scholarly journals Phrasal Verbs in English as a Second/Foreign Language

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rana Abid Thyab
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are used very regularly in the English language, and native English speakers are found to use phrasal verbs on a daily basis and cannot do without the use of phrasal verbs in everyday communicative situations. However, phrasal verbs in English language teaching as a second/foreign language is almost non-existent. That is, English as a second language (ESL)/English as a foreign language (EFL) teaching environments, in the Arab world, and specifically in Iraq, hardly teach the meaning of phrasal verbs to students, and neglect teaching the correct ways of using them, despite the fact that they are an essential part of daily native English communication. Therefore, and due to the vitality of phrasal verbs to native speakers of English, ESL/EFL students should be taught and educated to be capable of understanding and using phrasal verbs when interacting in English because knowledge of phrasal verbs would normally lead to better English language proficiency and more native-like communication. Nonetheless, phrasal verbs are not easy, and students often find them difficult, because phrasal verbs carry a specific meaning which is not inferable from the meaning of its composing words inseparable form as well as other reasons which have been explained within this paper. Hence, this paper points to the necessity of including phrasal verbs in English language teaching. Through implementing a qualitative approach, the aim, within this paper, is to identify and list causes of difficulty that learners of the English language may face when it comes to knowledge of English phrasal verbs, with regard to the spontaneous and fluent use of phrasal verbs by native English speakers. The significance, here, is to point out the need of taking this matter into serious concern and to offer suggestions and recommendations for better English as a second/foreign language learning and teaching, all in hope of better English language proficiency and ability.

scholarly journals Canadian English teachers: Volunteering to teach their mother tongue in a foreign country

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gloria Romero
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Volunteer Teachers ◽  
Efl Students

In order to increase English language proficiency in Chile, native English speakers are recruited to work as volunteer teachers. This qualitative study explores the ESL teaching experiences of 10 Canadian volunteers who worked in Chilean public schools. Data was collected through closed- and open-ended surveys applied before teaching and one-on-one interviews after eight months. This study is situated within the literature on volunteering and English language teaching (ELT); in addition, socioconstructivist and experiential lenses were adopted, based on Vygotsky and Dewey respectively. The results showed that when volunteer teachersrecalled their experiences teaching English abroad, they acknowledged the importance of student motivation, use of the mother tongue, the feeling of frustration, interaction with EFL students, previous experiences, teaching strategies, and views about English language teaching.

scholarly journals English Language Teaching within the New Educational Policy of Turkey: Views of Stakeholders

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esim Gursoy ◽  
Sule C. Korkmaz ◽  
Ebru A. Damar
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Educational Policy ◽  
Prospective Teachers ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Second Grade

Teaching English to young learners has gained speed in the past twenty years. Many countries in Europe are offering English at the primary level as advised by the EU. The efforts to lower the age for foreign language learning have echoed in countries in Asia as well. Turkey as one of these countries has changed its educational policy in 2012 and launched the new English Language Teaching Program for grades 2-8 in 2013. Along with many changes, the new system offers EFL in the second grade. The present study not only aims to investigate the views of prospective ELT teachers towards this change, but also to compare their views with those of trainers, and English teachers who were investigated in the earlier phases of the study. The results indicate that although all three groups of participants favor an earlier start in foreign language education, there are significant differences between groups in terms of the appropriate starting time and teaching methodologies used. Teachers were indecisive as they favored both the first and second tiers to introduce a foreign language. The results have implications for policy makers, teachers, teacher trainers, and prospective teachers.

scholarly journals A systemic-functional analysis of parataxis and hypotaxis in academic IELTS sample essays

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-46
Author(s):  
Nguyen Thi Trung, Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa Pham
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Occurrence Frequency ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
International English

The International English Language Testing, which involves the assessment of four English skills has been selected as the preferred test to measure English language proficiency of non-native English speakers. In IELTS academic writing, grammatical range and accuracy, of which test-takers are required to use is one of the four criteria used to evaluate candidates’ written essays, which record a considerable occurrence frequency of clause complexes. In order to shape clause complexes, two basic kinds of logical relations in language are employed: parataxis and hypotaxis. They indicate how two or more adjacent clauses are connected to each other in dependent or interdependent ways. This study conducts an analysis of how clause complexes in IELTS academic exposition and discussion essays are formed by highly successful test-takers in light of functional grammar, thereby providing non-native writers with a better understanding of accurate parataxis and hypotaxis employment to produce good IELTS academic writing essays.

scholarly journals Meaningful Learning and Its Implications for Language Education in Vietnam

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 98-102
Author(s):  
Bui Phu Hung
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Meaningful Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
English Language Teaching

This paper attempts to make an argument for meaningful learning as an essential factor in the teaching of English as a foreign language. Meaningful learning rests its theories against cognitive processing. While contemporary literature shows knowledge of language in general is essential for second language use, this research is mainly concerned with ways of improving students’ language use. It has proved that meaningful learning facilitates the retention of knowledge as it makes learners organize their knowledge logically. In the classroom, the teacher should offer activities that relate the new input to learners’ existing knowledge, for which cognitive engagement is required. In English language teaching, it is important for teachers to know that learner-centeredness should be applied because they are the ones who process knowledge. This paper begins with an overview of different approaches of foreign language teaching, then presents theories in which meaningful learning is grounded and rooted. The discussion of how one’s knowledge of a first language is essential for foreign language learning is given prior to giving implications of meaningful learning in the Vietnamese context.

scholarly journals Constraints on innovation in English language teaching in hinterland regions of China

2020 ◽  
pp. 136216882097985
Author(s):  
Neil Murray ◽  
Antony J. Liddicoat ◽  
Gavin Zhen ◽  
Penny Mosavian
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
English Language ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Political Influence ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Chinese Government

Since the start of the twenty-first century, English has come to be seen by the Chinese government as a linchpin of its continued economic and political influence. Its resultant efforts to promote innovation in English language teaching align with the aspirations of a population, many of whom regard competency in English as a determiner of opportunity and success in their careers, and thus a vehicle through which to provide a good quality of life for themselves and their families. However, despite government-driven initiatives to improve English language education, change has been slow to materialize, especially outside of the main urban areas of Eastern China. Here, we report on a study that sought to explore the constraints governing attempts by teachers of English to innovate in universities located in some of the so-called ‘hinterland’ regions of Southwestern China. Key determinants that emerged, and which we discuss, included time pressure and competing priorities; scepticism towards new ideas; lack of investment in resources; the primacy of the textbook; students’ language proficiency; and opportunities for professional development. Together, these findings indicate the need for a change of culture if innovation is to be welcomed, both in principle and in practice, as a driver of positive change in the teaching of English in these universities. Teachers, their line managers, and university senior managers need to feel willing and able to engage freely in constructive and informed discourse, and in doing so consider recalibrating institutional priorities, thereby helping reconcile the pressures and tensions currently experienced by English language teachers and which impede progress.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document