scholarly journals Understanding Students’ Resistance to Autonomous Learning in an L2 English Language Course at a University in Lebanon

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
M. Khairallah ◽  
O. Fleonova ◽  
O. M. Nicolas

This qualitative research investigates students’ resistance to autonomous learning activities in an English language course at a university in Lebanon. Data was gathered across four sections of English 101 based on observations of 68 students, focus group discussions and two teachers’ reflective diaries. Thematic analysis yielded that students showed signs of resistance during collaborative learning, metacognitive activities, and the evaluation process. The students were also unwilling to independently use available language learning resources. The data suggested that the possible causes of resistance lay in the mismatches between students’ expectations and the course design, the learning cultures that the students bring to the classroom, and students’ perceptions of the place English holds both at the university and in their lives. This study reveals that expressions of resistance during classroom interactions resonate with the complex and layered nature of English language learning.

Author(s):  
Daflizar Daflizar

. In response to the interest in learner autonomy in recent years, educational research has been increasingly paying attention to students’ out-of-class autonomous learning activities. This study aims to (1) describe the extent to which Indonesian tertiary students engaged in autonomous English language learning outside the class, (2) explore their perceived constraints in practicing autonomous learning, and (3) examine whether there are any significant differences in the autonomous learning activities between female and male students and between the English major students and non-English major students. Employing the explanatory mixed-method design, a total of 402 first-year students completed a questionnaire, and 30 of whom were interviewed. The questionnaire data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, and the interview data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results showed that the students did engage in several out-of-class English learning activities, however many of the activities were more receptive than productive. The interviews echoed the questionnaire results, and the students claimed that they were not autonomous in their learning due to several constraints. The results also revealed that there is no significant difference in the level of practice of autonomous out-of-class activities based on gender but a significant difference was found concerning majors of study. Practical implications for the Indonesian context are put forward.


Author(s):  
Saleh Jebrael Saleh ◽  
Shahen Jamal Majeed

Purpose: This study aimed to examine motivation toward learning the English Language among learners from different universities in Iraq. The study focused on identifying   the type of, instrumental and integrative, and also the activities that learners prefer to use in the classroom. Methodology/Approach/Design: The study applied both qualitative and quantitative design. The instruments used in the study included questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. A sample of 200 participants were engaged in an online survey and filled the questionnaire questions. An interview through zoom was also conducted with the selected group of learners. Results: The findings of the study revealed that learners were motivated more instrumentally as compared to integratively. It was also evident that the students were interested in different learning activities. Practical Implication: This study will have a greater contribution to the pedagogy of English language learning. The findings of the study might be used by curriculum developers to make changes and implement the best techniques of teaching English in the Iraqi EFL curriculum. Originality/Value: The results of this study may make the university teachers and students aware of the significance of motivation in enhancing the English learning process. Also, the findings may make university teachers more creative in developing interactive learning activities that will be suitable for students.


2020 ◽  
Vol 202 ◽  
pp. 07066
Author(s):  
Suharyo

This research aims to change the culture of listening to a culture of communication/speaking in teaching and learning activities in the classroom because so far, students tend to be passive and lectures go in one way. Besides that, lectures are intended so that students can think and speak critically. For that, a number of models of learning that allows students to think and communicate critically are applied. In addition to that, learning a research-based language is also applied in the lecture. In this study, the analysis of Pan Kosicki's framing model was taken as its approach. The methods are (1) the application of a number of models of learning (discovery, inquiry, focus group discussions, and problem-based) on the learning activities and (2) take the coverage of the contestation of Jokowi and Prabowo which are published in the media viva.com and tribunes.com as examples of research cases. The results are (1) has occurred a change of culture, namely from culture to listening into culture of communication, (2) a method of learning discovery and inquiry as well as FGD are models of learning which are considered effective, (4) there are a number of students who wrote the thesis by using analysis of framing, and (5) the media tend to be less objective in reporting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Ganjar Susilo ◽  
Prita Indriawati ◽  
Retnowaty Retnowaty

Learning activities for the community in the villages of Lamaru RT 06 and RT 17 were Community Service activities carried out by lecturers and students at the University of Balikpapan in Lamaru Village, East Balikpapan, with the aim of realizing the Tri Dharma of Universities by using their values and forms in community and state life, increase the power of interest in learning society in order to get a better education and provide new insights and knowledge about education and can be used in community life in the area where local people live. The method of community service in RT 17 and RT 06 of Lamaru Village by conducting Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The results of the discussion were 1) the formation of cooperation between the community service team of the University of Balikpapan very well so that efforts to increase the learning interest of the community in Lamaru Sub-District can run well, 2) the students who took part in educational activities were very active in the activities given, such as tutoring, knowledge dexterity competitions, and simple experiments in setting up model patterns of objects around them using plasticine media, and 3) young people playing an active role in helping education skills in creative activities. Keywords: community learning interest, tutoring, knowledge agility competition


LEKSIKA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
S Supardi

Up to this present time, self access language learning (SALL) has become an interesting topic for study. Many scholars have devoted their attention to the study on this topic that many of their papers are published in Studies in Self Access Learning journal. Though many studies have discussed this topic, the websites that can be integrated into SALL as a strategic way to ficilitate the autonomous learning remains underresearched. This paper is based on a research looking at the integration of websites into SALL from the perspective of SALL materials in an online SALL centre. It looks at which English language skills are offered as SALL materials and which websites provide SALL materials. The data concerning these two themes were collected from the online visit to to Self Access Centre and INdependent Learning (SACIL) set up at the University of Waikato. SALL materials in SACIL include general language skills, grammar, reading, listening, speaking and pronunciation, writing, punctuation, vocabulary and spelling, IELTS, and study skills and exam preparation which are linked to a large number of websites. With these website-based SALL materials, the learners over the world can finally practice their skill autonomously.Key words: website, self access laguage learning, autonomous learning.


Accurate pronunciation has a vital role in English language learning as it can help learners to avoid misunderstanding in communication. However, EFL learners in many contexts, especially at the University of Phan Thiet, still encounter many difficulties in pronouncing English correctly. Therefore, this study endeavors to explore English-majored students’ perceptions towards the role of pronunciation in English language learning and examine their pronunciation practicing strategies (PPS). It involved 155 English-majored students at the University of Phan Thiet who answered closed-ended questionnaires and 18 English-majored students who participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that students strongly believed in the important role of pronunciation in English language learning; however, they sometimes employed PPS for their pronunciation improvement. Furthermore, the results showed that participants tended to use naturalistic practicing strategies and formal practicing strategies with sounds, but they overlooked strategies such as asking for help and cooperating with peers. Such findings could contribute further to the understanding of how students perceive the role of pronunciation and their PPS use in the research’s context and other similar ones. Received 10th June 2019; Revised 12th March 2020; Accepted 12th April 2020


Author(s):  
Esmira Mehdiyev ◽  
Celal Teyyar Uğurlu ◽  
Gonca Usta

This study aims to determine the university students’ level of motivation in terms of different variables. A study group of this research has been designed through one of the non-random sampling methods, Using appropriate sampling, 606 students from Faculty of Education of C.U. have been involved in this study. Motivation scale in English Language Learning developed by Mehdiyev,Usta,Uğurlu (2015) was used as an instrument of data collection. T-test and one - way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to resolve problems of this research. As a result of the research the motivation level of university students hasn’t been revealed significantly different regarding to the gender variable. However, considering the t-test results of motivation scale dimensions, confidence, attitude and personal use, significant difference is seen in favour of women in personal use dimension. The level of language learning motivation of female students is higher than men’s regarding to personal use dimension. However, men’s and women’s views don’t differ significantly in attitude and confidence dimensions. University students don’t present significant differences in terms of birth place, parent’s education level, total motivation scores and confident, attitude and personal dimensions. Students’ motivation levels are seen not to be influenced by the places such as village, provision or city where they have spent the most of their lifetime. At the same time the findings revealed that parental status variable in terms of primary, secondary and university graduates has no effects on students’ motivation.


Author(s):  
Shaukat Ali ◽  
Saddam Hussain ◽  
Iftikhar Ali

This study exploits John Milton's poems "On His Blindness, and "Methought I Saw My Late Espoused Saint" for teaching speaking skills to ESL learners. The study utilized a quasi-experimental design consisting of a treatment group (TG) and a comparison group (CG). CG was taught through conventional language text whereas TG was treated with the aforementioned poems. The main focus of the study was to observe the language learning behavior of the students of both TG and CG during language learning activities. The study therefore employed observation field notes beside the speaking type pretest and posttest as tools of data collection. The thematic analysis of the observation field notes indicated that the students of TG were confident, motivated, involved in, and excited about the language learning activities. On the contrary, the students of the CG were found to be hesitant, passive, and demotivated during the language learning venture. Consequently, the students of TG performed significantly better than that of CG on the posttest. The study recommends that poetry should be utilized for teaching the English language in general and speaking skills in particular.


2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Daniel Dunkley

In this interview Professor Green explains the work of CRELLA (the Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment at the University of Bedfordshire), and its role in the improvement of language testing. The institute contributes to this effort in many ways. For example, in the field of language education they are partners in English Profile (EP: www.englishprofile.org), a collaborative research programme directed towards a graded guide to learner language at different CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) levels, based on the 50 million word Cambridge Learner Corpus. Among other things, the EP has helped to inform the development of the CEFR-J in Japan. In this interview, Professor Green also outlines his own work, especially in the areas of washback and assessment literacy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Klomsri ◽  
Matti Tedre

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly used in Tanzanian education. Knowing how to operate ICT alone is incomplete without knowing how to use it as a tool for organization, communication, research, and problem-solving. In recognition of this challenge, information literacy (IL) has been identified as a key attribute to students as they progress through their learning paths. Based on a mixed methods strategy, using questionnaires and focus group discussions, this study measured the level of IL skills among University of Dar es Salaam’s (UDSM) postgraduate students, to gain insights into the students’ perceptions and experiences with information problems. A total of 102 students from four institutions answered the online questionnaire and 22 students participated in six focus group discussions. The questionnaire scores of the students were poor in the majority of IL categories, suggesting ineffectiveness of the current IL training in imparting IL knowledge and skills. The study ends by discussing recommendations to improve current IL practices at the university.


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