based conversations, dialogues and so forth to enhance learners’ WTC. Hence, learners’ real voice would help the policymakers and language instructors to take the issue into consideration and way-out timely measures. As the study has considered fewer respondents, future studies are expected to shed light on more respondents including the voice of the teachers to have a deeper understanding of the issue.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Lu-Fang Lin

This study examined the effect of the integration of the problem-based learning (PBL) approach in English courses on Chinese-speaking university students’ willingness to communicate (WTC). This study also examined whether there were possible differences in learners’ WTC in terms of the gender variable. Two English classes in a Taiwanese university were randomly assigned to the PBL and teacher-lectured (TL) conditions. The PBL group with 43 participants received the PBL instruction in small group settings, whereas the TL group with 45 participants was fully provided with interpretations of teaching materials by the instructor and completed the tasks individually. The WTC scale, including seven subscales, was administered after the treatment. The results of two-way multivariate analysis of variance revealed that the PBL group significantly outperformed the TL group on the friend subscale, while the TL group demonstrated significant main effects on WTC subscales in terms of the gender variable.


Author(s):  
Ольга Олеговна Захарова

Введение. Необходимость поиска новых стратегий преподавания иностранного языка студентам неязыкового вуза, являющихся представителями поколения Z, обусловливает внимание исследователей к использованию интернет-мемов как эффективного средства, стимулирующего обучающихся к изучению английского языка. Цель – представить теоретико-практическое обоснование возможностей использования интернет-мемов для развития у студентов технического вуза мотивации к изучению иностранного языка. Материал и методы. Исследование выполнено на основе анализа литературы по вопросам применения креализованных текстов, организации работы с мемами студентов в контексте их обучения английскому языку, рассмотрения мотивации обучающихся неязыкового вуза к изучению иностранного языка. Спроектирована схема занятий, нацеленная на развитие у студентов мотивации к изучению языка при использовании мемов, и проведен методический эксперимент по апробации предложенных способов. Материалом исследования выступили отобранные в интернет-среде мемы, соответствующие тематике работы по дисциплине. Результаты и обсуждение. Представлен алгоритм организации работы студентов с мемами, включающий мотивационно-перцептивный, репродуктивно-практический и творческо-преобразовательный этапы; предложено вариативное методическое обеспечение исследуемого процесса. Раскрыта методическая схема организации занятий с использованием мемов в процессе развития у студентов мотивации к изучению английского языка и обозначена группа педагогических условий, способствующих ее успешной реализации. Описаны примеры упражнений для поэтапной работы студентов на материале мема и представлен критериально-диагностический инструментарий для оценивания уровней сформированности у обучающихся мотивации к изучению иностранного языка. Результаты методического эксперимента, проведенного на базе Трехгорного технологического института – филиала Национального исследовательского ядерного университета «МИФИ», подтвердили эффективность разработанных способов развития мотивации у студентов. Заключение. Определено, что мемы выступают мощным методическим материалом, способствующим повышению мотивации будущих инженеров к изучению английского языка. Эффективность реализации разработанной методической схемы занятий для студентов с использованием мемов обусловлена стимулированием цифровой коммуникации обучающихся на основе метода Bring Your Own Device, привлечением их к проектной деятельности на материале мемов и созданием психологически благоприятной атмосферы, фасилитирующей иноязычную коммуникацию обучающихся. Introduction. The need for the search of the new strategies of the foreign language teaching in non-linguistic universities defines the researchers’ attention to the use of the Internet-memes as an effective means stimulating the students` interest to language learning. The aim of the article is to present theoretical and practical justification of the possibilities of Internet-memes use for development of non-linguistic university students` motivation to learning the foreign language. Material and methods. The research is based on the analysis of literature on creolized texts use in teaching, organizing the students’ language work with memes, defining the constituents of non-linguistic university students` motivation to English learning. In the result the set of classes facilitating the development of the students` motivation to language learning was designed and the methodical experiment aimed at implementation of the solutions under the consideration was carried out. Internet-memes selected in accordance with teaching content on the discipline are used as the material. Results and discussion. The algorithm of organizing students’ work with memes that includes motivational and perceptional, reproductive and practical, creative and transformational stages is outlined; versatile methodical apparatus of the process implementation is presented. The author notes the aspects of organization of the students’ work with memes as well as its motivational opportunities. The set of English classes oriented on using memes in the developing students’ motivation to language learning is presented. The examples of the exercises organizing the students’ work with a certain meme are given. The article presents criterial and diagnostic apparatus to evaluate students’ motivational level to English learning and the results proving the suggested solutions efficiency. Conclusion. The memes’ variety, free access, relevance to modern tendencies make them a powerful tool motivating students to deep language learning. Systematically organized students’ activity with memes contributes to the development of their foreign language skills.


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