scholarly journals The influence of language learner’s Buddhist background on non-native written language processing

2021 ◽  
pp. 67-78
Author(s):  
Любовь Владимировна Даржинова
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Written Language ◽  
Religious Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Reading Study

In today’s digitalized world, discovering approaches to enhance written language processing is crucial for successful non-native language acquisition. Whereas psycholinguistic literature suggests that background knowledge generally facilitates written language processing,  hardly anything is known about whether religious affiliation as a part of language learner’s background affects non-native written language processing. Consequently, the current paper addresses the gap by conducting a small-scale web-based self-paced reading study. It explores whether English language learners  with Buddhist background process the Buddhist-related and religiously neutral texts similarly to those with the same proficiency level but with no religious affiliation. Thus, the experiment involved 20 Buddhist and non-religious learners of English from Russia’s regions of Kalmykia, Tuva, and Buryatia. The results of the experiment suggest that the Buddhist background of English language learners  contributes to faster processing and better recall of Buddhist-related texts in the target language. The paper argues for the need to supply written materials related to religion in a target language with notes and glossaries in order to hasten processing and improve recall in non-religious language learners.

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.

scholarly journals Novice teachers’ perspectives on the use of languages in French as a second language classes that include English language learners: A longitudinal view

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-95
Author(s):  
Callie Mady
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Novice Teachers ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Bachelor Of Education ◽  
Longitudinal View ◽  
Core French ◽  
Teachers Perspectives

In the Canadian context, although most considerations of the home-target language use divide are centred on the presence of English in French Second Language (FSL) programs, the increasing number of immigrants has provided impetus to extend the discussion to include the use of languages beyond Canada’s official languages.  With the use of questionnaires with novice teachers pre and post Bachelor of Education programs and interviews for three years hence, this study sought to explore novice teachers’ perspectives on the use of languages in the FSL classes that include English language learners (ELL). Novice teachers remained consistent in identifying the need to maximize French use, minimize English use, and include languages from students’ language repertoires as useful means to support the FSL acquisition of ELLs. In addition, the novice teacher participants revealed a preference for ELLs to be included in core French as opposed to immersion programming. 

Rapid shift in naming efficiency on a rapid automatic naming task by young Spanish-speaking English language learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 847-872
Author(s):  
Stephanie McMillen ◽  
Linda Jarmulowicz ◽  
Michael M. Mackay ◽  
D. Kimbrough Oller
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
English Language ◽  
Lexical Processing ◽  
Naming Task ◽  
Processing Efficiency ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Rapid Shift

AbstractThe present study analyzed lexical processing efficiency in Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) and their monolingual English-speaking peers from kindergarten through second grade. Specifically, changes in the patterns of speed and accuracy on a rapid object-naming task were evaluated across languages for the ELL children and across the groups of children. Repeated measures analysis of variance demonstrated that ELL children have a rapid shift in language processing efficiency from Spanish to English by the end of kindergarten. Results also showed that by the end of kindergarten ELL children were slightly faster and more accurate in English compared with their monolingual peers. This work provides perspective on how lexical processing is impacted by the development of a dual lexical system. We discuss how lexical density, strength of lexical connections, and environmental constraints may influence this rapid shift in lexical processing efficiency for young Spanish-speaking ELL children.

scholarly journals Empowering Teenage English Language Learners Through Creative Projects

2020 ◽  
Vol 2019 (1) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Mari Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Private Language ◽  
School Students ◽  
Japanese Students ◽  
Senior High School Students

Research shows that Japanese students’ motivation for English study tends to decline as they move through their schooling and that secondary-level students’ schoolwork-related anxiety rises as they grow older. In this practice-oriented paper, I first discuss the learning background and needs of junior and senior high school students at my private language school. I then describe small-scale “creative projects” that I design and implement with the aim of fostering the students’ intrinsic motivation for English language learning and to improve their confidence in expressing and discussing original ideas in English. The description of a sample project illustrates the project goal, class profile, and project procedure. My reflective comments regarding the effectiveness of the project in achieving the above-mentioned goals are also provided. Finally, the limitations of creative projects and possibilities of further improvements are discussed. 数々のリサーチが日本の中高生の英語学習への意欲は学年が上がるほどに減退し、彼らの学習についての不安は成長とともに高まると示唆している。この実践報告レポートでは、まず筆者の主宰する民間英語教室での中高生の学習状況と彼らが有する独特のニーズを自己決定理論と内発的動機づけに関する理論の観点を通して紹介する。次に、彼らの英語学習への内発的動機を育み、英語で独自のアイディアを表現する自信を高めるために当校で開発、実施している小規模な創造的プロジェクトを解説する。プロジェクトの描写ではプロジェクトの目的、クラス構成と活動手順を示し、プロジェクトが目的を果たす上での効果についての指導者の振り返りコメントも提示する。また最後に、現在の創造的プロジェクトの限界と今後の改善の可能性を述べる。

scholarly journals Communicating with Islamic Communication and Broadcasting English Language Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Lina Masruuroh ◽  
Lyla Anggerwina Kusuma
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
First Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Teacher Talk ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Communication Style ◽  
Effective Teacher ◽  
Language Classroom

Proper Teacher Talk (TT) used in the EFL classroom contributes to the effective communication in  TEFL. Teachers who are expected to implement proper and effective teacher talk are apparently seeing this as one of the most complicated elements to be appropriately integrated in EFL class due to the different context between target language and first language and also the excessive target language exposure that is given by English teacher to the students as one of authentic learning process in the classroom. Many research focus on researching effective TT strategy in general EFL classroom, however, there is ony limited number of them that focuses on researching this concept in Islamic classroom with its Islamic culture, Islamic learners and Islamic situations. This descriptive qualitative study discussed and proposed the effective teacher talks in supporting the success of teaching english as a foreign language classroom in Islamic context. This article had anaysed the interview result from 7 English-Islamic lecturers in Islamic Broadcasting and Communication Learners (KPI) major and used TT features which later focussed on its ammount, diction and questioning type under SLA theory. This article aims to explain why and what types of language of the proper communication style and strategies should be applied by the English lecturers in Islamic higher education for having the effective teacher talk to English-Islamic  learners, specifically to Islamic Broadcasting and Communication Learners, that could contribute to a professional development in English Language Teaching.

scholarly journals “MY GRADES ARE ALWAYS EQUAL TO STANDARDIZED CRITERIA”: DISCOVERING EFL LEARNERS’ MOTIVATION OUTSIDE FORMAL CLASSROOM

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 347-369
Author(s):  
Siti Jannatussholihah ◽  
Ashadi Ashadi ◽  
Erna Andriyanti
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Speech Community ◽  
Integrative Motivation ◽  
Instrumental Motivation ◽  
Depth Interviews

Motivation in language mastery is a crucial aspect that supports learner success especially in non-formal education. This study explores the motivation of English language learners in non-formal education as well as their perceived difficulties. Employing a qualitative approach with in-depth-interviews in the data collection, the study involved eight learners from a language course institution in Yogyakarta. The transcribed data were analyzed, interpreted, and categorised based on types of motivation and difficulties. The results show that most of the English learners possess instrumental motivation in learning foreign languages, but some tend to have integrative motivation. The instrumental motivation is mainly linked to efforts to pass the exam or tests with good grades. Their integrative motivation is related to recognizing the culture of the target language speech community and desire to communicate with the target community. Despite their motivation, they faced some difficulties related to language skills, especially reading and listening. In addition, they perceived vocabulary as hindrance in all the four skills. Further research to overcome the difficulties is recommended to maximize the learning achievement.

scholarly journals Exploring a Phonological Process Approach to Adult Pronunciation Training

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Franklin ◽  
Lana McDaniel
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Speech Sound ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Phonological Process ◽  
Phonological Processes ◽  
Phonological Learning ◽  
Pronunciation Instruction

Purpose The production of speech sound classes in adult language learners is affected by (a) interference between the native language and the target language and (b) speaker variables such as time speaking English. In this article, we demonstrate how phonological process analysis, an approach typically used in child speech, can be used to characterize adult target language phonological learning. Method Sentences produced by 2 adult Japanese English language learners were transcribed and coded for phoneme accuracy and analyzed according to the percent occurrence of phonological processes. The results were interpreted relative to a contrastive analysis between Japanese and English phonetic inventories and developmental norms for monolingual English children. Results In this pilot study, common consonant processes included vocalization, final consonant devoicing, and cluster reduction. These are processes commonly observed in the speech of children who are typically developing. Conclusions The process analysis can inform clinical approaches to pronunciation training in adult English language learners. For example, the cycles approach (Hodson & Paden, 1981) may provide more clinical efficacy than an articulatory approach in which phonemes are targeted individually. In addition, a process analysis can enable clinicians to examine the principles of within-class and across-class generalization in adult pronunciation instruction.

Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games as English as a Foreign Language Learning Environments

2019 ◽  
pp. 162-182
Author(s):  
Hélder Fanha Martins
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Role Playing Games

The objective of this chapter is to gain a better understanding of the usefulness of massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) for promoting English as a foreign language (EFL) acquisition. To accomplish this goal, the author analyzed specific categories of interaction occurring between English language learners while playing an online game entitled Eve Online. Previous research has proved that there are positive outcomes on EFL acquisition from the interaction that takes place while playing video games known as MMORPGs. These games immerse players in virtual worlds that are inhabited by hundreds and even thousands of other players, and all are partaking in the game in real time. Learners who choose to play the game in a foreign language are exposed to target language input in a context-rich environment where they can interact with native-speakers and other language learners.

scholarly journals The role of output and feedback in second language acquisition: a classroom-based study of grammar acquisition by adult English language learners

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Donesch-Jezo
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
English Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Parts Of Speech ◽  
Grammatical Competence ◽  
Learning Reinforcement

Second language acquisition (SLA) has been a concern of many teachers and researchers since the early 1960s. One of the issues related to SLA has been finding the techniques which effectively focus the learners’ attention on the target form. A number of theories and methods have been advocated for this purpose, ranging from implicit options to more explicit ones. Although each of the suggested methods has its own advantages, they have, so far, proved insufficient to get learners to be able to notice the gap between their own interlanguage forms and the target language forms. Swain (1995, 1998) has argued that a part from providing the learners with comprehensible input, comprehensible output also plays a beneficial role in L2 acquisition. By encouraging the learners to speak or write in the L2 and providing them with the opportunities to do so, the learners can notice that they are not able to say what they want to say in the target language. On the basis of Swain’s output hypothesis, we assumed that encouraging adult learners (university students) to produce target-like output would promote their achievement of the grammatical competence necessary for producing academic tests. The purpose of this article is to present the evidence from a class-room-based, small-scale study of the effect of output on learner acquisition of L2 modal verbs, adjectives and adverbs conveying the meanings of uncertainty, all of which are parts of speech that are important metadiscourse items. The results of the present study suggest that an approach in which students are encouraged to produce comprehensible output, combined with their being provided with learning reinforcement ensured by appropriate feedback, can be an effective source of establishing long-lasting grammatical accuracy in the students’ target language

scholarly journals Second Language Acquisition and Mother Tongue Influence of English Language Learners – A Psycho Analytic Approach

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (4.36) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
A. Delbio ◽  
R. Abilasha ◽  
M. Ilankumaran
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
First Language ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Second Language Learner

Language is a tool used to convey one’s thoughts, feelings and needs. Mother tongue is the language acquired by everyone ever since his birth. A learner encounters mother tongue influence while learning or speaking a foreign language or target language. Mother tongue influence is something that affects a person’s thought process in a sense that he thinks in mother tongue and expresses in English or a second language. People use incorrect pronunciation of words while communicating in English language as they are influenced by the sound patterns of their mother tongue. A second language learner has an unconscious preference to convey his customs from his first language to the target language. The influence of mother tongue has become a significant region and is generally referred to as ‘Language Interference’. Every language learner comes across this issue. Students, sometimes, use words from their parent language while communicating in English. This paper speaks about the difficulties faced by the learners of the second language and the causes of first language influence. This paper attempts to bring out the ways to avoid the overwhelmed influence of mother tongue and gives some notions to the students to develop their second language skills.  

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