scholarly journals Let’s Talk! ESL Students’ Needs and Writing Centre Philosophy

2013 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucie Moussu
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
College Faculty ◽  
Faculty Members ◽  
Esl Students ◽  
University College

When university/college faculty members believe that ESL students’ writing skills are not equivalent to those of native speakers, they frequently send these ESL students to their institution’s writing centres (WCs). However, this often results in frustra- tion for WC staff, the students, and faculty members. This article first describes ESL students’ language-learning backgrounds and expectations, as well as WCs’ still- evolving philosophy and practices, to demonstrate that ESL students visiting WCs are still often caught between two opposing educational frameworks. The article then offers possible solutions and discusses the importance of initiating dialogue among ESL instructors, ESL students, WC staff, and university/college professors.Quand les professeurs au collège ou à l’université croient que la compétence en rédaction des étudiants en ALS n’est pas équivalente à celle des locuteurs natifs, ils les envoient souvent aux centres de rédaction de leur institution. Il en résulte souvent de la frustration de la part du personnel des centres, des étudiants et des professeurs. Cet article débute par une description des antécédents et des attentes des étudiants en ALS d’une part, et des pratiques et de la philosophie en évolution des centres de rédaction d’autre part, de sorte à démontrer que les étudiants qui vont aux centres de rédaction se retrouvent encore souvent coincés entre deux cadres pédagogiques en opposition. Cet article offre des solutions possibles et dis- cute l’importance d’amorcer un dialogue entre les enseignants en ALS, les étu- diants en ALS, le personnel des centres de rédaction et les professeurs aux niveaux collégial et universitaire.

scholarly journals Development of English Writing Skills through Blended Learning among ESL Learners in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isyaku Hassan ◽  
Ayuni Madarina Abdul Rahman ◽  
Mohd Nazri Latiff Azmi
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Esl Students ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Esl Learners

Developing writing proficiency is complex as students need to master specific rules and acquire certain skills. This complexity often obstructs students’ interest and eventually affects their comprehension and performance in language learning. Research has highlighted the significance of English as a Second Language (ESL), particularly in the Malaysian context. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning in developing English writing skills, particularly among ESL learners at a Polytechnic in Malaysia. The study adopted quasi-experimental analysis in which pre-test and post-test were used as data-gathering instruments. The data were gathered from a purposive sample of 60 ESL students separated into an experimental group and a control group. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed that blended learning is significantly effective in developing writing performance among ESL students in the selected institution. Further analysis revealed a slight improvement among students who learned through the traditional approach. This study highlights useful findings that could be useful in designing English curriculums, particularly in higher institutions. However, this experiment focuses on students’ performance, further research may explore instructors’ practices in Malaysian higher intuitions.

I Tweet, You Tweet, (S)He Tweets

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geraldine Blattner ◽  
Amanda Dalola
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Word Choice ◽  
Esl Students ◽  
Online Language Learning ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Pragmatic Awareness ◽  
First Languages

This study seeks to further the research on online language learning by examining the level at which intermediate ESL students understand and process sociopragmatic information in their second language (L2) in globally networked environments like Twitter. In this semester-long study, L2 English learners from a variety of first languages (Chinese, Spanish, Arabic) analyzed authentic English-language tweets produced by well-known native speakers, with a focus on abbreviations, hashtags and tweeter mood. Results revealed that high intermediate ESL students relied most heavily on word choice when making sense of English tweets, demonstrating that a majority were able to extract significant meaning from common abbreviations, prosified hashtags, indices of tweeter mood and the tweet's larger context. This investigation highlights Twitter's status as an authentic and dynamic L2 setting that facilitates the cultural enrichment of learners and enhances their socio-pragmatic awareness, while developing their multiliteracy skills in an L2.

scholarly journals Development of English Writing Skills through Blended Learning among ESL Learners in Malaysia

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 377-389
Author(s):  
Isyaku Hassan ◽  
Ayuni Madarina Abdul Rahman ◽  
Mohd Nazri Latiff Azmi
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Traditional Approach ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Esl Students ◽  
English Writing ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Esl Learners

Developing writing proficiency is complex as students need to master specific rules and acquire certain skills. This complexity often obstructs students’ interest and eventually affects their comprehension and performance in language learning. Research has highlighted the significance of English as a Second Language (ESL), particularly in the Malaysian context. This study, therefore, aims to evaluate the effectiveness of blended learning in developing English writing skills, particularly among ESL learners at a Polytechnic in Malaysia. The study adopted quasi-experimental analysis in which pre-test and post-test were used as data-gathering instruments. The data were gathered from a purposive sample of 60 ESL students separated into an experimental group and a control group. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings showed that blended learning is significantly effective in developing writing performance among ESL students in the selected institution. Further analysis revealed a slight improvement among students who learned through the traditional approach. This study highlights useful findings that could be useful in designing English curriculums, particularly in higher institutions. However, this experiment focuses on students’ performance, further research may explore instructors’ practices in Malaysian higher intuitions.

The Involvement of Native Speakers in Teaching and Learning Japanese Language at UiTM

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 14
Author(s):  
Choong Pow Yean ◽  
Sarinah Bt Sharif ◽  
Normah Bt Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Japanese Culture ◽  
Japanese Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Lexical Density

The Nihongo Partner Program or “Japanese Language Partner” is a program that sends native speakers to support the teaching and learning of Japanese overseas. The program is fully sponsored by The Japan Foundation. The aim of this program is to create an environment that motivates the students to learn Japanese. This study is based on a survey of the Nihongo Partner Program conducted on students and language lecturers at UiTM, Shah Alam. This study aims to investigate if there is a necessity for native speakers to be involved in the teaching and learning of Japanese among foreign language learners. Analysis of the results showed that both students and lecturers are in dire need of the Nihongo Partner Program to navigate the learning of the Japanese language through a variety of language learning activities. The involvement of native speaker increases students’ confidence and motivation to converse in Japanese. The program also provides opportunities for students to increase their Japanese language proficiency and lexical density. In addition, with the opportunity to interact with the native speakers, students and lecturers will have a better understanding of Japanese culture as they are able to observe and ask the native speakers. Involvement of native speakers is essential in teaching and learning of Japanese in UiTM.

scholarly journals Studying individual differences in the social environment to better understand language learning and processing

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (s1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiri Lev-Ari
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Social Environment ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Linguistic Performance ◽  
The Social

AbstractPeople learn language from their social environment. Therefore, individual differences in the input that their social environment provides could influence their linguistic performance. Nevertheless, investigation of the role of individual differences in input on performance has been mostly restricted to first and second language acquisition. In this paper I argue that individual differences in input can influence linguistic performance even in adult native speakers. Specifically, differences in input can affect performance by influencing people’s knowledgebase, by modulating their processing manner, and by shaping expectations. Therefore, studying the role that individual differences in input play can improve our understanding of how language is learned, processed and represented.

How “Native” Are Heritage Speakers?

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvina Montrul
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Age Of Acquisition ◽  
The Other ◽  
Gender Agreement ◽  
Heritage Speakers ◽  
High Incidence ◽  
Incomplete Acquisition

One of the chief characteristics of heritage speakers is that they range in proficiency from “overhearers” to “native” speakers. To date, the vast majority of linguistic and psycholinguistic studies have characterized the non-target-like linguistic abilities of heritage speakers as a product of incomplete acquisition and/or attrition due to reduced exposure and opportunities to use the language during childhood. This article focuses on the other side of the problem, emphasizing instead the high incidence of native-like abilities in adult heritage speakers. I illustrate this issue with recent experimental evidence from gender agreement in Spanish, a grammatical feature that is mastered at almost 100% accuracy in production by native speakers;yet it is one of the most difficult areas to master for non-native speakers, including near-natives.I discuss how age of acquisition and language-learning experience explain these effects.

Motivation and the Support of Significant Others across Language Learning Contexts

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 106-141
Author(s):  
Kimberly A. Noels ◽  
Shelley Adrian-Taylor ◽  
Kristie Saumure ◽  
Joshua W. Katz
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
Sense Of Self ◽  
Significant Others ◽  
Self Determination Theory ◽  
Self Determination ◽  
Esl Students ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Informative Feedback ◽  
Heritage Students

According to Self-Determination Theory, intrinsic and self-determined extrinsic motivation are maintained to the extent that learners feel that engagement in an activity is a personally meaningful choice, that the task can be performed competently, and that they share a social bond with significant others in the learning context. These perceptions are enhanced when significant others act or communicate in a way that encourages learner autonomy, provides informative feedback on how to improve task competency, and establishes a sense of connection with the learner. The present study used a focused essay technique to examine how the learning context impacts learners’ motivation and the kinds of support (or lack thereof) received from different people. Heritage (n = 34), modern (n = 34), and English-as-asecond-language (ESL; n = 36) learners described their reasons for language learning, and reported how teachers, family members, peers, and members of the language community encouraged or discouraged their engagement in language learning. The results indicated that heritage students are more included to learn the language because it is integral to their sense of self than the two other groups, whereas ESL students are generally more regulated by external contingencies. Although there were some commonalities, different people supported learners’ motivation in different ways depending upon the learning context. The results point to the importance of the language learning context for understanding students’ motivation and how others can support them.

Study abroad and the SLA of variable structures: A look at the present perfect, the copula contrast, and the present progressive in Mexico and Spain

Probus ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Kanwit ◽  
Kimberly L. Geeslin ◽  
Stephen Fafulas
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
L2 Acquisition ◽  
Present Perfect ◽  
Immersion Programs ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Grammatical Structures

AbstractThe present study connects research on the L2 acquisition of variable structures to the ever-growing body of research on the role of study abroad in the language learning process. The data come from a group of 46 English-speaking learners of Spanish who participated in immersion programs in two distinct locations, Valencia, Spain and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Simultaneously, we tested a group of native speakers from each region to create an appropriate target model for each learner group. Learners completed a written contextualized questionnaire at the beginning and end of their seven-week stay abroad. Our instrument examines three variable grammatical structures: (1) the copulas

scholarly journals Developing Students’ Writing Skill through Peer and Teacher Correction: An Action Research

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 70-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Writing Skills ◽  
Teaching Writing ◽  
Progress Test ◽  
Test Items ◽  
Correction Technique ◽  
Grammatical Errors ◽  
Writing Skill ◽  
Post Test

Writing is a form of an art and integral part of language learning. The present study concerns with development of writing skills through peer and teacher correction technique. As an action research in nature, the research aimed to test the progress of the students while writing an essay. After the analysis of data collected through test items, it was seen improvement in students writing in post test than in pre-test. The students (Ss1-Ss10) were found using the words in an increased order and grammatically correct sentences in their writing in each test made and committed less grammatical errors in post test than in pre and progress test. Regarding mechanics of writing, their writing was found systematic in case of punctuation, proper use of paragraphs, in coherence and cohesion in writing. The peer correction and teacher correction technique was found productive in teaching writing through action research as a whole. Journal of NELTA, Vol. 17 No. 1-2, December 2012, Page 70-82 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v17i1-2.8094

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