scholarly journals Teachers’ Perceptions of Practices and Challenges of Innovating for the Inclusion of Special Needs University English Language Learners in Oman

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 659
Author(s):  
Saleh Al-Busaidi ◽  
Victoria Tuzlukova
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Assistive Technology ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Material Design ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teachers

This study explored how English language teachers at Sultan Qaboos University’s Center for Preparatory Studies in Oman perceive practices and challenges related to inclusive education and innovating in teaching English to visually impaired students. The study was carried out taking descriptive qualitative approach. Interviews with seven English language teachers were used to collect data. We asked them about both successful and challenging aspects of creating an inclusive language learning environment and using assistive technologies. We found that assistive technology is crucial to language learning of special needs students. The identified challenges include insufficient teachers’ knowledge and expertise in inclusive education, lack of institutional focus of attention on systematic planning and material design for inclusion, novelty of the concepts of inclusive education and assistive technology among others. The results of the study indicate the need for targeted teacher training and professional development, and suggest that innovations in education and technology can be effectively used to shift practices and perspectives of English language teaching in the context of Oman to being universally accessible, equally usable, more inclusive and tailored to students’ individual needs.

scholarly journals Teaching and Learning Vocabulary: What English Language Learners Perceive to Be Effective and Ineffective Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Seyyed Hatam Tamimi Sa’d ◽  
Fereshte Rajabi
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Language Teachers

Vocabulary constitutes an essential part of every language-learning endeavour and deserves scholarly attention. The objective of the present study was three-fold: 1) exploring Iranian English language learners’Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLSs), 2) examining language learners’ perceptions of vocabulary learning, and 3) exploring Iranian English language teachers’ Vocabulary Teaching Strategies (VTSs). In total, 145  intermediate learners of English as a foreign language, consisting of 114 males and 31 females aged 15 to 27, participated in the study. The triangulated data were collected using three tools: questionnaires, interviews, and class observations. Sixty-seven learners (31 females and 36 males) filled out a 56-statement questionnaire, adopted and adapted from Takač (2008) and translated into Persian. The questionnaire comprised two parts, enquiring as to the learners’ VLSs and the teachers’ VTSs. The findings indicated that females and males differed significantly in their reported VLSs and their teachers’ use of various VTSs. Additionally, 78 learners were interviewed as to their perceptions of effective and ineffective VLSs as well as VTSs. The findings revealed that the most effective VLSs were reported to be: a) reciting, repeating and listening to words, b) using words, and c) memorising words while the most effective VTSs revolved around: a) explanation, b) repetition, and c) dictation. The observations also confirmed the findings obtained via the questionnaire and interviews. In general, the findings are indicative of the limited repertoire of vocabulary acquisition techniques employed by Iranian EFL learners, hence the need for strategy training in how to acquire vocabulary. 

scholarly journals Incorporating Visual Arts into English Language Teaching

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 52-56
Author(s):  
U Thulasivanthana
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Visual Arts ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Learning English

Most English language learners in SVIAS consider learning English as a complex, tiresome, and uninteresting endeavor. They face unprecedented trials and tribulations in learning English as an additional language. Therefore, finding ways to stimulate learner involvement and motivation has become important for English language teachers. Current teaching methods, materials, and resources seem inadequate to fulfill the students’ attitudes, skills, interests, and needs. This experimental study examines whether integrating visual arts activities contributes to positive results for the students who would like to improve their English language skills. In addition to the experimental study, classroom observations were conducted. Arts can make learning exciting,unforgettable, and interesting. The advantages of incorporating arts in education have been extensively delineated in recent studies. Using arts in English language teaching helps to make learning exciting and unforgettable, decrease language learning anxiety, improve classroom atmosphere, increase memory and motivation, and build rapport with learners. This study aims to show the impacts of using contents visual arts in the English language classroom. The findings can assist English language teachers in promoting the use of contents related to visual arts in English class to cater to a range of preferences, strengths, and learning styles.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of using EyeRIS to Improve English Communication Skills of Primary Students

2020 ◽  
Vol V (II) ◽  
pp. 194-205
Author(s):  
Fareeha Javed ◽  
Saher Tariq ◽  
Sana Baig
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
English Language ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
School Level ◽  
Primary Students ◽  
English Language Teachers

The arrival of technology has opened doors to different opportunities. A number of institutions have integrated technology effectively in their learning environments to improve teamwork as well as to reform education as a whole. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of EyeRIS to improve English Communication skills at the Primary School level at one of the elite private schools in Lahore, Pakistan. The study employed a qualitative structured interview for data collection. A purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. The sample comprised five primary English language teachers. The findings of the study revealed that EyeRIS has a significant impact on improving the Communicative Skills of primary students. It helps to improve the receptive as well as productive skills of the primary level English language learners. Moreover, it is a powerful engagement and motivational tool in educational institutions. Overall, EyeRIS holds the potential for improving students' English language learning, academic performance as well as classroom behaviour.

scholarly journals LEARNING VOCABULARY THROUGH SONGS: A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF MUSIC IN TEACHING VERBS

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 550-557
Author(s):  
Ainul Azmin Md Zamin ◽  
Nor Azrul Hardi Adzmi ◽  
Maslawati Mohamad
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
New Words ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
Post Test ◽  
English Language Teachers

Purpose of the study: This study aims to investigate how the use of songs in English language classrooms could aid tertiary students to increase their verb vocabulary repertoire. Methodology: This quantitative study was carried out among diploma students from a local university in Malaysia. The students were exposed to various English songs during their English lessons. Pre-test and post-test were conducted in this study. Main Findings: The use of songs can increase vocabulary acquisition among English language learners at tertiary level. The use of songs is able to provide a fun way of picking up new words. Applications of this study: The findings of this research indicate that English language teachers of tertiary students should use English songs as classroom activities to facilitate their students’ language learning and motivate them in acquiring new English vocabulary. The findings of this research are useful for university policymakers, teachers, and students. Novelty/Originality of this study: In this research, the use of English songs from contemporary genres, such as Western or Islamic songs can be an effective way to promote language learning.

Identity, Investment, and Faces of English Internationally

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonny Norton
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Classroom Practice ◽  
English Language ◽  
Literacy Practices ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Language And Literacy ◽  
Digital World ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Identity Investment

AbstractThis article has been developed from a keynote address given at the June 2015 Faces of English conference held at the University of Hong Kong. The article examines the trajectory of Bonny Norton’s research on identity and language learning, highlighting her construct of investment, developed as a sociological complement to the psychological construct of motivation (Norton, 2013). An important focus of the paper is the expanded 2015 model of investment (Darvin & Norton, 2015), which responds to the changing communicative landscape of an increasingly digital world, and locates investment at the intersection of identity, capital, and ideology. Norton exemplifies her theories with data drawn from her collaborative research on English language learning in Canada, Pakistan, Uganda, and Iran. With reference to digital storytelling as a promising classroom practice, she argues that the challenge for English language teachers internationally is to promote learner investment in the language and literacy practices of classrooms by increasing the range of identities available to English language learners.

scholarly journals E-Classroom Interactional Competencies: Mediating and Assisting Language Learning During Synchronous Online Lessons

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822098527
Author(s):  
Benjamin Luke Moorhouse ◽  
Yanna Li ◽  
Steve Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educators ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Online Environment ◽  
Management Competencies ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Synchronous Online

Interaction is seen by many English language teachers and scholars as an essential part of face-to-face English language classrooms. Teachers require specific competencies to effectively use interaction as a tool for mediating and assisting learning. These can be referred to as classroom interactional competence (CIC). However, the situation created by the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic which began in early 2020, and the recent advancement in technologies have led to teachers conducting synchronous online lessons through video-conferencing software. The online environment is distinctly different from the face-to-face classroom and teachers require new and additional skills to effectively utilise interaction online in real time. This exploratory study used an online mixed-method survey of 75 university level English language teachers who had engaged in synchronous online teaching due to COVID-19, to explore the competencies that teachers need to use interaction as a tool to mediate and assist language learning in synchronous online lessons. Teachers were found to require three competencies, in addition to their CIC – technological competencies, online environment management competencies, and online teacher interactional competencies – which together constitute e-CIC. The findings provide greater insights into the needs of teachers required to teach synchronously online and will be of interest to teachers and teacher educators.

scholarly journals A Study of Language Anxiety among English Language Learners in Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Badia Muntazer Hakim
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Self Awareness

Classroom anxiety is a recurrent phenomenon for language learners. There are various factors that cause language anxiety, the most common of which include learners’ excessive self-consciousness and self-awareness concerning their oral reproduction and performance and their peculiar, and quite often misplaced and mistaken, views and beliefs regarding different approaches. Other potential reasons for this problem could include the fear, and the consequent deterrence occasioned thereof, of encountering difficulties in language learning, specifically learners’ individual problems regarding the culture of the target language and the varying social statuses of speakers. The most important fear is, perhaps, the deterrent fear of causing damage to one’s self-identity. Therefore, while needing to paying special attention to language learners’ anxiety reactions, language teachers have a crucial role in helping their students achieve the expected performance goals in the target language. Another factor that could potentially lead to language anxiety is simply the poor command of the target language. This problem could be attributed to linguistic barriers and obstacles language learners encounter in learning and using the target language. In the current study, using a qualitative, semi-structured interview and the focus-group discussion technique, the researcher aims to investigate the factors that contribute to language anxiety among Arab language learners. It focuses on learners both within the classroom setting and without, i.e. in the social context, and recommends a number of approaches to manage and overcome this problem.

Podcasting as a Next Generation Teaching Resource

2009 ◽  
pp. 350-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Ang Lu
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Almost All

This chapter aims to investigate how podcasts can be made to fit into the repertoire of resources utilized by teachers, especially in language education. It focuses on arming the language teacher with a fundamental knowledge of podcasting, centering on its potential applications in the classroom. Podcasts are ideal resources for language teachers, especially English language teachers, because almost all topics imaginable are now being treated in podcasts and the bulk of podcasts are recorded in English. Aside from making use of language-teaching podcasts, language teachers can also incorporate English language podcasts dealing with a wide range of issues to cater to the varying preferences of students. In addition to discussing these points, this chapter also provides suggestions for the practical incorporation of podcasts in language learning and teaching, both inside and outside the classroom. Two case studies demonstrating possible ways to use podcasts in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context are presented.

scholarly journals A CRITICAL STUDY ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF BLOOM’S TAXONOMY IN THE CONTEXT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma Niazi, Farida Azim Lodhi, Huma Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Bloom's Taxonomy ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Bloom’S Taxonomy ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
University Level

The purpose of this study was to critically analyze the effectiveness of Bloom’s taxonomy of educational objectives, in teaching English language at university level in Karachi, Pakistan. The conceptual framework of the study, included the results of two groups of English language learners that were independent and controlled group. For the current study quantitative research design was used. The population was English language teachers and students of English Department, those were sixty. Stratified sampling was used to extract the research sample. A well-designed test containing twenty-five marks was constructed, to get the achieved outcome of language teaching and learning. It was concluded that incorporating Bloom’s objectives of teaching would be able to improve English language learning among students at tertiary level. It was recommended that teachers training workshops should be arranged for English language teachers, so that they may enhance their knowledge about teaching critical thinking while incorporating Bloom’s objectives of teaching methodology, that may be benefitted both language learners and research in the field of English language learning in Pakistan.

scholarly journals PRE-SERVICE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS’ REFLECTIONS ON COOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Zülküf Altan
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Social Skill Development ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Academic Year

Cooperative Learning is an instructional model in which learners work together toward a common goal (Johnson & Johnson, 1986; Slavin, 1993). Research has clearly shown that cooperation results in higher levels of achievement (Johnson, et al., 1993). This article focuses on Cooperative Assessment, two students, one paper, as learning, and proposes viewing assessment as an integral part of the process of learning and teaching by trying to provoke thoughts about positive interdependence, individual accountability and social skill development, three key features of Cooperative Learning. The paper presents pre-service English Language Teachers’ reflections on Cooperative Assessment used as part of the final exam for “Individual Differences in Foreign Language Learning” course in Fall Semester of 2018-2019 academic year. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0870/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document