scholarly journals Young Learners’ Perceptions on the Implementation of Online English Proficiency Test

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-86
Author(s):  
Diah Royani Meisani ◽  
Pupung Purnawarman
Keyword(s):  
Digital Media ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Online Test

The present study made use of Cambridge Online English Test for Children and Young Learner to explore how young learners perceived the implementation of an online test and to what extent the ICT backgrounds and English exposures correlated to their online English test achievement. Three data collection strategies were used to gather the data that involved second to sixth-grade elementary school students as the participants. The instruments were: 1) Online English Proficiency Test for Young Learners; 2) observation field notes; and (3) interviews. The findings revealed that students’ test scores diverse as their grade levels were also various. The mean score was 10.53 which could be categorized into Movers level which was in the middle level. It was also found that the three-quarter of the participants declared that they preferred having an online test as it gave them new experiences and comfortable feeling with taking a test on laptop or smartphones. From further investigation to the randomly selected six students, it was revealed three factors were majorly influential for young learners in benefitting the digital technology use. They were: 1) family socio-economic background; 2) parental involvement in children’s digital media use; and 3) learners’ personal motivation in using the digital media.

scholarly journals Differences and Similarities in Scientists’ Images Among Popular USA Middle Grades Science Textbooks

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-83
Author(s):  
Rebecca Hite
Keyword(s):  
Grade Level ◽  
Physical Science ◽  
Earth Science ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
White Male ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
School Students ◽  
Science Textbooks ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Images Of Scientists

<p style="text-align: justify;">Research on students’ perceptions of scientists is ongoing, starting with early research by Mead and Metraux in the 1950s and continuing in the present. Continued research interest in this area is likely due to scholarship suggesting adolescents’ impressions of scientists are sourced in-part from media, which influence their interests in science and identity in becoming a scientist. A significant source of images, in which adolescents (or middle school students) view science and scientists, is in their science textbooks. A qualitative content analysis explored images of scientists in three of the major U.S.-based middle grade science textbooks published in the new millennium: sixth grade biology, seventh grade earth science, and eighth grade physical science. The Draw A Scientist Test (DAST) Checklist was employed to assess scientists’ images and the stereotypes therein. From nine textbooks, 435 images of scientists were coded and analyzed by publisher and grade level / area by DAST constructs of appearance, location, careers, and scientific activities. Statistical analyses showed significant variances between grade levels and textbook publishers of scientists. Despite scientists portrayed in active endeavors, traditional tropes of the scowling, older, solitary, white male scientist persist. This study offers insight in leveraging improved images of scientists in textbooks.</p>

scholarly journals A survey of students’ English proficiency and their needs toward learning outcomes at vocational colleges

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-641
Author(s):  
Anhar Anhar ◽  
Sofyan A. Gani ◽  
Asnawi Muslem
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
English Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Interview Session ◽  
Destination Area

This research was conducted to investigate students’ English proficiency and their needs toward English learning outcomes. This research was based on a qualitative research design. The data were collected from 80 students who received an English proficiency test and eight students who participated in an interview session. The interview dealt with their needs and problems in communication skills in English. The result shows that there was no student who got excellent English proficiency level, eight students (10%) reached good category, 46 students (58%) achieved satisfactory category, 21 students (26%) were in poor category, and five students (6%) were in very poor category. In addition, all students need English for communication in their future profession. Finally, the results of the interview also show that industrial engineering students preparing to work in manufacturing various marble products face a serious problem in marketing their products to the consumers. In addition, the students majoring in tourism destination area considered that they have to communicate in English to support their job in providing services to tourists speaking different languages. Therefore, it can be concluded that vocational school students need transactional English in a specific field because they are being prepared to work in enterprises or to be entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals Item parameters of Yureka Education Center (YEC) English Proficiency Online Test (EPOT) instrument

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Endrati Jati Siwi ◽  
Rosyita Anindyarini ◽  
Sabiqun Nahar
Keyword(s):  
Proficiency Test ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Item Difficulty ◽  
Discrimination Index ◽  
Index Test ◽  
Test Items ◽  
Online Test ◽  
Item Parameters ◽  
Difficulty Index

Yureka Education Center (YEC) is one of the institutions which has developed an online-based English proficiency test. The test is called  English Proficiency Online Test (EPOT) which follows the TOEFL ITP (Institutional Testing Program) framework. So, this study aimed to analyze the characteristics of EPOT instruments consisting of Listening, Structure, and Reading subtests, which later the quality of each EPOT test item is identified. This study used a descriptive quantitative approach by describing the characteristics of EPOT test items in terms of item difficulty index, item discrimination index, test information’s function and test measurement’s errors. The data were collected through EPOT trials conducted by 2652 online test takers as partisipant from 20 provinces in Indonesia. The collected data were then analyzed using the Item Response Theory (IRT) approach using BILOG program on all logistic parameter models which began with the item compatibility test against the model. Based on the results of the analysis, it can be concluded that all subtests matched the 3-PL model. Most of EPOT’s test items had a good range of difficulty index and discrimination index. The EPOT information’s function showed that accurate items were used on the 3-PL model for certain capability range. This study was expected to point out that EPOT test could be used as an alternative English proficiency test that is easy to use and useful.

scholarly journals Familiarization and Confidence: Factors Affecting Young Learners’ Speaking Test Performance

JET ADI BUANA ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rica S Wuryaningrum
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Private School ◽  
Test Performance ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Target Language ◽  
School Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Speaking Test ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Speaking Skill

Acquiring second language for young learners is a challenging task for them especially when it comes to speaking competence. Speaking may be the hardest competence that young learners have to master as it involves many aspects of language skills such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, fluency at the same time. Young learners find difficulty in expressing their thought and idea in spoken language as they have to combine what is in their mind with the target language and then express it orally. These young learners finds difficulties in expressing their ideas in the target language because they have limited knowledge in vocabulary and grammar while speaking is the key skill in primary school foreign language curricula as the learners develop their social-awareness and become competent speakers of the target language (Toledo & Hoit, 2016).For this reason, some school holds English Proficiency test which include speaking as one of the test. Young learners or primary school students need to practice speaking more as it is the medium through which language is encountered, understood, practiced and learnt, (Cameron, 2001).This study aims to find out what are the factors affecting young learners’performance in speaking test and to find out what  problems encountered by young learners in speaking test. This study was done in a private school in West Surabaya, Indonesia and the subjects were 87 students from second grade to sixth grade. The research instruments are questionnaire and interview. This study was expected to help students with their difficulties and improve their speaking skill. Keywords: speaking test, speaking skill, young learners, difficulties

scholarly journals Auditing information literacy skills of secondary school students in Singapore

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaheen Majid ◽  
Yun-Ke Chang ◽  
Shubert Foo
Keyword(s):  
Information Literacy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
School Students ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Information Literacy Skills ◽  
Subject Areas ◽  
Better Than

The aim of this study was to assess the information literacy (IL) and cyber-wellness skills of secondary 3 (grade 9) students, who are aged 14-15, in Singapore. The Ministry of Education in Singapore has introduced aspects of IL in schools through incorporating components into the syllabi of various subjects. A pilot-tested online survey, validated by IL experts from Canada, Hong Kong, Kuwait and Thailand, was used for data collection. The survey was taken by 2,458 students from 11 secondary schools in different geographical zones of Singapore. It was found that the use of school libraries and their resources was at a very low level. The majority of the students approached classmates and friends for help in solving their information-related problems. Only a small fraction consulted their school librarian. The overall IL assessment score showed that the students possessed a ‘middle’ level of IL skills which is better than previous (pre-curriculum integration) IL assessment studies in Singapore. As curriculum-embedded IL skills are taught by subject teachers, their level of preparedness could be a matter of concern. Similarly, fragmentation of IL concepts in different subject textbooks may cause co-ordination problems among teachers. This paper highlights the need for developing a roadmap for providing IL skills at different grade levels and in different subject areas. It is expected that the findings of this study will be useful to curriculum planners, teachers, schools librarians and others involved in IL education.    

THE INSTRUMENT TO MEASURE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY OF THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES: BETWEEN TOEFL AND TOEIC

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Besin Gaspar ◽  
Yenny Hartanto
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Proficiency Test ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Job Applicants ◽  
First Year ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Recruitment Process ◽  
New Employees ◽  
The University ◽  
Higher Institutions

Recently the university students are required by their institutions to have the TOEFL score in the fisrt year or in the last year of their study before graduation. Some other higher institutions require their students to submit TOEIC, not TOEFL, before graduation. Companies, in the recruitment process, require the applicants to submit TOEFL score to show their level of English proficiency. The first question is which one is more appropriate for job applicants in the compay: TOEFL  or TOEIC. Another question for university students before graduation is whether to have TOEFL  in the first year or in the last year before graduation. This article aims at answering the two questions raised. The first part will give an overview of various versions of TOEFL  and  TOEIC  and the second part proposes the appropriate English proficiency test  for the recruitment process for new employees and for the university graduates, that is, TOEIC for the company  and TOEFL  for universities  and  colleges. 

scholarly journals The Effect of Elementary School Soccer Instruction Using Virtual Reality Technologies on Students’ Attitudes toward Physical Education and Flow in Class

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3240
Author(s):  
Hyun Suk Lee ◽  
Junga Lee
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
School Students ◽  
Virtual Reality Technology ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Attitudes Toward Physical Education ◽  
Sports Programs ◽  
Students Attitudes ◽  
Traditional Class

We analyzed the effects of an elementary school soccer class using virtual reality technology on students’ attitudes toward physical education class and the influence on class flow. The data from 113 elementary school students from Seoul and Gyeonggi-do were analyzed. Students were divided into groups that received either virtual reality or traditional classes (e.g., playing on a playground). Data were analyzed with three-way analyses of variance. Results revealed that students who participated in the virtual reality classes had more confidence, concentration, and experienced more flow (specifically, attention to PE class, integration of ability, challenge, and sense of control) than students who participated in the traditional class. This suggests that virtual reality technology positively affected students’ attitudes and flow. In subsequent research, it is necessary to develop and disseminate a variety of virtual reality sports programs and to conduct studies with students from various grade levels.

Young learners’ voices: Towards a learner-centered approach to understanding language assessment literacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 026553222199227
Author(s):  
Yuko Goto Butler ◽  
Xiaolin Peng ◽  
Jiyoon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Language Assessment ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Assessment Literacy ◽  
Supporting Evidence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Assessment Practice ◽  
Young Learners ◽  
Assessment Tasks ◽  
Sixth Grade Students ◽  
Assessment Skills

Language assessment literacy (LAL) has recently gained substantial attention among language educators and other stakeholders. However, existing models focus almost exclusively on teachers, test developers, and administrators, and lack students’ perspectives in their conceptualizations. To address this gap, with this exploratory study we aimed to understand young learners’ LAL. The participants were fourth- and sixth-grade students (ages 9–10 and 11–12, respectively, with 10 participants in each age group) in China. After taking English mock tests, the children participated in individual, semi-structured interviews that covered their understanding of the following: (a) assessment purposes and theories (their knowledge about how assessment works); (b) assessment skills (their views of assessment designs, procedures, and content); and (c) assessment principles (their notion of fairness, cheating, and feedback). The data were analyzed qualitatively in line with current LAL models. The results suggest that the children already had substantial assessment literacy in knowledge, skills, and principles. Although their teachers’ assessment practice remains form-focused, children generally want more communicative-based and diagnostic assessment. They also want more cognitively challenging and enjoyable assessment tasks. Our findings provide solid supporting evidence for the importance of considering students’ perspectives, along with the views of other stakeholders, in order to have a more balanced understanding of LAL.

Violence committed and victimization in courtship in adolescents: Does gender matter?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
E A Villegas Vázquez ◽  
J C Leyva Chipol ◽  
K C Cervantes Gómez ◽  
S I Valencia Almeida ◽  
F G Márquez Celedonio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
School Students ◽  
History Of ◽  
Del Rio

Abstract Introduction Within the current context in our Mexico, major states of violence for women have been manifested on a daily basis without having any more reason than being female. Veracruz is the first place in feminicides in Mexico with a rate of 3.44 per 100 thousand women. Research question: What is the intensity of the violence committed and victimization in the courtship of young students of the Upper Middle level in the Veracruz - Boca del Río area, according to their gender? Material and Methods A cross-sectional, prospective, observational and analytical study was carried out from December to February 2020. Middle-high school students from the Veracruz-Boca del Río region were included, who had a dating relationship and were excluded those who did not accept to participate. The variable “violence committed and victimization in courtship” was quantified with the CADRI instrument. The spss v22 software was used, Sudent's T was calculated for independent samples, with statistical significance p &lt; 0.05. Results 741 students were included. There was a prevalence of violence committed of 86.2% and victimization of 89.2%. Of the total number of students who suffered and committed violence, women occupy 66.3% and 66.7% respectively. There is a difference in the intensity of violence between women and men in verbal-emotional violence (4.5 ± 4.2 vs. 3.4 ± 3.4), physical violence (0.6 ± 1.3 vs. 0.36 ± 3.6) and violence in general (5.7 ± 5.7 vs 4.3 ± 4.8) (p &lt; 0.05), while victimization scores do not make a difference between both genders (p &gt; 0.05). The history of psychological and sexual violence in previous relationships, as well as sexual violence in daily life are more frequent in the female sex (p &lt; 0.05) Conclusions The violence generated is more intense in women, however, they also have a history of having suffered violence more frequently in previous relationships and in their daily lives. Key messages Women suffer more aggressions at different stages of their lives, which may increase the risk to tolerate aggressions or be more aggressive or suffer mental health problems. We must study if the violence generated by women is a response to a previous aggression from their boyfriend.

Tunisian High School Students and Digital Media Literacy: A Quantitative Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110259
Author(s):  
Tarak Dridi
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Media Literacy ◽  
Quantitative Study ◽  
School Students ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Digital Media Literacy ◽  
The Impact

Digital media literacy has become an intrinsic component in shaping high school students’ knowledge acquisition and critical thoughts. Over the last two decades, internet and computers have been the implemented tools to reach such goals and promote the students’ learning. This article looks for the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on Tunisian secondary school students by detecting their technical skills as well as their critical understanding. This quantitative study relies on a self-reporting approach and targets 150 Tunisian secondary students. It proves the necessary consideration of technological and social variables in helping sort out major digital handicaps related to secondary students and displays the interconnectedness between the different dimensions of digital media literacy. It also displays that Tunisian high school students cannot be referred to as digital-media literate people. The study contributes to the field of digital media literacy as it offers a solid empirical background to build on and indicates the necessity of integrating digital media literacy into the school-based initiatives.

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