scholarly journals Framing the English Language (EL) CEFR-informed Curriculum Structure: The UKM Experience

Author(s):  
Normazidah Che Musa ◽  
Azwan Shaiza Nizam ◽  
Wan Nur’ashiqin Wan Mohamad ◽  
Zarina Othman

One of the main concerns that have been raised in the realm of the graduate employability workforce in Malaysia is for graduates to be competent in speaking English. The concern on the graduates’ standard in speaking English has been amplified to meet a global standard. It has triggered the Malaysian Ministry of Education to adopt the CEFR benchmark. This paper presents the framework of a CEFR-informed curriculum for Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) English Language (EL) courses at UKM and its basis. The paper outlines the method used in framing the curriculum structure based on the ADDIE model. It particularises the curriculum structure into four (4) main implementation phases that address the different proficiency levels in the targeted CEFR levels.

Author(s):  
Erda Wati Bakar

The Common European Framework of Reference for Language (CEFR) has become the standard used to describe and evaluate students’ command of a second or foreign language. It is an internationally acknowledged standard language proficiency framework which many countries have adopted such as China, Thailand, Japan and Taiwan. Malaysia Ministry of Education is aware and realise the need for the current English language curriculum to be validated as to reach the international standard as prescribed by the CEFR. The implementation of CEFR has begun at primary and secondary level since 2017 and now higher education institutions are urged to align their English Language Curriculum to CEFR as part of preparation in receiving students who have been taught using CEFR-aligned curriculum at schools by year 2022. This critical reflection article elucidates the meticulous processes that we have embarked on in re-aligning our English Language Curriculum to the standard and requirements of CEFR. The paper concludes with a remark that the alignment of the English curriculum at the university needs full support from the management in ensuring that all the stakeholders are fully prepared, informed and familiar with the framework.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Judith Anthony

This article provides an overview and critical analysis of The English Language Learning Progressions (ELLP) (Ministry of Education, 2008). Identifying main themes through critical policy analysis, this review seeks to place ELLP in context through a comparison with The English Language Learning Framework: Draft (Ministry of Education, 2005) and English Language Learning Progressions (ELLP ) Pathway Years 1–8 (Ministry of Education, 2020a). Within this review, the structure of ELLP is explored along with key ideas and claims. It is argued that there are both challenges and opportunities in ELLP. Finally, the key issues are summarised and suggestions are made for future research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Jinjin Lu ◽  
Yingliang Liu

<p>Enhancing students’ learning autonomy has been emphasized in the current round of English curriculum reforms by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in China. The initial aim of the new guidelines was developed to enhance students’ English proficiency to better fulfil their basic education (Nine-year compulsory education). However, up until now, very little is known about the quality of students’ basic education and their learner autonomy development. This paper uses the English language subject as a case to examine the relationship between the different locations of students’ attendance of their basic education and their learner autonomy development at university level. The result shows that secondary schools’ locations play a more important role in students’ learner autonomy development at university. A ‘Have A Go’ model is proposed to improve students’ transition between high schools and universities in the English language learning process.</p>


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Deyap Arar Alenezi

This study aimed at evaluating the EFL textbook ` Get Ready 1&amp;2` used in the fourth grade of primary school from the perspectives of male and female teachers in Arar city in Saudi Arabia. The textbook was published by Macmillan, and it was specially developed for use within Saudi Arabia’s cultural environment and for both boys’ and girls’ schools. The Ministry of Education has started using this textbook in schools in the current academic year 2013/2014. This study will focus on teachers’ perspectives, and it will be a macro evaluation. The researcher designed a mixed method study by gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. The researcher distributed a close-ended questionnaire consisted of 55 items and nine categories for 30 teachers to gather quantitative data and carried out an interview with five male teachers to gather qualitative data. The study evaluated the textbook in terms of the layout and design, objectives, skills, supplementary materials, topics and content, cultural values, structure and vocabulary, activities and tasks, and teachers’ manual. In general, the findings of the study revealed that teachers were satisfied about the textbook in all of the nine categories with some demerits. The cultural values category got the highest mean score of 4.54 out of 5.00 whereas the skills category got the lowest mean score of 3.47 out of 5.00. In the light of these findings, the researcher reports some recommendations to address the drawbacks of the textbook and other problems that have an impact on properly delivering the textbook.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (21) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Luis Ricardo Rojas ◽  
Jenifer Rueda Varon

Bilingual indigenous students who attend public schools around the country are to develop English language skills as part of the suggested curriculum created by the Colombian Ministry of Education. This is the case of the Embera Chamí students in Florencia, Caquetá whose conditions for learning English differ from those of monolingual Spanish students. The purpose of this study is to analyze the difficulties and the advantages of learning English through task- and project-based learning in bilingual indigenous students. The analysis of the study was developed through the method of systematization of experience. Results suggest that the two learning approaches enhanced indigenous students’ speaking skills and facilitated vocabulary recognition. However, the students mentioned being more interesting in learning English for specific purposes.


Author(s):  
Ilyana Jalaluddin ◽  
◽  
Lilliati Ismail ◽  
Ramiza Darmi

Difficulty in learning gives huge impact to the process of language discovery among school children. LINUS students are categorized in this group and regarded as Low Achiever (LA) regardless of their education level. Currently, schools are provided with traditional learning materials such as textbook prepared by the Ministry of Education and it is up to the teachers’ own creativity and initiative to turn the materials into a more interesting learning source [1], [2]. However, depending solely on these learning materials alone is not enough as these children will easily lose their attention as they become bored and finally lost interest to proceed with the learning process [3]. Therefore, there is a need to utilize the elements of technology in order to motivate and facilitate these LINUS students in learning vocabulary in English. This experimental study aimed to explore the effectiveness of using mobile augmented reality (MAR) application in vocabulary learning among LINUS students. 45 students were involved and the development of MAR in vocabulary learning in this study was investigated based on the ADDIE Instructional Design (ID) method as a framework. As a form of measurement, British Picture Vocabulary Scale (BPVS) III was used and findings showed that there was a significant improvement in the post test after 6 months of MAR implementation. Although this study showed an encouraging results, there was still lack of skills in terms of writing the words learnt via augmented reality. The results of this study provide the discussion on the practicality of using Augmented Reality to help the struggling learners to cope with acquiring and learning English language in ESL context.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (Number 2) ◽  
pp. 55-81
Author(s):  
Abu Bakar Razali ◽  
Lim Ying Xuan ◽  
Arshad Abd. Samad

Purpose – In the field of second language education, self-directed learning is really important as it can empower students to attain optimal success in language learning by engaging students to express their ideas confidently, think reflectively and make use of language learning strategies. The main aim of the present study is to investigate students’ self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) in a foundation program in a public university in Malaysia so as to find out how they perceive this approach can improve their learning of the English language at tertiary level. More specifically, the researchers intend to find answers to these research questions: 1) Are foundation students ready to use self-directed learning strategies in English Language learning? (i.e. awareness, motivation and language learning strategies); 2) Is there a significant difference in the three attributes (i.e., awareness, motivation and language learning strategies) of self-directed learning among foundation students?; and 3) Is there a significant difference between English language proficiency (upper and lower) and the three attributes (i.e., awareness, motivation, language learning strategies) in using self-directed learning strategies? Methodology – A set of survey questionnaires with a 6-point Likert scale were administered to 400 students attending an English proficiency course (i.e., Introduction to Academic English) in the first semester of the Foundation Studies for Agricultural Science program. The data of the questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test. Findings – Results revealed that the respondents have a rather high degree of readiness to apply self-directed learning strategies in learning English. Motivation has the highest mean scores (M=4.57), followed by language learning strategies (M=4.41) and awareness (M=4.34). Results also showed that there are no difference in terms of SDLR depending on English proficiency levels, namely lower level (MUET Bands 1,2,3) and upper level (MUET Bands 4,5) (p>.05). Significance – The findings are beneficial for students to learn more about their readiness to apply the self-directed learning strategies. In particular, these findings also provide insights for lecturers, program administrators, curriculum developers, and policy makers to plan and implement suitable teaching methods, course outlines, and curricula for the development of the students’ English language abilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 152-162
Author(s):  
G.A.P. Suprianti ◽  

In this global era, everything changes into technology-based likewise teaching method. In teaching, technology can be used as teaching variation and this study was aimed to develop technology-based English language learning media for sixth grade elementary students by using Powtoon animation video. This study’s objectives was for developing the prototype product. This study used Design and Development (D&D) method by three steps based on ADDIE model. The stages are analysis, design, develop. Since the steps used were only three, then the product was only in the form of prototype product. In order to develop the prototype product, need analysis, designing the product based on the analysis, and then development were done. The product was quantitatively analyzed by using expert judgment. The result of the experts judgment showed that the prototype product was categorized as an excellent media after some revisions and suggestions from material and IT expert.


Author(s):  
Laila Aghai

This qualitative research study focuses on English language learners who are continuing their education in the U.S. high schools and examines their translanguaging in the classroom. When students are learning a second language, they use their linguistic repertoire and their knowledge in English and their native language for negotiation of meaning. In order to gain a better understanding of the students' translanguaging, one ESL teacher and 10 ESL students were interviewed and observed in a classroom. The ESL students spoke Arabic as their native language and had beginning to intermediate proficiency levels. The findings of the study showed that English language learners use various strategies to make the content comprehensible by making connections between their knowledge in their L1 and L2.


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