scholarly journals nvestigating the Information Needs of University Students in Foundational Foreign Language Courses

2012 ◽  
pp. 149-162
Author(s):  
Glenna Westwood

This investigation seeks to address two issues: first, to discover if there is evidence that university students in foundational language courses need information resources to support their language learning and second, if such evidence exists, what the specific information resource needs might be and how important those resources are to students’ language learning. After engaging in a year of foreign language study, the author used the evidence gathered to develop and conduct a survey of the user needs of language students at the Self Access Centre (CAADI) of the University of Guanajuato, Mexico. Results of the survey supported the personal learning experiences of the author. Over 80% of students surveyed reported using the information resources in the CAADI at least once a week with general grammar books, course text books and films being reported as the most important resources. This investigation provides a starting point for research in to the collection development practices of academic libraries supporting the learning of foreign languages. By examining the information needs of one population, evidence has been provided that these students do indeed need information resources to support their language learning. The study suggests specific resource types that could be important for these users.

Author(s):  
Anastasia Atabekova ◽  
Alexander Belousov ◽  
Oleg Yastrebov

The chapter explores language and non-language university students’ practices of foreign language learning within the unscheduled shift to remote studies in Russia due to the COVID-19 emergency. The RUDN University Law Institute experience is considered as an example. The paper explores common and specific features of foreign language, translation, and interpreting skills training within the Law Institute language and non-language programmes. The research rests on the case study methodology, considered from the policy-making and managerial point of view. The findings reveal both common features and specificities of multilingual university education of non-language and language students. The study also confirms the need for the educational institutions to draft specific guidelines on language courses implementation for different target audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Author(s):  
Mark Critchley

This chapter offers a chronological narrative of the steps taken by the Centre for Foreign Language Study (CFLS) at Durham University to move language teaching, learning, and assessment online following the announcement of the global COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This includes immediate steps to suspend classroom teaching, a move to online assessments, preparations for teaching of summer language courses, and steps to convert existing curricula and teaching materials for online delivery in 2020-2021. The chapter concludes with some lessons learned, and plans for the future.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 326
Author(s):  
Luis M. Dos Santos

Nursing curriculum usually focuses on vocational development to train students to become nursing professionals after graduation. However, due to the packed major schedule and curriculum, many students are not required to take additional foreign language courses for their associate degree. Based on the lens of social cognitive career theory, the researcher sought to understand the motivations and reasons behind the learning behaviours. One research question was guided in this study, which was, what are the motivations and reasons for taking foreign language courses beyond their (i.e., nursing students) major curriculum and coursework plan? A qualitative research method was employed to collect interview data from 60 nursing students. The finding of this study indicated that the interest in career development and personal consideration were two of the most important factors for foreign language learning for these groups of nursing students. The results of this study provided recommendations for college leaders, government agencies, and policymakers to reform and polish foreign language courses and offer directions to contemporary students of the nursing curriculum. Students may also be benefitted as the study outlined the motivations and reasons for foreign language learning. Therefore, all parties may take this study as a blueprint to exercise their future developments.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 01128
Author(s):  
Lyubov Pavlova ◽  
Yuliana Vtorushina

This paper presents results of the research aimed at determining essential aspects of the development of university students’ cognition culture as a factor of successful foreign language learning. The authors define cognition culture as a complex of capabilities and skills, enabling students to look for, analyze, process, organize and critically assess information in the text, considering its historical and cultural value background. The investigation proves that a student’s cognition culture is manifested in his/her knowledge of national mentality, language, and cultural picture of the world as well as in the student’s skills of search, procession and critical assessment of information, the skills of analysis, comparison, generalization, cognitive motivation and aspiration for constant improvement of foreign language skills. The research determines the contents of the cognitive component of foreign language learning and works out a complex of teaching techniques for developing students’ cognition culture. The results prove that the application of the complex of special teaching techniques ensures effective development of the university students’ cognition culture for successful foreign language learning. Thus, students’ cognitive culture conditions their social adaptation and academic mobility.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1584
Author(s):  
Gökhan Baş ◽  
Mehmet Özcan

This research aimed to identify the differences in foreign language learning (FLL) anxiety levels between high school and university students based on some variables such as gender, current educational status, parents’ (father and mother) educational status, and monthly income of families.  The survey model was adopted in the research.  The research included high school (n = 333) and university (n = 341) students from Nigde and Afyonkarahisar provinces. In the research, “Foreign Language Learning Anxiety Scale” (FLLAS) was used in order to collect data. For the analyses of the data, independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA were performed. The results of the research indicated that gender, fathers’ educational status and monthly income of family variables did not have a significant impact on foreign language anxiety levels of high school and university students. It was also found that students’ educational status as well as their mothers’ educational status variables influenced their FLL anxiety significantly.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franziska Lys ◽  
Alison May ◽  
Jeanne Ravid

Abstract In order to enhance mobility, competitiveness, and opportunities for work, the European Union lists the ability to communicate in a foreign language and to understand another culture as an important objective in their language education policy. Knowledge of a foreign language is also an important objective for many American universities, which require students to study a foreign language as a prerequisite to graduate. Students with documented disabilities affecting the learning of a foreign language or students with poor foreign language learning skills, therefore, pose a significant challenge, since a foreign language requirement may prevent such students from graduating unless universities are willing to make special arrangements such as having students graduate without fulfilling the requirement or letting them take substitution classes. The question of what to do with such students is at the heart of this article. It describes how one mid-sized private university with a two-year language proficiency requirement has approached the problem to ensure that policies are implemented fairly. Rather than pulling students out of the foreign language classroom, the university succeeded in keeping students engaged with foreign language study through advising and mentoring across departments


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agung Rinaldy Malik ◽  
Muhammad Nur Ashar Asnur

ABSTRACT  Foreign language is an important component of someone in facing the era of Industry 4.0. The development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will have an impact on the creation of a learning media innovation that will facilitate users in the learning process in higher education. Likewise in foreign language learning. Online-based learning has been designed in such a way as to increase learning knowledge and motivation. This study uses a qualitative approach with the survey method. Data and Sources of data in this study are students of foreign language study programs at universities in Indonesia. The results of the study show that students generally always use smartphones and use social media in all their activities. Students use a lot of social media in exploring vocabulary and increasing vocabulary mastery, learning as well as building networks for native speakers (Muttersprachler), and making social media a means of learning by accessing foreign-language songs and interesting media in student foreign language learning. Thus social media can be one of the means of education for students which ends in improving foreign language skills.  Keywords: Social Media, Learning Media, Learning Foreign Languages, Higher Education


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-293
Author(s):  
I Wayan Ardi Sumarta ◽  
I Wayan Simpen ◽  
I Ketut Darma Laksana ◽  
Ketut Artawa

Purpose of the study: Language is a productive communication tool for teachers to interact with learners. The use of non-verbal Language in speaking becomes strong support when the speech event takes place. This study aims to determine the elements of kinesics and politeness of the Language of the instructor in learning. Methodology: The method used in this study uses descriptive methods. The subjects involved in the research were one lecturer in Indonesian language courses andMahasaraswati university students who were taking Indonesian language courses. The study was conducted in 6 different classes for three meetings. Main Findings: The results showed that non-verbal Language is inherent and contributes to the application of the instructor’s politeness principle in learning. Utilization of kinesics in the politeness of Language perfects a speech that is based on the politeness of Language so that the care of speech harmony can be sustained and to the success in maintaining the face of the speech partner especially emotional closeness between learners and instructors. Application of this study: Learning includes embedded values ​​and imprinted into a role model for learners. The attitude that is no less important and inherent in the instructor’s self is the kinesic attraction that causes the learner’s pleasure and comfort when learning takes place. Novelty/Originality of this study: Research in Indonesian has not yet led to politeness in Language. The utilization of non-verbal Language in speaking becomes strong support when the speech event takes place, this is because Language is the main communication tool for interaction in learning.


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