scholarly journals English As Secondary Language Learning and Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Obstacles in Teaching and Learning the Language

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-30
Author(s):  
Haida Umiera Hashim ◽  
Melor Md Yunus ◽  
Helmi Norman

To this date, there has been an increasing number of children across the globe diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. There has been much literature that discussed the issues and obstacles common learners face in their English language learning journey. Yet, not much spotlight and acknowledgment were given to the learners with Autism in their voyage of English language learning. In conjunction to that, this paper intends to investigate the obstacles that the learners with Autism face in their English as secondary language learning. In addition to that, teachers are not to be forgotten as teachers are also believed to be playing a role in learners with Autism’s English as a second language(ESL) learning process which is why this research also intends to investigate the challenges faced by the teachers who are in charge of teaching learners with Autism. A qualitative research with the observation and interview as the instruments represents this research. This research involved two Autism Centres located in an urban area in Malaysia. The observation and interviews were conducted with forty-five learners with Autism and fourteen teachers. The findings have gathered that the world of Autism Spectrum Disorder is indeed full of obstacles and challenges but none that could not be overcome. It is believed that this research will provide a better insight of the real world of ESL teaching and learning among learners with Autism. Discussions and recommendations are further explained in this research.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haida Umiera Hashim ◽  
Melor Md Yunus ◽  
Helmi Norman

To this date, there has been an increasing number of children across the globe diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. There has been much literature that discussed the issues and obstacles common learners face in their English language learning journey. Yet, not much spotlight and acknowledgment were given to the learners with Autism in their voyage of English language learning. In conjunction to that, this paper intends to investigate the obstacles that the learners with Autism face in their English as secondary language learning. In addition to that, teachers are not to be forgotten as teachers are also believed to be playing a role in learners with Autism’s English as a second language(ESL) learning process which is why this research also intends to investigate the challenges faced by the teachers who are in charge of teaching learners with Autism. A qualitative research with the observation and interview as the instruments represents this research. This research involved two Autism Centres located in an urban area in Malaysia. The observation and interviews were conducted with forty-five learners with Autism and fourteen teachers. The findings have gathered that the world of Autism Spectrum Disorder is indeed full of obstacles and challenges but none that could not be overcome. It is believed that this research will provide a better insight of the real world of ESL teaching and learning among learners with Autism. Discussions and recommendations are further explained in this research.


Author(s):  
Giuliana Guazzaroni ◽  
Anitha S. Pillai

Various medical and technological organizations are working on the development of unconventional solutions such as therapy and assistance for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Different organizations, researchers and educators have been involved in the study and realization of virtual reality (VR) solutions to be used as therapy, training, and support for these individuals. Previous researches and experiments showed that it is possible to ameliorate the level of concentration, coordination, socialization, communication, self-awareness, and memory in school children treated with these tools. VR environments may offer a total physical involvement of the ASDs that may see the world through virtual immersion and active practice. This chapter presents a way of rethinking teaching and learning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Rogers ◽  
Kristen Weatherby

English is considered by many to be the global language of business and communication and, as such, parents and educators in countries in which English is not a native language are now encouraging children to study English at a young age. Much second language teaching and learning, however, does not take into account the real-world context within which language will be put to use. Little Bridge has developed an English language learning platform for students aged 6−12 years, within which learners acquire English vocabulary and skills and are able to apply what they have learned in real conversations with other English learners around the world. As part of UCL’s EDUCATE research accelerator programme, Little Bridge worked with a mentor to design and conduct mixed-methods research into the relationship between this social aspect of their platform and students’ achievement in learning English. Findings suggested that Little Bridge users who are the most active participants in the platform’s social network also complete more of the platform’s learning activities and achieve better results than those with the lowest social participation rates. The relationship between the academic mentor and Little Bridge enabled the company to develop a research mindset, understand the value of the data that they already have, and improve their understanding of the platform.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wachyu Sundayana ◽  
Panusak Meekaeo ◽  
Pupung Purnawarman ◽  
Didi Sukyadi

Washback refers to influences of testing on teaching and learning. In Thailand and Indonesia, washback of the Ordinary National Educational Test (O-NET) and Ujian Nasional (UN) inevitably occurs on teaching and learning in classrooms at every level. This present study aims to explore and compare the washback effects of the O-NET and UN on English language learning as perceived by Thai and Indonesian ninth-grade students. It is a multi-case study (Thailand case and Indonesia case) by using triangulation design as the research design. The questionnaires concerning washback effects of national exams on English language learning were distributed to 200 ninth-graders in the two cases. In addition, six students from each case were interviewed. The results reveal that in both cases, the participants focus to learn on contents and skills that were likely to appear in the national exams. The participants learned English harder to perform well in the tests rather than to improve their English ability. Moreover, the students had high anxiety during the test preparations and feared for low O-NET and UN scores. The results of the study contribute to future washback study and improvement of English language teaching and learning at ninth-grade in Thailand and Indonesia.


2020 ◽  
pp. 145-165
Author(s):  
Inmaculada Garnes-Tarazona

Second language teaching and learning has experienced a change towards the use of mobile technologies inside and outside the classroom. The goal of this article is twofold: to compare and evaluate three different commercial English language learning apps (Duolingo, Babbel, and Busuu) that cover the four skills (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), and to analyze the learning theory supporting their design. These applications include in their homepage the option of interactive learning with friends. However, as this article shows, each app offers a different level of interaction and collaboration. The theoretical framework for this analysis is grounded on Vygotsky's Socio-cultural theory.


Author(s):  
Inmaculada Garnes-Tarazona

Second language teaching and learning has experienced a change towards the use of mobile technologies inside and outside the classroom. The goal of this article is twofold: to compare and evaluate three different commercial English language learning apps (Duolingo, Babbel, and Busuu) that cover the four skills (speaking, writing, listening, and reading), and to analyze the learning theory supporting their design. These applications include in their homepage the option of interactive learning with friends. However, as this article shows, each app offers a different level of interaction and collaboration. The theoretical framework for this analysis is grounded on Vygotsky's Socio-cultural theory.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-65
Author(s):  
Nurul Ulfah Putri Utami ◽  
Taopik Rahman

ABSTRACTThis study triggered by the lack of mastery of vocabulary in English language learning. It is based on interviews and learning activities of researchers at TK Pertiwi DWP Tasikmalaya on the activities of the implementation of the PPL UPI Tasikmalaya in 2017, as well as the data pre action before the research activities carried out which shows that there are still many students who do not abide by the minimum completeness criteria (KKM ). Low mastery of vocabulary students are not separated from the ineffectiveness of the media used and the ability of teachers to plan and implement teaching and learning. This study aims to determine the planning, implementation and improvement ofmastery of vocabulary children'sthrough the use of media images. Media image is a kind of learning media by using the image (pattern / graffiti a form) that is projected onto the two-dimensional form. By using media images of children will obtain data about an object in full shape, appearance and the name of the object. So that the child will be faster remember a word well. This is certainly very suitable to be applied on English language learning. In this study the research method used was classroom action research (PTK) is adapted from the model Kemmis and Mc Taggart with three cycles. Subjects in this study is the researchers themselves and the children in group A2 TK Pertiwi DWP Tawang District of Tasikmalaya, amounting to 13 people. Data was collected by APKG and observation sheet. Based on the results obtained by an increase in the ability of teachers to create lesson plan reached 92.18%, enhancements to the ability of teachers in implementing the learning reached 93.12% and themastery of vocabulary child'sof 92.3%. In general the increase occurred after be applied using media imagesPenelitian ini dilatar belakangi oleh rendahnya penguasan kosa kata pada pembelajaran bahasa inggris. Hal ini didasarkan pada hasil wawancara dan kegiatan belajar mengajar peneliti di TK Pertiwi DWP Kota Tasikmalaya pada kegiatan pelaksanaan PPL UPI Tasikmalaya tahun 2017, serta data hasil pra tindakan sebelum kegiatan penelitian dilaksanakan yang menunjukan bahwa masih banyak siswa yang tidak memenuhi nilai kriteria ketuntasan minimal (KKM). Rendahnya penguasaan vocabulary siswa tidak terlepas dari tidak efektifnya media yang digunakan dan kemampuan guru dalam merencanakan dan melaksanakan kegiatan belajar mengajar. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui perencanaan, pelaksanaan dan peningkatan penguasaan vocabulary anak melalui penggunaan media gambar. Media gambar adalah suatu jenis media pembelajaran dengan menggunakan gambar (pola/coretan suatu bentuk) yang diproyeksikan ke dalam bentuk 2 dimensi. Dengan menggunakan media gambar anak akan memperoleh data mengenai suatu benda secara lengkap baik bentuk, tampilan maupun  nama benda tersebut. Sehingga anak akan lebih cepat mengingat suatu kata dengan baik. Hal ini tentunya sangat cocok diterapkan pada pembelajaran bahasa inggris. Pada penelitian ini metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK) yang mengadaptasi dari model Kemmis dan Mc Taggart dengan tiga siklus. Subjek dalam penelitian ini adalah peneliti sendiri dan anak kelompok A2 TK Pertiwi DWP Kecamatan Tawang Kota Tasikmalaya yang berjumlah 13 orang. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan APKG dan lembar observasi. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diperoleh peningkatan kemampuan guru dalam membuat rencana pelaksanaan pembelajaran mencapai 92,18 %, peningakatan kemampuan guru dalam melaksanakan pembelajaran mencapai 93,12 % dan hasil penguasaan vocabulary anak mencapai 92,3 %. Secara umum peningkatan terjadi setelah diterapakan penggunaan media gambar. 


The purpose of this descriptive research study is to find out the perceptions of students and teachers about the problems and challenges in learning and teaching of English language in Madrassas located in urban area of District Mardan. The main objectives of the study are to assess the attitude of both the students and teachers towards English language; to find out the required facilities for the teaching and learning of English and to put forward the recommendations of the students and teachers for the eradication of the problems and challenges to English language learning and teaching in Madrassas. The population of the research study consist of all Madrassas and all male students and teachers in Urban Madrassas in District Mardan. The researchers use convenient sample for the selection of Madrassas. Selection of students is based on thirty percent proportionate sample; while teachers are selected on the basis of hundred percent proportionate samples accordingly. Two separate questionnaires are the instrument for data collection. The questionnaires comprised on both closed and open ended items. The collected data were analyzed using percentage and thematic analysis. Findings of the study revealed that there are no proper facilities for the teaching of English language. The results of this research study may be helpful for the policy makers to emphasize more on the importance of English language learning in Madrassas across Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular.


Author(s):  
Sandy T. Soto ◽  
◽  
Ligia Fernanda Espinosa Cevallos ◽  
José Pomavilla ◽  
◽  
...  

The advent of technology has influenced education, even in the most remote parts of the world. Nowadays, it is totally normal for a person to have some technological devices such as laptops, iPads, tablets, and especially cell phones. Ecuador is not far from this reality. Moreover, in the English Language Learning Standards, the Ministry of Education suggests using technological resources in teaching (eg internet, software, computers and related devices). Given this warm welcome to the use of technology in Ecuador’s English classes, as well as the number of students using cell phones in Ecuador, this chapter is intended to provide basic information on the use of cell phone games within English class.


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