ESL Learning via Facebook Among Science and Non-Science University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Shaidatul Akma Adi Kasuma
Keyword(s):  
Learning Styles ◽  
University Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Academic Experience ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Motivation To Read ◽  
Willingness To Use ◽  
Learning Interest

This study examines science and non-science students' perceptions of the effects of Facebook on their ESL learning. A questionnaire was used to gather data from 631 university students in Malaysia. The findings suggest the science students' more positive views of Facebook for ESL learning compared to their non-Science counterparts, although the differences in percentages between the two groups are small. The science students perceived higher confidence and motivation to read, speak, and write in English, in online and offline environment, after being exposed to Facebook. The science students also indicated a higher level of English language proficiency compared to the non-science students, which may explain their better perceived confidence and willingness to use Facebook in ESL environment. The incorporation of Facebook as a social media should therefore be seen as facilitating a variety of preferred learning styles and strategies in boosting students' learning interest, improving their language abilities, and providing them with the best academic experience.

scholarly journals THE ENGLISH READING HABITS OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AT DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, CHINA

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 269-280
Author(s):  
Muhammad Farshad Panhwar ◽  
Uzma Murad Panhwar ◽  
Abida Siddiqui
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
University Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Likert Scale ◽  
Reading Habits ◽  
English Reading ◽  
University Of Technology ◽  
Attitudes Towards Reading

The study is set to know, analyze, and finally realize the reading habits of the students at Dalian University of Technology (DUT), specifically the English language (L2). The study aims to find out the reading habits of the students. Five-point Likert scale questionnaire was made to investigate the participants’ general attitudes towards reading and their reading preferences. 12000 questionnaires were distributed out of which 641 were returned after being filled in. The data collected through the questionnaire were analyzed using SPSS Statistics 20 program. It is made out of the conducted survey that the students at DUT have healthy reading habits and their attitude towards reading is positive. Moreover, it is made out that the reading habits of the students have a remarkable impact on their academic performances. The research in the end has made some suggestions and recommendations to foster reading habits and attitudes among university students for better language proficiency.

scholarly journals The Importance of Getting Automated Grammar Feedback via Grammarly, for Increasing Students' English Language Proficiency

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stefanus Soegiyarto ◽  
Radya Ayufa Putri ◽  
Samiaji Dwi Saputra
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
University Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Native Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Significant Part ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
To Receive

In the last decade, technology has played a significant part in human civilization. One example of technological advancement is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool for learning. One digital application, namely Grammarly, is an AI tool used to edit sentences to eliminate grammar errors and deliver conciseness and engagement for the readers. We conducted research involving Indonesian university students, in which they do not possess English as a native language. Using this application to receive feedback and help with learning writing in English, we hope to find out how Grammarly as an AI tool for learning has a significant effect on English proficiency. The results showed that Grammarly had helped them form English sentences, learn grammar rules, and improve their writing performance overall.

scholarly journals Chinese University Students’ Experience of WeChat-Based English-Language Vocabulary Learning

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 554
Author(s):  
Fan Li ◽  
Si Fan ◽  
Yanjun Wang ◽  
Jinjin Lu
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Test Scores ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
English Language ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Chinese University ◽  
Chinese University Students ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Many

The outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide in 2020 has posed tremendous challenges to higher education globally. Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) is among the many areas affected by the pandemic. The unexpected transition to online teaching has increased challenges for improving and/or retaining students’ language proficiency. WeChat, a popular social application in China, was widely used for TEFL at Chinese universities before COVID-19. However, it remains unclear whether the use of WeChat can facilitate Chinese university students’ English-language lexical proficiency during the pandemic. To fill this gap, the aim of the present study was two-fold: (1) it initially explored the relationship between the variables including students’ academic years, genders, and academic faculties/disciplines, and their lexical proficiency; and (2) it evaluated the effectiveness of a WeChat-assisted lexical learning (WALL) program in facilitating learning outcomes of English-language vocabulary. One hundred and thirty-three students at a university in Northern China participated in the WALL program for three weeks. As the results indicated, the independent variables had no correlation with the students’ lexical proficiency. More importantly, the students had a decline in the test scores after using the program, compared to their initial test scores. Moreover, the difference was reported to be medium. The findings further proposed questions on applying WeChat to vocabulary teaching in a large-scaled transition. The study is expected to provide insights for tertiary institutions, language practitioners, and student stakeholders to troubleshoot the potential problems regarding implementing WeChat-based TEFL pedagogies.

scholarly journals The role of language in students’ justifications of scientific phenomena

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacky Deng ◽  
Malek Rahmani ◽  
Alison Flynn
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Science Students ◽  
Undergraduate Science ◽  
Scientific Phenomena ◽  
Scientific Arguments

Constructing scientific arguments is an essential skill for members of society, especially in a world facing complex socioscientific issues. Educators can help students develop scientific argumentation skills; however, argumentation is a complex linguistic practice and little is known about how English language learners construct arguments in English. We investigated how undergraduate science students’ English language proficiency and history were associated with their level of reasoning in scientific arguments (N = 166). We found that participants’ English language experiences, including their proficiency and history, were associated with the level of reasoning demonstrated. These findings suggest a need to identify the associated barriers faced by students from diverse language backgrounds and design equitable educational supports and assessments.

The Correlation between Iraqi EFL Preparatory School Students’ Language Learning Styles and Language Proficiency

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khattab Jabbar Jassim Al Saadey ◽  
Prof. Dr. Salam Hamid Abbas ◽  
Prof. Dr. Salam Hamid Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Styles ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Style ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
School Students ◽  
Preparatory School

Learning styles usually viewed as having a direct impact on foreign language learning. Knowing of students’ learning styles contributes significantly to the development of the level of students in the foreign language where they deal with language inputs differently and each student has a different learning style. Accordingly, foreign language teachers should be aware of the students’ individual differences in general and learning styles in particular. This study aims to find out: 1. Iraqi EFL preparatory school students’ learning styles. 2. Iraqi EFL preparatory school students’ level of language proficiency. 3. The correlation between Iraqi EFL preparatory school students’ learning styles and level of language proficiency. 4. Which of the learning styles do contribute to the interpretation of variation in language proficiency of Iraqi EFL preparatory school students. This study is a correlational research in which the population consists of 325 students from different Iraqi preparatory schools during the academic year 2020/2021. The data is gathered by employing a questionnaire to assess students' learning styles and an English language proficiency test to assess students’ proficiency represented by language skills. After their validity and reliability are verified, the instruments are applied to the research sample. The results of the statistical manipulation showed the following: 1. Iraqi EFL preparatory school students show weak level of language proficiency. 2. The dominant learning styles of Iraqi preparatory school students are random/intuitive style, followed by impulsive/reflective, while the sequential learning style comes third. While the use of closure/open oriented and deductive/inductive learning styles are not statistically significant. 3. Iraqi EFL preparatory school students’ learning styles are statistically correlated with their English language proficiency. 4. The visual, auditory, impulsive/reflective, and synthetic/analytic styles contribut

Do Opposites Attract?

2019 ◽  
pp. 2015-2035
Author(s):  
Mark R. Freiermuth ◽  
Hsin-chou Huang
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
English Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Esl Teachers ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Academic Interests

This study discusses the results of an online intercultural chat task designed to see whether students from different cultural backgrounds, with different English language abilities, with different L1s and who had different academic interests would be willing to communicate using English—the target language. Taiwanese university students who were marine science majors (lower proficiency) chatted electronically in small groups with Japanese university students who had been studying English intensively for two years (higher proficiency). Student comments taken from a questionnaire indicate that both groups were invigorated and willing to communicate by the task; it was considered meaningful because it provided an opportunity to use English in a realistic way, represented the only means to communicate with their overseas partners and helped students to empathize with their newly found peers. To sum up briefly, text-based chat can be useful for EFL and ESL teachers as a tool for language learning students, providing learners with “real” target language opportunities for communication.

Do Opposites Attract?

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Freiermuth ◽  
Hsin-Chou Huang
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Small Groups ◽  
English Language ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Cultural Backgrounds ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Esl Teachers ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Academic Interests

This study discusses the results of an online intercultural chat task designed to see whether students from different cultural backgrounds, with different English language abilities, with different L1s and who had different academic interests would be willing to communicate using English—the target language. Taiwanese university students who were marine science majors (lower proficiency) chatted electronically in small groups with Japanese university students who had been studying English intensively for two years (higher proficiency). Student comments taken from a questionnaire indicate that both groups were invigorated and willing to communicate by the task; it was considered meaningful because it provided an opportunity to use English in a realistic way, represented the only means to communicate with their overseas partners and helped students to empathize with their newly found peers. To sum up briefly, text-based chat can be useful for EFL and ESL teachers as a tool for language learning students, providing learners with “real” target language opportunities for communication.

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