scholarly journals A synchronic comparison between the vowel phonemes of Bengali & English phonology and its classroom applicability

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 285-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleeya Tamzida ◽  
Sharmin Siddiqui

Due to linguistic diversity, phonologies of the world are notably different from one another, leading the foreign language learners encounter varied phonetic and phonological problems. Bengali speaking EFL learners face problems especially in pronunciation owing to their lack of sound knowledge regarding the distinct positions of phonemes and other aspects of Bengali and English phonology. In this context, our attempt, particularly in this article, is to compare the positions of Bengali and English vowel phonemes and identify the distinctions existing between those in order to help the Bengali speaking EFL learners to improve their pronunciation. Mainly, English vowels (RP) Diagram, Bengali vowels diagram, Cardinal vowels diagram etc have been examined to identify the distinctions mentioned. This paper shows the applicability of our findings by presenting some survey results and suggests some measures to be followed by learners to improve their pronunciation. Stamford Journal of English; Volume 6; Page 285-314 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sje.v6i0.13919

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evelyn Sample ◽  
Marije Michel

Studying task repetition for adult and young foreign language learners of English (EFL) has received growing interest in recent literature within the task-based approach (Bygate, 2009; Hawkes, 2012; Mackey, Kanganas, & Oliver, 2007; Pinter, 2007b). Earlier work suggests that second language (L2) learners benefit from repeating the same or a slightly different task. Task repetition has been shown to enhance fluency and may also add to complexity or accuracy of production. However, few investigations have taken a closer look at the underlying relationships between the three dimensions of task performance: complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF). Using Skehan’s (2009) trade-off hypothesis as an explanatory framework, our study aims to fill this gap by investigating interactions among CAF measures. We report on the repeated performances on an oral spot- the-difference task by six 9-year-old EFL learners. Mirroring earlier work, our data reveal significant increases of fluency through task repetition. Correlational analyses show that initial performances that benefit in one dimension come at the expense of another; by the third performance, however, trade-off effects disappear. Further qualitative explanations support our interpretation that with growing task-familiarity students are able to focus their attention on all three CAF dimensions simultaneously.Au sein de la littérature relative à l’approche fondée sur les tâches, on évoque de plus en plus d’études portant sur la répétition des tâches pour l’enseignement de l’anglais langue étrangère aux jeunes et aux adultes (Bygate, 2009; Hawkes, 2012; Mackey, Kanganas, & Oliver, 2007; Pinter, 2007b). Des études antérieures semblent indiquer que les apprenants en L2 profitent de la répétition de la même tâche ou d’une tâche légèrement différente. Il a été démontré que la répétition des tâches améliore la fluidité et qu’elle pourrait augmenter la complexité ou la précision de la production. Toutefois, peu d’études se sont penchées davantage sur les relations sous-jacentes entre les trois dimensions de l’exécution des tâches : la complexité, la précision et la fluidité. S’appuyant sur l’hypothèse du compromis de Skehan (2009) comme cadre explicatif, notre étude vise à combler cette lacune en examinant les interactions entre les mesures de ces trois éléments. Nous faisons rapport du rendement de six jeunes âgés de 9 ans qui apprennent l’anglais comme langue étrangère alors qu’ils répètent une tâche impliquant l’identification de différences. Nos données reproduisent les résultats de travaux antérieurs en ce qu’elles révèlent une amélioration significative de la fluidité par la répétition de tâches. Des analyses corrélationnelles indiquent que l’amélioration d’une dimension lors des exécutions initiales se fait aux dépens d’une autre; cet effet de compromis disparait, toutefois, à la troisième exécution. Des explications quali- tatives supplémentaires viennent appuyer notre interprétation selon laquelle la familiarité croissante que ressentent les élèves avec une tâche leur permet de se concentrer sur les trois dimensions (complexité, précision et fluidité) à la fois.


10.29007/5xsb ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Martínez-Flor ◽  
Esther Usó-Juan

Studies analysing the positive role of pragmatic instruction in formal settings have increased over the last decades. Within this area of interventional pragmatics, some studies have particularly examined whether the effectiveness of the instruction implemented is sustained over time. In order to shed more light on the long-term effects of instruction, this research investigates English as a Foreign Language learners’ use of complaining formulas not only after immediately receiving instruction, but also two months later. Results show that learners keep using a variety of appropriate complaining formulas two months after having participated in the instructional period. These findings are discussed and directions for future research suggested.


Author(s):  
Shiva Grami ◽  
Mahmood Hashemian

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of paper and e-dictionaries on Iranian intermediate learners' reading comprehension. To this end, 90 female English Foreign language learners were randomly selected and assigned into 2 experimental groups (e-dictionaries and paper dictionaries groups) and 1 control group. All the groups took a pretest using no dictionaries. After 2 weeks of treatment design for the experimental groups, all the 3 groups took part in the posttest. The experimental groups did their task with their relevant dictionaries, whereas the control group did their task without using any kind of dictionary. Data were analyzed through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and paired samples t test. Results showed that the participants’ reading comprehension improved from the pretest to the posttest in both experimental groups. Results also indicated that the learners in the e-dictionaries group outperformed those in the paper dictionaries group. The outcome of study reveals that e-dictionaries could improve students’ reading comprehension by motivating them, shortening the time of searching words and reading a text, and increasing the number of look ups. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Leila Kamelifar

Obtaining good scores in IELTS has become a concern for many foreign language learners throughout the world. Therefore, any relevant research to pave the way of applicants' achievement may be considered significant. This study deals with an indispensable element of IELTS writing tasks as teaching cohesive devices and it verifies the effect on writing performance of IELTS task 2. To this end, 30 participants at intermediate level took an IELTS test writing task 2 as the pretest. Then, they went under a 10 session treatment program to learn cohesive devices. At the end, they took a parallel form of IELTS task 2. The scores were obtained. The inter-rater reliability was met. The results of the paired Samples T-test showed that there was a significant difference between the mean scores of pre and post- tests of the participants after being exposed to cohesive devices treatment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 489-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Elahi Shirvan ◽  
Nahid Talebzadeh

Abstract Foreign language learning anxiety has been the target of many studies in the field of applied linguistics, but, with the dynamics turn in the field, attempts have been recently made to uncover the dynamics of anxiety English as a foreign language (EFL) learners go through, especially within the moments of their conversational interactions. Within these interactions, dynamics of anxiety might emerge in different patterns under the influence of the status of the participants’ interlocutors and their familiarity with them. This study explores the dynamics of EFL learners’ anxiety while interacting with different interlocutors from an idiodynamic perspective. The participants of this case study were two female freshman students, taking a speaking and listening university course, who were interviewed by four interlocutors with different status and level of familiarity. Following an idiodynamic method, they self-rated their anxiety fluctuations under the influence of each interlocutor throughout each conversation followed by stimulated recall interviews regarding the explanations of the changes in their anxiety during the conversations. The results showed both change and stability in the participants’ anxiety under the influence of the interlocutors’ familiarity with the participants and their status as well their verbal and nonverbal feedback. The explanation of these changes based on the main properties of complex dynamic system theory is discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1053
Author(s):  
Ehsan Alijanian ◽  
Saeed Ketabi ◽  
Ahmad Moinzadeh

Negotiation of meaning refers to interactional work done by interlocutors to attain joint understanding when a communication difficulty comes about. This study uses a qualitative perspective to consider the development of participant utterances in interaction in every moment. 10 English as a foreign language learners in a language school in Iran were chosen to participate in a dictogloss activity in which they were required to describe a certain word. The interaction features in their lexical language related episodes were analyzed. The results indicate that students use a wide range of interaction features in their collaborations. These features help learners generate a scaffolding structure in the LLREs in which meaning discovering is made. The use of interactive features fostered metalinguistic awareness and encouraged learners’ self-regulation.


Author(s):  
Marsya Aprila Tayibnapis ◽  
Lina Meilinda ◽  
Yessy Purnamasari

Collocations are one of the problems faced by EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners when learning English language. This study is intended to help the EFL Learners and non-native English speakers to add knowledge about collocations. Therefore, this study is aimed to find the use of lexical collocations and their meaning. This study used a descriptive qualitative research technique. The source of the data is eleven articles from eight sections in seventeen.com. om the research, there were 79 lexical collocations and they were classified as six out of seven types that Benson et al. (2010) proposed. The data showed that the most used type is L3 (adjective + noun) and the least used is L4 (noun + verb). The meaning of the lexical collocations was defined from the contexts. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. 1308
Author(s):  
Xiaojing Chen

Language is used for communication. Pragmatic competence, which is essential in English teaching, is an important component of communicative competence. The development of pragmatic competence will enhance that of foreign language learners’ communicative competence. This study discusses the relation between pragmatic competence and language learning motivation. Results show that students’ general pragmatic competence is at a low level. Most of the subjects hold instrumental motivation as their dominant motivation. Significant correlation has been found between pragmatic competence and language learning motivation (r=.582; p=.000). According to the survey results, the author provides several suggestions on cultivating and maintaining learners’ motivation in their pragmatic learning.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Irene Castellano Risco

This paper presents a study on how the selection of vocabulary learning strategies is affected by the kind of instructional programme followed. A total of one hundred thirty-eight secondary-school learners – seventy-two CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) and fifty-six mainstream EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners – took part in the study. They were asked to respond a vocabulary learning strategies questionnaire. The data were examined looking into how the use of strategies differed when comparing CLIL and EFL learners. Results permitted to develop two clear learner profiles that were compared. These findings will be discussed in relation to their possible implications for vocabulary development.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 138
Author(s):  
Seyed Ehsan Afsahi ◽  
Azizeh Chalak

<p>Speaking is the most important skill of language. Speaking a language is especially difficult for foreign language learners because effective oral communication requires the ability to use the language appropriately in social interactions, and in suitable context and situation. Purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Iranian intermediate EFL learners who learn speaking based on content approach in student-centered environment and their learning in the traditional teacher-centered environment. To this end, there are two classes, one as the experimental and the other as the control one. The same teacher taught them both. The subjects were all homogenous regarding their age, gender, and first language. During the experiment, the experimental group, who were in the environment of content-based approach in student-centered, was received quizzes. The results indicated that a statistically significant positive relationship existed between giving the students the central role in content-based approach class and yielding in better performance of speaking ability. The results revealed the positive relationship between content-based approach in student-centered class and the improvement of EFL Iranian students’ speaking ability. Preparation of such a system for teaching speaking to learners, learning English as a foreign language will facilitate the teaching and learning process for both teachers and learners.</p>


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