A Study of the Effects of Competitive Team-Based Learning and Structured Academic Controversy on the Language Proficiency of Iranian EFL College Seniors

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 54-69
Author(s):  
Seyed Mohammad Hassan Hosseini
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
High Achievers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
College Seniors ◽  
Team Based Learning ◽  
Efl College Students ◽  
Academic Controversy ◽  
Experimental Group

This paper presents reports on an experimental study which intended to look into and compare the possible effects of this researcher’s instructional innovation, Competitive Team-Based Learning (CTBL), with Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) – the most popular method of Cooperative Learning (CL) -- on language proficiency of Iranian EFL college students. This goal, the intention to compare the effects of the select teaching methods on the dependent variable of the study, was addressed with respect to different-level achievers (i.e., low, average, and high achievers) of the target group in the field study, in Iran. Out of a total population of 68, forty EFL senior college students at Bojnord Azad University, in Iran, were selected to serve the study, after conducting a test of English language proficiency. The subjects were randomly put into control and experimental groups. While the control group were taught through SAC, the experimental group experienced learning the English language through CTBL. The results are explored further in the article and the author discusses the probable causes for the results of the study, sheds light on the pedagogical implications, and suggests recommendations for further research.

scholarly journals The Effect of the Mind Mapping Strategy on the L2 Vocabulary Learning of Saudi Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Nesreen Saud Alahmadi
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Vocabulary Learning ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Mind Mapping ◽  
Mapping Strategy ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The Mind ◽  
L2 Vocabulary ◽  
Experimental Group

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of using the mind mapping strategy on learning vocabulary for Saudi Learners. Fifty female students from the English Language centre at Taibah University in Saudi Arabia were selected to participate in this study. All students were homogenous in terms of their English language proficiency. The students were performing at the intermediate level of the English language. Their level of English language proficiency was determined by the Oxford Placement Test. Participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group and the control group. Twenty-five students in the experimental group were taught vocabulary using the mind mapping strategy for six weeks. The control group was taught using traditional methods of vocabulary teaching, such as memorising. To test the effectiveness of the mind mapping strategy, two types of tests were applied for both groups: a pre-test and a post-test. At the end of the treatment, the results of the post-test showed a significant improvement in Second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition by Saudi learners in the experimental group. The findings of this study indicate some important implications for L2 learning, such as that mind mapping facilitates vocabulary learning by increasing the knowledge and the acquisition of the meanings of the vocabulary words used. It also helped with the vocabulary learning process by increasing the level of the motivation of Saudi students in learning new words.

scholarly journals Digital Posters to Engage EFL Students and Develop Their Reading Comprehension

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Samah Zakareya Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Regular Instruction ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Efl College Students ◽  
Experimental Group

This study investigates the effect of digital posters on the reading comprehension and engagement of EFL students. Thirty-three 3rd-year EFL college students were divided into a control group (n = 17) and an experimental group (n = 16). Both groups were pretested on reading comprehension and engagement before the experiment and then posttested after it. For 12 weeks, participants in the control group received their regular instruction while those in the experimental group used digital posters. Using digital posters went through six steps: orientation, preparation, production, presentation, evaluation, and reflection. While Mann-Whitney U Test showed no significant differences between the two groups in the pretest of reading comprehension (U = 118.00; p > 0.05) or engagement (U = 102.00; p > 0.05), it showed significant differences between them in the posttest of reading comprehension (U = 70.00, p < 0.05) and engagement (U = 57.00, p < 0.05). This led the researcher to reach the conclusion that digital posters significantly improved the reading comprehension and engagement of EFL students.

scholarly journals Source Culture and Target Culture in English Language Teaching: A Study of Intercultural Pragmatics and Students’ Learning Outcomes

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hazrat Umar ◽  
Maria Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intercultural Pragmatics ◽  
Different Cultures ◽  
Target Culture ◽  
Experimental Group

The study explores the role of intercultural pragmatics in theimprovement of students’ reading comprehension of English. This is anexperimental research conducted upon 50 eighth-grade Pashtun studentsaged around 12 and 13 years. The experimental group (n=25) was taughtan intercultural curriculum which included topics from the British culture(target culture) and Pashtun culture (source culture) in addition to theform of language. The control group (n=25) was treated traditionally inwhich the focus was on the structure and form of language. The pre- andpost-tests were administered to both groups. After comparing the meanscores of the tests, it has been found that the experimental group showedgreater improvement in their English language proficiency as comparedto the control group. It is recommended that topics from both the sourceand target cultures written in the target language be included in theEnglish curriculum. Further, training programs for language teachersshould include intercultural pragmatics in their syllabi. Further researchmay be conducted in the same area in different places with participantsfrom different cultures and age groups.

scholarly journals Can Smartphones Pave the Path towards EFL Competence for Saudi College Students?

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahgoub Dafalla Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Modern Technology ◽  
Linguistic Knowledge ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
General Terms ◽  
Preparatory Year ◽  
Group Control Group ◽  
Experimental Group

<p>The study reported here focuses on how modern technology, specifically smartphones can pave the path towards English as a foreign language (EFL) competence. It emphasizes on how smartphones can enhance EFL learning where the focus is mainly on the acquired linguistic knowledge and language skills. It sheds light on language competence in more general terms and learners' vocabulary acquisition, listening, speaking, reading and writing, in particular. The sample for the study was drawn from Saudi college students at the faculty of Science and Arts, Khulais Branch at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. After conducting an Entry Level English language Test, 50 students from the preparatory year were selected. Then, they were split into two homogenous groups. The first group (control group) was instructed in the conventional way, while the second group (experimental group) was offered instruction and encouraged to learn through smartphones. Results showed that the participants who received treatment (experimental group) significantly outperformed than the other group. It revealed that employing smartphones yielded a positive result. Additionally, results showed that students in the experimental group who used smartphones were more enthusiastic and driven than their counterparts in the control group who were still stuck in paper-text materials.<strong> </strong></p>

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Cooperative Learning For Improving Learners’ Proficiency Level of English Language in Secondary Level Education in Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 13-25
Author(s):  
Keshab Kumar Sijali
Keyword(s):  
Cooperative Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Better Than

This longitudinal research study aims at investigating the effectiveness of cooperative learning (CL) for improving learners’ English language proficiency (ELP) level in secondary level education in Nepal. The study comprises 150 learners from grade 10 in the academic session of 2017 among whom 78 learners were chosen for experimental group while 72 for control group. The instruments of proficiency test, questionnaire and interview were used to obtain data that were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, Mann-Whitney Utest and bar graphs. The result shows the effectiveness of CL for improving learners’ ELP level that the overall performance of experimental group of students (M = 26.71, SD = 4.478) in English language was found far better than that of control group of students (M = 16.50, SD = 5.619) with significant difference (p < 0.001).Journal of NELTA ,  Vol. 22, No. 1-2, 2017 December, Page: 13-25

Effectiveness of an Acculturation Programme in Developing Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) in EFL College Students: A Mixed-Methods Investigation

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2A) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamad Aldosari ◽  
Mohamed Mekheimer
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Intercultural Communicative Competence ◽  
Development Of Language ◽  
Efl College Students

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an acculturation programme designed for college learners. The researchers utilized an experimental research design involving a pretest, a posttest and a control group, and collected both quantitative and qualitative data. The participants were chosen by convenience (N=52) from different scientific colleges who joined a language enhancement programme (LEP), equally distributed to the study groups. The acculturation programme was designed specifically to stimulate and awaken the experimental participants' intercultural communicative competencies for one academic year. Findings from the t-test comparisons, effect size and the Blake’s gain ratio corroborate the effectiveness of the acculturation programme on developing intercultural communication competency in experimental participants. Qualitative data from the interviews affirm the results of quantitative data analysis, revealing six themes that verify the ICC survey results. Finally, the study concludes that the development of ICC skills can occur along with the development of language proficiency in college students. Keywords: cultural content, communicative language learning, teaching methods, Intercultural Communicative Competence, EFL, Acculturation programme

The Relationship between EFL Learners’ Extensive Reading and English Language Proficiency

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 549
Author(s):  
Mohammad Davoudi ◽  
Moslem Zolfagharkhani ◽  
Mojtaba Rezaei
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Extensive Reading ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
The University ◽  
Experimental Group ◽  
Reading Texts

The present study aims at investigating the effects of extensive reading (ER) on language proficiency of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. A Preliminary English Test (PET) was administered to 106 male and female university students. The participants were selected as intermediate learners and were divided into three groups (one control and two experimental groups). During the ten sessions of the treatment, ten short stories (authentic and simplified) were provided to the two homogenous groups (two experimental groups). The first experimental group received authentic reading texts and the second experimental group received simplified reading texts, while the participants of the control group followed the ordinary reading course at the university. All three groups received post-tests administered after the treatment. The results of the t-tests revealed that there is no significant difference in reading scores across the posttest between two experimental groups. The results of ANOVA also revealed that there is a significant difference between the scores of the control group and experimental groups’ participants. Based on the interview result after the post-test, all of the participants (100%) agreed that they had positive attitude toward extensive reading after participating in the treatment sessions. The study suggests, however, students’ curriculum courses should include extensive reading texts in order to develop EFL language proficiency.

scholarly journals THE USE OF VIDEOS AS A MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION FOR EFL IRAQI COLLEGE STUDENTS' PERFORMANCE IN GRAMMAR

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Khansa Hassan Al-Bahadli
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Group Performance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Online Video ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Efl College Students ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Experimental Group

This study is an attempt to find out the effect of the online video texts on EFL college students’ performance in Grammar subject. To achieve the aim of the study, the following hypothesis has been tested. There is no significant difference between the experimental group performance and that of the control group in the score of the post test. Sixty students from the College of Al-imam Al-kadhum have been randomly chosen (thirty students as an experimental group which are taught grammar by the use of online videotext and thirty students as a control group which are taught grammar according to the conventional ways), during the academic year 2019 -2020. The researcher herself has taught both groups the assigned material (eight selective topics). Statistical analysis of data achieved through the test indicates that there are statistically significant differences between the experimental group performance and that of the control group in favors of the experimental group. In the light of these results, some recommendations are presented.

Influence of Tobacco on Physical Fitness Recovery of College Students After Sports

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 3445-3451
Author(s):  
Chen Yake
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Exercise Time ◽  
Activity Intensity ◽  
Group I ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Experimental Group

Objectives: In this paper, the effects of tobacco on aerobic exercise ability and physical fitness recovery of college students were studied. Methods: University group sports intervention form: traditional characteristic project (basketball) + Taiji soft ball (R&D intervention project). Exercise time: 3 times/week; Activity duration: 30min; Activity intensity: the heart rate is controlled at 120-140 beats/min. All the college students in the experimental group are students who have never smoked, and the college students in the control group are students who have smoked for more than two years. The other conditions are the same. Results: The exercise time and endurance of experimental groups I and II were significantly lower than those of the control group, and the cardiopulmonary function was significantly lower than that of the control group. The indexes of experimental group II changed significantly compared with experimental group I, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Cigarette smoke can significantly reduce the aerobic exercise ability and anti fatigue ability. The longer the smoking time, the more serious the adverse effects. Therefore, tobacco smoke and nicotine will damage college students’ aerobic exercise ability and have a negative impact on the recovery of physical fitness after exercise.

scholarly journals The Impact of Blended Learning on the Twelfth Grade Students’ English Language Proficiency

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Hussein Al Noursi
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Twelfth Grade ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

The blended learning approach utilizes modern technologies and electronic media in teaching to create a technology-based environment. However, it is not an exclusive online environment because the teacher and the students have to be present in a traditional face-to-face classroom. It is widely believed that adopting a blended learning approach will enable learners to have quality educational opportunities and improve their performance. The incentive for conducting the research is to evaluate the effect of the blended learning approach on high school students’ English proficiency. Specifically, the study aimed at answering the question: is there a significant difference in the Twelfth-Grade students’ English language proficiency as measured by IELTS due to the model of delivery (Blended learning model and the traditional delivery model)? To achieve the study’s goal, the researcher applied the experimental method and used IELTS to measure language proficiency. The study sample selected purposively consisted of 63 male twelfth-grade students in one of the private schools in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study sample was assigned to two groups: the experimental group taught using blended learning consisted of 31 students, and the control group led by the traditional method consisted of 32 students. The results showed statistically significant differences at the level of (a&lt;0.01) between the means of the results of the two groups on the post achievement test in favor of the experimental group. These results illustrated the impact of adopting the blended learning approach in an English Foreign Language (EFL) setting on students’ achievement in standardized tests. However, the successful implementation of blended learning largely depends on how responsible and committed students are towards active learning.

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