scholarly journals Uncovering New Paths to Adaptation: A Case Study of Malaysian English as a Second Language Pre-service Teachers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taghreed El Masry ◽  
Eman I Alzaanin
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teaching Practicum ◽  
Class Context ◽  
Adaptation Processes

This study aims to explore how English as a Second Language ESL Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) employ adaptation strategies in response to the surrounding constraining context to develop their professional identities. The research question is “How do pre-service teachers (PSTs) employ adaptation strategies to develop their professional identity (PI) during their simulated teaching class and practicum?”. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews and classroom observation from PSTs in a Malaysian university and public secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. Findings showed that the positive notions of belonging to a Community of Practice (CoP) proved to be applicable in the simulated teaching class context, so PSTs used their adaptation process of observation-experimentation and evaluation to attempt different teaching practices. Nonetheless, the positive notions of the CoP were inapplicable in the teaching practicum context. Hence, PSTs struggled to construct their Professional Identity (PI) and had to alter their adaptation strategies to negotiate PI construction. The study concludes with some recommendations for further use. Program designers need to consider social interaction and integration within the professional context. That could enable adaptation processes to enhance PSTs’ PI development.

scholarly journals Uncovering New Paths to Adaptation: A Case Study of Malaysian English as a Second Language Pre-service Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 421-442
Author(s):  
Taghreed El Masry ◽  
Eman I Alzaanin
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Adaptation Strategies ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teaching Practicum ◽  
Class Context ◽  
Adaptation Processes

This study aims to explore how English as a Second Language ESL Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) employ adaptation strategies in response to the surrounding constraining context to develop their professional identities. The research question is “How do pre-service teachers (PSTs) employ adaptation strategies to develop their professional identity (PI) during their simulated teaching class and practicum?”. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured interviews and classroom observation from PSTs in a Malaysian university and public secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. Findings showed that the positive notions of belonging to a Community of Practice (CoP) proved to be applicable in the simulated teaching class context, so PSTs used their adaptation process of observation-experimentation and evaluation to attempt different teaching practices. Nonetheless, the positive notions of the CoP were inapplicable in the teaching practicum context. Hence, PSTs struggled to construct their Professional Identity (PI) and had to alter their adaptation strategies to negotiate PI construction. The study concludes with some recommendations for further use. Program designers need to consider social interaction and integration within the professional context. That could enable adaptation processes to enhance PSTs’ PI development.

scholarly journals Approaches to Crafting English as a Second Language on Social Media: An Ethnographic Case Study from Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Bin Dahmash
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Ethnographic Case Study ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
English Grammar ◽  
Material Resources ◽  
English Spelling

Saudi female undergraduates perform various activities in English, their second language (L2), on social media. They engage in different types of writing and reading on social media in everyday life. But little is known about the material resources and concrete activities they drew on as they read and write in English on their preferred social media. This ethnographic case study aims to examine the material resources and concrete activities of a group of Saudi female undergraduates majoring in English Translation in a university in Saudi Arabia as they use English on social media. This study particularly aims to answer this research question: What material resources and concrete activities do Saudi female undergraduates employ as they read and write in English on social media? A total of eleven female Saudi undergraduates took part in this research. Online observation, focus group interviewing, semi-structured interviews, informal conversations and online logbook of English usage were employed over a three-months period to collect data. This study draws on Literacy Studies (LS), that understand literacies as social practices involving more than technical skills. Analysing the data thematically revealed that these undergraduates drew on three main approaches: English-spelling checking approaches, English grammar-checking approaches and English-meaning checking approaches. The study recommends that language learners are encouraged to use Google app, Google Translate app, Dictionary apps and the COCA website to correct, craft and improve their English. They are also encouraged to utilise the built-in smartphone technologies that supports English spelling.

scholarly journals Factors that Encourage Student Engagement: Insights from a Case Study of ‘First Time’ Students in a New Zealand University.

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-96
Author(s):  
Barbara Russell ◽  
◽  
Gloria R L Slater ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Education Programme ◽  
Active Citizenship ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
First Time

This case study reports on the findings from one of nine tertiary institutions that took part in a project funded by the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) in New Zealand. The research question explored how institutional and non institutional learning environments influence student engagement with learning in a higher education, university setting. Data was collected initially by means of a questionnaire; subsequently more in-depth data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with students randomly selected from those who indicated, on the questionnaire, that they were willing to be interviewed. Respondents were enrolled for the first time in this institution, but not necessarily for the first time in a tertiary education programme. A conceptual model with four strands: motivation and agency; transactional engagement; institutional support and active citizenship was used to organise the data. Findings were analysed against a synthesis of current literature and suggest that factors identified in the first three strands of the conceptual model played a significant role in student engagement with learning; active citizenship, however, did not feature highly in student responses and is an aspect of engagement that could benefit from further research.

scholarly journals Managing English Language Classroom for Meaningful Teaching and Learning: A Case Study for Hochland High School in Windhoek

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Martha Hakaya ◽  
Nchindo Richardson Mbukusa ◽  
Earle Sinvula Mudabeti
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Classroom Management ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Professional Teaching

Total management of overcrowded classrooms have across-the-board effects for English as a Second Language teaching and learning environments as in any subject. Greater attainment and achievements in schools depend on the choices made with regard to teacher-learner ratios that consider of classroom management. Recruitment of learners and teachers should ensure that classrooms are enabled to meet the demands of professional teaching challenges, amongst other, inidvidualised teaching and learning. The aim of the research was to explore the challenges and related matters in managing English as a Second Language overcrowded classrooms. A qualitative approach, steered by a case study design, purposively guided the study. It was deemed fit in order to understand the phenomena with deeper understanding of beliefs and situated lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews and nonparticipant observations were used as methods to generate data for analysis. The research exposed that copious problems were experienced by teachers and leaners who were subjected to overcrowded classrooms. Amongst many, noise and unruly behaviour, poor time management and teaching approaches result in such classes. Guiding principles regarding sound teacher-learner ratios should be put in place by policymakers and schools in order to support both teachers and learners for the success of teaching and learning.

scholarly journals PERCEPTIONS OF MRSM ENGLISH TEACHERS ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR EXPECTATIONS ON IN-SERVICE TRAINING

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (42) ◽  
pp. 155-167
Author(s):  
Faizahani Ab Rahman ◽  
Nurul Afrahah Hussin ◽  
Sutha Sugumaran
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Research Question ◽  
English Teachers ◽  
Training And Development ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Group Methods ◽  
Service Training

This paper looks at the perceptions of MRSM (Majlis Amanah Rakyat or also known as People’s Trust Council) English teachers on their current professional development and their expectations on in-service training. As teachers, they are often expected to act as a source of motivation to their students apart from being accountable in providing instructions, knowledge, and skills in their respective academic subjects. However, very often, teachers are not provided with sufficient and appropriate training that would prepare them to be the kind of teacher that they are required and expected to be. This prompts this study that determines whether the in-service training provided is sufficient and aptly to help the teachers produce academically excellent students. This case study used a qualitative approach with purposive sampling of seven English teachers at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA, Beseri in Perlis with teaching experiences between 10 to 30 years. Semi-structured interviews and focus group methods were used to answer the research question which dwells on the MRSM English teachers’ expectations of professional development teacher training of their students’ achievement. The findings of the study revealed that teachers expect to have more professional development in terms of pedagogy, proficiency level, technology integration, and stress management. They also believe that improvement in professional development can positively affect their students’ achievement as teaching and learning processes can be done more effectively. It is therefore recommended that MARA should highlight its current in-service training and development policy to be consistent with the needs of teachers.

scholarly journals A Case Study of How Malay ESL Learners Build Vocabulary Using Multimedia Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-130
Author(s):  
Nur Sakinah Ahmad Nasaruddin ◽  
Rosemaliza Mohd Kamalludeen
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
Multimedia Technology ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Multimedia Tools ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Vocabulary Building ◽  
Esl Learners

This study explored the process of how Malay primary ESL learners build English vocabulary using multimedia technology. With this purpose, students’ choices of multimedia technology tools and the reasons behind the choices were investigated. The qualitative approach was employed in this study by conducting semi-structured interviews with three Malay primary school students aged 12 years old from a public school in Kuala Lumpur. The findings revealed that the students chose three main types of multimedia tools namely audio, audio-visual, and video games. The participants revealed three reasons behind their preferences of the multimedia tools which are acquisition of additional information, presence of visuals, and convenience. It was also found that the process of vocabulary-building using the preferred multimedia tools can be organised into four stages namely (i) first encounter, (ii) cognitive dissonance, (iii) establishing equilibrium, and (iv) remembering. The findings suggest English teachers to include multimedia tools in the teaching of vocabulary because it facilitates the process of vocabulary building among students as the words are learned in context and enhanced with visuals.

Managing Humanitarian Aid

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-34
Author(s):  
Ame Khin May-Kyawt
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Humanitarian Aid ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Government Organizations

This article contributes to an overall understanding of the challenges faced by humanitarian aid international non-government organizations (INGOs) in specific culturally context-sensitive regions of Myanmar. This research is based on a review of literature, relevant case study analysis, and on ten semi-structured interviews with the humanitarian activists of the Myanmar Diaspora in Canada. The author investigates the following research question: To what extent does “cultural context” play a crucial role in managing humanitarian aid during disaster response operations in a given affected area, and how does it consequently link to the challenges of humanitarian aid INGOs in Myanmar? Based on the findings, a culturally appropriate framework will be introduced for the efficacy of humanitarian aid INGOs when implementing disaster response operations in Myanmar.

Barriers in Business-IT Alignment in a Large Company in Manufacturing Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Fadi Shammas ◽  
Guanjie Meng ◽  
Lazar Rusu
Keyword(s):  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Top Management ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Large Company ◽  
It Alignment ◽  
The Status ◽  
Business It Alignment

Business-IT alignment (BITA) continues to be a top management concern for the last ten years. Moreover, organizations mangers are still looking to understand the barriers between the status of alignment and misalignment. The barriers in BITA differ from a business area to another and particularly the authors have not found any research studies concerning the barriers in BITA in the manufacturing area in Sweden. Therefore, the research question is: What are the strategic, tactical, and operational barriers in business-IT alignment in a large company in manufacturing area? The research strategy is case study, and the data was collected through semi-structured interviews and also from company's internal documents and it was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study are a number of thirty barriers in BITA that includes six new barriers in BITA at operational, tactical and strategic level.

The roles of captains in megaproject innovation ecosystems: the case of the Hong Kong‐Zhuhai‐Macau Bridge

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongquan Chen ◽  
Zhizhou Jin ◽  
Quanke Su ◽  
Gaoyu Yue
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Innovation Ecosystem ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Culture ◽  
Technological Adoption ◽  
Archival Documents

PurposeThe megaproject is a vital innovation ecosystem for participants engaging in technological adoption and integration to achieve project goals. The purpose of this paper is to examine how ecosystem captains build and operate a megaproject innovation ecosystem (MIE). To be more specific, we conducted an in-depth case study to identify the roles played by ecosystem captains in establishing and managing a megaproject innovation ecosystem.Design/methodology/approachBased on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project, the data we collected range from 2010 to 2019 and include semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, and archival documents. We employed an inductive theory building approach to address our research question and analyzed our data using the coding process and Atlas.ti software.FindingsWe find that the ecosystem captains themselves are client organizations that have evolved with the ecosystem during four distinct yet inter-related phases. In addition, we find that the captains’ roles of the client organizations include two typical activities: ecosystem establishment and ecosystem collaboration. The ecosystem captains first frame problems, plan innovative activities, set rules, and select participants for the establishment of the ecosystem, and then orchestrate resources, buffer conflicts, incorporate innovative networks, and cultivate an innovation culture to create a collaborative ecosystem.Originality/valueThis study proposes a theoretical framework showing how ecosystem captains engage in MIE to manage innovative activities during different stages. It highlights the importance of captainship roles in client organizations in a megaproject.

Flood resilience in Malaysian cities: a case study of two towns in Johor state

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tej Kumar Karki
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Urban Flooding ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Flood Vulnerability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Land Use Regulations ◽  
Flood Disasters ◽  
Institutional Resources

Purpose This paper has carried out a case study of two flood-prone towns in Johor state, Malaysia, to understand how resilient the residents and local authorities were in dealing with the flood disasters in terms of their ability to anticipate, mobilize institutional resources, adapt and respond. Design/methodology/approach This research conducted semi-structured interviews with flood-affected residents, flood disaster managers and planners, and assessed land use regulations and institutional strengths to answer the research question. Findings The results showed that the residents’ anticipatory capacity to flood risks was weak and both the human and institutional resources were insufficient in coping with and responding to urban flooding. Research limitations/implications This research has not carried out questionnaire survey of large number of residents. It is based on semi-structured interview of ten residents in two Malaysian cities. Practical implications The insights drawn from this research would help develop flood-resilient policies for Malaysian cities. The global communities exposed to flood disasters too benefit from the Malaysia’s minute but crucial human and institutional experiences in urban flooding. Social implications Being resilient to all these small but important flood concerns has huge potential to reduce vulnerability and disaster risks and protect the lives and properties of flood affected urban residents. Originality/value The research focus in Malaysia is less on flood resilience and more on flood modeling and hydrology analysis. In this sense, this research is new because it talks more on flood vulnerability and resilience issues at the community level and gives a perspective on current Malaysian town's state of flood resilience culture and practices.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document