scholarly journals Communication Strategies Used by Iranian EFL Learners and English Native Speakers: Gender in Focus

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Layla Hajiesmaeli ◽  
Laya Heidari Darani

<p>This article was intended to explore the frequency and order of communication strategies used by Iranian male and female EFL earners as well as English native speakers while facing communication breakdowns. Furthermore, it was aimed to investigate the difference between native speakers and non-native speakers of English in their use of communication strategies. In addition, it was probed whether gender had any effects on the use of these strategies among native and non-native speakers. To this end, the data were collected through the communication strategy questionnaire distributed among 30 male and female Iranian intermediate EFL learners and 15 English native speakers. The design of this study was a quantitative one in which the questionnaire and thus numerical data were applied. To analyze the data, Cronbach alpha and independent-samples t-tests were used. The results indicated that non-verbal and social affective strategies were the most frequent strategies used by non-native speakers and native speakers of English, respectively. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between male and female Iranian EFL learners, but a significant difference between male and female English native speakers were seen. It can be concluded that language proficiency can contribute to the type and frequency of communications strategies which are used non-native speakers; likewise, it can play a significant role in gender differences in language use.<em></em></p>

Author(s):  
Maryam Danaye Tous ◽  
Abdorreza Tahriri ◽  
Sara Haghighi

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of instruction through debate on the male and female EFL learners’ reading comprehension, and to examine the difference between male and female EFL learners’ perception towards instructing critical thinking (CT) through debate. 88 learners, out of 120, were selected through convenience sampling method. Using a quantitative research method with experimental pre-and post-tests design, this study consisted of 44 participants in the experimental group and 44 participants in the control group. The experimental group received some treatment in the form of “the Meeting-House Debate” strategy, while the control group received no such treatment. After one month and a half treatment of experimental group, both groups participated in the post-test. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics procedures. Findings showed that the debate strategy had statistically significant effect on the students’ reading comprehension. Also, results revealed that there was no significant difference between male and female EFL learners’ perception towards instructing CT through debate. It was concluded that instructing CT skills through debate strategy resulted in better understanding of reading texts.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Bahram Mowlaie ◽  
Parviz Maftoon

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of language proficiency level on using negotiation categories in peer feedback in EFL context. Thirty high and thirty low proficient EFL learners participated in this study and their audiotaped negotiations were transcribed and analyzed based on Mendonça and Johnson's (1994) category. In four categories of restatement, suggestion, grammar correction, and explanation of opinion which were generated by the writers and the reviewers, although reviewers dominated the negotiation in both high and low proficient groups, in low proficient groups, the difference between the writers and the reviewer was more significant. In comprehension check and explanation categories used mainly by the writers, there was a significant difference in explanation between high and low proficient groups, but no such difference was found in comprehension check. In request for explanation category used mainly by the reviewers, no significant difference was found between the reviewers in high and low proficient group. The study has pedagogical implication for writing classes as it suggests audience awareness, critical thinking, and realization of output hypothesis as the pedagogically beneficial result of negotiation. It also suggests peer feedback as an alternative to teacher feedback. Keywords: high and low proficient EFL learners, negotiation, peer feedback.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atefeh Nikoobin ◽  
Mohsen Shahrokhi

This study was conducted to investigate the impolite complaint strategies that are used by Iranian EFL learners and native speakers in relation to social distance. This study also aimed at determining if there were significant differences among the strategies used by each group and if there was a significant difference between Iranian native speakers of English. To this end, 40 Iranian EFL learners and 20 Americans who were native speakers of English participated in this study. To make sure about the homogeneity of Iranian participants the Oxford Placement Test (OPT) was conducted. A questionnaire containing 12 different situations was designed by the researchers and was given to the participants to express their complaints for each situation. The results revealed that there were significant differences among the strategies used by each group; the most common strategy that was used by both groups of participants was positive impoliteness and the least common one was bald-on-record. Although the most and least common strategies used by both groups were the same, Iranians had a stronger tendency for using sarcasm in low social distance situations while natives had a stronger tendency for using bald-on-record in high social distance contexts. This study has implications for EFL curriculum designing in Iran and can make Iranian EFL instructors familiar with the importance of impoliteness as an indispensable part of language.


Author(s):  
Àngels Llanes

This study examines the impact of learning context on the L2 pronunciation of 14 Catalan/Spanish-speaking children. Eight children engaged in a two-month study abroad (SA) experience, whereas six students learned English (L2) in their home school. The participants were asked to describe a picture at three data collection times, namely prior to the SA group’s departure to Ireland, immediately after they returned from their stay abroad, and a further year later again. The excerpts were presented to a group of 11 native speakers of English who rated the degree of foreign accent. Results indicate that for the SA group, the difference between the pre- and post-tests was significant, and approaching significance between the pre- and delayed post-tests. For the at-home group of learners, no significant difference was found.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 2728-2744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Pakulak ◽  
Helen J. Neville

Although anecdotally there appear to be differences in the way native speakers use and comprehend their native language, most empirical investigations of language processing study university students and none have studied differences in language proficiency, which may be independent of resource limitations such as working memory span. We examined differences in language proficiency in adult monolingual native speakers of English using an ERP paradigm. ERPs were recorded to insertion phrase structure violations in naturally spoken English sentences. Participants recruited from a wide spectrum of society were given standardized measures of English language proficiency, and two complementary ERP analyses were performed. In between-groups analyses, participants were divided on the basis of standardized proficiency scores into lower proficiency and higher proficiency groups. Compared with lower proficiency participants, higher proficiency participants showed an early anterior negativity that was more focal, both spatially and temporally, and a larger and more widely distributed positivity (P600) to violations. In correlational analyses, we used a wide spectrum of proficiency scores to examine the degree to which individual proficiency scores correlated with individual neural responses to syntactic violations in regions and time windows identified in the between-groups analyses. This approach also used partial correlation analyses to control for possible confounding variables. These analyses provided evidence for the effects of proficiency that converged with the between-groups analyses. These results suggest that adult monolingual native speakers of English who vary in language proficiency differ in the recruitment of syntactic processes that are hypothesized to be at least in part automatic as well as of those thought to be more controlled. These results also suggest that to fully characterize neural organization for language in native speakers it is necessary to include participants of varying proficiency.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 290
Author(s):  
Iswadi Iswadi ◽  
Apriyanto Apriyanto

<p><em>E-learning during covid-19 pandemic gives positive and negative effects on students’ psychology. One of the effects of E-Learning is students whose negative and positive perception towards the process of E-Learning. The objectives of the study are to know (1)  The difference perception between male and female EFL post-graduate students of the use of online learning platforms? (2). Impacts psychologically of E-learning during Covid-19 to female and male EFL students in higher education. The method of the study is mixed research with the explanatory sequential design. The participants were 31 EFL postgraduate students in PGRI Indraprasta University. The data collection technique of the study was questionnaires with a Likert scale and an open interview. The data analysis technique of the study is an independent sample t-test with SPSS 22.0 version and collection, reduction, display, and conclusion. The results of the study are: (1) There is no significant difference perception between male and female EFL postgraduate students of the use of online learning platform because the significance value (0.695) which is bigger than 0.05. (2)  E-learning during the Covid-19 pandemic did not  give anxiety, fear, fatigue, and saturation to female and male EFL students in higher education. Implication of this research is University must develop LMS (Learning Management System) for teaching EFL students</em></p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Syeda Razia Bukhari ◽  
Syeda Ishrat Fatima ◽  
Amenah Rashid ◽  
Farhana Saba

The aim of the research is to investigate that emotional intelligence and self-esteem in male and female school students. The present research design is research cross sectional design.  Sample contained 200 students (100 =male, 100= female)   (mean age = 14.16, SD = 0.740) all belonging to the upper, middle and lower Scio economic status. Whole sample was collected from different schools of Karachi, Pakistan with the help of convenient sampling technique. First, the confidentiality about the participants demographic information was assured after that about the purpose and procedure of research explained to participants. The participants who given consent of participation in research, the demographic form, Urdu version of Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), and Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) (K.V. Petrides) were administered on them. Statistical Analysis (t-Test for independent) applied to assess the difference of emotional intelligence and self esteem among male and female.The results reveals there is significant difference among emotional intelligence of male and female school students (t (198) = 6.597, P< .05) and there is also significant difference in self esteem of male and female school students (t (198) = 2.837, P< .05).


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Setiawan ◽  
Edeh Rolleta Haroen ◽  
Dede Hadidjah

In administering fluoride through drinking water there is the risk of overdose, higher cost and inadequate availability of drinking water containing fluoride in developing countries like Indonesia. A safe fluoride source is contained in toothpaste. The purpose of this research was to obtain data concerning difference in saliva pH before and after brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride and without toothpaste. The research method used was the quasi-experimental method. Samples were collected by the way of purposive sampling, conducted on 43 male and female research subjects. The data were analyzed by statistical analysis using the t test at 95% confidence level. In this research a control group consisting of 43 people was used. Research results indicated that the average saliva pH before brushing was 7.174; after brushing with fluoride containing toothpaste salivary pH was 7.593. Result research of brushing without toothpaste showed an average saliva of 7.163 before brushing and 7.379 after brushing without toothpaste. The average changes in saliva pH before and after brushing using fluoride containing toothpaste was 0.216. The conclusion of this research was that there was significant difference in saliva pH before and after brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride; there was significant difference in saliva pH before and after brushing without toothpaste, and there was significant difference in saliva pH before and after brushing with toothpaste containing fluoride and without toothpaste.


Kodifikasia ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhinuk Puspita Kirana

It is widely believed that English Foreign Language (EFL) learners need todevelop their language proficiency by getting so much input. Moreover, studentsneed to be familiarized with the real English usage where real forms ofcommunication and cultural knowledge are crucially exposed. Teaching throughauthentic materials will make the learners feel that they are learning a reallanguage which is used by the real native speakers for real communication.incorporating authentic materials helps students acquire an effectivecommunicative competence in the language focus. The research intended todescribe the implementation of authentic materials in extensive reading class, theproblems arise and the students’ responses toward the authentic materials inextensive reading class. The design of the research was Descriptive Qualitativemethod and the research subject was the lecturer of Extensive Reading class and33 students in B class of the fourth semester of STAIN Ponorogo who tookExtensive Reading subject. The instruments used were in the form of observationsheet, interview guideline and questionnaire. The implementation of authenticmaterials in extensive reading class covered some procedures into three mainphases namely (1) Pre-Activity, (2) Main-Activity and (3) Post-Activity. Theactivities in main activity are as follows: (a) Pre-Activity; (b) Whilst-Activity; and(3) The language focus stage. There were problems arose during theimplementation in terms of complicated planning, more time allocation and somedisinterested students. Finally, the students showed significantly positive attitudetoward the implementation of authentic materials in extensive reading class.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Zahra Banitalebi ◽  
Ali Akbar Jabbari ◽  
Shouket Ahmad Tilwani ◽  
Mohammad Hasan Razmi

Fluency is one of the most important components of oral proficiency, which can be affected by a number of variables including frequency, duration, and place of pause phenomena. The present study aimed at investigating the effect of bilingualism on learning a foreign language from the angle of fluency and pausing patterns by comparing the pausing patterns of monolingual (Persian speakers) and bilingual (Iranian Turkish speakers; L1: Turkish and L2: Persian) EFL learners. To this end, a sample of 40 male and female advanced EFL learners were selected from Yazd University and several English-language institutes. An English reading passage test was used to measure students’ fluency in terms of their pausing patterns in prepared mode of speech. As learners started to read the passage, their speeches were recorded. The collected data were analyzed by Praat software. The statistical analyses revealed a significant difference between monolingual and bilingual learners in the frequency, duration, and placement of the pauses they had produced while they were reading the English passage. The results showed that bilingual learners outperformed monolingual participants, suggesting the superiority of bilinguals in their pausing patterns. The implications are discussed.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document