scholarly journals PROMOTING THE VOCATIONAL ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPETENCES OF STUDENTS IN AN ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES CONTEXT: A NEEDS ASSESSMENT

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nevin Avcı ◽  
Cennet Engin-Demir
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Language Needs

he purpose of this study is to examine the vocational English language needs of students in an ESP context in the Accommodation and Travel Service department at a vocational and technical Anatolian high school. The study is a partially mixed sequential equal status design. While convenient sampling method was employed to select students, criterion sampling method was utilized to select teachers and supervisors as participants. As a result, 25 ATS students, two vocational course teachers, two English teachers and three supervisors contributed to this research. A survey, semi-structured interview forms and open ended questions in the open interview were employed respectively to collect data from students, teachers and supervisors. In the analysis of the survey data both qualitative and quantitative methods were put into effect. On the other hand, the interview data were analysed through systematic content analysis, inductive coding and thematizing. The result of the analysis of the data revealed that students in this specific context were in need of improving particularly their speaking and listening skills. Low self-confidence of students, negative attitude toward speaking the language, lack of use of appropriate materials; strategies and methods during instruction emerged as issues of consideration in order to reach a resolution. Finally, lack of an appropriate curriculum, lack of strong school-enterprise relationships and inadequate professional qualifications of teachers emerged as issues to be considered by decision makers.

Risk Mutability Analysis and Pre-Control of Dynamical System

2014 ◽  
Vol 533 ◽  
pp. 360-364
Author(s):  
Ji Qi ◽  
Zhong Yi Zheng ◽  
Jian Min Li
Keyword(s):  
Dynamical System ◽  
Structural Stability ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
System Structure ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Catastrophe Model ◽  
Major Accident

Based on systematical research on catastrophe theory, system dynamics is a general theory to describe dynamical systems with the goal of achieving structural stability and dynamic stability. In this paper, catastrophe model of dynamic system is established and elements of the system are defined as well. Conditions for system structure mutating are also defined via analysis on dynamism, fuzziness and mutability of system structure. In view of the fact that modes and strength of disturbance or damage to system structural stability are two decisive factors for major accident occurrence and consequences, the course of disturbance or damage can be deemed as the process of quantitative evaluation of major accident risks. Hence, by adopting combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and with the help of simulation technology, decision-makers can do researches on engineering, social and economic systems to make scientific and effective pre-control.

scholarly journals Situating east Indonesia's EFL Learners attitudes toward the extensive listening practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 314
Author(s):  
Yosefina Rosdiana Su ◽  
Fatmawati Fatmawati ◽  
Stanislaus Guna ◽  
Fransiskus Jemadi ◽  
Yovita Narsi Mat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Negative Attitude ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Listening Skills ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
L2 Learning ◽  
Authentic Environment ◽  
Language And Education

Learning English as a foreign language is very challenging for both teachers and students in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara of Indonesia. The challenges are primarily caused by their lack of exposure to the authentic environment of English. In dealing with this phenomenon, the appropriate listening practices expect to help the learners to obtain and construct their knowledge of English as well as to acquire more comprehensible input. This article reports an investigation on the EFL learners� attitudes toward the extensive listening practices. It applied mixed-method research procedures involving 55 students of the English language and education program of Universitas Katolik Indonesia Santu Paulus Ruteng. The data were collected through a survey coupled with Focus Group Discussions with 15 participants. This research revealed that the learners' attitudes are identified into two main categories called positive and negative attitudes. In this case, 38 % of the participants have positive attitudes toward extensive listening practices and 62% of the participant reflected the negative attitude toward the extensive listening practices. Learners with a positive attitude had a very strong awareness of the significance of listening skills in L2 learning. To improve their listening skills, they develop their listening practices outside the classroom consistently. Meanwhile, learners with negative attitudes were categorized as dependent learners who practiced their listening skills during the listening course only. This group of learners was less aware of the significance of listening skills in L2 learning and their listening practices were highly dependent on the teachers' instruction. It showcased that both of the learners� internal and external factors were strongly contributed to this poor extensive listening practices.� The EFL teachers are then strongly suggested to strengthen the learners� awareness on the significance of Listening Skills in L2 learning as well as design more instructed extensive listening practices outside the classroom.�

scholarly journals An Investigation of the Perceptions and Experiences of the EFL Teachers and Learners About the Effectiveness of Blended Learning at Taif University

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Fahmeeda Gulnaz ◽  
Amani Dakheel Allah Althomali ◽  
Daliyah Hesham Alzeer
Keyword(s):  
Blended Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Negative Perceptions

The traditional face-to-face teaching, despite being constantly criticized by the methodologists and ever-emerging modern approaches, has never lost its scope in the (EFL) English as a Foreign Language context. Researchers and pedagogues, in order to get the both ends meet, have converged traditional face-to-face instructions and online activities into the concept of blended learning. By establishing on previous works and contexts, the present study aims at investigating Taif University’s EFL teachers and learners’ positive and negative perceptions and experiences towards the effectiveness of online (CLMS) Cambridge Learning Management System and on-site learning environments. The work utilized triangulation in the use of research methods, i.e., both qualitative and quantitative methods overlap each other: (i) structured interview of experienced EFL (4 male and 4 female) teachers of Taif University, with maximum open ended questions, exhibit qualitative dimensions of the study; (ii) an opinionnaire developed with closed ended questions by employing Likert’s five point scale to collect the data from 100 male and 100 female EFL learners of Taif University, represents quantitative perspective of the work. The opinionnaire includes 22 items and has been developed to measure the four subscales; learners’ beliefs and attitudes, promising strands that help develop learners’ confidence and language coupled with the perils that impede their creativity and motivation to learn. The findings of the study indicate that the level of strengths of blended learning is higher than its limitations. Learners found themselves satisfied being more exposed to the target language through vivid images, videos, audios, reading texts, chatting and discussion forums and acknowledged that (BLE) blended learning environment enhanced their language proficiency.

scholarly journals Effects of Digital Short Stories on the Development of Listening Skills: An Action Research

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 65-84
Author(s):  
Zeynep Çetin Köroğlu
Keyword(s):  
Short Stories ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Literary Texts ◽  
Listening Skills

Literary texts can be used to improve language learners' skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening because these texts contain rich vocabulary, complex grammar structures, interesting plot and most importantly imagination of the author. However, using literature for language teaching purposes is a controversial issue among scholars. While some researchers think positively, others have negative views on the subject. Learners' needs and way of using literary texts are the main concerns of literature use in language pedagogy. In this context, the present research aimed to find out whether digital short stories can improve language learners' listening skills. The purpose of this study was to figure out student teachers' perceptions of digital short stories’ implementation into language classrooms. Specifically, the current research aimed to investigate whether digital short stories are useful to develop language learners' listening skills in English. The research is action research in design. The study used pre-test and post-test, a written structured interview to collect data and it included both quantitative and qualitative components. The interview consisted of six open-ended questions. Achievement tests and t-test were used to analyze quantitative data. On the other hand, content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The data were collected in 2016-2017 academic years, Bayburt University. Participants were prep class students of English language teaching department of Bayburt University. In the treatment process, digital short stories were used for eight weeks, which were written by various famous American authors and voice recorded by various American natives. Additionally, weekly worksheets and handouts were prepared by the researcher. Results showed that digital short stories provide satisfactory content, supports vocabulary learning, improves language learners’ listening skills, helps participants to gain familiarity with complex grammar structures and makes students more familiar with different cultures. Furthermore, participants are satisfied with digital short stories and they think these digital stories are useful to improve their listening skills.

scholarly journals Affective Variables from the Applied Linguistics Perspective: A Study of the Saudi Undergraduate Students Majoring in English Language

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Khaled Elkotb Mahmoud Elshahawy
Keyword(s):  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Language ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
English Language Acquisition ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Affective Variables

The present study aimed at indicating the effect of the affective variables (motivation, attitude, self-confidence and willingness to communicate) on the acquisition and learning of English language among the students of Languages and Translation Departments in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study participants were 40 students (20 males and 20 females) from the students specialized in English language. The study used three instruments: The semi-structured interview, affective variables questionnaire (AVQ) and English language proficiency observation checklist (ELPOC). The study adopted the quasi-experimental design mixed with the qualitative interpretation. The study employed the correlational analysis and the simple liner regression to indicate the relationship between the independent and dependant variables. The findings of the study showed that there is a positive significant relationship between the affective variables (motivation, attitude, self-confidence and willingness to communicate) and the process of English language acquisition as a second language. The study also demonstrated that the most influential factors in the learners' English language acquisition process is their willingness to communicate. Recommendations and suggestions based on the study results were directed to the L2 (EFL/ESL) instructors and all the specialists in English language acquisition and learning.

scholarly journals American English in Teaching English as a Second Language

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-57
Author(s):  
Mammadova Gunay Aqil
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
American English ◽  
Contemporary History ◽  
Teaching English ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
The Usa

With the lapse of time the two nations- Americans and British always blamed each other for “ruining” English. In this article we aim to trace historical “real culprit” and try to break stereotypes about American English status in teaching English as a second language. In comparison with Great Britain the USA has very short and contemporary history; nevertheless, in today’s world American English exceeds British and other variants of English in so many ways, as well as in the choices of language learners. American English differs from other variants of the English language by 4 specific features: Inclusiveness, Flexibility, Innovativeness and Conservativeness. Notwithstanding, British disapprove of Americans taking so many liberties with their common tongue, linguistic researcher Daniela Popescu in her research mentions the fields of activities in which American words penetrated into British English. She classifies those words under 2 categories: everyday vocabulary (480 terms) and functional varieties (313 terms). In the case of functional varieties, the American influence is present in the areas of computing (10 %), journalism (15 %), broadcasting (24%), advertising and sales (5 %), politics and economics (24%), and travelling and transport (22%). Further on, the words and phrases in the broadcasting area have been grouped as belonging to two areas: film, TV, radio and theatre (83%), and music (17%). The purpose of the research paper is to create safe and reliable image of American English in the field of teaching English as a second language. Americans are accused in “ruining” English and for that reason learners are not apt to learn American English. The combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is used while collecting the data. The study concluded that the real culprits are British who started out to ruin English mainly in in the age of Shakespeare and consequently, Americans inherited this ruin from the British as a result of colonization. Luckily, in the Victorian Age British saved their language from the ruins. The paper discusses how prejudices about American English effect the choices of English learners.

scholarly journals STUDI ETNOBOTANI TUMBUHAN BERKHASIAT OBAT YANG DIMANFAATKAN MASYARAKAT SUKU MELAYU KABUPATEN LINGGA PROVINSI KEPULAUAN RIAU

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ufara Qasrin ◽  
Agus Setiawan ◽  
Yulianty Yulianty ◽  
Afif Bintoro
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Ordinary People ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Plant Parts ◽  
Descriptive Research

Medicinal plants have long been used by traditional communities, one of them is the Malay people in Lingga Regency, Riau Islands Province in healing various diseases. This study aims to determine the types of medicinal plants based on local knowledge of the indigenous Malay people. The population of this research is the native Malay people of Lingga Regency and the sampling is done using the snowball sampling method so that the selected respondents are following the required data. This type of research is descriptive research with qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative method was used to find out the use of medicinal plants used by the community by interview while the quantitative method was used to find out the percent of the use of medicinal plants by the Malays from the interviews. Based on the results of the study there were 102 types of medicinal plants in 53 families. The most commonly used plant parts are leaves (45.10%) by boiling and the least used are seeds and bark (1.96%). The most used habitats were herbs (27.45%) and trees (26.47%) and the least used were liana (8.82%) and terna (3.92%). Diseases that are usually treated by people with plants are diseases that are commonly suffered by ordinary people such as fever, diarrhea, coughing, toothaches, itching and mouth sores.

scholarly journals Teaching with Literature: the Needs of Indonesian Islamic Universities

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 169
Author(s):  
Dedi Irwansyah ◽  
Burhan Nurgiyantoro ◽  
Asruddin B. Tou
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Code Of Conduct ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Learning Needs ◽  
Cross Culture ◽  
Thick Description ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Universal Values ◽  
Adequate Analysis

Reading literary works helps learners grow linguistically, personally, culturally, and spiritually. However, researchers in the field of ESL and EFL have not conducted adequate analysis on the use of literature as a resource particularly in a multi-layered educational contexts like Indonesian Islamic universities where values embedded in literature might be in conflict with each other. This research therefore aims to provide a thick description on the target needs and the learning needs of teaching with literature in such context. A case study with qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection was conducted. A questioner was distributed to 30 students and a semi-structured interview was conducted to five lecturers from three Islamic universities. Major findings show that short stories with the topics of noble character, self-empowerment, freedom, code of conduct, and greed are preferable to novel, drama, and poem. The stories in the forms of their simplified and original versions should be used to teach language skills and to inculcate global, national, and Islamic values within the CTL framework. Values similarities are to be the basis of teaching universal values while their differences are to strengthen cross-culture understanding.

scholarly journals Determining the Level of a Language Test with English Profile: A Forensic Linguistics Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Núria Gavaldà ◽  
Sheila Queralt
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Reference Level ◽  
Multiple Choice Questions ◽  
Forensic Linguistics ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods

This article deals with a forensic linguistics case study of the determination of the level of a B1 English multiple-choice test that was challenged in court by numerous candidates on the grounds that it was not of the appropriate level. A control corpus comprising 240 analogous multiple-choice questions from B1 exams aligned with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) was compiled in order to establish a threshold for the percentage of questions of a level higher than that being tested which can be expected in such exams. The analysis was carried out following a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, with the help of the tool English Profile, which provides Reference Level Descriptions (RLDs) for the English language within the CEFR. The results of the analysis of the control corpus established a baseline of 5 to 7% of questions that include key items classified as higher than B1, while the percentage was 68% in the case of the disputedexam. Thus, the present study proposes a further application of the tool English Profile within the field of forensic linguistics and puts forward the concept of Level Appropriateness Threshold (LAT), analogous to other thresholds established in forensic linguistics, which can serve as a baseline for determining the appropriateness of B1 English multiple-choice exams and a model for other levels and skill areas.

scholarly journals Students' Perspectives Towards the most Effective Methods in Learning English Language among Kurdish People

Twejer ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 1075-1116
Author(s):  
Sarwan Sedeeq Hasan ◽  
◽  
Mokhles Saleh Ibrahim ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
English Language ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Analytic Process ◽  
Communicative Approach ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Learning English

This paper aims to shed light on the most challenging points in the process of learning the English Language in Kurdistan classes. It also attempts to find the most effective and best methods for learning the Language among Kurdish learners. The data was taken from two workshops and a questionnaire; the workshops took place in both Soran and Tishk international universities; 20 different methods were presented in the workshops as the best methods for learning the English Language. The questionnaire included 15 close-ended and 4 open-ended questions. Qualitative and quantitative methods are used for the analytic process. The main result in the study is visual and audio methods such as movies, songs, programs, videos, and any similar types are the best and most effective tools for learning the English Language. Besides, the grammatical based approached should be changed to a communicative approach in the classes by adding different communicative tools.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document