scholarly journals Empowering Students in the English Language Classroom

2018 ◽  
pp. 12-23
Author(s):  
Yiyi López Gándara
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Awareness ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Teacher Trainees ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Critical Language Awareness ◽  
Learner Empowerment ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
The University

Taking Critical Language Awareness as a frame of reference, this article presents an experience carried out with a group of teacher trainees in the final year of the BA in Primary Education (English) at the University of Seville. The aim of the experience is to provide them with effective strategies to empower students in the English language classroom. The experience is comprised of a diagnostic test, a tailored seminar and a workshop, and it shows that a critical component must be included in teacher training programmes in order to ensure that English language learning contributes to learner empowerment.

PEER ASSESSMENT AT TERTIARY LEVEL

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2325-2329
Author(s):  
Lulzime Kamberi ◽  
Majlinda Nuhiu
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Teacher Assessment ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Language And Literature ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
The University ◽  
Academic Year

Autonomous second language learning (SLL) is a topic of focus in every educational setting and almost universally supported by institutions and scholars in the whole world. One aspect of autonomous learning is peer evaluation (Harmer, 2001; Benson, 2001; Cottrall, 1999; Everhard&Murphy) Seeking to make students more autonomous leaners and take more responsibility for their learning, as well as assess the effect of peer assessment, on language acquisition, peer assessment has been introduced to student of the final semester of their studies. This paper reports initial results from a study into the effectiveness of peer assessment in an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classroom instruction, in a methodology course, conducted in the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018, at the Department of English Language and Literature, at the University of Tetovo, Macedonia. Applying frequency statistics, Fraenkel&Wallen, (2003), the study has analyzed peer assessment; in contrast to teacher assessment of student presentations. Content analysis (Leedy & Ormord, 2005) to identify themes biases and meaning, the study investigated the validity and reliability of peer assessment. Convenience sampling among students enrolled in the seventh semester identified a non-random sample of 20 students representing 41% of the possible cohort. The findings of the study revealed that students were not prepared to assess each other and rather acted on their personal feelings towards their peers. In conclusion, it is argued that research designs involving an extended period of time and with a larger sample will be needed to confirm these results.

scholarly journals Dynamic Assessment in the EFL Classroom: The Case of Listening Comprehension

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Hamza Alshenqeeti ◽  
Grami Mohammad A. Grami
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Listening Comprehension ◽  
English Language ◽  
Dynamic Assessment ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Test Reliability ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The University

The current study evaluates the potential of dynamic assessment (DA) in listening comprehension classes. DA is based on the sociocultural aspect of the Vygotskyan theory. It facilitates language improvement because DA assumes that mental instruments mediate psychological exercises. Although DA has been extensively analyzed, few studies have investigated its impact on listening comprehension in the language classroom. This study intends to fill the research gap in listening comprehension studies using DA as a mediation tool. The purpose of the current study therefore is to assess the effects of dynamic assessment on listening comprehension. A total of fifty-six English as a foreign language (hereinafter EFL) learners took part in the present examination. The subjects took a general placement proficiency test developed by the English Language Centre within the university to ensure participant homogeneity. The researcher recorded pre-test and post-test results of the participants and coded the values quantitatively. Data management and analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA to test reliability and validity. The relevance of DA in enhancing listening comprehension is clearly supported by the fact that DA students’ results outperformed their counterparts in the study. The study findings also indicated a need for language educators to utilise mediation techniques in order to enhance students’ listening skills.  Educators are advised to apply more DA approaches to mitigate student resistance to classroom instructions. These discoveries underscore the efficacy of DA and suggest its inclusion in the language-learning curriculum.

PEER ASSESSMENT AT TERTIARY LEVEL

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 2325-2329
Author(s):  
Lulzime Kamberi ◽  
Majlinda Nuhiu
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Peer Assessment ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Teacher Assessment ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Language And Literature ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
The University ◽  
Academic Year

Autonomous second language learning (SLL) is a topic of focus in every educational setting and almost universally supported by institutions and scholars in the whole world. One aspect of autonomous learning is peer evaluation (Harmer, 2001; Benson, 2001; Cottrall, 1999; Everhard&Murphy) Seeking to make students more autonomous leaners and take more responsibility for their learning, as well as assess the effect of peer assessment, on language acquisition, peer assessment has been introduced to student of the final semester of their studies. This paper reports initial results from a study into the effectiveness of peer assessment in an EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classroom instruction, in a methodology course, conducted in the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018, at the Department of English Language and Literature, at the University of Tetovo, Macedonia. Applying frequency statistics, Fraenkel&Wallen, (2003), the study has analyzed peer assessment; in contrast to teacher assessment of student presentations. Content analysis (Leedy & Ormord, 2005) to identify themes biases and meaning, the study investigated the validity and reliability of peer assessment. Convenience sampling among students enrolled in the seventh semester identified a non-random sample of 20 students representing 41% of the possible cohort. The findings of the study revealed that students were not prepared to assess each other and rather acted on their personal feelings towards their peers. In conclusion, it is argued that research designs involving an extended period of time and with a larger sample will be needed to confirm these results.

scholarly journals ELT Teacher Trainees Attitudes Towards Environmental Education And Their Tendency To Use It In The Language Classroom

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 47-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esim Gursoy ◽  
Gulderen T. Saglam
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
English Language Learners ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Teacher Trainees ◽  
Language Classroom

With the change of focus in language teaching from grammar-based approaches to more communicative approaches, contextual language learning gained importance and found body in the English Language classroom. Global issues constitute one of the most popular contexts for purposeful language learning and meaningful language use. Increasing number of ELT (English Language Teaching) course books involve global issues in their content. Within the scope of socially responsible teaching (SRT) it is believed that it is the teachers responsibility to help their learners develop awareness on these issues. From this perspective current research aims to shed some light into ELT teacher education process by investigating teacher trainees attitudes and tendencies towards environmental education and their inclusion in the ELT lessons. Data for the research is collected from 224 third year ELT teacher trainees via a questionnaire prepared by the researchers. The reliability of the questionnaire was tested by using Cronbachs alpha and found to be .821 . As a result, it was found that third year ELT teacher trainees have mildly positive attitudes on environmental education. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences among the participants sex and their membership at environmental organizations on their attitudes towards environmental education and their tendency to use them in language education. The result of this study is significant for numerous stakeholders, including teacher education programs, Ministry of Education, state leaders and surrounding communities and families of English language learners in relation with the efforts to integrate environmental education to the ELT curriculum.

Tertiary English-majored Students’ Perceptions toward the Role of Pronunciation in English Language Learning and their Practicing Strategies

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-279
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
The University

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

The University Student’s Motivation Level on Learning English

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 130
Author(s):  
Esmira Mehdiyev ◽  
Celal Teyyar Uğurlu ◽  
Gonca Usta
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
T Test ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Personal Use ◽  
Motivation Level ◽  
Motivation Scale ◽  
The University

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.

The Use of Multimedia and its Impact on Bangladeshi EFL Learners at Tertiary Level

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Farzana Sharmin Pamela Islam
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Tertiary Level ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Impact

As 21st century is the era of modern technologies with different aspects, it offers us to make the best use of them. After tape recorder and overhead projector (OHP), multimedia has become an important part of language classroom facilities for its unique and effective application in delivering and learning lesson. Although in many parts of Bangladesh, a South Asian developing country, where English enjoys the status of a foreign language, the use of multimedia in teaching and learning is viewed as a matter of luxury. However, nowadays the usefulness and the necessity of it are well recognized by the academics as well as the government. The study aims to focus on the difference between a traditional classroom void of multimedia and multimedia equipped classrooms at university level by explaining how multimedia support the students with enhanced opportunity to interact with diverse texts that give them more in-depth comprehension of the subject. It also focuses on audio-visual advantage of multimedia on the students’ English language learning. The study has followed a qualitative method to get an in-depth understanding of the impact of using multimedia in an English language classroom at tertiary level. For this purpose, the data have been collected from two different sources. Firstly, from students’ written response to  an open ended question as to their comparative experience of learning  lessons with and without multimedia facilities; and secondly, through  observation of English language classes at a private university of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The discussion of the study is limited to  the use of multimedia in English language classroom using cartoons, images and music with a view to enhance students’ skills in academic writing, critical analysis of image and critical appreciation of music. For this purpose, cartoons in English language, images from Google and music from You Tube have got focused discussion in this paper.

scholarly journals Incorporating theatre techniques in the language classroom

2015 ◽  
Vol IX (2) ◽  
pp. 115-124
Author(s):  
Abigail Paul
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
Language Learner ◽  
Augusto Boal ◽  
Second Language Learner ◽  
Improvisational Theatre ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Communicative Approach ◽  
The University

The following workshop was presented at a Foreign Language and Drama Conference at the University of Reutlingen on July 10, 2015. It outlines the use of improvisational theatre techniques in the foreign language classroom by making parallels between the communicative approach to language learning and improvisational theatre techniques learned in various books read and seminars attended by the author throughout the years in numerous cities, but predominantly with Second City Chicago1, iO Chicago2, Keith Johnstone, and Comedy Sportz3. As Friederike Klippel states, “activities are invented, but we rarely know who invented them. Like games or folk songs they are handed on from teacher to teacher” (Klippel 1985: 1). Similarly improvisational activities morph over time, with each teacher adding his or her own personal flair. The seminar is built predominantly on the games and philosophies as outlined by theatre practitioners Augusto Boal, Viola Spolin and Keith Johnstone, but from the viewpoint of the author. While these activities can be used for a variety of purposes with native and non-native English speakers in a number of areas, the focus in the following is on the second language learner. The generally-accepted understanding of a communicative approach to language learning is that it focuses ...

scholarly journals Britain’s new language testing powerhouse: An interview with Professor Anthony Green, University of Bedfordshire

2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
Daniel Dunkley
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Collaborative Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Assessment Literacy ◽  
Learner Corpus ◽  
The University ◽  
Learner Language

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.

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