Identifying Listening Problems and the Need for Technology Assisted Language Learning (TALL) to Improve Listening Skills among Diploma Students

Author(s):  
Salwani Mohd Salleh ◽  
Lai See May ◽  
Azzieatul Syazwanie Azmi ◽  
Siti Anisah Mohd Hatta ◽  
Norlida Razali ◽  
...  

Listening is one of the major skills in English language acquisition.  However, mastering listening in acquiring the language can be challenging. Failure to listen well may cause misunderstanding and unnecessary conflicts. Realizing the importance of listening and how difficult it is, the paper focuses on listening issues experienced by 210 Part 1, Diploma students of UiTM Kelantan Branch.  The objectives are to identify the perceived level of listening proficiency among students, ascertain listening problems faced by them and determine students’ need for Technology Assisted Language Learning (TALL) to enhance listening skills. Thus, a survey on listening problems and the need for TALL was conducted. 150 students responded and the majority identified physical setting as the main listening problem thus, leading to a conclusive need for technology to help improve their listening ability. Based on the findings, a technological language tool in the form of multimedia application is innovated to fulfil the students’ needs. The application is designed to be easily accessible, user-interactive, user-friendly and affordable.  The features are customized to be as ‘friendly’ as possible of which they include local and Malaysian-based contents, familiar accents and slangs as well as relevant vocabulary, listening practices and quizzes.

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Raghad Fahmi Aajami

Tremendous efforts have been exerted to understand first language acquisition to facilitate second language learning. The problem lies in the difficulty of mastering English language and adapting a theory that helps in overcoming the difficulties facing students. This study aims to apply Thomasello's theory of language mastery through usage. It assumes that adults can learn faster than children and can learn the language separately, and far from academic education. Tomasello (2003) studied the stages of language acquisition for children, and developed his theory accordingly. Some studies, such as: (Ghalebi and Sadighi, 2015, Arvidsson, 2019; Munoz, 2019; Verspoor and Hong, 2013) used this theory when examining language acquisition. Thus, the present study implies adopting Tomasello's approach represented by his usage-based theory when examining Iraqi adults’ English language acquisition. The participants, who were (20) in number, were asked to watch series and show what they learn through re-enacting scenes. The Data were collected qualitatively through observations, focus group discussion, peer review, and interviews. Results have shown that:  a remarkable progress in the participants' performance, the participants' responses to using English through increasing their language stock, the ability to use language during the development of their linguistic repertoire increased their self-confidence to participate in conversations they were trying to avoid. As a result, the experiment achieved its objectives by finding that use-based theory is a cognitive linguistic approach that can facilitate the learning tasks.


IEEE Access ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 19033-19047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monther M. Elaish ◽  
Liyana Shuib ◽  
Norjihan Abdul Ghani ◽  
Elaheh Yadegaridehkordi ◽  
Musaab Alaa

Author(s):  
Kevin Lang ◽  
Erez Siniver

Abstract Using a unique sample of Russian immigrants and native Israelis, we examine the return to English knowledge. Panel and cross-section estimates of the return to English are substantial for highly educated immigrants and natives. Hebrew and English language acquisition contribute to immigrant/native earnings convergence, but most convergence is explained by other factors. While immigrants with low levels of education do not benefit from knowing English, native Israelis may. Conditional on occupation, English and Hebrew acquisition are largely orthogonal. Therefore earlier work on the importance of knowledge of the host-country language (Hebrew) is not significantly biased by unmeasured English knowledge.


Author(s):  
Hanan MOHAMMED ALSHEHAB

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.


2013 ◽  
pp. 723-740
Author(s):  
Erin L. White

There is a growing need to implement an alternative and viable solution in U.S. K-12 schools that will address the ever-growing gap that the rapidly growing English Language Learner (ELL) population presents. This chapter examines various technology-based tools and their potential impact. These technology-based solutions could help to alleviate an already taxed educational system, as well as significantly aid in improving and increasing English language acquisition among the nation’s K-12 ELL population. A review of recent research provides evidence and a strong foundation that supports the integration of these solutions. An ELL Design Quadrant ensures that one follows best practices when integrating technology, and a practical applications section presents examples of contemporary technology with accompanying instructional strategies that educators can utilize in the everyday classroom. Throughout the chapter, references to language acquisition and learning theories provide the evidence and background knowledge necessary to integrate technology into the ELL literacy curriculum, based on sound judgment.


Author(s):  
Erin L. White

There is a growing need to implement an alternative and viable solution in U.S. K-12 schools that will address the ever-growing gap that the rapidly growing English Language Learner (ELL) population presents. This chapter examines various technology-based tools and their potential impact. These technology-based solutions could help to alleviate an already taxed educational system, as well as significantly aid in improving and increasing English language acquisition among the nation’s K-12 ELL population. A review of recent research provides evidence and a strong foundation that supports the integration of these solutions. An ELL Design Quadrant ensures that one follows best practices when integrating technology, and a practical applications section presents examples of contemporary technology with accompanying instructional strategies that educators can utilize in the everyday classroom. Throughout the chapter, references to language acquisition and learning theories provide the evidence and background knowledge necessary to integrate technology into the ELL literacy curriculum, based on sound judgment.


Author(s):  
Patient Rambe

While Writing Centres provide dialogic spaces for student articulation of voice, they insufficiently deal with asymmetrical power relations built into expert-novice conversations, which potentially disrupt novices' democratic expression of their voices. Yet the conversational nature of Facebook presents opportunities for ESL students to express their voices. This chapter: 1) Employs draft essays of first-year ESL students submitted to a Writing Centre to unravel their challenges with asserting their voice, 2) Uses reflective narratives of Writing consultants and ESL students to understand how their English language acquisition is impacted by their appropriation of Facebook and 3) Unravels how Facebook complements the mandate of Writing Centres of developing the academic voice of students. Findings suggest that students lacked confidence in asserting their authorial presence and familiarisation with academic conventions. Students and consultants' essays demonstrated a balanced appropriation of attitudinal and judgement categories and engagement resources, with implications for the potential of Facebook to mediate student expression of their voice.


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