scholarly journals The New Developments of Constructivism Theory and Its Reflection on College English Teaching in the Era of New Media―A Case Study of International Textile Trade English

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinzhu Zhang ◽  
Hongquan Lin

Constructivism, as one of the core theory of psychology, has a deep influence on foreign language teaching and learning in China. The author in this paper takes a university-based ESP course, International Textile Trade English as a case study and applies the main conception of the four schools of Constructivism as a guide to organize teaching practice, with the expectation to explore the effective combination of Constructivism theory with the ESP teaching practice. Some limitations of the research are put forward in the end.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-193
Author(s):  
Lucía Pintado Gutiérrez

AbstractThis article explores the agency of the student in translation in language teaching and learning (or TILT). The purpose of the case study discussed here is to gain an overview of students’ perceptions of translation into the foreign language (FL) (also known as “inverse translation”) following a module on language and translation, and to analyse whether there is any correlation between students’ attitude to translation, its impact on their language learning through effort invested, and the improvement of language skills. The results of the case study reveal translation to be a potentially exciting skill that can be central to FL learning and the analysis gives indications of how and why language teachers may optimise the implementation of translation in the classroom. The outcome of the study suggests that further research is needed on the impact of translation in the language classroom focussing on both teachers’ expectations and students’ achievements.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 711-739
Author(s):  
Isis da Costa Pinho ◽  
Marilia dos Santos Lima

This paper reports on a case study research focusing on digital fluency as a new competence for teaching foreign languages through technology. The data were generated on a training course having as its main purpose the investigation of pre-service and in-service teachers' perceptions about the relevance of digital fluency and the pedagogical use of digital technologies for foreign language (FL) teaching and learning. The trainee teachers were asked to work in groups with the purpose of exploring Windows Movie Maker software in order to create a movie addressing the importance of digital fluency and the potential of this digital tool in FL teaching and learning. The results suggest that digital fluency was considered a necessary competence for the creation of more attractive and dynamic lessons that motivate meaningful FL production.


2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-153
Author(s):  
Kari Sahan

Abstract As part of the trend toward internationalization of higher education, governments and universities have introduced policies to encourage the expansion of English-medium instruction (EMI). However, top-down policies do not necessarily translate to teaching and learning practices. This article provides a case study examining the implementation of undergraduate EMI engineering programs at a state university in Turkey to explore the gaps that exist between national- and institutional-level EMI policies and classroom-level practices. Data were collected through policy documents, classroom observations, semi-structured interviews with teachers, and focus group discussions with students. The findings suggest that the implementation of EMI varies across classrooms, even within the same university department. Despite policies that envision one-language-at-a-time instruction, the EMI lecturers in this study varied in terms of language preference and teaching practice in their EMI lectures. Implications are discussed with respect to policy planning, teacher training, and the expansion of EMI across university contexts.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Della N Kartika Sari Amirulloh ◽  
Muhammad Amir Zikri

The notion of Education 4.0 has directed to the utilization of various media platforms in teaching, which, in this context, is the adoption of Transmedia storytelling. Transmedia storytelling is the material presented to the students during the teaching and learning session that aims at fostering students transliterate reading. Through transmedia storytelling students are introduced to reading activities that enable them to read through multiple media platforms presented in class. A number of studies have been done in researching transmediality in the area of communication studies, however only little is known in ELT research. Therefore, this paper endeavors to explore the ways in which transmedia storytelling helps foster students’ transliterate reading. Adopting Transmedia Play and Storytelling theories grounded in transmediality, the paper utilizes a case study as the research design. Employing classroom observation and students’ response sheets, the findings reveal that transmedia storytelling promotes students transliterate reading through facilitating them in engaging with multiple types of visual, audio and interactive media activities. It helps them develop awareness in three areas: 1) awareness of the function of pictures for story comprehension and vocabulary acquisition; 2) awareness of the way sound helps for narrative elements interpretation; 3) awareness of the needs of text-reader transaction through new media for comprehension.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 73-89
Author(s):  
Margarita Kefalaki ◽  
◽  
Michael Nevradakis ◽  
Qing Li ◽  
◽  
...  

COVID-19 has greatly impacted all aspects of our everyday lives. A global pandemic of this magnitude, even as we now emerge from strict measures such as lockdowns and await the potential for a ‘new tomorrow’ with the arrival of vaccines, will certainly have long-lasting consequences. We will have to adapt and learn to live in a different way. Accordingly, teaching and learning have also been greatly impacted. Changes to academic curricula have had tremendous cross-cultural effects on higher education students. This study will investigate, by way of focus groups comprised of students studying at Greek universities during the pandemic, the cross-cultural effects that this ‘global experience’ has had on higher education, and particularly on students in Greek universities. The data collection tools are interviews and observations gathered from focus groups.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Larssen ◽  
Ion Drew

This study aims to explore the influence of Lesson Study on the teaching of a 2nd grade English as a foreign language (EFL) picture book-based lesson conducted by a group of student teachers during teaching practice in Norway. Lesson Study is an investigative educational method originating in Japan. A group of teachers plan a research lesson which one of them teaches and the others observe, their attention focussing on a few selected pupils. The lesson is reviewed, re-planned and re-taught to a different class. The data presented here was collected through video-recordings of two lessons (a lesson taught and the same lesson re-planned and re-taught) and their corresponding pre-, mid-and post-supervision sessions. Lesson Study appeared to have had an influence on the activities, especially the type and number of questions being asked by the teacher, the timing of activities, and the use of the target language. It also appeared to have had an influence on the attitudes of both the mentors and students to using picture books with young EFL learners. Lesson Study has previously been little used and researched in foreign language teaching. This study demonstrates its potential to enhance teaching and learning in that context.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-365
Author(s):  
Khulud Ali Tubayqi ◽  
Mazeegha Ahmed Al Tale’

Using the mother tongue (MT) in English as a foreign or second language (EFL/ESL) classrooms is indispensable, especially in beginner classes. This paper aims to add to the present literature on this issue by highlighting the attitudes of both students and teachers towards MT use in English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom, the justifications for its use, and some of the actual interaction practices in grammar classes. It investigates the attitudes of 110 Saudi EFL female beginners and their two teachers toward using the Arabic language in EFL grammar classes at Jazan University. It also investigates the students’ reasons for using or avoiding their MT. Moreover, it presents some of the functions that MT serves in EFL grammar classes. To collect the data, the researchers used two questionnaires and classroom observations. For data analysis, they used Microsoft Excel and thematic content analysis. The results indicated that, although both students and teachers generally have positive attitudes toward using the MT in EFL classes, they are also aware of the adverse effects of its overuse. The results also revealed that the teachers and students use MT in EFL classes to serve different classroom functions that ease the teaching and learning processes. Based on these findings, the study provided recommendations for teachers, curriculum designers, and future researchers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-65
Author(s):  
David Felipe Espinosa Torres ◽  
Iván Camilo González Bejarano ◽  
Juliana Moreno Restrepo

Feedback is a powerful tool that has a significant influence on student success. Its meaningful impact on learning and teaching processes has been well-documented. However, there is minimal research concerning the impact of feedback strategies on foreign language learning. This article seeks to provide a theoretical and practical understanding of the impact of feedback on foreign language teaching and learning processes. This is done through a case study research conducted in a private institution in Bogotá, Colombia. The evidence demonstrates that the feedback strategies used and the manner in which they are administered influence their effectiveness. Three main strategies were observed and analyzed: corrective, motivational, and developmental. This article concludes with a suggestion to make feedback an explicit policy of teachers’ education programs in the country.


Author(s):  
Dismas Nkezabera

ICT offers new teaching and/or learning methods, especially in the field of foreign languages. These new technologies develop not only new teaching and learning environments, but also raise the issue of their pedagogical integration in teaching French as Foreign language. This article aims at addressing issues related to the contribution of ICT in an action-oriented perspective “task” and “learning scenario” (Mangenot, 2003). The objective is to identify the pitfalls faced by teachers in their attempt to integrate new technologies in teaching FFL. Our assumption is that ICTs provides the learner a new way of acquiring knowledge and skills. This case study raises a number of concerns with regard to integration of ICT in the teaching of FFL. How for instance do teachers of French integrate ICT in their actual teaching in order to motivate and empower their learners? And then, what are the obstacles to the integration of new  technologies in the university system of teaching? By way of a systematic approach, this study discusses an experiment with undergraduate and postgraduate students who are using learning scenarios in written production activities by following well-defined instructions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chau Thi Hoang Hoa ◽  
Truong Vien

In the context of globalization, intercultural integration has gained a better position in teaching and learning English in Vietnam, even in general education. In fact, intercultural objectives and intercultural content have been added to the expected curriculum and pilot coursebooks for teaching English in upper secondary education. Prior to the implementation of the new curriculum, it is essential to explore how teachers deal with intercultural content provided in the coursebooks. From the view of intercultural teaching, this study focuses on the positionality of intercultural objectives and intercultural teaching strategies in teachers’ practice. Data collected from 101 teachers through questionnaire and six class observations illustrate that (1) teachers did not include intercultural objectives in EFL lessons and (2) they rarely conducted intercultural language activities in their teaching practice. It is recommended that intercultural education needs more attention from educational managers to support the EFL teachers in upper secondary schools to incorporate culture into their teaching more effectively, which contributes to the accomplishment of a reformed English curriculum objective – building comprehensive intercultural competence for the students.


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