Aspects of integrating culture in the Spanish-as-a-Foreign-Language class

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (62) (1) ◽  
pp. 7-16
Author(s):  
Raluca ALEXE
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Linguistic Competence ◽  
Culture Learning ◽  
Teaching Culture ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Specific Activities ◽  
Overall Efficiency

While there has been growing awareness among teachers that language learning/teaching and culture learning/teaching should occur together, the techniques and classroom activities for integrating culture in the FL classroom are still a matter of research and further testing. The present work explores some aspects of teaching culture in the Spanish-as-aForeign-Language (SFL) classroom, which may very well constitute suggestions for anyone approaching this subject matter. It is basically an account of my experience with different groups of students from Transilvania University of Brașov. I shall discuss the overall efficiency of the different techniques, specific activities, and teaching materials employed with my groups of SFL students, also pointing out some of the differences in the approach and challenging aspects of teaching culture to SFL students from different curricular areas and students with different linguistic competence of Spanish.

scholarly journals Integration of Creativity-Developing Activities in Foreign Language Learning: Students’ Attitude

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-90
Author(s):  
Liudmila Dulksnienė ◽  
Nemira Mačianskienė
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Education Institution ◽  
Linguistic Competence ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Professional Literature ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Free Environment

SummaryThe increasing significance of science and more intensive cooperation with foreign partners have created demands for plurilingual specialists, capable of providing solid research-based solutions, able to read the most advanced professional literature in a foreign language, participate in international conferences with foreign partners, negotiate and cooperate in scientific and subject-oriented activity while freely communicating in several foreign languages. However, in the case of specialized higher education institutions, such as medical or agricultural universities, foreign language learning is often oriented to the learning of occupational terminology; whereas acquisition of plurilingual communicative competence is much more than linguistic competence, it is a multifaceted competence and its acquisition can be enhanced by integrating creativity-developing activities into the program curricula. The aim of the study was to reveal the students’ attitude towards the integration of creativity development when studying foreign languages at a higher education institution. The generalized results of the study suggest that even though students considered linguistic competence (vocabulary and grammar) to be most important in language learning, yet they valued the acquisition of socio-cultural competence as important in communicating cross-culturally. The students’ attitude to the application of the elements of art in foreign language classes was positive, as these elements increased their interest and motivation in learning; integration of drawing and creation activities facilitated communication; the assignments became motivating and useful when communicating on intercultural topics. The students also positively evaluated the teacher’s work, the teacher’s assistance and positive approach to the evaluation of application of the elements of art by the students, which was the key element in the success of such classes. The importance of stress-free environment was singled out as a prerequisite for creativity expression and communication in a foreign language class.

scholarly journals The Application of Virtual Simulations Using Second Life in a Foreign Language Classroom

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tecnam Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Virtual Simulation ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Virtual Simulations

<p><em>The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of virtual simulation-based language learning in a foreign language class in Korea. Total 35 1st-year university students in Korea participated in this research to figure out the effect of simulations. A virtual English learning community, ‘Cypris Chat’ in Second Life was selected as a learning tool. For the data collection, a survey questionnaire was distributed and analyzed quantitatively. The result shows that the majority of the students had a positive attitude toward using a virtual simulation in English learning and had better understanding in learning English by experiencing an authentic practice. The first section of this paper provides a general overview of simulations in educational settings through an insightful literature review of the current research in the area. The review includes a comprehensive outlook on simulations, an example of successful classroom integration and some of the considerations researchers have found for their implementation. The latter section addresses the research method, results and conclusions.</em></p>

scholarly journals CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES FOR TEACHING SPEAKING: VOICES OF INDONESIAN EFL LEARNERS

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Arif Nugroho ◽  
Novrika Nartiningrum
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
The Ideal

<p>Among the four English skills, oral communication becomes crucial for undergraduate students to be more competitive in the work-places. In a foreign language teaching, designing appropriate classroom activities is a prerequisite for the success of a language learning. Therefore, this study sheds some light on 92 EFL learners’ perceptions and insights of classroom activities for teaching speaking. Drawing on the data obtained from questionnaire and focus group discussion (FGD), the findings illustrated that the students held moderately positive perceptions toward the speaking activities in their classroom. In addition, the results of FGD revealed some insights from the students with regard to the ideal classroom activities for teaching speaking. The findings of this study provide insights for EFL teachers in designing appropriate classroom activities to achieve the success of teaching speaking.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>teaching speaking, classroom activities, students’ perception</p>

scholarly journals Altérité et inclusion. Du corps propre au corps social en classe de langue : emprunts à la danse contemporaine

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 9-21
Author(s):  
Marie-Paule Muller-Jaecki
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Contemporary Dance ◽  
Social Body ◽  
Language Class ◽  
The Creation

La classe de langue étrangère, par la transformation du corps propre qu’elle présuppose afin d’accéder à un nouveau corps social, place-t-elle l’élève en situation de handicap et génère-t-elle de la souffrance ? Est-il possible de l’éviter ? La réflexion menée part de l’observation d’expériences vécues en danse contemporaine autour de la création de performances incluant des danseurs en situation de handicap. L’analyse de la démarche pédagogique adoptée fait émerger des constantes qui contribuent à l’inclusion de chaque danseur. Elle peut être source d’inspiration pour l’enseignant afin de construire une dynamique d’apprentissage d’une langue étrangère où chaque élève se sente compétent. Otherness and inclusion. What can contemporary dance bring to the foreign language class for learners to access a new social body? The foreign language class implies a transformation of the learner’s own body in order to access a new social body. Does it thereby handicap pupils, generating suffering? Is it possible to avoid this? The following reflection starts from the observation of experiences in contemporary dance, related to the creation of performances including disabled dancers. The analysis of the pedagogy reveals constants which contribute to the inclusion of every dancer. It can inspire teachers in order to design a foreign language learning approach in which each pupil feels competent.

Learning Chinese

2018 ◽  
pp. 44-69
Author(s):  
Kaishan Kong
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Culture Learning ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
American Students

Both ACTFL standards and the world-readiness standards for learning languages include five aspects in foreign language education, among which are connections and comparisons. While many instructors consider these two aspects as means of effective instruction, in this chapter, connections and comparisons are studied as learning strategies that four American students adopted to apply in their study abroad contexts in China. Despite the different focus of their study abroad programs, this chapter discusses a variety of examples where the participants made connections and comparisons to enhance their language and culture learning. Findings reveal that connections and comparisons were not only fostering language learning but also developing cultural knowledge. Results provide implications to foreign language educators related to teaching and preparing students for study abroad experience.

Two Barriers to Teaching Culture in Foreign Language Classroom

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128
Author(s):  
Xinxiao Yang ◽  
Dianbing Chen
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
College Level ◽  
Teaching Culture ◽  
Culture Teaching ◽  
Language Instructors ◽  
Barriers To Teaching ◽  
Beliefs And Attitudes

The teaching of culture teaching has been listed as one of the five goals in foreign language teaching and learning by the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the new Century. However, the beliefs and attitudes of foreign language instructors towards the teaching of culture at the college-level remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate language instructors’ attitudes and beliefs towards teaching culture and the difficulties and barriers of teaching culture to college-level students. This qualitative case study explored the teaching of culture in Modern Language Department at a university through document mining, classroom observations, and interviews of language instructors who taught various foreign languages. Findings revealed two profound barriers, 1) instructors’ beliefs and attitudes, and 2) the lack of professional development opportunities in learning strategies on weaving culture teaching, in foreign language classrooms at the college-level.

Examining a mailing list in an elementary Japanese language class

ReCALL ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAYUMI HOSHI
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Interaction Analysis ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Mailing List ◽  
Linguistic Knowledge ◽  
Japanese Language ◽  
Student Survey ◽  
Language Class

This study examines the possible effects of a mailing list discussion on second/foreign language learning in the form of an explorative case study. Forty-six students in an elementary-level Japanese language class at a Canadian university participated. The study consists of three parts: interaction analysis, content analysis, and a student survey. The first two parts referenced the entire mailing list discussion archive. The number of the messages totaled 298. In order to analyze learner interaction, a map of interaction was designed and Levin, Kim and Riel’s (1990) Intermessage Reference Analysis (IRA) was applied. Content analysis was then carried out on the topics, context-type, and depth of learning process involved in each message. Lastly, a survey was distributed in order to discern participants’ perceptions towards the use of a mailing list for language learning. The results of the interaction and content analysis show how a mailing list discussion can provide a place to reflect on course content, enabling students to increase their linguistic knowledge through an exchange of ideas, thoughts, and opinions via student-centered interactions. The result of the participant survey shows that although the students’ participation in and perceptions towards the mailing discussion is not uniform, 35% of the students perceived the value of a mailing list discussion to be high. Through the examination of three different methods of analysis, the study concludes that there is a good potential for the use of mailing list discussions in second/foreign language learning. However, further research is necessary to determine which factors contribute to the successful use of this medium.

Stealth Language Teaching: A Preschool Foreign Language Pilot Program

2008 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-53
Author(s):  
Anna CohenMiller
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Subject Matter ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Professional Experience ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Montessori Education ◽  
Early Learners ◽  
Private Preschool

In 2003, I worked at the Deacon Park Preschool1, non-profit private preschool in Atlanta, Georgia, to create a foreign language-learning environment that used second language (L2) as a medium for the curriculum instead of as a separate subject matter. With a background in Montessori education, through first hand experience as a student as well as professional experience as a Montessori teacher, I was interested in the possibility of creating a Montessori inspired content-based environment where early learners (ages ranging from months to 5 years old) could be exposed to Spanish as a natural part of their day.

scholarly journals FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANXIETY IN STUDENT LEARNING

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (102) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Asta Lileikienė ◽  
Lina Danilevičienė
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Low Achievement ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
The University ◽  
Research Analysis

Background. Anxiety includes uncomfortable feelings when learning or using the new language. It continues to exist in the university foreign language classroom as well. A number of foreign language students report feeling anxious about language learning. Research aim was to investigate the foreign language anxiety (in our case, English as a foreign language, EFL) in the classroom context at tertiary level in relation to its effect on foreign language acquisition as well as to design recommendations of how to reduce or exclude foreign language anxiety from the university foreign language classroom. Methods. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by E. K. Horwitz, M. B. Horwitz, and Cope (1986) was used. The questionnaire consisted of 5 statements about the respondents’ general background and 33 statements which were evaluated on the Likert scale from 1 to 5 by the research participants. The research sample involved 200 first and second year students of Lithuanian Sports University . Results. The research analysis revealed that the respondents generally felt anxious speaking in the language class, making mistakes and being corrected by the teacher, worrying about the consequences of failing foreign language class and speaking with native speakers. The correlation between the students’ level of knowledge and their feeling of anxiety was established: students of lower level (A2 and B1) tended to feel higher levels of anxiety. Moreover, female participants of this study exhibited higher levels of foreign language anxiety. Conclusions. Foreign language anxiety proved to be a powerful predictor for demotivation in foreign language learning and impeded the acquisition of foreign languages. The research analysis revealed that the majority of younger respondents demonstrated a higher degree of anxiety. The more mature the students were, the more confident they felt in EFL classes. It was found that female students felt higher level of anxiety in learning English as a foreign language than male students. They were more inclined to hesitate and felt anxious in the language classroom, while male undergraduates were more confident and had a greater ability to cope with the feelings of anxiety and nervousness. Students with higher knowledge of English language (level B2) showed lower levels of anxiety and felt more confident in language class. A large number of failures was observed at the pre-intermediate and lower intermediate (A2/B1) levels. Therefore, the learners with high anxiety often got low achievement and low achievement made them more anxious about learning.

scholarly journals La fausse simplicité de la prise de parole en classe de langue étrangère

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-71
Author(s):  
Sylwia Łuszczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Research Problem ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Oral Production ◽  
Basic Reason ◽  
Language Class

Although the importance of oral production in language learning is recognized,it remains a challenge to convince students to speak. Certainly, this is about daring to take risks, because to speak is to “expose one’s face”. Indeed, when pupils speak, they are placed in relation to their classmates and in relation to the teacher. We cannot therefore rely on the apparent simplicity of speaking in the foreign language class. The research problem presented in this article concerns, among other things, the possible reasons why some students of French as a foreign language remain silent during conversation classes. To this purpose, the findings of the FLCAS questionnaire are presented. This survey tool enabled to nominate one basic reason for the above-mentioned reluctance to speak – language anxiety

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