scholarly journals SFL in Solomon Islands: A Framework for Improving Literacy Practices in Primary School

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 207-223
Author(s):  
Marie Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Literacy Practices ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Language Instruction ◽  
Early Years ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Literacy Testing ◽  
Classroom Literacy

Assessing and reforming classroom literacy has become a preoccupation of nations worldwide, not the least in the Pacific where countries are often working toward literacy in English within multilingual contexts. In Solomon Islands, in 2013, the poor results in regional and local literacy testing precipitated a review of how the English language was taught in primary schools across this multilingual nation. In the subsequent reform of classroom literacy materials and associated training for teachers, a principled approach was taken using a Systemic Functional Linguistics framework. Such an approach uses a model of language instruction based on language strata together with explicit teaching within a learning cycle to support reading and writing. This article describes how such principles from sfl were embedded into new teaching materials for the early years of primary school and the accompanying training for teachers and principals that took place from 2014–2016. The work offers a potential model of reform for other settings where the development of literacy in a non-community language is critical to students’ success in schooling.

scholarly journals Engagement From the Periphery: Reconceptualizing Adult English Language Learners’ Resistance in Developmental Literacy

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-173
Author(s):  
Emily K. Suh
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Adult Literacy ◽  
English Language ◽  
Literacy Practices ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Speakers Of Other Languages ◽  
Literacy Class ◽  
Classroom Literacy

English language learners’ nonparticipation and reticence in adult literacy classes are often presented problematically from a deficit lens of student resistance and disengagement. This article draws from an ethnographic case study of Generation 1 learners, who are defined as adult-arrival immigrant learners, transitioning from an adult English as a Second Language class to a developmental literacy class. By examining learners’ resistance through a framework of agency enactment, the study bridges the fields of adult literacy and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, both of which support adult-arrival immigrants entering the U.S. education system. The resulting analysis illustrates how Generation 1 learners’ acts of resistance can be complex presentations of their literacy identities and their engagement in classroom literacy practices.

scholarly journals An application of measuring visual and non-visual sensorial experiences of nature for children within primary school spaces

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 167-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phuong Thanh To ◽  
David Grierson
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Interior Design ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Quantitative Aspect ◽  
Design Decision ◽  
New Schools ◽  
School Architecture ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Proximity to nature is essential to a child’s development. Well-designed educational environments are crucial to supporting this proximity, particularly in the early years of schooling. The purpose of this paper is to measure children’s experiences of nature within three primary school spaces at various locations in Glasgow, Scotland. The methodology for measuring children’s visual and non-visual sensory experiences is developed to evaluate the connection between naturalness values and spatial environmental qualities across varying “Child–Nature–Distance” ranges. Design/methodology/approach The approach associates children’s multiple layers of sensory modalities with particular attributes of the spatial environment within primary schools to determine the level of naturalness that children experience, in both internal and external spaces. Findings The study finds that children’s experiences are significantly influenced by factors relating to urban setting, built environment master planning, architectural features and interior design. Research limitations/implications Apart from primary school architecture for children, this methodology could be fully developed to the comprehensive human–nature relationship under the impacts of physical features and societal of other diversified environments in a future study. However, the offering reasonable primary school architecture for a proper children’s multi-sensorial experience with natural environment cannot thoroughly established with a quantitative aspect by the present study only. More qualitative research is recommended to examine the process of altering from “cause” to “perceived” nature of users’ cognitions, attitudes and behaviours within the exposure proximity to nature. Practical implications The methodology for measuring visual and non-visual sensorial experiences of nature, and its application to children’s learning and leisure spaces within primary school architecture could offer a tool for assessing current schools, and evaluating future design proposals for new schools. Originality/value The authors argue that the applicationof this method can support design decision making for refurbishing schools at the micro level, and in planning urban development involving proposals for new schools at the macro level.

scholarly journals THE LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN PRIMARY SCHOOL IN GREAT BRITAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (191) ◽  
pp. 246-249
Author(s):  
Marianna Chevelіuk ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Spoken Language ◽  
Independent Learning ◽  
Gifted Children ◽  
Reading And Writing

In public schools, the English language has long been subordinated to the classics. The first schools for the poor focused on teaching children to read the Bible. Later, they aimed to teach them the minimum skills of reading, writing, and encryption that would suit them for modest and rewarding employment in the short term before they went to work. Spoken language plays a central role in learning. By talking to their children, parents help them find words to express their needs, feelings and experiences. With the help of language, children can turn their active reaction to the environment into a more accurate form and learn to manipulate it more economically and effectively. Schools tried to make speaking a separate subject, a conversation lesson, and a period of "news"; there were many schools where the day was played in games, accompanied by conversations between the teacher and the children, both individuals and groups, and sometimes the whole class. Traditionally, one of the first tasks of primary school was to teach children to read, because reading was the key to most learning and to the possibility of independent learning. In many primary schools, reading and writing were treated as an extension of spoken language. The children were introduced to reading the daily events and the atmosphere in the classroom. Notices of return home, letters to sick children, signs to return materials and tools to the proper place - all encouraged reading and writing. The children, together with the teachers, developed homemade books, which they then read individually or in small groups. These books helped them see the meaning of reading and understand the purpose of written writings. As for modern languages, for many years in primary schools there have been sporadic, individual and rather inconsistent attempts to teach children, almost always French. The age at which boys in independent preparatory schools started Latin and French showed that there were no fundamental difficulties in learning a second language, at least for some younger students. It was unknown whether a second language could be taught to all or most children. Typically, these experiments were dedicated to the most gifted children in the fourth year of primary school, and were conducted through the appearance among the staff of someone who was well "fluent" or "loved" the French language.

scholarly journals The Teaching of English in Indonesian Primary Schools: a Response to the New Policy

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Ahmad Jazuly ◽  
Ninuk Indrayani ◽  
Nostalgianti Citra Prystiananta
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Primary School Teacher ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
English Language Policy ◽  
The Government ◽  
Compulsory Subject ◽  
Learning English

In this study, I investigated the teachers' current practice without curriculum of English lesson at primary schools and teacher's response to the new policy on English lessons in primary school. The participants of this study were 46 respondents which consist of 17 males and 29 females. The data was obtained by distributing an open-ended question to teachers who teach in a primary school in Jember district of East Java. The questionnaire was administered to the teacher to be filled in directly. The first finding showed that most of the teachers agreed that teachers should be qualified, teachers need appropriate teaching media for students, and most of the students are very enthusiastic in learning English. The second finding about the teacher's response to the new policy on English lessons in primary school showed that most teachers expected the government to return the English language policy to be taught in primary school as a compulsory subject. Conclusion, the current practices of teaching English in primary school are divided into three parts, 1) most the teachers who involve become sample in this study agreed that the teachers should be qualified in teaching English in primary school, 2) most the teachers needed teaching media appropriate for the students in primary school, 3) most the students were very enthusiastic about learning English. Keyword; Indonesian primary school, teacher, new policy.

scholarly journals THE WRITING AND SUPERVISION OF BRIGHT ENGLISH TEXTBOOK DEVELOPMENT FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IN INDONESIAN CONTEXT

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Inayati ◽  
Erlyna Abidasari ◽  
Kharisma Naidi W.S.
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Writing Process ◽  
School Level ◽  
Publication Ethics ◽  
School Teachers ◽  
Primary School Teachers ◽  
Supervision Process ◽  
Textbook Writing

Although English Language subject is no longer compulsory for primary school level in Indonesia based on the current Curriculum 2013, some regions still consider it essential for their area development and thus making it a compulsory local content subject—Batu Municipality is one of them. Therefore, more efforts are needed to assist English teachers as resources for teaching English is limited due to the lack of support from the national policy level, thus the reasoning for the current project. This paper aims to describe the process of writing and supervising of Bright English Textbook, which is a specifically targeted English textbook for primary schools in Batu, East Java, Indonesia. Qualitative descriptive method was used in this study, involving four primary school teachers as the subjects in the collaborative textbook writing project. The finding presents the step-by-step process from the description during the training process, the actual writing process, until the illustration and lay-outing process. Besides, it also describes the supervision process as well as the problems and solutions related to it. Some highlights and implications of the study are also discussed, with suggestions offered in the form of combined online and face-to-face supervision process and sufficient writing and publication ethics training provided before the writing process begins. It is expected that this study could benefit other teachers and researchers who want to embark on a collaborative textbook writing process to improve their project effectiveness.

scholarly journals Teaching computational thinking in primary schools: Worldwide trends and teachers’ attitudes

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-33
Author(s):  
Valentina Dagienė ◽  
Tatjana Jevsikova ◽  
Gabrielė Stupurienė ◽  
Anita Juskevicienė
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Computational Thinking ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Primary School Teachers ◽  
E Learning ◽  
Teachers Attitudes

Computational thinking (CT) as one of the 21st century skills enters early years education. This paper aims to study the worldwide tendencies of teaching CT through computing in primary education and primary school teachers? understanding of CT. A survey of 52 countries has been performed and complemented by a qualitative study of 15 countries. In order to identify teachers? understanding-level of CT and its integration approach in the class activities, a case study of 110 in-service teachers from 6 countries has been performed. The implications of the research results may be useful for primary school educators, educational initiatives, government authorities, policy makers, e-learning system and content developers dealing with support for teachers aiming to improve their CT professional development qualification.

scholarly journals Projecting the Implementation Feasibility of CLIL Approach for TEYL at Primary Schools in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Rina Wahyu Setyaningrum ◽  
Oikurema Purwati
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teaching Practice ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Language Instruction ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Young Learners

2013 curriculum of Indonesia has amended English as an extra-curricular or a local content subject at primary schools. There are no standards to achieve and the teachers have to find the appropriate strategies to its delivery. It triggers the teachers’ lack of confidence in terms of content and methods. On the other hand, cognitive domain with the test as achievement standard regardless providing the experience of using the language for communication has been practiced. Integrating the thematic units of primary schools’ thematic lesson seems possible to carry out because the teacher can use its themes or sub-themes as a topic for Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL). This exploratory case study employs in-depth interviews with three teachers from well-established schools using a semi-structured interview, observations for field notes, and focus group discussion. The findings reveal that all teachers developed the materials for their teaching based on the regular class thematic lessons and a book provided by the local government. As for teaching practice, they have implemented the CLIL principles although they did not realize it. Ultimately, CLIL adaptation is appropriate for TEYL as that representative area in as much as teacher’s English language proficiency and pedagogical competency are upgraded. Highlights: Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) should provide the young learners opportunities to use the English language contextually. Soft CLIL does not require a high level of achievement in language but it provides the students simple language instruction with simplified materials.  

Researching early photography of the Pacific Islands: An overview

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-281
Author(s):  
Max Quanchi
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Pacific Islands ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Historical Research ◽  
Aotearoa New Zealand ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
New Directions ◽  
Early Photography

Historical research on the early years of photography in the Pacific Islands has revealed changes in the practice of photography, the development of Pacific imagery, tropes and stereotypes and changes in the ways images were distributed, archived and used in modern contexts. Research in the field was initially focused on photography’s indexical nature and the role of professional and amateur photographers, travellers, colonial officials and missionaries. The research highlighted here, only in the English language and excluding Aotearoa/New Zealand, reveals how later analyses have begun to grow more theoretical, in keeping with postcolonial approaches to reading cross-cultural representation, and how new directions in research point towards the nature of Indigenous engagement with early photography.

scholarly journals CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS IN TEACHING ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Kissová
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
School Level ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
English Textbooks ◽  
Teaching Pronunciation

The objective of the work is the application of contrastive approach in teaching English to analyse the pros and cons of the contrastive method in teaching foreign language pronunciation to young learners compared to non-contrastive (monolingual) method used at our Slovak primary schools. This article determines the dominant influence of the learner’s mother tongue/native language (L1) in the process of learning/teaching pronunciation foreign/second  language (L2) and by using contrastive approach tries to enhance positive transfer from the L1 and the reduction of possible negative transfer from L1 to L2 using appropriate teaching techniques and effective tools. The study will be carried out on English language non-native teachers working at a public and private Slovak primary school to find out their needs in the field of teaching pronunciation (questionnaires) and will be focused on quasi-experimental pupils’ group trained separately with and without contrastive approach before recording them and analysing the results. The experimental group will be trained in cognitive contrastive approach concerning segmental, suprasegmental and prosodic phonetics systems comparing Slovak and English languages sound systems. The control group will be trained by using imitative-intuitive ways with the same texts in reading and free speaking topics as the first group. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques will be used in the study and the triangulation of research methods will be finished by contend analyses of mainly used English textbooks which are mail regular sources for learning/teaching pronunciation. The most important will be the practical output for teachers and pupils in creating specially designed pronunciation concerned materials for meeting specific needs of our Slovak primary school level determining the influence and interference of Slovak mother tongue in learning/teaching pronunciation.

scholarly journals How Does Language Influence Performance, Fear and Attitudes towards Mathematics at Primary School Level in Zimbabwe?

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 36-43
Author(s):  
Silvanos Chirume
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
School Level ◽  
Mathematics Attitudes ◽  
Language Group ◽  
Attitudes Towards Mathematics

This mixed-methods (QUANT-qual) study compares test performances of two classes of 52 (26 in each class) Grade 5 learners in a multiple choice Maths test written in English language (Group A) and the same test but with questions written in Shona language (Group B), respectively. The paper also examines the role of language in the development of attitudes and fear of mathematics by learners at the same primary school in Gokwe district, Zimbabwe. Results showed that there were significant differences (in favour of the English language) between Group A’s performance and Group B’s performance. Other findings were that teachers had mixed feelings towards the use of mother tongue in teaching and learning primary school mathematics, but generally agreed that the language of instruction and/or learning affect performance in mathematics, attitudes towards mathematics and fear of mathematics. The paper concludes that using mother tongue as a medium of instruction in the teaching of mathematics in the Zimbabwean junior primary schools is desirable but the feasibility could not be established. It is recommended, among other things, that there is need for further research and policy formulation on the language of learning/instruction at various school levels in Zimbabwe.

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