Iraqi EFL University Students’ Use of Communication Strategies in Written Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Raed Latif Ugla
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
University College ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Written Performance

The aim of this study is to discover the kinds of communication strategies (CSs) used by high, intermediate, and low proficient Iraqi EFL students in written performance. For the purpose of this study, 47 Iraqi EFL students who are studying English at Al-Yarmouk University College and College of Basic Education/ University of Diyala. Those students have divided into three groups (high, intermediate, low) based on their language proficiency level. To collect the data from participants, they have been asked to write a 100-word argumentative essay. The essay topic is: The influence of Facebook on Iraqi younger generation. The data have been analyzed qualitatively using Rabab’ah’s taxonomy of CSs (2001). The results of this study have revealed that the participants have used some of the CSs which have existed in the taxonomy of Rabab’ah. Additionally, they have used 3 other strategies which have not existed in this taxonomy. The results have showed that the language proficiency has direct effect on the use and choice of CSs in the written performance. Based on the results of this study and the researcher experience in the field of CSs, he has proposed taxonomy of written CSs to be used by learners and other researchers.

scholarly journals The influence of proficiency level on the use and choice of L1/L2 communication strategies used by Iraqi EFL students

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Raed Latif Ugla ◽  
Mohamad Jafre Zainol Abidin ◽  
Mohammed Najim Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Strategy Use ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
English Major ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Interactive Task ◽  
Speaking Task

<span>This study aimed at investigating the influence of language proficiency level on the frequency of the use and choice of L1/L2 communication strategies used by Iraqi EFL students. This study was qualitative in nature. The interactive task and speaking task were used to gather data regarding communication strategy use and choice from<em> </em>52 second and third year English major students. Those participants were divided into two groups; low and high proficient students (n=27 low proficient students and n=25 high proficient students). A taxonomy of communication strategies was adopted to code the communication strategies used by low and high proficient Iraqi EFL students. The results revealed that low proficient students use communication strategies more frequently than high proficient students. Both low and high proficient students used communication strategies other than those included in selected taxonomy. This study showed that low proficient students use L1-based strategies more frequently, while high proficient students use L2-based strategies more frequently.</span>

scholarly journals Difficulties Faced by Iraqi University Students of English in Writing Composition from the Students' Point of View

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (123) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
داليا حسين يحيى
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
English Department ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Writing Composition ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Second Year

          The majority of EFL students face difficulties in writing composition which reflect negatively on their exam results.           The researcher has noticed this problem and decided to trace the difficulties they face in order to put an end to them or at least to minimize them. To fulfill the aim of the research, a sample of (100) second year students of English Department / College of Basic Education / Diyala University have been selected as the subjects of this research. A scaled questionnaire as an instrument of measurement is used in this research to be an investigatory tool. The results of this research proves that the hypothesis of this study is verified and accepted which reads that Iraqi students of English face challenges in writing composition.           Then, the conclusion have been made on the basis of the findings, and the recommendations have been drawn.

scholarly journals Communication Strategies in the Written Medium: The Effect of Language Proficiency

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Aliakbari ◽  
Nabi Karimi Allvar
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
Argumentative Writing ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Chi Square Tests

Although much has been written on 'communication strategies' (CS), in the sense of potentially conscious plans for solving problems encountered in reaching particular communicative goals, there still remain large gaps in our knowledge in this respect. One area worthy of attention, and not totally clarified, is whether these strategies are applied and workable in writing as frequently as they are in speaking tasks. Accordingly, the present study aimed at pitting the use of CS against language proficiency level in argumentative writing of Iranian university students. The results of the Chi-Square tests run for the purpose of investigating the hypotheses showed that language proficiency was highly related with the use of more Reconceptualization Strategies which are thought to be psycho linguistically more demanding compared with Substitution Strategies.

The Effect of Using Students Peer Teaching on Iraqi EFL Students' Achievement in the Course of Library and Research Work

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 693-714
Author(s):  
. Muntaha Sabbar Jebur
Keyword(s):  
Basic Education ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Peer Teaching ◽  
Control Group ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Experimental Group

          Peer teaching is a strategy that allows the students to teach the new content to each other, and they must be accurately guided by instructors.     The researcher proposes that the use of students peer teaching  may promote students' achievement  and ensure the engagement of all the students in the learning process. Therefore, the researcher employs it as a teaching method aiming at investigating its  effect on Iraqi EFL students' achievement in the course of Library and Research Work .      The study hypothesizes that there is no significant difference between the students' achievement who are taught library and research work by students peer teaching  and that of the students taught by the traditional way. The experimental design of the study is Parallel Groups, Random Assignment, posttest. Each group consists of 35 students, chosen randomly from the Third Year Students at the Department of English in the College of Basic Education. Both groups were matched in terms of their age and parents' education. The experiment was fulfilled in the first course for 15 weeks during the academic year 2016-2017.       The same materials were presented to both groups. This included   units from Writing Research Paper by Lester D. . Post-test was constructed and exposed  The t-test for  independent samples was used to analyze the results and it is found out that there is a statistical difference between the two groups in their achievement because the calculated t- value 2.635 is bigger than the tabulated t- value which is 2.000, and also shown the superiority of the experimental group. The results indicate that the experimental group, who was taught Library and Research Work by peer teaching   was better than the control group, who was taught according to the traditional way. So, the null hypothesis is rejected. Finally, some recommendations and suggestions are presented in the light of the study findings. to a jury of experts to verify its validity and it was administered to both groups.

scholarly journals Test-Taking Strategies and Reading Comprehension: A Correlational Investigation

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 155-165
Author(s):  
Fadi Al-Khasawneh
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Test Taking ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Data Collection Process ◽  
Test Taking Strategies ◽  
Efl Students

There is an increasing interest of studies investigating the correlation between Test-Taking Strategies (TTSs) and reading comprehension achievement among EFL learners. The relationship between the aforementioned variables is still unclear and more studies are needed on this area. The major concern of this study is to examine the correlational relationship between the use of test-taking strategies and reading comprehension. The sample of this study included 64 undergraduate students majoring in English language in King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. The present research employed three instruments for data collection process; English Language Placement Test was used to distribute students according to their proficiency level, two reading passages taken from TOEFL reading comprehension tests, and a questionnaire adapted from Cohen and Upton (2007) asking about TTSs. The results of the present study illustrated that Saudi EFL students used test-taking strategies at a moderate level. There was no statistically significant correlation between test-taking strategies use and students’ achievement in reading comprehension test. There was also no significant differences between test-taking strategies and students; achievement in reading comprehension attributed to language proficiency level. Some pedagogical implications for EFL teachers were presented and discussed.

scholarly journals Reading Practices of EFL Students: A Survey of Kuwaiti College Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Abdus Sattar Chaudhry ◽  
Amel Al-Adwani
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Reading Practices ◽  
Academic Reading ◽  
College And University ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Good Potential ◽  
Efl College Students ◽  
Applied Education

Reading is important for students by contributing significantly to success in their studies and their career development. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in the English Department of the College of Basic Education, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), in Kuwait. Based on 410 responses of EFL college students in Kuwait on their reading practices, it was found that students read mainly for entertainment, and reading does not appear to be a popular activity among students. Fiction, fashion, and best sellers were the three main types of reading, indicating that academic reading was not a priority. Only a small proportion of students used e-books. Most students perceived such features of e-books as their portability and ability to store more information as likely to attract more students to e-reading, and indicated that they would be attracted to reading e-books themselves if circumstances change. This indicates a good potential to promote e-reading among students if steps are taken to make e-books and e-readers available to them through libraries and academic institutions. E-reading is also expected to become more popular among students if it could be linked to academic reading, particularly to the availability of text books in e-format. Libraries in Kuwait should start more proactive program to promote e-books and e-reading among college and university students.

scholarly journals Sources and Levels of Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety of English as a Foreign Language University Students with regard to Language Proficiency and Gender

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emre Debreli ◽  
Seren Demirkan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Turkish Cypriot

<p>Although foreign language anxiety is a widely explored subject in the area of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), studies that focus on the speaking anxiety in EFL, as well as the gender and language proficiency level–anxiety relationship, are rare. The present study investigates the phenomenon in an EFL context and analyzes the levels of EFL students’ speaking anxiety and the sources that make them anxious. It also explores whether there is any relationship between anxiety and students’ language proficiency level and gender. Data were gathered from 196 Turkish and Turkish Cypriot students through questionnaires (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale), as well as through semi-structured interviews with 10 students who participated in the questionnaires. The findings indicated that the students generally had low level of speaking anxiety, although students with a higher level of language proficiency had a higher level of anxiety compared with that for students with a lower level of language proficiency. No statistically meaningful difference was observed with regard to students’ gender and anxiety levels. Factors that caused anxiety—such as difficulty in pronunciation, being asked immediate questions by the teacher, not understanding the question asked by the teacher—not found in the current literature also emerged from the present study. Implications for teacher education are also discussed.</p>

Effects of using machine translation to mediate the revision process of Korean university students’ academic writing

ReCALL ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Sangmin-Michelle Lee ◽  
Neil Briggs
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Machine Translation ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Correlation Relationship ◽  
Revision Process ◽  
Error Corrections ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Error Types

AbstractIn recent years, marked gains in the accuracy of machine translation (MT) outputs have greatly increased its viability as a tool to support the efforts of English as a foreign language (EFL) students to write in English. This study examines error corrections made by 58 Korean university students by comparing their original L2 texts to that of MT outputs. Based on the results of the error analysis, the error types were categorized into 12 categories. Students were divided into three distinctive groups to determine differences among them according to the frequency of errors in their writing. The t-test results reveal that the numbers of errors significantly decreased in the revised versions for most of the error types among all groups. The results of the regression analysis also reveal a positive correlation relationship between the number of changes and the reduction of errors. However, the results also indicate that although all groups made error corrections at similar rates, students who less frequently committed errors in their L2 texts (higher language proficiency groups) generally tended to correct a higher proportion of errors. Based on the findings, pedagogical implications are discussed regarding how EFL teachers can effectively incorporate MT into the classroom.

scholarly journals Strategies and Difficulties of Understanding English Idioms: A Case Study of Saudi University EFL Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha H. Alhaysony
Keyword(s):  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Idiomatic Expressions ◽  
English Major ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Teaching Implications

This study aims to investigate difficulties face Saudi EFL students in learning and understanding English idioms, and examines the strategies they utilize to understand idioms. The subjects were 85 male and female Saudi English major university students at the Department of English in Aljouf University. Two data collection instruments, questionnaire, semi-structured interview were employed as well as the Nation’s Vocabulary Level Test to measure the students’ language proficiency level. The results showed that students have difficulty to understand idiomatic expressions. Moreover, the findings revealed that most frequently used strategies were guessing the meaning of idioms from context, predicting the meaning of idioms, and figuring out an idiom from an equivalent one in their mother language. Furthermore, the results illustrated that low-proficiency students face more difficulties than high-proficiency students, though the differences were not significant. The results also showed that, the greater the vocabulary knowledge, the greater the use of idiom-learning strategies, especially for idioms that require a wider knowledge in vocabulary. This study concludes with teaching implications and recommendation for further research in learning and understanding idiomatic expressions.

scholarly journals Facebook as a Means for Learning English: the Pros and Cons from the Perspective of Iraqi EFL Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (105) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Asst. Instr. Aseel Sabeeh
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
English Language ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Learning English

With increased advance in technology, the need to be in harmony with this advance in the world in order to fulfill the necessities of Iraqi EFL students who have become ambitious for knowledge using technology cannot be ignored. Thus, technology has become a part of teaching tools as well as a support for learning a foreign language. Every day, the students are exposed to the Internet that presents a variety of tools for learning more easily and effectively.         At present, Facebook is one of the most commonly used social web sites that influence students' life in many aspects including education, especially in English language learning. It provides them with more opportunities to be involved in practice English language authentically outside the classroom, to learn consciously and unconsciously and to consolidate their foreign language skills.        The present study aims at identifying the pros and cons of using Facebook as a tool for learning English language based on Iraqi EFL students' perspective.                                     To achieve the aim of the current study, a sample of (30) male and female EFL students were chosen from the 4th year/ College of Basic Education/ Mustansiriyah University during the academic year 2018-2019 and questionnaires were implemented for data collection. The results of the data analysis included their perceptions and pointed out the benefits and criticism related to Facebook and learning English.                In the light of the obtained results, some conclusions are drawn and a number of recommendations and suggestions for future studies are stated.

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