Pragmatic instruction in L2-Russian

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-95
Author(s):  
Daniele Artoni ◽  
Valentina Benigni ◽  
Elena Nuzzo
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Instructional Treatment ◽  
Completion Task ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
National Corpus ◽  
Pragmatic Instruction

Over the last three decades, a growing number of studies have investigated the effects of instruction on the acquisition of pragmatic features in L2. The bulk of this research has focused mainly on the teaching of English as a second/foreign language. However, instructional pragmatic studies in L2-Russian are lacking. The main purpose of our study is to contribute towards filling this gap by analysing the effects of pragmatic instruction on the acquisition of two speech acts by Italian learners of Russian. Furthermore, we aim to explore whether the Multimodal Russian Corpus (MURCO), a multimedia subcorpus of the Russian National Corpus, can be an effective tool for teaching speech acts in L2-Russian. Our research was composed of one experimental group (n = 18) and one control group (n = 11); each was composed of two intact classes of Italian university students at an intermediate level of L2-Russian, who were pre- and post-tested using a written discourse completion task. The experimental group was subjected to a programme of pragmatic instruction – eight thirty-minute MURCO-based lessons devoted to requests and advice, while the control group was taught according to the standard syllabus, that is, with no pragmatic instruction. The results revealed that the use of the target pragmatic features varied significantly in the experimental group, but not in the control group, thus showing a general positive effect of the instructional treatment based on the MURCO corpus. However, some limitations were identified with regard to the usability of this tool by teachers and learners.

Effect of textual enhancement on idioms

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 258-272
Author(s):  
Patricia Salazar Campillo
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Choice Task ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intermediate Students ◽  
Textual Enhancement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

The present study aimed at investigating the impact of textual enhancement on the comprehension of transparent and opaque English idioms among Spanish lower-intermediate students studying English as a foreign language. Two short texts including visually enhanced idioms (i.e., they were underlined) were designed for the Experimental Group, and the Control Group received an unenhanced version of the texts. The results reveal that textual enhancement made transparent idioms salient enough for them to have an impact on comprehension; however, underlining had a poorer effect on comprehension as far as opaque idioms are concerned. In addition, we aimed at examining the effect of textual enhancement on the noticing of idioms. Findings show that it did not have a positive effect on recognition of idioms, since the Control Group outperformed the Experimental Group in the multiple-choice task.

scholarly journals Quizzes in Every Other Session Improve Undergraduate EFL Learners' Pronunciation Achievement

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Ghorbani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Training Program ◽  
English Literature ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Teaching ◽  
And Control ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

The proponents of frequent quizzes claim that they stimulate students and have a positive effect on their learning, while the opponents argue that too frequent quizzes might frustrate students and hinder their learning. This study examined the effect of frequent quizzes on Iranian undergraduate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ pronunciation achievement. The nonequivalent group, pretest-posttest design was employed to study two classes of English literature and English teaching students, who were taking the Phonology Course, at Kosar University of Bojnord (KUB) as the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) respectively. Two 40-item pronunciation tests were developed based on the 3rd edition of the book Ship or Sheep written by Baker (2006). The reliability of the tests was estimated 0.78 and 0.81 respectively through KR-21 formula. After the pretest administration, both groups were exposed to the same activities; however, only the EG took the quizzes every other session. At the end of the training program, the pretests were rearranged and used as the posttests. The results of the independent samples t-tests from the posttests revealed that the EG had a better performance than the CG suggesting that EFL learners’ pronunciation achievement can improve if quizzes are used every other session.

scholarly journals Using Story Grammar Method to Develop Seventh Grade Students' Narrative  Texts Comprehension in English as a Foreign Language

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 645
Author(s):  
Wael H. Zidan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Seventh Grade ◽  
Story Grammar ◽  
Narrative Texts ◽  
Story Mapping ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Better Than

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of using the story grammar method to develop seventh grade students' narrative texts comprehension in English as a foreign language. Previous research suggests that narrative texts comprehension can be improved through story grammar method. The researcher designed a story-mapping for teaching the experimental group. The researcher also developed an instrument, which is a narrative comprehension test to measure the students' performance. The sample consisted of two classes (n= 52) of grade seven male students from a school in the Sultanate of Oman, Al-Batinah South. These classes were randomly selected. One class functioned as an experimental group and the other as a control group. The results revealed that the students in the experimental group performed better than the students in the control group. The story grammar method had a positive effect on the students' narrative textss comprehension. Based on these findings, the study presents some recommendations and suggestions for further research. 

scholarly journals A Video-driven Approach to Promoting Pragmatic Development in the Context of English as a Foreign Language

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuha Abdullah Alsmari
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Pragmatic Competence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pragmatic Development ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Experimental Group

While pragmatic competence has proven to be teachable over the past three decades, determining the most appropriate and effective approach to facilitating English as a foreign language (EFL) students’ pragmatic development is still a central concern for researchers of interlanguage pragmatics (ILP). An investigation into the effects of video-driven prompts on less-studied and more complex teaching speech acts, such as complaints, will significantly supplement the inconclusive results of pragmatic interventional studies in foreign language contexts. To this end, the present study aims to investigate the effects of metapragmatic instruction on English complaints through the implementation of video-driven prompts to raise Saudi female EFL students’ awareness of the pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic aspects associated with the production of appropriate and accurate target-like complaints during one academic semester. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used to collect data from 62 English majors, assigned to an experimental group (n = 31) and a conventional group (n = 31), at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. To elicit the required data, a proficiency test and pre-/post-test written discourse completion tests (WDCT) were distributed among participants. The results of the post-test demonstrated significant improvement in participants’ pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic skills in the production of English complaints. The experimental group immensely outperformed the control group due to their exposure to authentic, contextualized video excerpts. The study supports the teachability of complaints as well as the benefits of incorporating metapragmatic awareness tasks based on contextually authentic input, which can, in turn, accelerate EFL students’ ability to produce pragmatically appropriate and accurate target-like complaints.

Teaching and learning how to make requests in different contexts in Italian as a foreign language

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Mendes Porcellato
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Instructional Material ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Pedagogical Intervention ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

This study is motivated by the dearth of research in pragmatic instruction in Italian as a foreign language (IFL) with beginner learners. Based on the limitations in the way IFL textbooks present requests, instructional material was designed with the following objectives: to improve learners’ pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic competences and to raise their awareness of request realisation across different contexts. The material, designed for a 60-minute pedagogical intervention, was then used in an Italian language school in Sao Paulo with five intact classes of beginner Brazilian learners of Italian. We implemented a pre- and post-test quasi-experimental methodological design, where three classes were randomly selected to serve as the experimental group, and two classes served as the control group. The data collected through written DCTs and simplified retrospective questionnaires revealed that the learners in the experimental group showed a more significant improvement in their socio pragmatic, pragmalinguistic and metapragmatic competence compared to the control group. These results suggest a positive effect of consciousness-raising activities on learners’ declarative knowledge in the short term.

scholarly journals Portfolio Keeping Ends to a Good Product: The Cases of Reading and Motivation

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Azadeh Nemati
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Reading Ability ◽  
Reading Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Past ◽  
Good Product ◽  
Integrative Motivation ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

Portfolio has been in use from the past in other disciplines. But there are growing bodies of research which document its importance in foreign language teaching. The current study was implemented on selecting 91 undergraduate students passing their general English course in Iran. Traditional reading program was administered for control group whereas; portfolio keeping was integrated into experimental group. The result of ANCOVA showed that portfolio keeping has a positive effect on reading ability of the students in experimental group. The better reading result is explained by this argument that a good product is justified by a good process. Furthermore, portfolio keeping increased their attitude/motivation towards learning English; especially it increased integrative motivation of the students more than instrumental and attitude.

Соматические дисфункции у детей с задержкой речи

2017 ◽  
pp. 61-65
Author(s):  
E. L. Kuznetsova ◽  
L. A. Dultsev ◽  
E. V. Safin
Keyword(s):  
Standard Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Complex Therapy ◽  
Osteopathic Treatment ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

Goal of research - the study aims to examine the osteopathic profi le of children with dysarthria and to develop recommendations for osteopathic correction of somatic dysfunctions in 2-3 year old children presenting this pathology.Materials and methods. 30 2-3 year old children with the symptoms of dysarthria took part in the research. All the children were divided into 2 groups: the control group of 15 children received standard treatment, and the experimental group of 15 children received both standard and osteopathic treatment. The dysarthria severity and the osteopathic profi le were evaluated with account of the number of somatic dysfunctions at global, regional, and local levels.Results. The osteopathic correction was shown to have a positive effect on dysarthria severity. The study established a correlation between the dysarthria severity in children and the number of somatic dysfunctions at the local level.Conclusion. The study suggests using osteopathic correction of somatic dysfunctions in the complex therapy of dysarthria in children.

Electronic texts or learning through textbooks: An experimental study

ReCALL ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 539-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
NINETTE CARTES-ENRIQUEZ ◽  
M. I. SOLAR RODRIGUEZ ◽  
R. QUINTANA LETELIER
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Cognitive Strategies ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Computer Lab ◽  
Electronic Texts ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Search For Information ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Traditional Class

This is an experimental study in the area of Didactics applied to the learning of English as a foreign language and complemented by CALL. The main objective of this work is to know the degree of incidence existing between two groups of students: one, based on conference-style classes where students, guided by the teacher, have to search for information about a topic in the computer lab and present it in front of the class and, in the other, where students are taught by the teacher according to a printed text. The experimental design consisted of a pre-test/post-test plus the application of different techniques to develop the different linguistic and cognitive strategies, between these tests. The methodology used by the Experimental Group forced learners to generate their own knowledge, so they had to apply the information and work by themselves in Workshops; and the Control Group participated in the classroom according to the communicative approach, guided by the teacher in the traditional class. Statistics were applied to the scores obtained between both tests, and the scores obtained weekly in the different competences contributed to knowing whether there were significant differences between both groups.

Using comprehension strategies for students' self-efficacy, anxiety, and proficiency in reading English as a foreign language

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 447-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Chang Liao ◽  
Ya-Huei Wang
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Comprehension Strategies ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Verbal Persuasion ◽  
Reading Comprehension Strategies ◽  
English Reading ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Experimental Group

We examined whether or not instructing Taiwanese students in the use of comprehension strategies when they are reading English as a foreign language, reduces their English reading anxiety and increases their English reading self-efficacy and proficiency. We used a quasiexperimental design and conducted a 15-week course. The experimental group (n = 31) received instruction in reading comprehension strategies and the control group (n = 31) received instruction by traditional teaching methods. The results show that the experimental group had less anxiety when reading English and higher proficiency than the control group. In regard to self-efficacy when reading English, the experimental group also performed better than the control group in terms of self-affirmation, perseverance, verbal persuasion, and performance overall. However, there was no statistically significant difference for learning attitude between the groups.

scholarly journals UTILIZATION POSSIBILITIES OF PREBIOTICS AND PROBIOTICS IN PREVENTION AND HEALTH CARE OF CALVES

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-127
Author(s):  
Luboš Zábranský ◽  
Miloslav Šoch ◽  
Pavel Novák ◽  
Jan Brouček ◽  
Anna Šimková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Seaweed Extracts ◽  
Weight Gains ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Experimental Group

Abstract the aim of our study was to evaluate influence of probiotic agents (Lactovita) and seaweed extracts (Biopolym) with antidiarrheal effects on the prevention of diarrhoea in calves. In the experiment 22 experimental and 22 control calves were observed. The results of the observed incidence of diarrhoea in the control and experimental groups showed a positive effect of probiotic Lactovita and seaweed extracts Biopolymer. 32% of calves in the experimental group and 45% of calves in the control group became sick. Unfortunately, we could not demonstrate the statistical significance of these differences. The weight gains found in the 4th week after birth were by 37.6% higher in the group with Lactovita and Biopolym than in the control group.

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