The Visual ‘Masculinization’ of Moroccan EFL Textbooks: A Social Semiotic Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Driss Benattabou
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
Semiotic Analysis ◽  
Female Characters ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Powerful Technique ◽  
Psychological Vulnerability ◽  
Semiotic Perspective ◽  
Gender Display

The aim of this paper is to examine and assess the portrayal of women and men in the visual contents of Moroccan English as Foreign Language (MEFL, henceforth) textbooks from a social semiotic perspective. Central to the analysis here is Goffman’s (1979) theoretical model of gender display recently heralded as a more powerful technique to unfold the semiotic positioning of women and men in visual images. The analysis of a corpus of photographic data has helped unveil an array of social and cultural misconceptions in discrimination of women. Female characters continue to be linked with submissiveness, absent-mindedness, and socio-psychological vulnerability. They are further presented associated with menial activities, low-status jobs, and oftentimes being positioned in the backstage behind men. The paper ends up presenting the conclusion along with some implications.

Text-image complementarity and genre in English as foreign language textbooks

Semiotica ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peichin Chang ◽  
Hsin-Jung Tsai
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Ninth Grade ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
Text And Image ◽  
Specific Relation ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Reader Engagement ◽  
Nominal Groups

Abstract Relating visual images to textual messages may have great potential in facilitating students’ reading comprehension. The inevitable and important presence of visuals in textbooks obliges language teachers to exploit all semiotic resources to deepen students’ understanding. However, analysis of how images interact with text in textbooks has been rare, and among the efforts it has generally been found that visuals and text often fail to achieve coherence. This study investigates whether and how text and image complement each other ideationally (i.e., the “what”) by six sense relations (e.g., synonymy and hyponymy) and interpersonally (i.e., reader engagement) by the Mood system in ninth-grade English as a Foreign Language (EFL) textbooks to reach intersemiotic complementarity (IC). The results revealed that ideational rather than interpersonal IC is more frequent, where many more Participants (i.e., the nominal groups) than Processes (i.e., the verbal groups) in the texts find their visual complements. Ideational IC is particularly high in Information Reports while Recounts generally mark higher percentages of interpersonal IC. To accomplish ideational IC, repetition is most frequent, followed by hyponymy (i.e., general-specific relation) and collocation (i.e., relations that naturally co-occur). Distinct IC patterns also characterize the different editions of textbooks investigated, which may suggest their different potentials in catering to students of varying proficiencies.

MODERN LINGUODIDACTICS AND MNEMONICS: FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF TEACHING STUDENTS HOW TO MEMORIZE NEW VOCABULARY

2021 ◽  
pp. 109-119
Author(s):  
Tat’yana A. Markelova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Personal Development ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Visual Images ◽  
The Internet ◽  
English Classes ◽  
False Idea ◽  
Mnemonic Techniques

The paper deals with the search and application of effective methods of memorizing foreign language vocabulary, based on integrative and personal development approaches within the framework of modern linguodidactics. The Internet era, which maximally simplifies the process of searching for and translating foreign words, engender among students a false idea that there is no need to form special skills of memorizing foreign language vocabulary. In this regard, the development of new ways how to activate memory for educational purposes is of particular relevance, as well as the study of such mental processes of memory as memorizing, preserving, reproducing and forgetting. The author refers to some aspects of linguodidactics’ and mnemonics’ historical evolution, foreign and Russian experience of using mnemonic techniques in the process of studying and teaching foreign languages. Memorizing based on mnemonic encoding into images (when objects are linked with existing information in the memory) contributes to the process of mastering foreign language vocabulary, it becomes faster and easier, and it results in a long-term memorization of the material. In the paper, the author shares the practical experience of applying and teaching mnemonic techniques at English classes. The latter include phonetic associations, visual images, pictures, kinesthetic representations. In conclusion, the author makes an inference that it is advisable to teach students the technique of mnemonics as one of the effective ways to facilitate the process of memorizing new vocabulary.

Foreign Language Writing Anxiety: The Perceptions and Experiences of Freshmen Lebanese University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-492
Author(s):  
ROLA LABABIDI
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Writing Anxiety ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Language Writing ◽  
Language Writing ◽  
Shed Light

Writing is an essential skill for language production. However, many English as Foreign language learners (EFL) face many difficulties in writing. This study aims to shed light on the psychological aspect of writing; more specifically writing anxiety. Consequently, the main purpose of this exploratory mixed-method study is to explore and investigate the sources and manifestations of foreign language writing anxiety among Lebanese university students. The participants were Lebanese EFL university students (N=87). Data for this study was gathered from the use of the Second Language Writing anxiety scale(SLWAI), Sources of Writing Anxiety Inventory(SWAI), and semi-structured Focus group interviews (FG). Focus interviews with students were used to triangulate the derived data from the inventories. This study provides numerical data regarding the level of writing anxiety among students. The data from the FG interviews were transcribed and uploaded for thematic coding and further analysis. The results from this study shed light on the sources and manifestation of the writing anxiety among students. It also helps to disseminate several practical recommendations for the alleviation of writing anxiety among students. It is assumed that the findings will address the perceived psychological needs of Lebanese EFL learners and provide grounds for further research.

Improving Communicative Competence Levels of Pre-Service Teachers Through Spoken-Based Reflection Instruction

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110445
Author(s):  
Chinaza Solomon Ironsi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Listening And Speaking ◽  
Speaking Skills

This study investigated the use of spoken-reflection instruction to improve the communicative competence level of English as Foreign Language learners in a second language acquisition classroom. A listening and speaking test was administered before and after the study to determine the participants’ level of speaking competence. A quantitative research design was adopted for the study. A 3-credit unit language course was designed and implemented for the study. The course was built on the core principles of reflective practice. Participants were taught using the normal language teaching method and spoken-based reflection instruction. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 65 English as Foreign Language learners who willingly participated in the study. At the end of the course, a questionnaire was used to obtain information from the participants about their perceptions of using spoken-based reflection instruction to improve their speaking skills. In addition, participants were administered a Reflection-Listening, and Speaking Skills Test before and after each experimental phase to determine whether their listening and speaking skills had improved. Most learners found the use of spoken reflections to be a fun way to learn. However, they expressed anxiety about doing teacher-student reflection because they felt intimidated by the presence of their language teacher, although sending recordings of their reflections to their teachers was more convenient than interacting with them on a one-to-one basis.

scholarly journals EFL STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE USE OF BAHASA INDONESIA IN AN ENGLISH CLASSROOM

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Setya Resmini
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
First Language ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
English Classroom ◽  
Bahasa Indonesia

ABSTRACTThe issue of using first language (L1) in teaching English has always been a controversy in the field of teaching and learning English.  The purpose of this study was to investigate the English as Foreign Language (EFL) students’ perceptions towards the use of L1 (Bahasa Indonesia) in the English classroom. In this study, the descriptive qualitative method was employed.  The participants involved in this study are 40 EFL students in the second semester who learn General English in IKIP Siliwangi. A questionnaire which consists of 15 questions was distributed to the participants to gain primary data. To support the data from questionnaire, observation also conducted in the classroom. The findings reveal that the teacher’s use of bahasa Indonesia brought positive/negative perceptions towards students. The students give negative perception towards the teacher’s use of bahasa Indonesia in General English classroom. However, the students also recognized the advantages and disadvantages of the teacher’s use of bahasa Indonesia in the classroom.Key words: EFL; students’ perception; first language (L1); foreign language

scholarly journals An investigation of Semantic Interlingual Errors in the Writing of Libyan English as Foreign Language Learners

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Abdalmonem S. Rajab ◽  
Saadiyah Darus ◽  
Ashinida Aladdin
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
First Language ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Lexical Choice ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
L1 Influence ◽  
Semantic Errors ◽  
L1 And L2 ◽  
Insufficient Knowledge

The aim of this paper is to investigate some semantic interlingual errors in the writing performance of Libyan English as Foreign Language Learners (LEFLLS). The study seeks to analyze these errorsthat appear in the learners’ written production. The data was gathered from 25 essays written by 25 Libyan postgraduates majoring in different fields. It was collected and organized according to the errors committed. Errors taxonomy adapted from James’ (1998) and Al-Shormani and Al-Sohbani’s (2012) was used in identifying and analyzing these errors. Semantic errors were classified into five categories namely formal mis-selection, formal mis-formation, lexical choice, collocation and lexico-grammatical choice. The semantic errors identified were 346. These errors were classified into four categories namely, formal misformation (46.7%), distortion due to spelling (32.4%), lexical choice (40.6%) and lexicogrammatical choice (2.4%). The results show that direct translation from the first language (L1), assumed synonym and misselection of letters sub-categories score the highest number of the errors, i.e.14.2%, 13.08% and 12.08% respectively. While the sub-category, both collocations incorrect error was the lowest (0.52%). The other errors take the form of paraphrase (11.5%) and Idiomacity (8.5%). Two main sources have been found to be the cause behind these errors namely, L1 influence and insufficient knowledge about the second language (L2). Moreover, cultural differences between L1 and L2 had its impact in the written products of Libyan students.

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