scholarly journals An Acoustic Way to Support Japanese Children’s Effective English Learning in School Classrooms

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 6062
Author(s):  
Naoko Evans ◽  
Miki Kaneko ◽  
Ivan Seleznov ◽  
Taiki Shigematsu ◽  
Ken Kiyono

In this paper, the importance of implementing good acoustic conditions in classrooms using sound amplification systems is investigated to support more effective English education for elementary school children. To date, the failure of educating English as a second language at Japanese schools has been demonstrated by poor English conversation ability of those who completed a compulsory six-year English language course at Japanese junior-high and high schools (age 12–18). To amend the situation, teaching English became compulsory at grade three (age 8–9) and above at most Japanese elementary schools in the 2020 academic year. We conducted acoustic measurements of two types of sound amplification systems, a pair of PC loudspeakers and another with a loudspeaker array, in a typical classroom at an elementary school in Japan. We also analysed English listening test results of 216 Japanese native children (age 11–12) who were learning English in their usual classes in Japan, to compare the effects of those two systems. Results of logistic regression analysis adjusted by the discrimination difficulty of word pairs demonstrated the statistically significant association between correct answer rate of the English tests and classroom acoustic factors. Although, on average, upgrading the sound amplification system had positive effects on the correct answer rate, it also had a negative impact when the word pairs had English phoneme contrasts that do not appear in Japanese phoneme structure. Combined with the acoustic measurements’ results, it was also revealed that heterogeneous sound fields that depend on seat positions could be compensated using sound amplification systems with loudspeaker arrays. Our findings suggest that improvement of both acoustic quality and teaching methods is required for children to acquire English communication skills effectively in their classroom.

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (57) ◽  
pp. 788-797
Author(s):  
Silvia Renata Gomes Freire ◽  
Pedro Fernando Dos Santos

Resumo: A Língua Inglesa é considerada o idioma mais falado do mundo, sendo caracterizado como a língua da comunicação e das relações internacionais. Cada vez mais o número de falantes deste idioma vem crescendo, e a necessidade de dominá-la passa a fazer parte da maioria da vida das pessoas, sendo frequente a busca por cursinhos durante a idade adulta, por necessidade de se inserir no mercado de trabalho. Esta procura decorre justamente da falta de incentivo que a aprendizagem de uma segunda língua recebe durante a infância, em que essa realidade se reflete de forma mais atenuada quando comparado às escolas privadas e públicas, em que uma oferece esse tipo de ensino desde a Educação Infantil, contudo a outra somente oferta a partir do Ensino Fundamental- Anos Finais. Nesse contexto, o presente artigo intitulado “O ensino da língua inglesa na educação infantil: o distúnciamento entre a escola pública e privada.” tem por objetivo analisar como se deu a introdução da Língua Inglesa no Brasil, bem como verificar a diferença entre o ensino do inglês na Educação Infantil das escolas públicas e particulares, ressaltando a importância e as vantagens de aprender um segundo idioma ainda na infância. A base teórica do trabalho se deu através de autores como Santos (2011), Rossato (2012), Kumaravadivelu (2013), constituindo assim uma pesquisa bibliográfica, que fez uso do método qualitativo para elaboração do escrito. A partir do exposto no decorrer do trabalho, foi possível concluir que as crianças, em razão do fator curiosidade, são mais propícias para aprender coisas novas, e portanto à introdução do ensino da L.I desde a infância é essencial para que o gosto por um novo idioma se desenvolva. Destarte, foi imprescindível também notar que as diferenças entre as instituições de ensino pública e privada, são fatores que dificultam o trabalho com o Inglês, em razão da muita ou pouca importância que ele recebe em cada instituição. Depreende-se que, a Língua Inglesa deveria ser mais valorizada principalmente no que tange sua relevância dentro da sociedade, o que implica dizer que quanto mais cedo for iniciada nas escolas, mais validos serão os conhecimentos adquiridos a partir dela, e por isso o ideal é que se inicie seu processo de aprendizagem ainda na infância, em conjunto com a Língua Portuguesa. Palavras-Chave: Escola pública; Escola privada; Ensino; Língua Inglesa; Infância. Abstract: The English language is considered the world’s most spoken language, being characterized as the communication and international relationships language. The number of people who speak this language has been increasing, and the need of knowing it precisely became a part of most of these people, so they search for lessons during their adulthood, to upgrade themselves in the business market. This need comes from the low encouragement received when it comes to bilingual education during the childhood, and this reality hits when we compare the public and private schools education, when one offers this type of education during the elementary school, and the other only introduces it from the late years in elementary school. With this in mind, the present article named “The English language teaching during the kindergarten: the gap between public and private school.” is focused in analyzing how the English language was introduced here in Brazil, and also verify the differences between the English education of private and public schools, being aware about the importance and benefits of learning a second language during the childhood. This article is based in works from authors like Santos (2011), Rossato (2012), Kumaravadivelu (2013), constituting a bibliographical research, using the qualitative method to formulate the article. From the above during this article, it was possible to conclude that children, from their curiosity, are more favorable to learn new things, so the introduction of the English education starting in their kindergarten it’s fundamental to develop interest for a new language. Thus, it was also essential to note that the differences between public and private educational institutions are factors that make working with English difficult, due to the high or low importance it receives in each institution. It appears that the English language should be more valued especially with regard to its relevance within society, which implies that the earlier it is started in schools, the more valid the knowledge acquired from it will be, and therefore the ideal is to start their learning process still in childhood, together with the Portuguese language. Keywords: Public School, Private School, Teaching, English Language, Childhood. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulwahid Qasem Al Zumor

This study examines the challenges of using English medium instruction (EMI) in teaching and learning scientific disciplines. The main objective of the study is to identify students’ perceptions regarding lecture comprehension, communication, pedagogy, assessment, and affect in an EMI setting. The participants in this study are 264 Saudi students who study Computer Science, Engineering, and Medicine. A questionnaire with a four-point Likert scale was used to survey the participants’ views on the challenges they encounter as a result of the use of EMI for teaching and learning scientific disciplines. The collected data were analysed quantitatively with SPSS and qualitatively by using the content analysis method. The major findings of the study are: a) using English language to teach scientific disciplines has a seriously negative impact on the scientific content comprehension and assessment of a majority of the students in the present study, b) using English language as the medium of instruction and assessment causes anxiety, frustration, tension, fear, embarrassment and, ultimately, poor educational outcomes, c) EMI deprives the students of their basic rights to effective understanding, communication, interaction, discussion and inquiry. The study recommends ensuring quality English education in the foundation year and examining the option of “additive bilingual education.”


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Budsaba Kanoksilapatham

In Thailand, the question of how to improve the abilities of English language learners without affecting their Thai identity has arisen. This article reports a study that demonstrates that a series of specifically northern Thainess-based instructions for Grade 4 pupils in northern Thailand could not only teach the pupils about their northern Thainess, but also improve their English vocabulary. A set of northern Thainess-based English lessons as well as the corresponding Thainess and English vocabulary pretests and posttests were designed for use in four elementary schools in the north of Thailand. The pretest and posttest scores on both aspects showed that both the pupils’ appreciation of Thainess and their knowledge of English vocabulary considerably improved. The result suggests the positive effects of this system of learning.  From a pedagogical viewpoint, it seems that the use of such materials may well be used to improve and reshape English language education throughout the country.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nunky Ajeng Arifinda ◽  
Dwi Hastuti

<p>Television programs containing violence is now free to be accessed by school age children, particularly children in elementary school. The violent content has negative impact on children, such as bullying behavior to their friends as well as their parents. This research aimed to analyze the influence of television access on bullying behavior among school age children at Bogor villages. This research involved 60 children with age ranges between 10-13 years old in grade 4 and 5. A proportional random sampling in Pamijahan Sub-District, Bogor District was undertaken in this research. Result showed that the intensity of watching television, preferences in watching television, preferences to access violent contents, and impersonation of violent contents significantly correlated to bullying behavior. Multiple linier regression analysis showed that television access and impersonating violent contents had significantly positive effects on bullying behavior on children. </p><p>Keywords: bullying behavior, elementary school children, impersonating violent contents, rural area, television access</p><p> </p><p>Tayangan televisi yang banyak mengandung kekerasan dapat secara bebas diakses oleh anak usia sekolah. Akibatnya, anak dapat berulang-ulang terpapar muatan kekerasan tersebut dan berpotensi meniru adegan kekerasan tersebut dan melakukan perilaku <em>bullying </em>terhadap teman-teman bahkan orangtuanya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh akses media televisi terhadap perilaku <em>bullying </em>anak usia sekolah di Perdesaan Bogor. Penelitian ini melibatkan 60 anak usia sekolah berusia 10-13 tahun yang duduk di kelas 4 dan 5 SD yang dipilih secara <em>proportional random sampling</em>. Penelitian ini berlokasi di Kecamatan Pamijahan, Kabupaten Bogor. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa lama menonton televisi, preferensi menonton televisi, preferensi mengakses muatan kekerasan, dan peniruan muatan kekerasan berhubungan positif signifikan dengan perilaku <em>bullying</em>. Uji regresi linier berganda menunjukkan bahwa akses media televisi dan peniruan muatan kekerasan berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap perilaku <em>bullying </em>anak usia sekolah.</p><p>Kata kunci: akses media televisi, peniruan muatan kekerasan, perdesaan, perilaku  <em>bullying</em>, siswa sekolah dasar</p>


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 383
Author(s):  
Wina Herliana ◽  
Eka Deti Daniawati

In the learning of English language at school there are many ways can be done by teachers, including in using of tools or props and media can be appropriate to the level and level of education available. For learning English at level of basic education there are a number of learning that can be used as alternatives, one of which is the song media. This article discussed about steps of implementation song media of elementary school at Cibeber 1 Cimahi. Analysis of the problems used as research materials using descriptive qualitative analysis, while the focus of the object of observation is the steps of media song implementation in the school mention above. From the result of observation and analysis conducted by the autors, it is known that there is still incompatibility in the steps of media song. Implementation conducted by teacher with the steps implementation of instructional media as recommended by the experts of English education, especially experts who deepen the problem of media implementation song in learning English at school.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-37
Author(s):  
Evyta Tri Handayani ◽  
Dyah Aminatun

English has been an important language nowadays. The role of the English language also has become the qualification of many people. However, many students state that English is not an easy language to master especially in Indonesia. Teachers also find it as a challenge in teaching English in Indonesia. They must have the appropriate technique and media for the students. One of the media that can be used by teachers to teach and engage students’ participation in learning English is WhatsApp. This application is also popular among the students as instructional learning mobile medium, including as a teaching medium to teach writing for students. Besides it is easy to operate, many students are familiar with it. This research aimed to find out students’ perspectives towards the use of WhatsApp group in improving students’ writing ability. This study applied a descriptive qualitative study with 37 students of the English Education study program as the participants. The data instrument used in this research were questionnaire and interview. The findings show that teaching writing by using the WhatsApp group can bring positive effects and benefit during the teaching and learning process. Besides that, it can also develop students’ writing ability. This result is supported by students’ opinions which state many good responses to this media rather than bad responses. Moreover, the result also shows that the WhatsApp group is one of the appropriate learning platforms for education in Indonesia.


Author(s):  
Dentik Karyaningsih ◽  
Puji Siswanto

Lecture courses in the English Language Education Study Program of STKIP Setiabudhi Rangkasbitung are still conducted in face-to-face class, so the students who do not attend lectures cannot know the pronunciation material at that time, because the Pronunciation course is a practical course in the English pronunciation system. The E-Learning Pronunciation is built so that lectures can be carried out anywhere and anytime without reducing the quality of the teaching and learning process. Therefore, the students who are left behind can continue to follow the Pronunciation course material, as well as habituating students in utilizing communication and information technology. E-Learning Pronunciation is important to be built to improve the ability of students’ pronunciation when doing distance learning, so that students are clearer and more firm in understanding Pronunciation so that there are no errors in English pronunciation. Participants in this study were first semester students of English education study programs. This study uses an experimental research design with the Prototype System development method and system of testing uses Black box testing.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eriselda Vrapi ◽  
Xhevdet Zekaj

This study aims to explore the use of video in English language teaching (ELT) elementary school (grades 8 to 9)... In addition, the thesis aims to find out how videos in English lessons helped to achieve the goals of English curriculum. The main hypothesis was that teaching with video would develop pupils’ communicative skills and, therefore, was appropriate for the communicative approach to ELT. The study addressed five research questions regarding the use of videos in English lessons in the case study school: why the teachers used videos in ELT, what kinds of videos were used in English lessons, how and how often videos were used, what was taught and learned through the use of videos and, finally, what the teachers’ and pupils’ attitudes to lessons with videos were. The research was performed as a case study at an Elbasan elementary school. The data for the research was obtained through the use of mixed methods: qualitative, in the form of interviews with four English teachers and observations of three of the interviewed teachers’ lessons with videos, and quantitative, in the form of a pupil questionnaire answered by 105 pupils from two 8th grade and two 9th grade classes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-80
Author(s):  
Yasmina Abdzadeh ◽  
Will Baker

AbstractDespite Iran’s increasing use of English as a lingua franca (ELF) and its growing position as a more open country to international relationships, Iran’s education policy is still culturally conservative and intercultural language education is absent from the national curriculum and hence classrooms. In response, this article presents the results of a ten-session course focused on implementing and developing cultural awareness (CA) in an Iranian English language classroom. The data revealed that this course had a positive effect in developing students’ levels of CA, moving from basic in the first half of the course towards advanced in the second half. This provides important empirical evidence illustrating the value of systematic instruction of CA in students’ cultural learning. Furthermore, this course was the first of its kind in the predominantly monolingual, culturally restricted context of this study, where intercultural education is missing from the curriculum, yet where students are likely to use ELF for intercultural communication while travelling abroad or inside the country for communication purposes with non-Iranians. This study, thus, demonstrates the feasibility and documents the processes of integrating intercultural teaching into English education, specifically in contexts where educators might be limited by language policy makers.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document