scholarly journals Perspectives of Test Examiners of the Localized Speaking Assessment Framework: A Case Study in Vietnam

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (S3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thi Nhu Ngoc Truong ◽  
Arshad Abd Samad ◽  
Thi Thanh Phan
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Standardized Test ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Proficiency Tests ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Speaking Assessment ◽  
The Common ◽  
International English

The present study explores the test examiners'' perspectives on the role and qualitative aspects of the current localized speaking assessment framework used in Vietnam. A case study with two experienced test examiner-cum-English lecturers was conducted. Inductive content analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data findings obtained from individual semi-structured interviews. Drawbacks, merits, and standardization issues of the current localized speaking assessment frameworks, i.e., the Vietnamese Standardized Test of English Proficiency (VSTEP), were also discussed, especially in comparison to internationally recognized examinations and frameworks such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and the Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) as well as the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The study informed both English educators and policymakers to improve localized speaking assessment to suit the local teaching needs while still meeting the requirements of widely accepted international proficiency tests.

scholarly journals An Analysis of EFL Test Takers’ Problems in IELTS Writing Task

Tamaddun ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-140
Author(s):  
Nina Ariani ◽  
Muhammad Arham
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Total Error ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Word Choice ◽  
Proficiency Tests ◽  
Archival Documents ◽  
Cause Of Error ◽  
International English ◽  
Writing Task

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the English proficiency tests which consists of 4 skills that should be tested including Writing which has two types “writing task 1 and task 2. However, there are many problems that testees face in doing writing such as problem in language use, word choice, punctuation and so on that make them could not pass the test. in this case, the researcher focueses on writing task 1 to know the problems that testees faced. The present study aims at (i) finding out the problems are faced by the testees,(ii) to find out the most frequent problems; and cause of error in language use made by the participants in ELC-IDP Makassar.  This study employs a descriptive qualitative approach, and the total number of the samples were 17. The instrument used for this study was archival documents (testees’ writing). In this case the authors clasify the problems of the testee’s writting into four categories: problem in word choice, punctuation, spelling and language use, then language use is identified and clasified into grammatical area: error of verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, article, preposition, and conjuntion, after that the error analized using procedure of error analysis. The finding indicates that:a total of whole problems are 88 numbers which made by the testees (i) the percentage of problems in word choice is 5 % (4), punctuation 10% (9), spelling 7% (6); (ii) the most frequent problem is error in language use about 78% (69) which the most frequent error is verb area (73%) 50 errors from 69 of total error and; (iii) the causes or error are interference of the learner’s mother tounge, overgeneralization, and false concept hypothesis.

IELTS READING AND SOME TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE IELTS READING SKILLS FOR STUDENTS

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinh Thi Bac Binh ◽  
Dinh Thi Kieu Trinh
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Language Testing ◽  
Training Institution ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
International English

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is recognized as an accountable tool to assess whether aperson is able to study or train in English. Every year, thousandsof students sit for IELTS. However, the number of those who arerecognized to be capable enough to take a course in English issomehow limited, especially for those who are not major inEnglish at their universities.IELTS Reading is considered as a discerning skill and it is of theequal importance to listening, speaking and writing in obtainingthe objectives of IELTS of band 6 or 6.5. Being teachers of Englishat a training institution, the authors recognize that students canmake time-saving improvements in their reading command undertheir teachers’ insightful guidance.

Assessing Industry 4.0 readiness in manufacturing: a self-diagnostic framework and an illustrative case study

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishnamurthy Ramanathan ◽  
Premaratne Samaranayake
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Illustrative Case ◽  
Assessment Framework ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Readiness Assessment ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Content Type

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present an Industry 4.0 Readiness Assessment Framework (I4.0RAF) and demonstrate its applicability and practical relevance through a case study of a large manufacturing firm in an emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachThe research firstly involved a synthesis of recent literature for the identification of important determinants, and their constituent criteria, for assessing the readiness of a manufacturing firm to transition to an Industry 4.0 setting and structuring them into a readiness assessment framework that can be used as a self-diagnostic tool. The framework was illustrated through a case study. The empirical findings of readiness assessment are validated using semi-structured interviews of senior management of the organization.FindingsThe proposed I4.0RAF was found to be a practically applicable self-diagnostic tool that can be used to assess a firm's readiness to transition to an Industry 4.0 setting with respect to eight important determinants. Cross-functional participation in the assessment helped the organization to determine priorities and interdependencies among the determinants.Research limitations/implicationsThe determinants and their constituent criteria can be further streamlined using inputs from practitioners, consultants and academics.Practical implicationsThe findings demonstrate the interdependencies between the determinants, help to delineate interventions that can lead to synergistic outcomes and enabls planning to achieve higher levels of Industry 4.0 maturity.Originality/valueA self-diagnostic tool as a basis for an informed discussion on transitioning to an Industry 4.0 setting is presented and illustrated through a case study in an emerging economy.

scholarly journals Exploring the Writing Challenges Faced by M.Phil. and Ph.D. Scholars: A Case

2021 ◽  
Vol VI (IV) ◽  
pp. 34-41
Author(s):  
Hina Iqbal ◽  
Muhammad Saeed
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
English Language ◽  
Qualitative Case Study ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Interactive Programming ◽  
Report Quality ◽  
Grammatical Errors ◽  
Language Courses

Academic writing plays a pivotal role in developing research proposals. The present study aimed to explore the grammatical errors that M.Phil/PhDs scholars commit in academic writing. The present study employed a qualitative case study designed to explore the challenges in the English language faced by the M.Phil and PhDs scholars. The 20 Ph.D. and 36 M.Phil scholars were selected by busing purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by using two self-developed semi-structured interviews protocol. Thematic analysis approach was employed for data analysis. The findings revealed that all the participants reported that correct use of tenses was a big hurdle that entailed the other grammatical mistakes and reduced the report quality because all the lexical aspects are linked with these mechanics. The study recommended that English language courses be offered to postgraduate, M. Phil and Ph.D. scholars to learn the technical aspects of the language and provide students with online interactive programming.

scholarly journals Knowledge, Education, and Attitudes of International Students to IELTS: A Case of Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 488-500
Author(s):  
Abe W Ata
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Considerable Effect ◽  
Testing System ◽  
Language Test ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Testing Environment ◽  
Language Learning Motivation ◽  
International English

The main objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, education and attitudes of Chinese, Indian and Arab speaking students in Australia towards the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. A questionnaire was administered to 200 students at six university language centers to investigate their overall response towards the four components of the IELTS test i.e. listening, reading, writing, and speaking. It was hypothesized that having positive or negative attitudes toward a certain language can exert considerable effect on the learners’ performance on a language test. The effect of variables such as testing environment, test rubric, and broader demographic factors on attitudes of the three national groups were investigated. Significant differences were found on students’ misconceptions of language learning, motivation and the degree to which it may have hindered their progress in attaining language skills.

scholarly journals Analisis Kebutuhan: Pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris Berbasis Padlet di Teknik Mesin Universitas Islam Riau

GERAM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 63-72
Author(s):  
Fauzul Etfita ◽  
Sri Wahyuni
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Engineering ◽  
English Language ◽  
Engineering Students ◽  
Needs Analysis ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teaching Materials ◽  
Engineering Department ◽  
Academic Year

Teaching materials are a set of tools or facilities that contain materials, methods and evaluations used by teachers or lecturers in learning. So far, the teaching materials released by several developers have rarely been in accordance with the needs of Mechanical Engineering students, where some of the teaching materials available still use general English. In this study, in order to compile an appropriate teaching material, researchers have conducted a needs analysis. Needs analysis is a fundamental aspect for English language lecturers for specific purposes (ESP) in identifying information or the main needs of students and investigating areas of student shortages. In line with this statement, this research is a case study design that aims to determine the needs of mechanical engineering students in learning English through Padlet at the Faculty of Engineering in the 2019-2020 academic year. The data in this study were collected from researcher observations, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 40 students and two English language lecturers in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The results revealed that speaking and writing are the main focus of English skills in the Mechanical Engineering department and listening along with reading are the next English skills needed than others.

scholarly journals Managing English Language Classroom for Meaningful Teaching and Learning: A Case Study for Hochland High School in Windhoek

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Martha Hakaya ◽  
Nchindo Richardson Mbukusa ◽  
Earle Sinvula Mudabeti
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Classroom Management ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Case Study Design ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Professional Teaching

Total management of overcrowded classrooms have across-the-board effects for English as a Second Language teaching and learning environments as in any subject. Greater attainment and achievements in schools depend on the choices made with regard to teacher-learner ratios that consider of classroom management. Recruitment of learners and teachers should ensure that classrooms are enabled to meet the demands of professional teaching challenges, amongst other, inidvidualised teaching and learning. The aim of the research was to explore the challenges and related matters in managing English as a Second Language overcrowded classrooms. A qualitative approach, steered by a case study design, purposively guided the study. It was deemed fit in order to understand the phenomena with deeper understanding of beliefs and situated lived experiences. Semi-structured interviews and nonparticipant observations were used as methods to generate data for analysis. The research exposed that copious problems were experienced by teachers and leaners who were subjected to overcrowded classrooms. Amongst many, noise and unruly behaviour, poor time management and teaching approaches result in such classes. Guiding principles regarding sound teacher-learner ratios should be put in place by policymakers and schools in order to support both teachers and learners for the success of teaching and learning.

Facebook as Complementary Teaching Material: Reconceptualizing the Context Boundaries of Formal and Informal Learning in EFL Higher Education

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (9) ◽  
pp. 23-35
Author(s):  
Iman Abbas
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
English Language ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Survey Analysis ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Formal Curriculum ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Skills Learning

This article is a case study that aims to understand and explore a teacher's perspective about integrating Facebook as an informal social platform into the EFL classroom in a higher education context in Oman. The study further aims to identify the attitudes and perspectives of a group of students belonging to the same context. Research data came from semi-structured interviews with a teacher participant and a survey questionnaire with student participants. The study provides a set of findings based on interview data analysis and questionnaire survey analysis. The study's findings revealed the teacher and students' positive attitudes and perspectives towards the role of Facebook in boosting pedagogical practices and increasing English language skills learning. This study contributes to knowledge by providing insights on the integration of Facebook as an informal platform into the formal curriculum-based learning in TESOL. The insights and findings are of value to the teachers and instructors in EFL higher education contexts. Pedagogical implications for ESL (English as a second language) and EFL (English as a foreign language) and researchers are offered in the light of these results.

Information culture: a perspective from Mainland China

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-125
Author(s):  
Zhiying Lian ◽  
Gillian Oliver
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Organizational Setting ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Information Culture ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Concept Of Information ◽  
Chinese And English

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of information culture in Mainland China and apply the information culture framework to an organizational setting. Design/methodology/approach The foundation for the research is provided by a review of Chinese and English language literature and a case study of a university library was conducted, involving semi-structured interviews. Findings The information culture framework facilitated identification of factors not recognized in previous information culture research, including uniquely Chinese factors of egocentrism, guanxi (relationships), mianzi (face), hexie (harmony) and renqing (mutual benefit). A further finding highlighted the profound differences between archives and library institutions in China. Originality/value The paper provides the first step toward further exploring features of Chinese organizational culture which will not only influence information management practices but also highlight the issues relating to collaboration between libraries and archives in China.

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