Exploring EFL Learners' Willingness to Communicate in Multimodal Videoconferences

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 79-99
Author(s):  
Shao-Ting Alan Hung ◽  
Heng-Tsung Danny Huang
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Multimodal Interaction ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Negotiation Of Meaning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Experimental Group

The current study explored how the participation in multimodal videoconferencing sessions affected one of the affective factors: willingness to communicate (WTC) in second language learning. Participants from the experimental group took part in three 30-minute communication tasks via videoconferencing that included interactions in textual, audio, and visual modes while their counterparts completed the same tasks face-to-face. Instruments included an adapted WTC scale, semi-structured interviews, and learner reflections. The results showed that learners in the experimental group exhibited significantly higher levels of WTC than those in the control group, suggesting that multimodal videoconferencing increased learners' WTC. Next, qualitative findings indicated that learners' WTC in multimodal videoconferences was influenced by the support from multimodal texts and the affordances of multimodal interaction. EFL professionals are recommended to create multimodal environments to not merely foster learners' negotiation of meaning but also promote WTC through diverse patterns of interaction.

scholarly journals Adapting Board Games to Stimulate Motivation in Vocabulary Learning in Six Year Old Learners - A Case Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Fotini Gerovasiliou ◽  
Makrina Zafiri
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Board Games ◽  
Language Level ◽  
Experimental Group

The particular study focuses on the use of board games and argues that they are a useful and practical tool in order to stimulate six year old students’ motivation in learning topic vocabulary in a foreign language classroom. It explains how a number of ready-made board games can be adapted, according to the educational aims, the students’ age and language level in order to maximize positive results in foreign language learning. Through playing board games, young students not only become much more active, but they also anticipate coming to the learning classroom more eagerly since they involve the elements of joy, interaction, cooperation and competition. Moreover, games place the teacher in a background role, acting more as a facilitator; therefore they allow students to take on more responsibility for their learning.To this end, an experimental study design, employing both qualitative and quantitative data research tools, was adopted. The participants, who were eight students of six year old age, were divided into two groups. In the experimental group, only board games were applied in order to give students the opportunity to practise the disseminated topic vocabulary while the control group practised their vocabulary through the activities proposed by the coursebook and the worksheets which were constructed by the researchers. A pre-test and post-tests were administered to students before and after the action research and semi-structured interviews with the students of the experimental group were conducted in order to probe into the students’ views concerning the proposed tool and method of instruction. The analysis of the tests indicated a difference in favor of the experimental group. Finally, the findings of the students’ responses revealed the beneficial effects of using board games to stimulate vocabulary learning to students of the specific age group and language level. 

scholarly journals From Instructed Writing to Free-Writing: A Study of EFL Learners

SAGE Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824402110071
Author(s):  
Saleh Alharthi
Keyword(s):  
Control Group ◽  
Writing Program ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Writing Assignments ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Free Writing ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Structured Writing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Writing is an intricate process that encompasses various factors and is a key skill for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. Thus, writing assignments are vital for any curriculum. One of the essential aspects of effective writing includes good grammar knowledge. Advocates of process writing argue that a free-writing journal is a practical approach to teaching EFL students writing. This study is intended to examine the impact of the free-writing journal on EFL learners. This study was conducted on 80 students from a writing course at the University. Thirty-five students were randomly selected to join the free-writing program—the experimental group—and 45 students were kept in their regular structured writing program—the control group. The experimental group selected topics of interest to them and was encouraged to write in English freely without concern for errors, whereas the control group followed a regular structured writing program where the topics were selected for them and they wrote following a clear guideline. Five major areas were investigated to evaluate students’ progress: the number of words written, spelling, capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 students of the experimental group to elicit their perception of the free-writing program. According to the analysis, students in the free-writing program acquired better grammar acquisition than the control group. The researcher also observed students’ perception of free-writing at the end of the study and found that free-writing improved their writing skills.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of the Use of Animation in Arabic Language Learning

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norhayati Che Hat ◽  
Mohd Fauzi Abdul Hamid ◽  
Shaferul Hafes Sha'ari ◽  
Safawati Basirah Zaid
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Arabic Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Teaching Aid ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

Implementation of animation as an Arabic language teaching aid is an innovation in creating an atmosphere that can influence student achievement. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of the use of animation in Arabic language teaching and learning among diploma students at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Terengganu, Malaysia. A total of 66 diploma students were randomly selected and divided into experimental group (n = 33) and control group (n = 33). The results obtained from the data collected from pre-and post-test for each group were analyzed using t-test in SPSS version 17.0. The results showed a significant difference of (t = 8789, df = 64, p <0.05) between the achievement of the experimental group and the control group in the post test. The difference in mean score of the experimental group and the control group was 33.03. This shows that there is significant improvement in Arabic language according to the groups. The difference prove that the use of animation in learning sessions contribute to the achievement of students in the Arabic language. This study advocate the idea that animation applications can be integrated as part of language teaching aid to positively improve student achievement, classroom learning environment and student motivation. 

scholarly journals Effect of the Leisure Activities on the Level of Psychological stress among the elderly during the Coronavirus Outbreak

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-78
Author(s):  
Ayed Zureigat ◽  
Osama Abdel Fattah
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Healthy Aging ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Physical Abilities ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: It is well known that advancing age is accompanied by many negative feelings due to the feeling of loneliness and psychological emptiness, which leads to the individual feeling that society does not need him due to his weak physical abilities and thus this, will negatively affect healthy aging. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the effect of the leisure activities on the psychological stress among the elderly during Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak. Design: To achieve this, we used the quasi-experimental approach on a sample consisting of 54, with the average age of (65.4±2.3) years. Divided into two groups 27 as a control group and 27 as the experimental group and this sample was purposively selected. Because of the home quarantine and to reduce face-to-face interaction, we used a questionnaire to measure the psychological stress level by using the Google form. The study tool consisted of 7 paragraphs associated with depression and 6 paragraphs associated with anxiety, finally 6 paragraphs associated with aggression. Before applying the experiment, the psychological stress was measured among the study sample, and then the leisure activities program was sent to the experimental group by the WhatsApp application. The researchers used means, standard deviations, paired and independent sample t-test by using SPSS version 24 with a confidence level of 95% (p<0.05). Results: The results of the study have shown that the level of the psychological stress among both groups came with a high average in the pre-measurement, as well as the anxiety domain that were the most affected in a positive way through leisure activities practicing. Additionally, there were statistically significant differences between the pre and post measurement among experiment group and favor of the post measurement. Conclusion: the leisure activities practicing among the elderly have contributed positively to reducing the level of psychological stress represented by depression, anxiety.

scholarly journals The effects of music, relaxation and suggestion on tertiary students’ affect and achievement in learning Japanese as a Foreign Language

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 16.1-16.22
Author(s):  
Kuninori Shimbo
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Accelerated Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Original Form ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Experimental Group

This study investigates the effects of the three major factors of Suggestopedia – music, relaxation and suggestion – on the students’ affect and development of communicative competence in tertiary Japanese language classes. A review of literature on Suggestopedia, the original form of Accelerated Learning (AL), shows that its effects are controversial, surrounded by misunderstanding and lack of appropriate evaluation. There is a need to clarify the nature of AL and the effects of its factors. Two existing classes were randomly assigned as a control group (n= 29) and an experimental group (n= 25). This quasi-experimental study lasted for 12 weeks with 3 stages of 4 weeks each. The results oft-tests showed that there existed no major significant differences between the two groups. When differences between each stage were examined carefully, however, it was found that self-concept increased significantly with the introduction of suggestion. The findings did not support the general claims that AL has positive effects on language learning, but it was found that among the three independent variables suggestion influenced students’ affect positively. The finding implies that the teacher’s positive messages are powerful tools to enhance students’ affect in learning a foreign language.

scholarly journals Motivation of senior school persons for participation in professionally oriented competitions

2020 ◽  
pp. 15-21
Author(s):  
P.V. Tkachenko ◽  
◽  
D.A. Severinov ◽  
K.V. Luganskaya
Keyword(s):  
General Education ◽  
Vocational Guidance ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Practical Significance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intellectual Activity ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Tv Shows ◽  
Experimental Group

Analyzed is the problem of motivation of senior school persons for participation in professionally oriented competitions. Relevance: modern seniors easily learn technical subjects, cope with management of most of latest gadgets, and require new (not standard, interesting for teenager) format in conduct of vocational guidance events, such as quests, intelligent games in the style of TV shows, et all. Such a format allows participant to “go beyond”, look at the future profession and educational process slightly from a different angle. Methodology and research methods: a non-standard competition acts as example of intellectual natural-scientific tournament Credo Medicus, and that is a system of face-to-face intellectual competitions for two months with a break of 7 days between its stages. Participants are seniors of general education institutions. At the end of tournament field study of motivation of 30 seniors-participants (16–17 years old) participate in competitions of professional orientation (experimental group), that was carried out by means of following tests: determination of professional tendencies; motive for choosing a profession. Results of the survey were compared to the responses of 30 seniors, who did not participate in the tournament. Results: the experimental group is dominated by internal socially significant motifs (4.4), which is 0.8 more than in the control group (p = 0.0008). And in the control group, there is prevalence of internal (3.68 and 3.64) motifs over external (2.56 and 2.76) motifs. Scientific novelty of the research: it was found, that participants of intellectual tournament are more prone to knowledge and intellectual activity. When choosing a profession, they are dominated by socially significant motives, the role of external positive motives is small, and the desire to be useful for society is significantly expressed, that is most typical for medical activities. Practical significance of the research: materials of the study can serve as demonstration of experience of introducing into vocational guidance work of university a new format of events, such as the open intellectual natural-scientific tournament Credo Medicus, that allows to assess motivational aspects of choice of the profession of doctor of future applicants, and already at the stage of school education to engage in targeted training of interested and gifted teenagers.

Effects of Mindfulness-Based Psychoeducation on the Internalized Stigmatization Level of Patients With Schizophrenia

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 496-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emine Yılmaz ◽  
Funda Kavak
Keyword(s):  
Health Centers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Community Mental Health Centers ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Mental Health Centers ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mindfulness-based psychoeducation on internalized stigma in patients with schizophrenia. The patients were recruited from the community mental health centers. This quasiexperimental study was conducted using pretests and posttests with a control group. The participants were 69 patients with schizophrenia; 34 were part of the experimental group and 35 were part of the control group. The patients in the experimental group participated 2 days a week for 6 weeks in a total of 12 sessions which were given in the form of face-to-face group training. The difference between the scale mean posttest scores of the patients in the experimental and control groups was found to be statistically significant ( p < .05). In the intragroup comparisons, a significant difference was found between the stigma mean scores in the experimental group ( p < .05). It was concluded that mindfulness-based psychoeducation was effective in reducing stigma in patients with schizophrenia.

First-Year Japanese Learners' Perceptions of Computerised vs. Face-to-Face Oral Testing

2020 ◽  
pp. 203-220
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Hasegawa ◽  
Julian Chen ◽  
Teagan Collopy
Keyword(s):  
Student Perceptions ◽  
Test Anxiety ◽  
Oral Proficiency ◽  
First Year ◽  
Oral Performance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Japanese Learners

This chapter explores the effectiveness of computerised oral testing on Japanese learners' test experiences and associated affective factors in a Japanese program at the Australian tertiary level. The study investigates (1) Japanese beginners' attitudes towards the feasibility of utilising a computer-generated program vs. a tutor-fronted oral interview to assess their oral proficiency, and (2) the challenges and implications of computerised oral testing vis-à-vis Japanese beginners. It presents the initial findings of the qualitatively analysed data collected from student responses to open-ended survey questions and follow-up semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis approach was employed to examine student perceptions of the two different test settings and their effects on students' oral performance in relation to test anxiety. Despite the fact that computerised oral testing was overall perceived to be beneficial for streamlining the test process and reducing learners' test anxiety, the findings also identified its limitations.

Digital Literacy and Motivation

2020 ◽  
pp. 268-288
Author(s):  
Jane Vinther ◽  
Jørgen T. Lauridsen
Keyword(s):  
Intrinsic Motivation ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching Methods ◽  
Digital Literacy ◽  
Student Attitudes ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Digital Learning ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Learning Anxiety ◽  
Digital Classroom

The contribution of this chapter to the knowledge of motivation in relation to the learning of a foreign language lies in the extensive examination of student attitudes to a detailed field of involved factors. This chapter gives an account of affective factors in the digital classroom on the basis of the level of the digital literacy of the participating students. The digital learning of an L2 is correlated to the level of language learning anxiety, willingness to communicate in the L2, attitude to feedback, and preference for teaching methods. The results show that the level of digital literacy is so high that it should not in itself negatively impact attitude to other factors. The central finding of the investigation is that intrinsic motivation is the strongest motivational drive when compared to other motivational factors.

The Effectiveness of Scaffolding in a Web-Based, Adaptive Learning System

2011 ◽  
pp. 379-393
Author(s):  
Mei-Yu Chang ◽  
Wernhuar Tarng ◽  
Fu-Yu Shin
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Learning System ◽  
Control Group ◽  
School Students ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Adaptive Learning System ◽  
Group B ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
The Web

This study combined ideas from learning hierarchy and scaffolding theory to design a webbased, adaptive learning system to investigate the effectiveness of scaffolding for elementary school students having different levels of learning achievement. The topic chosen for learning was the Three States of Water. A quasi-experiment was conducted. In this experiment, students were divided into three groups: control group (without scaffolds), experimental group A (scaffolds providing by on-line conversation) and experimental group B (scaffolds providing by face-to-face conversation). The experimental results showed significant improvement for students after they had studied using the web-based, adaptive learning system. Specifically, scaffolds in the form of face-to-face conversations greatly enhanced the learning of high-achievement students. However, there were no significant differences between the low-achievement students with or without the provision of scaffolds. It was also discovered that the web-based, adaptive learning system could help students develop their learning responsibility.

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