Developing Intercultural Awareness and Language Speaking Proficiency for Foreign Language Learners through Cross–Cultural Voicemail Exchange

2012 ◽  
pp. 149-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Yayin Wang ◽  
Wan-Jeng Chang
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Communication Devices ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking

To expand global and intercultural communication, the effectiveness of asynchronous online communication devices, especially email, have been discussed in the area of foreign language teaching. A lack of specific research exists that addresses the application of online voicemail. This paper reports on a five month period of voicemail exchanges between 53 EFL learners in Taiwan and 56 CFL learners in the United States. The authors examine the responses of EFL students to this cross–cultural voicemail project and assess their progress in intercultural awareness and English speaking proficiency before and after the project. This study concludes that the use of voicemail creates an impact on the English speaking performance and intercultural awareness of EFL students and increases the motivation of EFL students in using English to express ideas. Further implications for teaching are discussed.

Developing Intercultural Awareness and Language Speaking Proficiency for Foreign Language Learners through Cross–Cultural Voicemail Exchange

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Yayin Wang ◽  
Wan-Jeng Chang
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking

To expand global and intercultural communication, the effectiveness of asynchronous online communication devices, especially email, have been discussed in the area of foreign language teaching. A lack of specific research exists that addresses the application of online voicemail. This paper reports on a five month period of voicemail exchanges between 53 EFL learners in Taiwan and 56 CFL learners in the United States. The authors examine the responses of EFL students to this cross–cultural voicemail project and assess their progress in intercultural awareness and English speaking proficiency before and after the project. This study concludes that the use of voicemail creates an impact on the English speaking performance and intercultural awareness of EFL students and increases the motivation of EFL students in using English to express ideas. Further implications for teaching are discussed.

scholarly journals Developing Students’ Intercultural Competence among Moroccan EFL students: Focus on raising their Cross-cultural Awareness

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 43-56
Author(s):  
Driss Benattabou
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Cultural Awareness ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Communication Course ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Deep Culture ◽  
Efl Students

         The goal of this paper is to consider alternative ways to incorporate an intercultural communication course as an integral part of the curriculum designed for Moroccan learners of EFL. Some aspects of what comes to be dubbed as ‘deep culture’ should find room in the contents of the EFL course so as to alert Moroccan learners about the potential intercultural barriers they are far more likely to face. It is proposed that for an effective intercultural communication to take place, the English course should help foreign language learners explicitly understand what target linguistic forms might be and how their meanings may differ across cultures. The analysis of some instances of intercultural misunderstandings may surely give more credence to the vital importance of implementing a multicultural approach to education. This paper offers some teaching strategies to assist Moroccan learners of EFL overcome these intercultural barriers.

scholarly journals Intercultural Learning via Online Chatroom of EFL Students

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
deny efita nur rakhmawati
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Cultural Knowledge ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Intercultural Learning ◽  
Immediate Feedback ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Efl Students

Internet nowadays could be used as an instructional tool in the foreign language classroom. This research, therefore, discusses the students’ experience in Cross Cultural Understanding course using online chatroom. The purposes of the research are to create opportunities for students to gain cultural knowledge and enhance the intercultural experiences via online chatroom. While carrying out the research, qualitative research method was employed and the data were mainly gathered through students’ online chats with native speakers, questionnaire and interview. The research revealed that students were very enthusiastic in doing the online chats since they liked the immediate feedback and responses in the online communication. There was also improvement of intercultural learning such as in the intercultural awareness in telling tradition from each culture. Then, it indicates that foreign language teachers could apply the online-based activities for the students and designing the suitable ones in an EFL classroom.

Improving Communicative Competence Levels of Pre-Service Teachers Through Spoken-Based Reflection Instruction

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110445
Author(s):  
Chinaza Solomon Ironsi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Listening And Speaking ◽  
Speaking Skills

This study investigated the use of spoken-reflection instruction to improve the communicative competence level of English as Foreign Language learners in a second language acquisition classroom. A listening and speaking test was administered before and after the study to determine the participants’ level of speaking competence. A quantitative research design was adopted for the study. A 3-credit unit language course was designed and implemented for the study. The course was built on the core principles of reflective practice. Participants were taught using the normal language teaching method and spoken-based reflection instruction. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 65 English as Foreign Language learners who willingly participated in the study. At the end of the course, a questionnaire was used to obtain information from the participants about their perceptions of using spoken-based reflection instruction to improve their speaking skills. In addition, participants were administered a Reflection-Listening, and Speaking Skills Test before and after each experimental phase to determine whether their listening and speaking skills had improved. Most learners found the use of spoken reflections to be a fun way to learn. However, they expressed anxiety about doing teacher-student reflection because they felt intimidated by the presence of their language teacher, although sending recordings of their reflections to their teachers was more convenient than interacting with them on a one-to-one basis.

The progressive form and its functions in spoken learner English

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-194
Author(s):  
Lea Meriläinen
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Home Country ◽  
International Database ◽  
Spoken English ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Progressive Form ◽  
Influential Variable

Abstract Present-day English manifests ongoing changes in the frequency and semantic range of the progressive form, which presents a challenge for foreign language learners. This study examines the frequencies and semantic functions of the progressive in the Louvain International Database of Spoken English Interlanguage with the aim of finding out to what extent learners are adopting the ongoing changes. This study analyses the effects of an exposure-rich learning environment by comparing learners from countries where English is used in varying degrees outside formal educational contexts and by examining intra-corpus variation between learners who have vs. have not spent time in English-speaking countries. The results reveal that exposure to English in the home country explains some of the variation in the progressive frequencies, but most of all it shows in the extent to which the learners have adopted its new semantic uses. By contrast, stay in English-speaking countries was not found to be an influential variable for all learner groups.

scholarly journals Technology Integration to English Speaking for Beginner Classroom Through Vlogs: A Bridge of EFL Students’ Hesitancy to Speak

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syifa’ Khuriyatuz Zahro .
Keyword(s):  
Technology Integration ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
Generation Z ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
English Speaking

The current advancement of video-blogs (vlogs) in YouTube channel among students of generation z has challenged teachers to make use of its potential for students’ speaking enhancement. The present research aimed at elaborating the implementation of educational vlogs as well as lecturers’ and students’ perceptions in response to the use and the creation of educational vlogs to enhance their speaking proficiency and reduce their speaking hesitancy. The research piloted to university students who attended speaking for beginner course in Lamongan. This is mixed-method research employed 27 students who were purposefully selected as the sample based on their speaking proficiency level (good, average and less than average). The instruments obtained in data collection were notes of observation, students speaking scores, questionnaires, and interview guidance that were analyzed descriptively. The results of the study indicated that integrating vlogs to speaking classroom has positive feedback from both lecturers and students. Therefore, it is suggested to make use of the vlogs toward another classroom in different circumstances and skills.   Keywords: Technology integration, vlogs, speaking for beginner, speaking skill

scholarly journals Using Tongue Twister to Improve Students’ Pronunciation

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-115
Author(s):  
Dewi Lutfiani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Oral Communication ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Correct Pronunciation ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Tongue Twister ◽  
Basic Ability ◽  
Teaching Learning ◽  
Teaching Pronunciation

peaking skill comprises five components; pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar,fluency and accuracy, which are very essential in delivering messages orinformation clearly. As one of the five components of speaking, pronunciationis an essential component in oral communication and a basic ability of speakingEnglish. Since English is a foreign language, correct pronunciation becomesa crucial matter to avoid misunderstanding between a speaker and a listener.Therefore, teaching pronunciation to EFL students is very essential, and it is notan easy task for English teachers. The main reason is that English pronunciationis difficult for most foreign language learners since what is written is differentfrom what is spoken. Regarding the difficulty of the students, teachers shouldbe creative to select a technique of teaching pronunciation. One techniquethat is suitable for teaching pronunciation is tongue twister. This techniquewas applied to the eleventh grade of SMA Muhammadiyah 3 Jember in the2015/2016 academic year. The results of the classroom action research whichwas done in two cycles showed 77.14% students got score ≥75 and 77.13% ofthe students were active in teaching learning process. The results had met thecriteria of success of the research.

scholarly journals The Influence of Using Social Media as a Learning Platform by Bilingual and Multilingual Learners on English Speaking Skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Porawe Poramathikul ◽  
Nakibah Arwedo ◽  
Innas Abdulhakim ◽  
Pitchayaporn Wattanaruwangkowit
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
Learning Platform ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
University Level ◽  
The University ◽  
Speaking Skills

This study aims to discover the influences of using social media on the English speaking skills. To fulfill this study’s goal, data was collected using questionnaires, self-assessment, and speaking tests. Participants of the study were 20 bilinguals and multilingual of any two or more languages that are currently studying English as a foreign language (EFL) at the university level in Thailand. The result from speaking proficiency self-assessment shows the perception of bilinguals and multilingual who perceived that they can speak English fluently than accurately. The average score of the self-assessment is 5.59 out of 9. The standard deviation (S.D.) of their score is 1.46. This score shows that the participants consider themselves as competent users of English according to the description from British Councils (2012). Only eight out of 20 or 40 percent of the participants think that they have reached the level of capable users of the English, while the other 60 percent of participants think that they have not reached that level. From this study, it has been found that bilingual and multilingual speakers often use social media for educational purposes.

scholarly journals PRAGMATICS IN EFL CLASSROOM: AVOIDING PRAGMATIC FAILURE IN CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-91
Author(s):  
Nailul Author Restu Pamungkas ◽  
Lutfina Tarita Wulandari
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Cultural Communication ◽  
Cross Cultural Communication ◽  
Teaching Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Pragmatic Awareness ◽  
Pragmatic Failure ◽  
Cultural Pragmatics

In teaching language along with its culture, teacher should take pragmatic aspects into consideration, since understanding pragmatics will help foreign language learners to avoid false interpretation which will cause misunderstanding in communication between speakers with different culture and social backgrounds. It is called as pragmatic failure which usually takes place in cross-cultural communication. Since pragmatics plays quite important role in communication, it is important for foreign language learners to have sensitivity of cross cultural pragmatics, which is commonly known as cross cultural or intercultural pragmatic awareness. However, teaching language along with culture seems to be problematic, since it is relatively difficult to choose which aspect(s) of culture to teach, what content to include, and to represent cultures implicitly under study which presents differences from the norm of students’ local culture. Therefore, this paper tries to explore the essential issues of spoken discourse, pragmatics, cross cultural pragmatics, pragmatic failure, pragmatic awareness, and its implication to pedagogy.

scholarly journals KSZTAŁTOWANIE POSTAWY OTWARTOŚCI INTERKULTUROWEJ NAUCZYCIELI JĘZYKÓW OBCYCH W ŚWIETLE ZALECEŃ UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ I NA PRZYKŁADZIE ASYSTENTURY COMENIUSA

Neofilolog ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 265-277
Author(s):  
Anna Grabowska
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
National Language ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Foreign Language Teachers ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Foreign Language Learners

Learning a foreign language is not only limited to the development of linguistic competences. Learning a language also means learning about the culture and life of another country, which very often may be a future destination for educational or professional purposes for foreign language learners. Teaching intercultural competences within foreign language education is a subject of academic research. Official documents of the European Union, which affect the national language education strategies, also confirm the importance developing intercultural competence. Experts agree that foreign language teachers play a crucial role in building intercultural awareness of their pupils. Thus, in order to act as intercultural mediators they should acquire intercultural skills and competences themselves. This article analyses the development of future foreign language teachers’ intercultural competences as a consequence of their participation in Comenius Assistantship, a component of the Lifelong Learning Programme.

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