scholarly journals Extending Support for English Language Learning: A University Outreach Program

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen Snow Andrade
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Program Effectiveness ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Language Program ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Post Test ◽  
English Speaking

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10pt;">As universities in English-speaking countries recruit and enroll international students, a variety of forms of support are typically offered on and off campus to help students make a successful transition. The most common challenges for non-native English-speaking international students are linguistic and cultural. In spite of meeting English proficiency score requirements for admission, students report struggling with the demands of academic English. This article describes a model for an on-site English language program to help students improve their levels of English proficiency prior to their arrival. Program effectiveness was assessed through pre and post test measures of students&rsquo; English language skills, interviews with stakeholders, and observations. Students&rsquo; gains in proficiency were moderate due to the limited amount of time they had available for course attendance and study, but gains in affective factors were strong. Challenges in the implementation of the program and how they were resolved are described. </span></p>

scholarly journals KEY FACTORS INFLUENCING LEARNERS’ ORAL FLUENCY IN ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASSES: A CASE AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN VIET NAM

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 93
Author(s):  
Dinh Thi Bich Ngoc ◽  
Tran Thi Dung
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Survey Questionnaire ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Oral Fluency ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
English Speaking

In the field of English language learning, speaking is regarded as one of the most important skills to be developed and enhanced continually as means of effective communication. In most English classes at universities, many students find it difficult to express themselves in spoken English. So this research aims to investigate prominent factors affecting fluency of second-year students in speaking skill. The study uses mixed research methods with two data collection instruments namely survey questionnaire and semi-structured interview. The participants joining the survey questionnaire include 98 English non-majored students who were taking the English speaking course in their second semester at a university. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 teachers and 15 students. The findings reveal that the group of affective factors is the prominent one, and then followed by automation, error correction and performance factors influencing their oral fluency. Therefore, some useful recommendations focusing on interactive strategies to minimize learners’ difficulties in oral fluency as well as develop their fluency in English speaking performance in this study could be taken into account for EFL teachers in English speaking classes.

The Speech-Language Assessment of English Language Learning Students: A Non-Standardized Approach

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Kraemer ◽  
Allison Coltisor ◽  
Meesha Kalra ◽  
Megan Martinez ◽  
Bailey Savage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Impairment ◽  
Specific Language Impairment ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Assessment ◽  
The United States ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
English Speaking

English language learning (ELL) children suspected of having specific-language impairment (SLI) should be assessed using the same methods as monolingual English-speaking children born and raised in the United States. In an effort to reduce over- and under-identification of ELL children as SLI, speech-language pathologists (SLP) must employ nonbiased assessment practices. This article presents several evidence-based, nonstandarized assessment practices SLPs can implement in place of standardized tools. As the number of ELL children SLPs come in contact with increases, the need for well-trained and knowledgeable SLPs grows. The goal of the authors is to present several well-establish, evidence-based assessment methods for assessing ELL children suspected of SLI.

How Gaming Applications of CALL influence inputs of English Grammar: كيف تؤثر تطبيقات ألعاب الكمبيوتر المساعدة في تعليم اللغة على مدخلات قواعد اللغة الإنجليزية

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (47) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atif Obaid M Alsuhaymi
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Computer Assisted Language Learning ◽  
English Language Education ◽  
Full Sample ◽  
English Grammar ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Test

The present study aims to research the influences of games through Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) compared to Teacher-Centered Instruction (TCI) on teenagers' achievement in English language education in Saudi Arabia. Two groups of students tested, before and after instruction, so to determine success of the application of pedagogies. The full sample consisted of 22 teenagers, divided randomly, into two equal groups. The first group was the control (TDI) group, which used a school textbook. The second group was the experimental group (CALL), which given a CALL application, based on the game ‘Kahoot.’ Two types of tests were conducted, a pre-test and a post-test, at each of two periods for each group. The pre-test administered before instruction, and the post-test taken after the instructional period. Findings indicate that both groups increased their proficiencies with English object pronouns. However, performance on the post-test by the experimental (CALL) group significantly exceeded that of the control (TCI) group.

Female Saudi International Students Daily Practices on Social Media in Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 39-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanan MOHAMMED ALSHEHAB
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
International Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Social Life ◽  
English Language ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Digital Identity ◽  
English Language Acquisition

The effect of Social Media (SM) technology on human life in the 21St century cannot be denied; the use of SM platforms can be seen in various fields, such as education, medicine, politics, social life, communication methods, and daily life. The research aimed to investigate SM’s impact on Female Saudi International Students’ (FSIS) English language learning and creation of identities. This study utilized a qualitative method to obtain in-depth knowledge of FSIS’ practices on SM and the effects on their learning and identity. The semi-structured interview was used to collect the data from eight FSIS. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three main themes were generated: FSIS’ daily practices, FSIS’ digital identity, and FSIS’languages on SM. The findings show that FSIS is active on SM, having accounts on different SM platforms. They communicate with people from Saudi Arabia and of different nationalities. Also, the findings assert that FSIS has a strong digital identity on SM. Moreover, the findings emphasized that using SM helps some of the FSIS to improve their English language proficiency. They use SM as a learning tool for English language acquisition. The limitations and the implications of the study are stated in the Conclusion. For further research, suggestions are made to investigate more phenomena regarding Saudis’ using of SM.

scholarly journals Mobile Educational SMSs as Supplementary Means to Teach Sentence Paraphrasing in EMP Course

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jafar Asgari Arani
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
English Language ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Conventional Group ◽  
English Sentence ◽  
Paired Samples ◽  
Post Test ◽  
English Syntax

Digital media has been used to enhance language learning for decades. Since the aim of language learning is to develop communicative proficiency, using communication devices and channels that already exist in the classroom is a sensible way of exploiting opportunities for language practice. The ‘anywhere, anytime’ accessibility to educational contents that mobile SMSs, sometimes freely, offer users, means that mobile learning can extend the opportunities for study outside of the classroom. Given the importance of writing, especially for academic purposes in university, the study set a dual goal: firstly, to analyze the outcome of applying supplementary SMS activity to teach English syntax necessary to paraphrase sentences and secondly, to clarify the medical students' ideas about it. A quasi-experimental, pre-test and post-test, research design was utilized to investigate the hypotheses of this study. Two groups (each 40-second year students of medicine) were randomly assigned to be the experimental and the conventional group. Both groups were taught the same syllabus materials designed for English for Medical Purposes (EMP) II course in a 17-week semester in Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The former received the SMS –based supplementary contents in a scheduled pattern of delivery two times a week to strengthen their learning while the latter only was taught in a face to face setting. An open questionnaire was used to examine students feedback towards their attitudes. The validity of the questionnaire was examined by giving to a number of professors of English language. The data were also collected and analyzed through an Attitude/ Motivation questionnaire consisting of 12 Likert-scale items, pretest& posttest, paired-samples t-tests, and one way ANOWA. The pretest and posttest data paired t-test likert-scale items analyzed results showed that differences between the experimental and control groups were statistically significant. It was found that the effect of practicing SMS on the students' English syntax learning was positive. According to the findings, students receiving the supplementary English syntax SMSs noticeably improved their sentence paraphrasing performance and acquired higher grades during the post-test than those in conventional group. Qualitative data from interviews and questionnaires indicate that students hold positive attitudes towards receiving paraphrase syntactic points via SMS. Majority of students in this pilot project considered the educational program offered to be efficient, useful and beneficial. The data gathered revealed mobile syntactic supplementary SMSs can be integrated into EMP II course to enable students to develop better English sentence paraphrasing skills. Mobile SMS; Sentence Paraphrasing; Educational Tool; English for Medical Purposes

scholarly journals Learning and Retaining Technical Vocabulary with Enhancement Activities in an ESP Course

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Liju Xu
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vocabulary Knowledge ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Technical Vocabulary ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Knowledge Scale ◽  
Technical Terms

The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of vocabulary enhancement activities on vocabulary learning in an ESP course. In designing the activities, technical terms on journal entries were chosen for the acquisition of language necessary for the successful implementation of accounting major&rsquo;s professional tasks. The desirable difficulty approach and the four strands principle，focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning and fluency development, were guidelines in combining subject matter and English language learning. To test the result of the activities, the Vocabulary Knowledge Scale was employed to measure students&rsquo; knowledge of 50 vocabulary items. Subjects of the ESP course in discussion comprised 200 accounting juniors in Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in China. Half of them in Group A read the texts and did matching exercises and translation exercises. The other half in Group B read the texts and practiced journal entry activity, targeting at accounting concepts and terminologies. The results revealed that Group B gained better results than Group A at a post-test. After the test a reflection on the vocabulary activities was gathered among the participants of Group B. The feedback further proved that the students did benefit from the enhancement activities on selected technical terms.

scholarly journals The use of movie in forming English-speaking lexical competence of Vietnamese students

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 39-47
Author(s):  
Денис Ершов ◽  
Denis Ershov
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pedagogical Practice ◽  
Cognitive Approach ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Lexical Competence ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Germanic Languages

The article is devoted to the development and testing of the method of using authentic films for the formation of English-speaking lexical competence of Vietnamese students. The results of the work have shown their effectiveness in the course of scientific and industrial practice in teaching students in the department of phonetics and vocabulary of the English language. Their significance (scientific contribution) and conclusions were noted during the defense of the master&apos;s thesis by the members of the State Examination Commission, in Moscow State Pedagogical University on the 11th of February. The field of application of the results is quite extensive: the results of the research can be useful both for teachers of a foreign language, and for students studying in the field - Pedagogical education. The limitations and directions of future research will be related to the study of "Germanic languages" and their application in pedagogical practice using a different methodological base and didactic approaches. In the absence of a language learning environment, ways of creating it are created by working on authentic works of art-films shot abroad. The subject of the study is the technology of forming English-speaking lexical competence among Vietnamese students in Russia on the basis of foreign experience. The aim of the article is to develop a methodology for the formation of English-speaking lexical competence among Vietnamese students. Research hypothesis: the technology of forming English-speaking lexical competence among Vietnamese students will be more effective if: -the theoretical basis for the formation of foreign vocabulary lexical competence among students of the teacher training Universities with the use of an authentic film in the studied language was singled out, and their main components were singled out; - as a methodological reference point, a communicative-cognitive approach to the formation of lexical English-speaking competence was chosen in combination with such approaches as intercultural, personal-activity and competence; -developed a system of exercises and tasks to learn foreign language lexical material using an authentic film.

scholarly journals Self-Directed Learning Readiness (SDLR) among Foundation Students from High and Low Proficiency Levels to Learn English Language

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (Number 2) ◽  
pp. 55-81
Author(s):  
Abu Bakar Razali ◽  
Lim Ying Xuan ◽  
Arshad Abd. Samad
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
T Test ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Directed Learning

Purpose – In the field of second language education, self-directed learning is really important as it can empower students to attain optimal success in language learning by engaging students to express their ideas confidently, think reflectively and make use of language learning strategies. The main aim of the present study is to investigate students’ self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) in a foundation program in a public university in Malaysia so as to find out how they perceive this approach can improve their learning of the English language at tertiary level. More specifically, the researchers intend to find answers to these research questions: 1) Are foundation students ready to use self-directed learning strategies in English Language learning? (i.e. awareness, motivation and language learning strategies); 2) Is there a significant difference in the three attributes (i.e., awareness, motivation and language learning strategies) of self-directed learning among foundation students?; and 3) Is there a significant difference between English language proficiency (upper and lower) and the three attributes (i.e., awareness, motivation, language learning strategies) in using self-directed learning strategies? Methodology – A set of survey questionnaires with a 6-point Likert scale were administered to 400 students attending an English proficiency course (i.e., Introduction to Academic English) in the first semester of the Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science program. The data of the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test. Findings – Results revealed that the respondents have a rather high degree of readiness to apply self-directed learning strategies in learning English. Motivation has the highest mean scores (M=4.57), followed by language learning strategies (M=4.41) and awareness (M=4.34). Results also showed that there are no difference in terms of SDLR depending on English proficiency levels, namely lower level (MUET Bands 1,2,3) and upper level (MUET Bands 4,5) (p>.05). Significance – The findings are beneficial for students to learn more about their readiness to apply the self-directed learning strategies. In particular, these findings also provide insights for lecturers, program administrators, curriculum developers, and policy makers to plan and implement suitable teaching methods, course outlines, and curricula for the development of the students’ English language abilities.

Research and Reflective Practice in the Pre-Literate ESL Classroom

2020 ◽  
pp. 243-271
Author(s):  
Vineetha Hewagodage
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Adult Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language Program ◽  
English Only ◽  
Low Educated

This chapter reports on findings of a qualitative study conducted with diverse cultural and linguistic background adult students engaged in learning English through an adult migrant English language program offered in a refugee welcome zone in a rural region of Australia. Twenty students whose first language was not English were observed in the language learning environment and participated in semi-structured interviews. The research explored how English language learning can be best supported for humanitarian refugees with little or no literacy in their first language to become acculturated and socially integrated into Australian society. It was found that the typical ‘English only approach' that is commonly used in the Adult Migrant English Language Program (AMEP) to teach literacy and develop proficiency in the English language is called into question when applied to learners with limited or no print literacy skills in their first language. It was concluded that these learners, who are commonly referred to in the literature as LESLLA (Low Educated Second Language Acquisition and Literacy for Adults), are faced with a number of social exclusionary practices during their integration process. Recommendations are made on how these issues might be addressed.

Local Governments and Social Networking

2012 ◽  
pp. 84-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald A. Merwin ◽  
J. Scott McDonald ◽  
Keith A. Merwin ◽  
Maureen McDonald ◽  
John R. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Web 2.0 ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Language Minority ◽  
Spanish Speakers ◽  
English Speaking

This chapter argues that Web 2.0, a valuable tool used to expand government-citizen communication opportunities and bring citizens as a group closer to government, widens a communication opportunity divide between local government and its citizens. Web 2.0 access is almost exclusively English-language based, benefiting that segment of the population and leaving others behind, especially the fastest growing language minority, Spanish speakers. While local governments continue to take advantage of the ability to interact with citizens through social networking (Aikins, 2009; Vogel, 2009), McDonald, Merwin, Merwin, Morris, & Brannen (2010) found a majority of counties with significant populations of citizens with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) did not provide for the translation needs of these citizens on their Websites. The chapter finds that Web 2.0-based communication is almost exclusively in English and that cities are missing opportunities to communicate. It concludes with recommendations based on observations of communities employing Web 2.0 to engage non-English speaking populations.

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