scholarly journals Assessing English as an International Language for Government Officials

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Douglas Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
International Communication ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Strategic Competence ◽  
International Language

<p>The function of English as an international language (hereafter called EIL) is firmly entrenched in many aspects of modern life, such as academia, aviation, business, education, international relations, science, and tourism. This trend has led high-stakes English language proficiency tests to serve increasingly critical gate-keeping roles for people seeking admission to tertiary institutions, employment overseas, and career advancement. However, while language tests focus on language proficiency, they do not measure the ability over and above core linguistic competence that enables and enhances successful international communication. As more and more English communication occurs between people from different language and cultural backgrounds, research and testing of these skills is warranted.  This thesis identifies receptive intelligibility (listening skills), productive intelligibility (speaking skills), intercultural competence, and strategic competence in negotiating meaning as key abilities that enhance the use of EIL. An investigation of these four abilities sets the groundwork for their conceptualization and operationalization into a test battery aimed at government officials from developing Asian and African countries who have gone through English-language training at Victoria University of Wellington. Results from classroom observations and a survey of the participant’s target language use tasks serve to highlight the contexts and purposes for which they use English, as well as providing the contexts for developing test tasks and items and conceptualizing skills used to improve international communication. The four abilities identified above were then operationalized into testable items for an online test battery consisting of four constructs and a total of 76 items. The purpose of this test battery is to serve as a low-stakes assessment tool for making decisions regarding the international communicative competence of government employees who use English for international communication.  The validation of the test battery uses the Bachman and Palmer (1996) approach for determining test usefulness, which is shaped by six test qualities. These qualities form a validation argument supported by evidence for construct validity, reliability, authenticity, interactiveness, practicality, and impact. Results from the validation of the test battery show that the correlation between the four constructs (receptive intelligibility, productive intelligibility, intercultural competence, and strategic competence) is positive, however each of the theoretical constructs was found to be much deeper and broader than the test battery is able to measure. Intercultural competence was found to be the least related to intelligibility and strategic competence, suggesting that intercultural problems are less immediate barriers to successful international communication.  The discussion focuses on the major issues with the test battery, such as construct under-representation, internal consistency problems and the logistical challenges of online testing. This thesis concludes with the methodological limitations of the test battery and suggestions for broadening and deepening test items to account for the complexity and multidimensionality of these four constructs. While the test needs further development, it is a first step into assessing the dynamic and fluid nature of English as an international language.</p>

scholarly journals Assessing English as an International Language for Government Officials

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Douglas Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
International Communication ◽  
Test Battery ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Strategic Competence ◽  
International Language

<p>The function of English as an international language (hereafter called EIL) is firmly entrenched in many aspects of modern life, such as academia, aviation, business, education, international relations, science, and tourism. This trend has led high-stakes English language proficiency tests to serve increasingly critical gate-keeping roles for people seeking admission to tertiary institutions, employment overseas, and career advancement. However, while language tests focus on language proficiency, they do not measure the ability over and above core linguistic competence that enables and enhances successful international communication. As more and more English communication occurs between people from different language and cultural backgrounds, research and testing of these skills is warranted.  This thesis identifies receptive intelligibility (listening skills), productive intelligibility (speaking skills), intercultural competence, and strategic competence in negotiating meaning as key abilities that enhance the use of EIL. An investigation of these four abilities sets the groundwork for their conceptualization and operationalization into a test battery aimed at government officials from developing Asian and African countries who have gone through English-language training at Victoria University of Wellington. Results from classroom observations and a survey of the participant’s target language use tasks serve to highlight the contexts and purposes for which they use English, as well as providing the contexts for developing test tasks and items and conceptualizing skills used to improve international communication. The four abilities identified above were then operationalized into testable items for an online test battery consisting of four constructs and a total of 76 items. The purpose of this test battery is to serve as a low-stakes assessment tool for making decisions regarding the international communicative competence of government employees who use English for international communication.  The validation of the test battery uses the Bachman and Palmer (1996) approach for determining test usefulness, which is shaped by six test qualities. These qualities form a validation argument supported by evidence for construct validity, reliability, authenticity, interactiveness, practicality, and impact. Results from the validation of the test battery show that the correlation between the four constructs (receptive intelligibility, productive intelligibility, intercultural competence, and strategic competence) is positive, however each of the theoretical constructs was found to be much deeper and broader than the test battery is able to measure. Intercultural competence was found to be the least related to intelligibility and strategic competence, suggesting that intercultural problems are less immediate barriers to successful international communication.  The discussion focuses on the major issues with the test battery, such as construct under-representation, internal consistency problems and the logistical challenges of online testing. This thesis concludes with the methodological limitations of the test battery and suggestions for broadening and deepening test items to account for the complexity and multidimensionality of these four constructs. While the test needs further development, it is a first step into assessing the dynamic and fluid nature of English as an international language.</p>

scholarly journals Toward English as an International Language Perspective: Reconception of „Proficiency in English‟ for the Indonesian Local Context in Today‟s World

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (5C) ◽  
pp. 1575-1580
Keyword(s):  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Personal Constructs ◽  
International Language ◽  
Interview Technique ◽  
Global Language

For many years, English Language Teaching (henceforth ELT) in Indonesia has adopted a monolithic view toward the so-called ‘native speaker English’ as an ideal target language. However, this view has been challenged by the pluralistic view of English. Sociolinguistics realities indicate the plurality of the English language has grown enormously around the world. In term of English proficiency, this notion is made more complicated in the absence of any unitary framework and by the diverse meanings arising from in its use as a global language. The aim of this study is to identify the attributes of ‘Proficiency in English’ which suits with the local needs for the Indonesian context in today’s world. To this end, the personal constructs of a small number of English teachers were explored and identified. A Repertory Grid interview technique was used to elicit the meanings of ‘Proficiency in English’ which were based on the teachers’ understanding. For analyzing the qualitative data, a thematic analysis was employed to formulate the themes. These teachers of English revealed that they perceived ‘Proficiency in English’ comprising knowledge of English and abilities to apply it in real situations. Surprisingly, they also declared that to be proficient in English, one should have intercultural competence and employ it for the intercultural and cross-cultural communications internationally which has been advocated by the English as an International language (henceforth EIL) perspective. The findings of this study could be used to inform ELT program and its practices in the Indonesian context.

CLT using CEFR and EIL in Southeast Asia and East Asia in the English language classroom

RELC Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 003368822199807
Author(s):  
Joseph Foley
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
World Language ◽  
International Language ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
English Proficiency Index

This article discusses language teaching and the move from a predominantly psycholinguistic to a more sociolinguistic approach through Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), the Common European Framework of Reference Languages (CEFR) and English as an International Language (EIL). The context is four plurilingual and pluricultural societies in Southeast Asia and East Asia, (Thailand, Japan, Vietnam and China). These countries were chosen as they had similarities in the development of CEFR and consequently there were common factors that needed to be addressed in implementing CEFR. According to the English Proficiency Index (2020) a number of countries in the region have been described as being in the category of low or very low with regard to proficiency. To help improve such a situation, given the need for economic development, CEFR was introduced by various Ministries of Education in addition to the already existing official CLT syllabuses. English as an international language has also been widely proposed by a number of researchers, in terms of making teachers, students and educators aware of English as a world language as well as developing an attitudinal change with regard to ‘standard’ English. This article suggests that the basic principles of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) can be best applied through scaffolding using CEFR and EIL given the reality of teaching in relatively low English language proficiency contexts.

Indonesian Learner Cultural Characteristics and Perception toward Western Culture

Educatio ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jalaluddin Jalaluddin ◽  
◽  
Iwan Jazadi ◽  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Western Culture ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Western World ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
International Language ◽  
Shed Light

This paper argues that to have a successful learning of English in Indonesian schools, the consideration of culture should be at the forefront. That is, it is acknowledged that to learn English as a second or foreign language cannot be separated from the target language culture or the western culture. On the other hand, the perspective of English as global or international language allows the integration or use of students’ local cultural background into the teaching materials. To shed light on this critical issue, this study seeks to describe Indonesian learners’ characteristic cultural backgrounds and their perception toward western culture. Relying on a literature study and the first author’s experience and observation, the findings show that Indonesian learners share the culturally embedded characteristics of passivity, shyness, and lack of critical thinking, while perceiving western culture as negative, colonizing, dominating, and threatening. Therefore, it is concluded that English language teaching in Indonesia should integrate students’ local cultures and be prepared and implemented by highly skilled Indonesian teachers and practitioners who are abreast with ELT theories and development at the world level including those from the western world.

scholarly journals Students’ Perceptions Towards Extensive Reading In Efl Contexts

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-104
Author(s):  
Rini Lindawati
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Learning English

Most university students are struggling in learning English as Foreign Language. The utilization of an extensive reading strategy will potentially promote more striking influential impacts on EFL learners’ target language proficiency. The students' perceptions influence the success of teaching and learning English. The research aimed to know the students’ perception of Extensive Reading in EFL contexts. The researcher used the Qualitative Research method. This study was conducted in Universitas Islam Majapahit. The researcher selected twelve senior students of the English language education department who have already received the extensive reading subject in their previous semesters. The researcher collected the data through semi-structured interviews. The data were then analyzed by following Miles and Huberman’s (1994) framework. The results showed that the students had positive perceptions toward Extensive Reading practices. They considered if Extensive Reading is a reading activity for pleasure and information search where they can read material without any restraint. Besides, Extensive Reading also contributed to developing their comprehension and English skills such as listening, speaking, reading, writing, vocabulary mastery, and grammar. Moreover, Extensive Reading enabled them to enjoy the learning experience.

Commanding the Class in a Foreign Tongue: The Influence of Language Proficiency and Intercultural Competence on Classroom Leadership

2021 ◽  
pp. 001312452110484
Author(s):  
Changmi Wang
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
English Language ◽  
Predicting Factors ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
English Medium Instruction ◽  
Reported Data ◽  
Classroom Leadership ◽  
Communicative Abilities

This article examines the influence of English language proficiency and intercultural competence on the English-medium instruction lecturer’s classroom leadership. It analyzes self-reported data obtained by three measuring scales from 188 English-medium instruction lecturers of a Chinese university. The Pearson correlational analysis indicated that there were significant positive relationships between the English-medium instruction lecturer’s classroom leadership and the two predicting factors. The multiple regression analysis suggested that both intercultural competence and English proficiency contribute much to the variance of the English-medium instruction lecturer’s classroom leadership. It was found that the lecturer’s language proficiency and intercultural communicative abilities could be two determining factors for the lecturer to deliver their disciplinary knowledge and command the class in an engaging and competent manner. The findings may provide implications for the strategic intervention of English-medium instruction educators in institutions of higher education.

A moving and mystifying target language?

English Today ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 2-2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kingsley Bolton ◽  
David Graddol ◽  
Rajend Mesthrie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
The United States ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Cultural Constraints ◽  
Selection Of

This issue presents a selection of articles on English in various contexts and settings, with a significant focus on education in the first four. Susan Van Rooy describes the language experiences of South Korean academics and their families in a small town in South Africa, and the consequences of their stay abroad for their English language proficiency. She reminds us that not all EFL learners of English have the ‘Inner Circle’ mainstream as their model: Potchefstroom, South Africa offers a mix between Inner and Outer Circle, probably having more features of the latter. Christian Burrows writes about methodologies of EFL classrooms in Japan, where cultural constraints make TBL (Task-Based Learning) more challenging than its Western proponents realise. The next two articles emphasise the need to pay attention to colloquial spoken language. Manfred Markus writes about the need to focus on phonetic accuracy in EFL teaching, or at least to try and replicate mainstream norms as much as possible. Fan Xianlong contributes a paper on the ever-changing spoken norms of the mainstream, based on his experiences as a visiting scholar in the United States. Although many of the features he describes are well known to Western sociolinguists, the article presents a refreshing perspective of how complex the notion of ‘target language’ must be to users of ESL and EFL. More often it is a moving and mystifying target, with its cultural and political minefields that find their way into everyday usage.

scholarly journals Meeting business students’ English language needs in the Algerian tertiary education

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-139
Author(s):  
Soraya Benzerdjeb
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Digital Platforms ◽  
The Government

Graduate Algerian economic sciences students, who will be future university teachers or workplace managers, are urged to use the English language. However, most of them reveal that they are unable to use the English language appropriately. The main aim in this paper is to depict students’ difficulties and help them improve their academic language performance. This paper describes the teaching and learning situations of English for Business and Economics (EBE) in the Department of Economic Sciences at the University of Tlemcen. The investigator used a questionnaire and two structured interviews. The sampling included EBE learners and English for specific purposes teachers as well as workplace managers (former EBE students). The main findings in this investigation confirmed that students had poor target language proficiency. Results revealed that the content of the actual EBE course was inappropriate to learners’ needs. The investigator wants to integrate new technologies as the government supplies digital platforms to the Algerian universities.   Keywords: Algerian, tertiary education, English, Economics, business students.

scholarly journals A CREATIVE ALLIANCE BETWEEN LEARNER AUTONOMY AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING: PAKISTANI UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ BELIEFS

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Musarat YASMIN ◽  
Ayesha SOHAIL
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learner Autonomy ◽  
Target Language ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
University Teachers

Learner autonomy has been a focus of research for last three decades. Not only the nature of phenomenon was investigated but also its role in foreign language learning attracted researchers’ interests. The present paper examines the mutual creative relationship between learner autonomy and target foreign language acquisition. Following an interpretive paradigm, this qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore the beliefs of 16 university teachers of English language teaching in four public sector universities of province Punjab, Pakistan. Results revealed a close creative connection between learner autonomy and English language learning. Teachers believed that autonomy in learners accelerates language learning. Major aspects of learner autonomy were reported fulfilling the perceived needs of foreign language learning. The study implied that fostering of autonomy in learners accelerates target language proficiency.

scholarly journals Questioning in English as a Foreign Language University Classes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Van Anh Phan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Communicative Interaction ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Efl Classrooms

<p>Vietnam has experienced many changes in education and in teaching and learning English as a foreign language since 1986 (Hoang, 2010). There are ongoing concerns about how to best develop English proficiency in EFL classes, especially how to promote students’ English communicative competency in this context. Questioning is an essential tool to help EFL teachers fulfil instructional goals (Boyd, 2015). Questioning particularly plays an important role in creating interactions to promote student’s English language proficiency in EFL classroom (Tuan & Nhu, 2010). Therefore, my study investigated how teachers and students perceived and used questioning to promote English teaching and learning in tertiary EFL classrooms in Vietnam. This also shed light on the implementation of communicative language teaching (CLT) in Vietnam. My study uses a sociocultural lens, with a qualitative multiple case design (Creswell, 2015; Johnson & Christensen, 2014). The two cases investigate questioning in classes where English was taught as a non-major subject, and questioning in classes where English was taught as a major. Data were triangulated through semi-structured and stimulated recall interviews with eight teachers, focus groups with eight groups of students, and observations of eight EFL classes. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyse data to find out the themes, the “important idea that occurs multiple times” in the data (Johnson & Christensen, 2014, p. 600) Three themes about questioning arose from studying these Vietnamese EFL classes. Firstly, questioning involved communicative interaction, which created opportunities for participants to communicate in the target language. This interaction also empowered students to engage in the lesson. Secondly, using questioning teachers orchestrated learning, diagnosed learning needs, and facilitated classroom relationships. The third theme, “My home, my rules” indicates that questioning was contextually situated. Questioning within these EFL classrooms in Vietnam reflected cultural features, such as the traditional roles of teacher and student, the concern for face or status, and the use of Vietnamese in English classes.  My data show that both teachers and students can use questioning to promote language learning through critical thinking and collaborative learning. These are central interactive and communicative skills in tertiary EFL teaching and learning in Vietnam. The effectiveness of questioning in my study depended on teachers’ skills. It was a commonly used technique to develop English language learning.  This study proposes an adapted model of learning and teaching to capture EFL learning. The model captures how teachers apply CLT and teach English for different purposes. It also emphasises the contextual features influencing questioning and therefore teaching and learning the target language. In this model, questioning is at the centre, promoting learning relationships among the teacher and students. The study contributes to an understanding of using questioning to promote language learning in EFL classroom in an Asian context, and may be relevant to CLT application for language learning classrooms in a wider international context.</p>

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document