scholarly journals ‘Trusting the Process’: Part Three of My Autoethnography as a Self-Directed Learner of French

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-369
Author(s):  
Robert Werner ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
French Language ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Learning History ◽  
English Class ◽  
Classroom Language ◽  
Authentic Language

This is the third part of an autoethnography about trying to enrich my vocabulary and improve my listening skills as a self-directed learner through French language songs. I followed the same Study Use Review Evaluate (SURE) learning cycle as my students in a self-directed English class at a university in Japan, and my work occurred at the same time as theirs, over a period of six weeks. Throughout the project and in the course of writing it up, I have been making comparisons and identifying connections between my learning and that of my students. This installment covers the final three weeks of the project. First, in continuing my language learning history, I discuss authentic language and the discrepancies between my classroom language learning and real-life experiences, especially with regard to understanding spoken language while in France. Next, the paper details how I evaluated my learning both during the project and months after it finished. After that, I describe my longtime interest in accents and dialects and how I chose my third song partly to study Nouchi, a French-based dialect spoken in Ivory Coast. The paper concludes with a description of how I felt my goals shifting at different points in the project and reasons I considered changing my focus from listening to reading. I also describe a way I have been able to continue practicing reading French on a daily basis and how students can benefit from this method too.

scholarly journals ‘A Puzzle that Needs to be Fitted Together’: The Beginning of My Autoethnographic Journey of Learning French Through Music

2020 ◽  
pp. 93-107
Author(s):  
Robert J. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
French Language ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Learning History ◽  
Learning Goal ◽  
Learning Techniques ◽  
Song Lyrics

This is the first of several installments of an autoethnography about my experiences as a self-directed learner studying French over a six-week period. My studies paralleled work that students were completing in an English language course at a Japanese university and occurred simultaneously with theirs. I set a learning goal and focused on vocabulary and listening skills in order to better understand French language songs. In doing so, I not only revisited past knowledge of French, but also examined my learning techniques and developed strategies as I made weekly study plans. In this installment, I will give an overview of the project, and tell how I arrived at it and why I chose to study French. I will also describe my language learning history, especially with regard to French and Japanese. Data consisted of observation notes, weekly reflections, song lyrics with my vocabulary translations, and a log of days/time spent studying. This installment goes through the first week of the project, when I chose a song to study, a strategy to try, resources to use, and then did those things. At the onset, I doubted whether I could be successful, but was also excited and motivated to begin a new endeavor.

scholarly journals ‘Things Will Look Up Because They Always Do’: The Continuation of My Autoethnography as a Self-Directed Learner of French

2020 ◽  
pp. 271-293
Author(s):  
Robert J. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
French Language ◽  
Learning Cycle ◽  
Second Step ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
New Words ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
English Class

This is the second part of an autoethnography about trying to enrich my vocabulary and improve my listening skills as a self-directed learner through French language songs. I followed the same Study Use Review Evaluate (SURE) learning cycle as my students in a self-access English class, and my work occurred at the same time as theirs, over a period of six weeks. Throughout the project and in the course of writing it up, I was making comparisons and identifying connections between my learning and that of my students. This installment covers the second and third weeks of the project, and part of the fourth. First, it discusses vocabulary, describes how I adjusted a strategy, ways I enlisted help from native French speakers, and a problem that arose with using new words (the second step of SURE). Next, it details how I reviewed grammar through Duolingo, a language learning app, and the unexpected benefits I derived from using this app. Finally, this paper examines fluctuations in motivation and affect, which many learners experience at some point, and this initially led to anxiety and self-doubts about my purpose in conducting this project. Stepping into the learner’s experience was valuable, however, in helping me to rediscover intrinsic motivation and regain my self-confidence as I headed into the final weeks of the project.

scholarly journals The Application of Problem-based Learning Approach in English Grammar Instruction: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 446 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bella Chiou
Keyword(s):  
Life Experiences ◽  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Low Achievers ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Grammar Instruction ◽  
English Grammar ◽  
English Class ◽  
Post Test

The study incorporates the problem-based approach (PBL) in the English class with an attempt to improve English low achievers’ grammar competence pertaining to relative clauses and their motivation in learning English. Fifty students divided into seven teams with leader for each were recruited. This study adopts the pre- and post-test research design as well as classroom observation checklist and two assignments. The result indicates that the engagement level of the participants is increased by the scenario-based strategy and their grammar competence improves under PBL instruction after being compared with the scores of pretest and posttest, which suggests that the PBL approach really exerts a positive influence on the performance of the participant. The finding also implies that the participants emphasizes, when offering solutions to the scenario, more on employment than on studies, which may reflect their real life experiences.

scholarly journals Teaching speaking in large classes: Crossing the barriers

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 72-89
Author(s):  
Nargis Chowdhury ◽  
Sabrina M Shaila
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Large Classes ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Classroom Language ◽  
English Language Teachers ◽  
Innovative Techniques

The modern theories, approaches and methodologies regarding classroom language learning perceive learning as an interactive process. In countries like Bangladesh, where English is a foreign language, one common phenomenon is that the teachers have to deal with large classes. This paper tries to focus on how the English language teachers deal with large classes at the tertiary level, especially when they are conducting classes to practice and evaluate speaking skills of students. A survey was conducted on 52 English language teachers working at different private universities to find out the problems teachers face when the carry on and observe speaking classes. The study finds that students’ less exposure to the real life interaction in the target language, their nervousness, influence of the L1, adverse social environment along with other problems tend to hamper the smooth ongoing of the class. But as most of the teachers consider large class as a challenge rather than a problem, so they attempt to utilize different new methods of teaching speaking in classrooms. The authors of this paper suggest some innovative techniques and methods found to be effective and fruitful in large classes. Stamford Journal of English; Volume 6; Page 72-89 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/sje.v6i0.13904

scholarly journals Improving Communicative Competence through Mime: Bringing Students’ ‘Out-of-School’ Literacy Practices into Japanese University EFL Oral Communication Classes

2018 ◽  
Vol XII (2) ◽  
pp. 13-30
Author(s):  
Samuel Nfor
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Literacy Practices ◽  
Life Experiences ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Communicative Language Teaching ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Classroom Language ◽  
Out Of School

This study uses the Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approach to emphasize interaction in EFL study to prepare students for real life communication outside of formal language teaching contexts. Using mime drama techniques to show a range of literacy practices, the study seeks to show that establishing creative links between students’ language use and learning inside and outside of the classroom is essential for making formal education more relevant to students’ life experiences and identities. The study examines the benefits and challenges of experimental CLT in a Japanese university EFL oral communication class and concludes that bringing students’ ‘out-of-school’ literacy practices from outside the context of formal education into the EFL classroom acknowledges their investment in classroom language practices, secures student engagement, and yields perceived improvement.

scholarly journals Improving Learners’ Oral Proficiency in French Through the Communicative Approach: Colleges of Education in Oyo in Focus

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Balogun Thomas Akanbi ◽  
Kezie-Osuagwu Clementina Ndidi
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Oral Proficiency ◽  
College Of Education ◽  
French Language ◽  
Colleges Of Education ◽  
Communicative Approach

It cannot be overemphasised that French language is a foreign language in Nigeria and that its teaching and learning cannot take the same process as acquiring/learning the mother tongue or a second language. Foreign language learning requires some strategic applications in order to be able to interact with the native speakers in real life day to day communication. This study aims at delving into some teaching strategies involving the communicative approach to teaching French as a foreign language in order to boost the oral proficiency of our learners in French. The teachers and students in two colleges of Education namely Federal College of Education (Special) [FCES] and Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), both located in Oyo town, were the participants in the study. Data were collected through classroom observation, students’ achievement test as well as questionnaires for teachers. The results indicated that students perform better when the teachers employ the communicative approach. Based on the findings of this study, it is therefore recommended that teachers of French language use the communicative language teaching approach to build confidence in their students as this will help to develop faster their linguistic skills, given that this approach gives priority to listening and speaking skills over reading and writing skills.

scholarly journals Intercultural language learning in a sister school partnership between Indonesia and Australia

LingTera ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
Heni Dwi Iryanti ◽  
Suwarsih Madya
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Public High School ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Ethnographic Approach ◽  
School Partnership ◽  
Authentic Language

This case study aimed to: (1) reveal how intercultural language learning occurred within a sister school partnership in an Indonesian public high school in Yogyakarta, and (2) describe student behaviours perceived to be indicative of intercultural language learning. Using an ethnographic approach through observations and dialogues, this study investigated real life interactions occurring among the research participants within the uniqueness of the partnership between an Indonesian public high school in Yogyakarta and its Australian school partner. The results showed that intercultural language learning occurred in the forms of learning experiences which engaged the students in interaction, observation and reflection with the target community. A number of indicators of intercultural language learning were revealed in the students behaviours within four authentic language experiences including exploring language and culture, noticing verbal and non-verbal cultural behaviours, making connections between home and the target language and culture, and reflecting on the development of a third or intermediate personal position between cultures.

Perfecting Communication Skills of the Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Dr. Neeta Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Effective Communication ◽  
Major Elements ◽  
Communication Process ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Listening And Speaking

Abstract Communication is a process of sharing information through speech, writing, gestures or symbols between two or more people. The focus of the present paper is oral communication and the language under consideration is English. The teacher should adopt a student centered approach. The learners should be encouraged to do things in the class which result in developing their communication skills. The trainer has to focus on both the linguistic and paralinguistic features of the communication process while enhancing learners’ communication skills. These features involve the effective use of words, forming grammatically intelligible sentences and an appropriate use of voice and intonation. The teacher should encourage and train his students to use positive body language while listening and speaking. In order to hone the communication skills of the learners, it is very important to make the learners comfortable with the language they have to communicate in. Shedding their inhibitions is also one of the pivotal areas of concerns. This paper explores different techniques that could be useful while training students in communication skills. Communication is a process of sharing information through speech, writing, gestures or symbols between two or more people. The focus of the present paper is oral communication and the language under consideration is English. The major elements of a communication process are sender, receiver, message and feedback. Effective communication is a two way process. It involves both expressive (speaking) skills and receptive (listening) skills. It entails receiver’s understanding of the message sent by the sender and his feedback to the sender. Listening plays a very important role in the language learning process. It is the most primary of the four basic skills of any language i.e. Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Listening paves way for speaking. One can never be a good speaker if one is not a good listener. An effective communicator is first a good listener and then a good speaker. According to Tickoo ( 2003 ), ‘Good listening skills not only lay the foundations of good speech, but they grow best through effective communication’.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document