scholarly journals The Role of EFL Teacher’s Talk and Identity in Iranian Classroom Context

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 606
Author(s):  
Afsaneh Alijani ◽  
Hamed Barjesteh

Identity is a comprehensive and complicated concept in the process of language teaching and learning. The present study attempted to examine the effect of teachers’ talk and identity in the classroom context on EFL learners’ achievements. The Conversation Analysis (CA) approach was applied to gather and analyze naturally-occurring spoken interaction. The teachers’ interactions with their learners were audio-recorded and analyzed in terms of the IRF cycle (Initiation-Response-Feedback), turn-taking and renovate. The findings indicated that the plenty of interaction was assembled and retained through dissymmetrical and privileged relations. The teacher identified, and regulated most of the social actions that happened in the classroom context, most of which were also completely designed on a goal-oriented basis .It was concluded that it is time to re-assert the role of teacher as a dominant individual who controls learning inside and outside the classroom; educators and teachers should develop an instructional design that focuses on incorporating active learning and student-centered pedagogy into the traditional lecture-based courses.

Author(s):  
Michael F. Beaudoin

In this era of student-centered, collaborative, constructivist learning, augmented by social networks and other virtual environments featuring learner autonomy, self-direction and independence, the role of instructors in online education is undergoing continuous evolution since the advent of the Internet, and the proliferation of Learning Management Systems (LSM) to support teaching and learning. This chapter examines the role of the online instructor, and indeed, poses the provocative question: does there remain a useful and meaningful role for what is arguably the increasingly ‘invisible’ instructor in many online settings. Factors that contribute to this phenomenon, such as the proliferation of new technology, the emphasis on self-directed learning, a changing student clientele, emerging modes of assessment, etc. are noted. Findings from a various studies of student attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions of what is critical for success in online courses are highlighted, including data suggesting that the role of instructors and the features of Learning Management Systems are relatively minor factors for achieving success in online learning. The implications of these trends for the future role of the professoriate are also considered.


Author(s):  
Rohit Mehta ◽  
Edwin Creely ◽  
Danah Henriksen

In this chapter, the authors take a multifaceted critical approach to understanding and deconstructing the term 21st century skills, especially in regard to technology and the role of corporations in the discourses about education. They also consider a range of cultural and political influences in our exploration of the social and academic meanings of the term, including its history and politics. The application of the term in present-day educational contexts is considered as well as possible futures implied through the term. The goal in this chapter is to counter ideas that might diminish a humanized educational practice. Specifically, the authors offer a critique of neoliberal discourses in education, particularly the neoliberal and corporate narrative around 21st century teaching and learning. They raise concerns about what an undue emphasis on industry-oriented educational systems can mean for the core purposes of education.


2012 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 321-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraint Franklin

Children are the basis of school design.(Ministry of Education Building Bulletin 1,1949, David and Mary Medd)Connections between ideas of ‘child-centred’ primary education and the design of schools were arguably closer in post-war Britain than any period before or since. These relationships provide a commentary on the role of public architecture within a British post-war social democracy that combined the social objectives of architectural Modernism with an awareness of, and continuity with, preceding reformist movements for the advancement of public health and education. The ‘social’ aspect of the post-war school-building programme stemmed not so much from the application of labour or technology to processes of building, nor even the equitable distribution of common resources, but rather from the ability of the designer to shape and articulate processes of teaching and learning within the locus of the welfare state. Social and pedagogical ends were often pursued to the almost total exclusion of architectural self-expression. If this ‘humane functionalism’ was rooted in an understanding of the activities and experiences of learning, it was dependent on a multi-disciplinary, investigative and creative collaboration between architect and educational ‘client’.


Author(s):  
Edwin Obwoge Makworo ◽  
George Morara Nyakoe ◽  
Teresa Kwamboka Abuya

Digital technologies have been associated with improved and enriched learning experiences which include more student-centered learning. These technologies have made teaching and learning experiences more interesting. In view of the crucial role of digital technologies in enhancing learning, this study sought to assess teacher attitudes towards the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) in Kisii County based on gender differences. Does the gender of the teachers involved in the Digital Literacy Programme in Kisii County affect their readiness to uptake and implement the program? A survey research design was applied in the study. The population of the study constituted of 1,420 standard one and two teachers selected from randomly sampled schools of the county. The sample size was determined using the Fisher formula and the sample consisted of 302 standard one and two teachers. Purposive sampling was used to select the specific teachers. Simple random sampling was used to select the specific schools to include in the study and proportionate sampling was used to determine the number of respondents from each school. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. To ascertain the reliability of the research instruments, a pilot test was carried out and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.76 was realized. Data were analyzed quantitatively using descriptive statistics in SPSS. The study established that difference in gender has no effect on the teachers’ attitude to the Digital Literacy Programme.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Mohammed Judaya M Alanazi ◽  
Jacquie Widin

English language teaching in Saudi Arabia faces several challenges from both teacher and students’ perspective. Teacher Talk (TT) is one of the areas of teaching and learning which is often neglected in classroom research even with its high importance in student learning. Identifying the literature gap on TT in specific sociocultural contexts, this study aims to investigate different types of f-moves in Teacher Talk and their impact on developing students’ dialogic skills in English as Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms in Saudi Arabia. The IRF sequence (initiation, response, feedback or F-move) is considered a common sequence of TT in Saudi EFL classrooms. This study uses Cullen’s (2002) analytical framework which focuses on the third sequence of the IRF and Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory to explore the emerging themes of TT in Saudi Arabian secondary classrooms. The methodology of the study is a qualitative case study, and the participants of the study are 18 secondary school teachers all share Arabic as their first language. The data was collected through classroom observation, audio-recording of forty-five-minute classroom lessons, and semi-structured teacher interviews. The analysis focused on the discoursal and evaluative role of F-Move. The data analysis shows three F-Move types 1) F-Move Repetition Discoursal 2) F-Move Evaluative 3) F-Move Elaborative Discoursal. The findings point out that these F-Moves may increase student-teacher interaction, identification, and correction of errors, and maintain and guide dialogic conversation/interaction between teacher and students if it is correctly oriented. The data analysis shows examples in which TT promotes students’ involvement and increases their dialogic skills while, on the other hand, when TT reduces students’ potential to participate and consequently reduces the students’ spoken output.


Author(s):  
Farhan Yetaim Alenezi

This study aims to evaluate the role of Cloud Computing in enhancing teaching and learning in Saudi Arabian government universities in the backdrop of the four principles of Social Constructivism Theory - social interaction, previous experience, activity of a learner, and the development of mental skills; all these have to be examined form the specialist’s point of view as he will be responsible for integrating technology into the processes for supporting the whole ecosystem. The study was conducted at 29 Saudi Arabian government universities, using a quantitative approach based on a Questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 84 Deans and Vice Deans of E-learning across all Saudi government universities, in the Academic Year 2016/2017. The results revealed a significant role for Cloud Computing for teaching and learning enhancement in the Saudi Arabian universities in accordance with the construct outlined above.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (9) ◽  
pp. 905-928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Van Overwalle ◽  
Qianying Ma ◽  
Elien Heleven

Abstract This meta-analysis explores the role of the posterior cerebellum Crus I/II in social mentalizing. We identified over 200 functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies via NeuroSynth that met our inclusion criteria and fell within bilateral Crus II areas related to ‘sequencing’ during mentalizing (coordinates ±24 −76 −40; from earlier studies) and mere social ‘mentalizing’ or self-related emotional cognition (coordinates ±26 −84 −34; from NeuroSynth), located in the cerebellar mentalizing network. A large majority of these studies (74%) involved mentalizing or self-related emotional cognition. Other functions formed small minorities. This high incidence in Crus II compares very favorably against the lower base rate for mentalizing and self-related emotions (around 35%) across the whole brain as revealed in NeuroSynth. In contrast, there was much less support for a similar role of Crus I (coordinates −40 −70 −40 from earlier ‘sequencing’ studies) as only 35% of the studies were related to mentalizing or self-related emotions. The present findings show that a domain-specific social mentalizing functionality is supported in the cerebellar Crus II. This has important implications for theories of the social cerebellum focusing on sequencing of social actions, and for cerebellar neurostimulation treatments.


Author(s):  
L. P. Kostikova

The article is devoted to the issues of professional language training of the students majoring in International Relations. Conceptual awareness of the future professional activity of a specialist in international relations is presented as a part of the new modern professional training paradigm. It is shown that there are various effective ways of preparing students for intercultural communication in professional discourse in the process of teaching and learning a foreign language. A matter of great importance is to develop for students the conceptotermino- systems in questions of international politics, economics, science and war technologies, humanitarian, ideological and international issues of culture and education. This multisided process is complex, value-determined, social, practically-oriented, culturally focused. The author proposes a system of pedagogical support for this process which is based on the integration of different kinds of educational activity: study, research and social activities. All this should work at different levels, that of an individual, group, department, university, cooperation between universities either within the country or in different countries of the world. The ideas of life-learning education should also be carefully developed in this respect. The importance of the student-centered teaching is shown. The leading role of MGIMO(U) educationalists in the professional language training development is accepted.


2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori A. Custodero

Background Over the past century, the role of creativity in teaching and learning has been interpreted in many ways, leading to often conflicting discipline-specific definitions, measurements, and pedagogical applications. Purpose/Objective This issue takes on the perspective of creativity as ubiquitous, and follows that line of inquiry in its psycho-social manifestations, its application in innovative educational settings, and the persistence through which ideas and imagery become active forces for transformation and social change. Research Design As an introduction to the issue, this article summarizes and articulates the relatedness between scholars within a variety of educational fields. Conclusions/Recommendations When viewed as ubiquitous, creativity can be a lens through which to interpret learning as a transformational experience, where the learner resources the social and physical environment to move from not knowing to knowing. Motivating such transformation are (a) the ability to identify what is not known, (b) the juxtaposition of difference to reveal alternate ways of knowing, and (c) the openness to possibility and willingness to explore.


2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-98
Author(s):  
Manel Lacorte

At the present, the analysis of second language (L2) classroom interaction is one of the most productive areas in the field of L2 teaching and learning. This article describes current theoretical and methodological views of classroom interaction, with specific attention to Spanish as a L2. First, the article examines several theoretical positions that outline the role of interaction on L2 acquisition within certain social, cultural, and political contexts. Then, it focuses on some individual and collective factors involved in the interaction between instructors and students within the L2 classroom, and it discusses some of the social and institutional dimensions that may affect the interaction between the diverse participant agents in the teaching of a L2: instructors, students, administrators, family members, academic institutions, etc. Finally, the article suggests possible pedagogical applications derived from a principled knowledge of contextual and ‘local’ interactive processes in classrooms of Spanish as a L2.


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