Promoting Decimal Number Sense and Representational Fluency

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-50
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Suh ◽  
Chris Johnston ◽  
Spencer Jamieson ◽  
Michelle Mills
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Lesson Study ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Multiple Representations ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
Representational Fluency ◽  
University Mathematics

The abstract nature of mathematics requires the communication of mathematical ideas through multiple representations, such as words, symbols, pictures, objects, or actions. Building representational fluency involves using mathematical representations flexibly and being able to interpret and translate among these different models and mathematical concepts. This article shares a collaborative lesson study experience in planning and teaching a unit on decimals. Participants included fifth- and sixth-grade teachers and lesson study facilitators, including a university mathematics educator, a doctoral student, and a school mathematics specialist. The lesson was taught in a fifth-grade class with a high population of English language learners (ELL) and special needs students. The overarching goal of the lesson study was to develop students' representational fluency and mathematical proficiency with decimals. While working with teachers, the lesson study facilitators shared related research on representations and the importance of selecting and evaluating effective mathematical models to give the diverse population access to decimal concepts. The lesson study facilitators' goal was to heighten teachers' awareness of the importance of multiple representations and introduce a planning process that allows teachers to select models in a thoughtful and critical way that would facilitate the teaching and learning of a mathematics concept.

scholarly journals Teaching and Learning Vocabulary: What English Language Learners Perceive to Be Effective and Ineffective Strategies

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Seyyed Hatam Tamimi Sa’d ◽  
Fereshte Rajabi
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Strategy Training ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
English Language Teachers

Vocabulary constitutes an essential part of every language-learning endeavour and deserves scholarly attention. The objective of the present study was three-fold: 1) exploring Iranian English language learners’Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLSs), 2) examining language learners’ perceptions of vocabulary learning, and 3) exploring Iranian English language teachers’ Vocabulary Teaching Strategies (VTSs). In total, 145  intermediate learners of English as a foreign language, consisting of 114 males and 31 females aged 15 to 27, participated in the study. The triangulated data were collected using three tools: questionnaires, interviews, and class observations. Sixty-seven learners (31 females and 36 males) filled out a 56-statement questionnaire, adopted and adapted from Takač (2008) and translated into Persian. The questionnaire comprised two parts, enquiring as to the learners’ VLSs and the teachers’ VTSs. The findings indicated that females and males differed significantly in their reported VLSs and their teachers’ use of various VTSs. Additionally, 78 learners were interviewed as to their perceptions of effective and ineffective VLSs as well as VTSs. The findings revealed that the most effective VLSs were reported to be: a) reciting, repeating and listening to words, b) using words, and c) memorising words while the most effective VTSs revolved around: a) explanation, b) repetition, and c) dictation. The observations also confirmed the findings obtained via the questionnaire and interviews. In general, the findings are indicative of the limited repertoire of vocabulary acquisition techniques employed by Iranian EFL learners, hence the need for strategy training in how to acquire vocabulary. 

scholarly journals GESTUR DALAM PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA MATERI IRISAN KERUCUT DAN KOORDINAT POLAR

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yunis Sulistyorini
Keyword(s):  
Lesson Study ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Peer Teaching ◽  
Polar Coordinates ◽  
Math Learning ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Pointing Gestures

Gestures played a role in the learning of mathematics, especially in the Sliced Cone and Polar Coordinates material. Educators gestures associated with conceptual planning of the explanations and is the embodiment of knowledge and understanding of educators associated with the material being studied. The educators’ gestures were pointing gestures, representations and writing. Gestures appeared at the planning stage, especially the activities of peer teaching and learning implementation. Both of two steps related to the implementation of lesson study in math learning. Gestures accompanied explanations educators help to clarify, explain, and emphasize mathematical concepts in the material being studied.

scholarly journals Students’ Self-reflections of Own Participation in English Language Oral Class

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Han ◽  
Masdinah Alauyah Md Yusof
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Language Communication ◽  
Skills Learning ◽  
Higher Institutions

The English language learners’ needs changes from time to time. In Malaysia, the focus of English teaching and learning has shifted from accuracy to fluency; the effective usage of the language. Learners are expected to use the English language in daily communication and to learn the workplace English language communication skill. Due to this demand, language lecturers at higher institutions are expected to assist English language learners to use the language fluently rather than to concentrate heavily on form. Nevertheless, instigating speaking activities in Malaysian classrooms has never been easy and successful. This research was conducted with an aim to identify the underlying factors that motivate or demotivate students’ participation in an English oral classroom. The data were qualitatively collected via students’ self-reflection reports on their own participation in the English language oral class. It was found that teacher’s personality traits, students’ communication skills, learning environment, students’ motivation, self-confidence and topical knowledge, and fascinating discussion topics play significant roles in students’ participation in the English oral class. Thus, these findings could guide language teachers to consider relevant and creative oral activities to encourage students’ active classroom participation.  

scholarly journals Discovering Writing Difficulties of Malay ESL Primary School Level Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-39
Author(s):  
Nurul Jannah Ahmad Ghulamuddin ◽  
Siti Khadijah Mohd Mohari ◽  
Kamisah Ariffin
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Study Data ◽  
School Level ◽  
Writing Difficulties ◽  
Interview Session ◽  
Primary School Level

Writing is perceived to be one of the most difficult skills for English language learners to master. Although studies on challenges faced by ESL students in writing are replete, most of them have focused on students at secondary and tertiary levels of education. Studies on learners at lower level have been scarce. Thus, this paper aims to fill the gap by examining the major problems faced by ESL primary school level students in writing in English. Survey and interview sessions were conducted to fit the purpose of the study. Data were collected from a class of 26 students from Year/Standard 6 of the primary school level in Malaysia and an interview session with the English teacher of that particular class. The findings indicate that the major difficulties charted are rooted in the students’ poor mastery in vocabulary, inability to spell words correctly and L1 interference. Thus, in order to enhance the students’ skills in writing in English, the teacher implemented some remedial measures during the teaching and learning sessions. The findings have essential pedagogical implications on understanding students’ struggle to write in English at the lower level of education.

scholarly journals CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS IN FORMATION OF COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE AMONG ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
Author(s):  
O.I. Bozhok ◽  
L.I. Bilins’ka ◽  
M.M. Gomola
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Individual Group ◽  
Common Problems

The aim of this research is to highlight some problems in teaching and learning English as a foreign language. As there exist different ways in mastering foreign languages there also exist many methods of their teaching. In the course of training many students face with spelling, inflection, pronunciation, grammar and other common problems which are constantly investigated and solved. According to the level of any individual group of students the approach of organization and conduction of the lesson should also be individual as learners make different mistakes. So teachers of any foreign language must not just get formal education but also be aware of modern techniques and approaches.

scholarly journals The Role of Counselling in English Language Teaching

2014 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
M. John Britto
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Remarkable Change ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Language Teachers

Counselling plays a significant role in bringing out a remarkable change in an individual’s personal and professional life. It has entered a number of domains including education. As human problems are mushrooming day by day in this hi-tech world, there is a dire need for finding solutions to those problems. It is counselling that comes to one’s aid to solve one’s problems that are psychological and personal. In English language teaching and learning too, there are multiple problems encountered by teachers and students as well. This paper discusses how counselling is indispensable to English Language Teaching (ELT) for finding solutions to problems faced by English language learners. Exploring the relevance of counselling to ELT, it also seeks to highlight the benefits of integrating it with ELT. It brings out the need for introspection of English language teachers to provide counselling to students. It enumerates various counselling skills, and presents an account of problem-solving method in ELT and eight approaches to counselling.

scholarly journals Praxis of Resilience & Resistance: “We can STOP Donald Trump” and Other Messages from Immigrant Children

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Rodriguez Vega
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Los Angeles ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Children Of Immigrants ◽  
Immigrant Children ◽  
Theater Of The Oppressed ◽  
Detention Centers ◽  
The Us

In 2018 there have been constant anti-immigrant rhetoric, policies, and enforcement. Most recently, Trump referred to immigrant children as “future criminals” who needed to be kept in prison-like detention centers and “tender age facilities” (Min Kim, 2018). Meanwhile, the 4.5 million children of immigrants already in the US continue to face possibilities of family separation due to this enforcement-focused political system (Suárez-Orozco et al., 2015). The goal of this article is to provide insight into the lives of one of the most vulnerable and fastest growing populations in the U.S.—immigrant children. As a researcher and educator, I developed an art-centered methodological and pedagogical tool that can serve those working with immigrant children and vulnerable populations. Over a two-year period, I used artistic tools such as drawings, storyboards, Teatro Campesino’s actos, and various techniques from Theater of the Oppressed (Boal, 2000) to work with children of immigrants in a sixth-grade class of English Language Learners (ELL) in Los Angeles. Through educational, artistic, and anecdotal components of their work, these children created a world where they could resist and fight Trump and share that victory by utilizing the transformative imaginary of art.

scholarly journals Challenges Facing the Nigerian Teacher of English Language.

2019 ◽  
pp. 265-271
Author(s):  
Oguamanam Ann Dibugo
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Second Language ◽  
Effective Teaching ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Environment ◽  
Effective Teaching And Learning

This paper sets out to investigate the challenges facing the Nigerian teacher of English language in order to boost effective teaching and learning of the language. The importance of English language in our Nigerian society is glaring and the teacher of English is an important agent in the achievement of proficiency in the spoken and written English. The teacher encounters a lot of challenges in the process of imparting knowledge to English language learners in a second language environment. This study also examines the place of English language in Nigeria, the expected roles of the teacher and proffers some recommendations to these challenges facing the Nigerian teacher of English language.

scholarly journals The Relationship between English Language Learners’ Perceptions towards Classroom Oral Error Corrections and Their Pronunciation Accuracy

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Afshin Peerdadeh Beiranvand ◽  
Ali Entezamara
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Error Correction ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Error Corrections ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Correction Strategies

<p>Inevitably, language learners make mistakes, and teachers correct them. It is, also, crystal clear that language learners have different attitudes towards error and error correction strategies. Needless to say, language teachers’ awareness of language learners’ perceptions towards error and error correction strategies can heighten the quality and the quantity of language teaching and learning process. This study based on the findings of a questionnaire and a test given to 82 male and female English language learners in Iran Language Institute (ILI) investigates: 1) whether ILI English language learners have positive or negative attitudes towards classroom oral error corrections; 2) whether there is a relationship between ILI English language learners’ perceptions towards classroom oral error corrections and their pronunciation accuracy; 3) if there is a relationship between ILI learners’ gender and their attitudes towards classroom oral error corrections. The findings of this study show that ILI English language learners have absolutely positive attitudes towards classroom oral error corrections, which means they want to be corrected. The findings, also, show that there is not any significant relationship between ILI English language learners’ perceptions towards classroom oral error corrections and their pronunciation accuracy. The findings, also, show that there is not any significant relationship between ILI English language learners’ perceptions towards classroom oral error corrections and their gender.</p>

scholarly journals The Use of CLT in the Arab Context: A Critical Perspective

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Basma M. Alwazir ◽  
Nadia Shukri
Keyword(s):  
English Language Learners ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Efl Classrooms ◽  
Authentic Environment

<p>One of the main aims behind learning English as a foreign language (EFL) is to communicate effectively with other speakers of the English language. The justification for concentrating on the teaching and learning of English as a second language (L2), and as a foreign language, is that it is the lingua franca (Klimczak-Pawlak, 2014) and the primary language used for communication around the world (Rich, 2014). English language learners are given limited chances to practice speaking in authentic situations in class, and teaching to communicate effectively in an authentic environment is often overlooked. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) emphasizes meaning and communication in language learning, and with CLT the goal is to improve learners’ “communicative competence” (Richards &amp; Rodgers, 2001). Nevertheless, challenges are faced when applying CLT in the EFL classrooms. Consequently, the purpose of this paper is to critically explore elements of the CLT approach and to better understand some of the cultural difficulties involved in its application. The paper will propose more application of the CLT in EFL classrooms, in place of language teaching techniques currently used in the Arab context. This paper will also examine issues dealing with the theoretical background of CLT, and focus on the implementation of activities that can encourage students' communicative competence.</p>

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