Dictionary Use by Saudi EFL University Preparatory Program Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Faisal Al-Homoud
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Preparatory Program ◽  
Preparatory Programs ◽  
Formation Behavior ◽  
Indispensable Tool ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Dictionary Use

t is undoubtedly true that dictionaries are an indispensable tool for language learners, as they are sources of information as well as aids to learning (Nation, 2001). More specifically, learners' dictionaries are considered reservoirs of treasures and jewels of information about words and their etymology, formation, behavior, and usage (Nakamura, 2000). The current study was set to explore dictionary use among Saudi EFL university students at preparatory programs. The study included 100 female and male students from seven different Saudi universities. A 42-item questionnaire was administered to tap the participants' behavior towards dictionary use in terms of a) the type of dictionary they own, b) language skills they tend to use the dictionary with, c) reasons that make them use a dictionary, and d) the types of information they look up. The results showed that the participants tended to use electronic dictionaries as well dictionaries available on the Internet more than paper-based or handheld electronic dictionaries. Moreover, the need to discover the meaning of a new word or to confirm the meaning of a previously met word was the most important reason for the current study's participants to look up a word. When the types of information sought was involved, checking the pronunciation and the spelling of a word obtained the highest scores. Finally, it was suggested that further research concerning the new emerging skills of dictionary look-ups due to the advancements of technology needs to be conducted. 

Pre-Service Teachers’ Metaphors of Learning and Teaching English as a Second Language

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donita Shaw ◽  
Elena Andrei
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Teacher Educator ◽  
The United States ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Analysis Methodology ◽  
Preparatory Program ◽  
Literacy Methods

AbstractBuilding upon the theory of teacher cognition, the purpose of this study was to discover how pre-service teachers envision learning English as English Language Learners (ELLs) and teaching English to ELLs. We examined metaphors of 98 pre-service teachers who were enrolled in their first literacy methods course in their preparatory program at one of two universities in the United States. We used metaphor analysis methodology to look at the participants’ metaphor writing samples. Overall results showed the pre-service teachers viewed learning English to be foremost a challenge and secondarily a worthwhile challenge. In contrast, the pre-service teachers viewed teaching English to be a worthwhile challenge, followed by a challenge and process. Throughout this paper we highlight our reflection and relate our findings to previous research. To be a responsive teacher educator begins by knowing our pre-service teachers.

Accessibility and public information of medical students’ Facebook profiles in Peru: A call to adapt e-professionalism guidelines in the Latin American context (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Jesús Aragón-Ayala ◽  
Henry Rodriguez-Carrillo ◽  
Aldor Cornejo-Estrada ◽  
Cender Udai Quispe-Juli
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Male Students ◽  
The Public ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Professional Information ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
The University

BACKGROUND Use of Facebook has increased and poses new challenges for adoption of professionalism. In this study we describe the accessibility of Facebook profiles in medical students, the disclosure of personal and professional information, and its association with sex and year of study. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to explore the public accessibility of Facebook profiles of medical students from a Peruvian university and the disclosure of personal and professional information, as well as its association with sex and the year of studies. METHODS Through a systematic search on Facebook, the profiles of medical students from the 2nd to the 7th year were located using fictitious profiles. The presence of different types of information in accessible profiles were evaluated. Furthermore, the proportion of the disclosed content was calculated. The data were compared according to year of study and sex. RESULTS 80% of students (488/611) presented publicly accessible profiles. We did not find a significant difference according year of study (p = 0.098) and sex (p = 0.912). Proportion of disclosed content was greater in higher years: 2nd and 3rd (p = 0.022), 2nd and 6th (p < 0.001), and 2nd and 7th (p = 0.002) and in men (33.25 ± 12.47) compared to women (30.38 ± 11.95) (p = 0.01). Some photos (p = 0.009) and links to other social networking sites (p = 0.036) were more commonly visible in women’s profiles, while showing the university (p = 0.017), medical school (p = 0.043) and sexual orientation (p = 0.001) was more common amongst men. CONCLUSIONS Most of the Facebook profiles of medical students were accessible, the disclosed content was greater in senior and male students. It is necessary to create and implement guidelines on e-professionalism in Latin America.

Integrating Culture in Language Preparatory Programs

2020 ◽  
pp. 433-451
Author(s):  
Enisa Mede ◽  
Zeynep Mutlu Cansever
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Classroom Observations ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Preparatory Program ◽  
Culture Teaching ◽  
Preparatory Programs ◽  
Program Data

This chapter aims to investigate the role of culture in English Language Preparatory Programs in Turkey. Specifically, the chapter attempts to gain insights on what types of culture teaching activities native and non-native English instructors use in their classroom, find out if there is any difference between the two groups of participants and lastly, identify to what extent they implement culture in their teaching practices.. The sample population of this study were 95 (44 native and 51 non-native) EFL instructors working in the preparatory program. Data were collected from a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. The findings revealed that both groups of instructors agreed that language and culture are closely related and that culture should be integrated in classrooms frequently to help students to become intercultural speakers as well as become more competent in how to develop a relationship with people of other languages and cultures.

Impact of Social Media Usage on Information Retrieval Among Undergraduate Students in Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ilorin

2020 ◽  
pp. 406-436
Author(s):  
Evelyn Olakitan Akinboro ◽  
Taylor Morenikeji Olayinka
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Retrieval ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Social Media Networks ◽  
Gender And Age ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Social Media Network

The chapter examined the impact of social media on information retrieval among undergraduate students in Faculty of Management Science, University of Ilorin. It determined the social media network that undergraduate students are more exposed to for retrieving information, identifying the differences in undergraduate students' usage of social media network for information retrieval based on gender and age brackets, exploring preference for social media compared to other sources of information retrieval system available for students, exploring the types of information retrieved from social media network, and identifying the challenges faced by undergraduates in the use of social media networks. The population of the study was comprised of 3,634 students out of which a sample of 360 was chosen through stratified random technique. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. Five research questions were developed and answered by the study. The findings revealed that undergraduate students' exposure to social media is very high.

Problems in Online Dictionary Use for Advanced Slovenian Learners of English

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 458-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna M T Cr Farina ◽  
Marjeta Vrbinc ◽  
Alenka Vrbinc
Keyword(s):  
Target Word ◽  
Common Word ◽  
Think Aloud ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
The University ◽  
Dictionary Use

Abstract This article reports on findings from interviews with students from the University of Ljubljana. The study is based on fourteen questions about participants’ habits of dictionary use, their look-up abilities, and their perceptions of the utility and quality of definitions and illustrative examples. Students were given nine contexts containing a clearly-marked common word used in an infrequent sense; they had to locate the relevant sense in the online Merriam–Webster Learner’s Dictionary (MWLD). A think-aloud method enabled the researchers to follow the students’ look-up process and record their problems as well as their suggestions on how to improve the content and presentation of information in the dictionary. Recommendations are provided on: the improvement of drop-down menus; the inclusion of the form(s) of a target word; illustrative examples; the use of italics, boldface, and colors as well as what types of information should be displayed or available if needed.

Sexual harassment at a Spanish public university: an examination of victims’ experiences by gender and campus status

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-58
Author(s):  
Victoria A Ferrer-Pérez ◽  
Esperanza Bosch-Fiol
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Harassment ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Public University ◽  
Female Students ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Administrative Staff ◽  
Prevalence Rates ◽  
Research Staff ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Item Questionnaire

The current study analyses the prevalence of sexual harassment among staff and undergraduate students at a Spanish public university. The EASIS-U, a 38-item questionnaire, was administered to a sample of 1,521 university students, and 172 staff members. Results show that 26.4% of teaching and research staff (TRS), 28.3% of administrative staff (AS), and 15.9% of the students had experienced at least one episode of sexual blackmail behaviour; 30.9% of TRS, 27.0% of AS and 16.0% of the students had experienced at least one episode of physical sexual harassment; and 23.7% of TRS, 34.4% of AS and 17.1% of the students had experienced at least one episode of verbal sexual harassment. A comparison of staff and students revealed significant differences in prevalence rates, with staff reporting higher rates of unwanted contact than students. Contrary to expectations, male students reported more sexual harassment than did female students. We analyse the possible reasons for these results.

scholarly journals Using Games to Promote English as a Foreign Language Learners’ Willingness to Communicate: Potential Effects and Teachers’ Attitude in Focus

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Liu ◽  
Balachandran Vadivel ◽  
Ehsan Rezvani ◽  
Ehsan Namaziandost
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Language Classes ◽  
Students Attitudes

This study aims to find out the role of games in promoting students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) and their teachers’ attitude toward it. In order to collect the data, the researchers employed a 28-item questionnaire which was given to 60 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in an English institute. Then, the students were randomly divided into two groups of 30 learners functioning as control and experimental groups. The students in the experimental group received games in their language lessons and classes, while control group learners did not. At the end of the term, the same questionnaire was given to the students to know if playing games had a significant impact on their WTC. In addition, the teachers were asked to answer a 30-item questionnaire to investigate their attitudes toward playing games in language classes. The results showed that most of the teachers in this study believe that games have a positive influence on the students’ attitudes towards learning English and that using them in class serves many educational purposes. In addition, games played a significant role in improving the EFL leaners’ willingness to communicate. In the light of these findings, the researchers suggested using games as energizers and practical activities at the end of class not only to improve enthusiasm for learning, but also to improve the learners’ WTC.

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