Improving Online Readability in a Web 2.0 Context

2009 ◽  
pp. 385-410
Author(s):  
John Paul Loucky
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Online Reading ◽  
Writing Course ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Pedagogical Innovations ◽  
User Friendly

This study describes a task-based assessment (TBA) approach to teaching reading and writing online. It then analyzes key factors emerging from the results of implementing this approach with graduate engineering students in Japan. It is argued that these factors should be considered when designing or assessing any online reading or writing course for ESL/EFL students. The findings of this study are especially relevant to task-based approaches and technical or pedagogical innovations which can help foster more effective and enjoyable learning for teachers and students in blended learning environments. It is hoped that this discussion can serve as a model of what can be done to enhance online EAP/ESP/ETP courses, as well as any other online reading or writing course being designed for speakers and readers of languages other than English. The goal in this chapter is to summarize research aimed at integrating some of the most useful Web sites for English language learning into a user-friendly system for optimal online vocabulary development — which could be self-monitored by students as well as tracked by teachers via a course management system.

Improving Online Readability in a Web 2.0 Context

2011 ◽  
pp. 1411-1436
Author(s):  
John Paul Loucky
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Online Reading ◽  
Writing Course ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Pedagogical Innovations ◽  
User Friendly

This study describes a task-based assessment (TBA) approach to teaching reading and writing online. It then analyzes key factors emerging from the results of implementing this approach with graduate engineering students in Japan. It is argued that these factors should be considered when designing or assessing any online reading or writing course for ESL/EFL students. The findings of this study are especially relevant to task-based approaches and technical or pedagogical innovations which can help foster more effective and enjoyable learning for teachers and students in blended learning environments. It is hoped that this discussion can serve as a model of what can be done to enhance online EAP/ESP/ETP courses, as well as any other online reading or writing course being designed for speakers and readers of languages other than English. The goal in this chapter is to summarize research aimed at integrating some of the most useful Web sites for English language learning into a user-friendly system for optimal online vocabulary development — which could be self-monitored by students as well as tracked by teachers via a course management system.

scholarly journals Portfolio-Based Assessment in English Language Learning: Highlighting the Students’ Perceptions

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ahmad Syamsul Ma'arif ◽  
Fuad Abdullah ◽  
Asri Siti Fatimah ◽  
Arini Nurul Hidayati
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Learning Attitudes ◽  
Process Outcomes ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
Efl Students

Portfolio-based Assessment (hereafter, PBA) plays an indispensable role in language assessment. PBA represents the development of the students’ learning process outcomes, trains autonomous learning, and stimulates metacognitive awareness. Conversely, a few investigative attempts, addressed the students’ perceptions of PBA in the Indonesian EFL Context. Therefore, this study aimed to decipher the perceptions of EFL students in Indonesia on PBA use in the English subject. Empirically speaking, two female students were involved as the participants in this study. The data were collected through a semi-structured interview and analyzed with Thematic Analysis (TA) (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The findings revealed that students articulated their perceptions in three major themes, namely developing self-monitoring from the students’ learning processes, generating discipline, responsible and autonomous language learning attitudes, and mitigating perceptual mismatches among teachers and students. Pedagogically speaking, this study indicates that PBA employment can provide opportunities for students to monitor their learning progress, and enhance their self-confidence and learning motivation.

scholarly journals Facebook as a Means for Learning English: the Pros and Cons from the Perspective of Iraqi EFL Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (105) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Asst. Instr. Aseel Sabeeh
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Web Sites ◽  
English Language ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Learning English

With increased advance in technology, the need to be in harmony with this advance in the world in order to fulfill the necessities of Iraqi EFL students who have become ambitious for knowledge using technology cannot be ignored. Thus, technology has become a part of teaching tools as well as a support for learning a foreign language. Every day, the students are exposed to the Internet that presents a variety of tools for learning more easily and effectively.         At present, Facebook is one of the most commonly used social web sites that influence students' life in many aspects including education, especially in English language learning. It provides them with more opportunities to be involved in practice English language authentically outside the classroom, to learn consciously and unconsciously and to consolidate their foreign language skills.        The present study aims at identifying the pros and cons of using Facebook as a tool for learning English language based on Iraqi EFL students' perspective.                                     To achieve the aim of the current study, a sample of (30) male and female EFL students were chosen from the 4th year/ College of Basic Education/ Mustansiriyah University during the academic year 2018-2019 and questionnaires were implemented for data collection. The results of the data analysis included their perceptions and pointed out the benefits and criticism related to Facebook and learning English.                In the light of the obtained results, some conclusions are drawn and a number of recommendations and suggestions for future studies are stated.

scholarly journals English Language Learning Demotivating Factors for Saudi High School EFL Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Raneem Alyousif ◽  
Zainab Alsuhaibani
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Public Schools ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Extrinsic Motivation ◽  
English Language ◽  
Collaborative Work ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Students

Demotivating factors are one of the sources that can reduce students’ motivation toward language learning. This study investigated language learning demotivating factors among high school EFL students. It also explored the educational implications and recommendations for promoting EFL students’ motivation from teachers’ perspectives. A total of 365 Saudi high school EFL students and 18 secondary English language teachers from six public schools participated in the study. The data of the study were collected via two research instruments: a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with students and teachers. The results revealed that subject- related and teacher-related demotivating factors were the most reported demotivating factors for Saudi high school EFL students. The results also showed that lack of interesting topics, lack of activities for practicing English, overemphasis on grammar, and incompetence of teachers were the most demotivating factors for EFL students toward English learning. Moreover, several recommendations for promoting students’ motivation have been suggested by teachers such as technology use, extrinsic motivation and encouragement, and competitive and collaborative work. 

Students' Perceptions Toward an International Telecollaboration Project Through an Engineering-Themed Online Simulation in a Language-Learning Setting

2020 ◽  
pp. 179-202
Author(s):  
Juan Francisco Coll-García
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Online Simulation ◽  
Electronic Collaboration ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Role Play Simulation

This chapter investigates student perceptions toward an international collaboration that involved an online role-play simulation, Engineers Without Borders (EWB). Forty-two undergraduate students enrolled in an engineering course at a university in the United States were paired with 56 engineering students based at a university in Spain. The simulation was designed and developed not only to foster problem-solving skills, but also to provide opportunities for participants to develop communication skills, teamwork, and professionalism. The simulation also provided opportunities for EFL students to communicate in English and develop their intercultural skills through the use of a variety of electronic collaboration tools. This chapter reports on participant feedback and highlights the benefits of the computer-based nature of the telecollaboration.

scholarly journals Students’ Preferences and Attitude toward Oral Error Correction Techniques at Yanbu University College, Saudi Arabia

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Bushra Alamri ◽  
Hala Hassan Fawzi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Error Correction ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
English Language ◽  
Classroom Observation ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
University College ◽  
Teachers And Students

<p>Error correction has been one of the core areas in the field of English language teaching. It is “seen as a form of feedback given to learners on their language use” (Amara, 2015). Many studies investigated the use of different techniques to correct students’ oral errors. However, only a few focused on students’ preferences and attitude toward oral error correction techniques, which determine students’ success in language learning. This quantitative research explored teachers’ and students’ preferences as well as students’ attitude toward the use of oral error correction techniques in the language classroom. The participants of the study were English language students and English language teachers at Yanbu University College (YUC) in Yanbu Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. A classroom observation checklist and questionnaires were used to collect the data. The study findings revealed that recast and explicit correction are the preferred techniques by the majority of the students and teachers. The findings also indicated that students have positive attitude toward oral error correction. As the classroom observation revealed that recast was highly used by teachers, it is recommended that teachers should also use other techniques to correct students’ oral errors. In addition, it is recommended that before correcting students’ oral errors teachers should always take into account the purpose of the activity and the proficiency level of students.</p>

scholarly journals Social Network Sites Effectiveness from EFL Students’ Viewpoints

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sulaiman Alnujaidi
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Social Network Sites ◽  
English Language Learning ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Attitudes And Perceptions ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Perceptions And Expectations ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between EFL students’ experience, attitudes, perceptions, and expectations toward the effectiveness of Social Network Sites (SNS), namely, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Flickr, Classmates, Academica, MySpace, English baby, and Google+, in English language learning. A survey of 103 participants from different higher education institutions in Saudi Arabia was conducted. The study’s results revealed that the participants had an average SNS experience. The findings also indicated that participants had overall positive attitudes, perceptions, and expectations toward SNS. In addition, the correlations between experience and attitudes, and experience and expectations were statistically significant. Data analysis also showed that the correlations between attitudes and perceptions, attitudes and expectations, and perceptions and expectations were statistically significant. However, experience did not significantly correlate with perceptions. The findings also indicated that the model of the three variables (attitudes, perceptions, and expectations toward SNS) predicting the variable (experience in SNS) was statistically significant: The significant predictor was expectations.

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