Using Vocabulary as An Instructional Scaffolding Technique to Boost English Language Skills

1970 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-93
Author(s):  
Evariste Manirakiza ◽  
Innocent Hakizimana

In the current trends of communication and globalization, the knowledge of vocabulary is of paramount importance. With a vocabulary package, people can read any texts and understand them. Additionally, it is easy to communicate when people have enough vocabulary. The present study is a class enquiry. It involved 30 students doing English for Specific Purposes at the University of Rwanda, College of Business and Economics, Business Administration option. Facing the challenge of getting students to effectively communicate in English and understand reading materials, the purpose of the study was to investigate into the role of vocabulary to the understanding of reading texts, speaking and writing activities. Data collection tools were individual evaluations, debates, a questionnaire and class observations. Findings revealed that vocabulary activities prior to reading provide students with many benefits. As students reported, vocabulary increased their understanding of the text and helps them exchange ideas and increase language skills while discussing vocabulary related exercises. Findings also indicated that the vocabulary activities helped students write in an effective way, applying new terms and writing freely. Therefore, it is recommended that vocabulary should be worked on thoroughly in order to foster reading comprehension, speaking and writing.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Gopal Prasad Pandey

English for academic purpose (EAP) emerged as a branch of English for specific purposes in the early 1980s. EAP grounds English language teaching in the linguistic demands of academic context, tailoring instruction to specific rather than general purposes. There is a growth of interest in EAP in the recent years. The interest in EAP developed in response to the growing need for intercultural awareness and of English as a lingua franca (ELF). EAP has become a major area of research in applied linguistics and focus of the courses studied worldwide by a large number of students preparing for study in colleges and universities. The increase in students’ undertaking tertiary studies in English-speaking countries has led to a steady demand for the courses tailored to meet the immediate, specific vocational and professional needs. Thus, most universities in the present day world prioritize the role of academic skills. The aim of the paper is to examine the key approaches to the teaching of English for academic purposes, current trends in teaching EAP, and to argue the centrality and significance of EAP in the academia. The paper concludes by arguing that a greater emphasis needs to be placed on methodology in EAP.


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


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 161-179
Author(s):  
Outi Paloposki

The article looks at book production and circulation from the point of view of translators, who, as purchasers and readers of foreign-language books, are an important mediating force in the selection of literature for translation. Taking the German publisher Tauchnitz's series ‘Collection of British Authors’ and its circulation in Finland in the nineteenth and early twentieth century as a case in point, the article argues that the increased availability of English-language books facilitated the acquiring and honing of translators' language skills and gradually diminished the need for indirect translating. Book history and translation studies meet here in an examination of the role of the Collection in Finnish translators' work.


2019 ◽  
Vol IV (III) ◽  
pp. 535-543
Author(s):  
Shahida Naz ◽  
Mamuna Ghani ◽  
Shahid Nawaz

The field of digital literacy is developing rapidly; consequently, the interest of researchers has also shifted now. The current research study was to explore the role of online learning Apps available on smartphones in improving graduate students' English language proficiency. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used in this study. Data were collected through a questionnaire that had close-ended and open-ended questions. Questionnaires were distributed among 480 graduate-level students studying in 6 universities of Punjab, Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0) to find out results in the form of Percentage, Mean Score, Standard Deviation by applying the Independent Sample T-Test. The results of the study demonstrated the potential of Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) as an anticipatory approach to improving English language skills. Results showed that students were pleased to use smartphones to improve their English language proficiency. They responded positively about the role of smartphones in improving English language skills. On the basis of findings, the researcher concluded that smartphone plays an important role in improving students' English language proficiency.


Author(s):  
Cici Adeliani ◽  
Alamsyah Harahap ◽  
Dedi Sofyan ◽  
Ildi Kurniawan ◽  
Azhar Aziz Lubis

This research aimed to find out the students’ access to ICT application and how far ICT application helps students in mastering English language skills faced by English students of English Education Study Program at the University of Bengkulu in the 2020/2021 academic year. This research was an explanatory sequential mixed methods design. The population of this research was English students of English Education Study Program at the University of Bengkulu. The sample of this research was selected by using purposive sampling technique, totaling 80 students for questionnaire and 24 students for interview. The data were collected by using questionnaire and interview. The instruments were consisted of 15 items adapted from Dang Hoang Tri and Nhung Hong Thi Nguyen (2014). This research used Microsoft Excel to analyze the data.  The result of this study showed that students access 15 ICT applications in English learning. Also, researcher found that the majority of students have positive perception towards ICT application can help students in mastering English language skills.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Rena Juliana ◽  
Reni Juliani

Abstract The increasing role of English in this era of globalization seems to force us to recognize that English has a great impact on all aspects of life, so learning the English language is a must. Previously, studying English at Indonesian universities was limited to General English or English General Purposes, which became general subjects. However, over time, learning English has been developed specifically for English for Specific Purposes. This study is intended to show how the use of English learning at universities, especially in vocational education, works. In this study, the literature study was chosen as the research method. The literature study shows that the use of General English and English for Specific Purposes in higher education is very different. Where there is no special learning material for teaching General English. The learning material usually contains general knowledge of English. Unlike English for Specific Purposes, where teaching English for Specific Purposes requires special materials that are tailored to the needs of students depending on the subject. Keywords: Use, General English, English for Specific Purposes, University, Vocational Education. __________________________ Abstrak Meningkatnya peran bahasa Inggris di era globalisasi ini seolah memaksa kita untuk mengakui bahwa bahasa Inggris mempunyai pengaruh besar di segala aspek kehidupan sehingga mempelajari bahasa Inggris merupakan hal yang wajib. Sebelumnya di Indonesia, pembelajaran bahasa Inggris di perguruan tinggi hanya sebatas General English atau English for General Purposes yang menjadi mata kuliah umum, namun seiring berjalannya waktu pembelajaran bahasa Inggris dikembangkan lagi secara khusus dalam mata kuliah English for Specific Purposes. Studi ini memiliki tujuan untuk melihat bagaimana penerapan kedua pembelajaran bahasa Inggris tersebut di perguruan tinggi khususnya pada pendidikan vokasi. Studi pustaka dipilih sebagai metode penelitian dalam studi ini. Dari studi kepustakaan tersebut diperoleh hasil bahwa penerapan General English dan English for Specific Purposes di perguruan tinggi sangatlah berbeda antara keduanya. Dimana tidak ada materi pembelajaran khusus terhadap pengajaran General English. Materi pembelajaran biasanya berisikan pengetahuan umum tentang bahasa Inggris. Beda halnya dengan English for Specific Purposes, dimana dalam pengajaran English for Specific Purpose, dibutuhkan materi khusus yang disesuaikan dengan kebutuhan dari mahasiswa sesuai dengan bidang yang mereka ambil. Kata Kunci: Penerapan, General English, English for Specific Purposes, Perguruan Tinggi, Pendidikan Vokasi. __________________________


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 205
Author(s):  
Syamsul Bahri ◽  
Ika Kana Trisnawati

This study aimed to investigate the student perceptions of plagiarism and the reasons that led to plagiarism in the students’ assignments. The population of the study included the students of English Education Department at UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, with 166 students randomly selected as the sample. Questionnaire was used as the instrument for collecting data. The data were then analyzed with the SPSS in order to obtain their descriptive statistics. The results of the study showed that there were various students’ perceptions about the notion of plagiarism and the underlying reasons for their plagiarism. It was generally understood that plagiarism wa the use of words/ideas of others recognized as one’s own. Further, the major causes of plagiarism in the assignments were due to lack of English language skills and lack of time management. In addition, the behaviors of lecturers and the university involvement in socializing the concept of plagiarism also became the causes for the higher proportion of academic dishonesty among the students. These findings are expected to be the input for the creation of campus policy so that academic integrity and better lecture system can be achieved in any university.


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