scholarly journals The Comprehension of Synonyms by Saudi EFL Learners: Acquisition and Pedagogical Implications

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Majed Alanazi
Keyword(s):  
English Proficiency ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level

This study investigates 40 Saudi EFL learners’ receptive knowledge of synonyms in English. It also tests whether the participants’ English proficiency level plays a role in their comprehension of English synonyms. To achieve this, the researcher designed a multiple-choice test to measure Saudi EFL learners’ ability to recognise the correct English synonym in contextualised sentences. In order to test whether the English proficiency level of the participants plays a role in their comprehension of English synonyms, the participants were divided on the basis of their scores on the Oxford Placement Test into two groups: 20 Advanced Learners (ALs) and 20 Intermediate Learners (ILs). Twenty native speakers of English (NSs) acted as the control group. The native speakers’ answers on the multiple-choice test were considered as the accurate answers. The answers provided by the ALs and ILs were compared to those provided by the NSs to determine whether the answers of the former approximate those of the latter. A Chi-square test was employed to determine whether the differences between the three groups, ALs, ILs and NSs on the multiple-choice test were statistically significant. The results reveal that the answers supplied by the ILs differed statistically from those of NSs on all items on the multiple-choice test, whereas those provided by the ALs differed significantly from those of the NSs on eight items. The results also show that participants’ English proficiency level may not have played a role in their ability to recognise the correct synonym on all items on the test. The researcher argued that the main sources of error were interference habits from the participants’ first language (L1), lack of awareness of the semantic differences between the synonyms in English and lack of familiarity with English collocations. The study concluded with some pedagogical implications for ESL/EFL teachers in the context of teaching English synonyms to L2 students. 

scholarly journals The Use of Inflectional Morphemes by Kuwaiti EFL Learners

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 32
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Alotaibi
Keyword(s):  
Negative Transfer ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
First Language ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Inflectional Morphemes

<p>This research paper aims to test the extent to which 100 Kuwaiti EFL learners are aware of the correct use of inflectional morphemes in English. It also explores the main causes of the errors that Kuwaiti EFL learners may make. Additionally, it checks whether the English proficiency level of the participants plays a role in their answers on the test. To this end, a multiple-choice test was used to measure the participants’ ability to use the correct inflectional morphemesin English. Following data analysis, the results reveal that Kuwaiti EFL learners are aware of the correct use of the inflectional morphemes in English to a certain degree (total mean=65.5%). Additionally, the t-test shows that the participants’ English proficiency level plays a central role in their comprehension of these morphemes. In particular, there is a statistically significant difference between the answers of the advanced learners (ALs) (73.5%) and intermediate learners (ILs) (57.5%). The number of correct answers provided by ALs is higher than that provided by ILs. Regarding the types of errors made by the participants, it has been argued that the most noticeable ones are due to first language (L1) negative transfer and the irregularity of some types of inflectional morphemes in English. Finally, the study concludes with some pedagogical implications and recommendations for further research.</p>

scholarly journals The Incidental Acquisition of English Prepositions by Arabic-Speaking EFL Learners: Evidence From Al Ain University of Science and Technology

SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824401986149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdel Rahman Mitib Altakhaineh ◽  
Mona Kamal Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Treatment Group ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Al Ain ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Arabic Speaking

This study examined the incidental acquisition of English prepositions by Arabic-speaking English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. Employing reading comprehension exercises as a treatment, we adopted the experimental design of a pre- and post-test to determine the effectiveness of the treatment on the participants’ incidental acquisition of English prepositions. For the purpose of the study, we divided the participants into a treatment group, who engaged in reading comprehension exercises for one academic term, and a control group, who did not. We used a multiple-choice test and a fill-in-the-blank test to measure the participants’ receptive and productive knowledge of English prepositions, respectively. We also conducted an introspective session with the treatment group following the administration of the post-tests to determine the areas of difficulty. The results of the study mainly indicated that reading accompanied by exercises resulted in better incidental gains in the acquisition of English prepositions, especially on the multiple-choice test. The study concludes with recommendations for further research.

scholarly journals On the Acquisition of Derivational Suffixes by Kuwaiti EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 223
Author(s):  
Maye A. Alotaibi ◽  
Abdullah M. Alotaibi
Keyword(s):  
English Proficiency ◽  
First Language ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Production Test ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Comprehension Skills ◽  
L1 Influence

This study aims to test the extent to which 90 Kuwaiti EFL learners are aware of the correct use of derivational suffixes in English. It also identifies the mains reasons of the errors that Kuwaiti EFL learners may make. In addition, it investigates whether the English proficiency level of the participants plays a role in their answers on the test. To this end, the participants were tested twice in this study; a multiple-choice test was used to check their comprehension skills, whereas a fill-in the blank test was used to measure their ability to produce the correct derivational suffixes in English. Following data analysis, the results reveal that Kuwaiti EFL learners are fairly aware of the correct use of English derivational suffixes to a certain degree; the total mean on both tests (comprehension = 70% and production = 56%) is 63%. The participants obtained higher percentage of correct answers on the comprehension test (mean= 70%) compared to the production test (mean = 56%). Additionally, the t-test shows that the participants’ English proficiency level plays a central role in their comprehension and production of these suffixes. The performance of the Advanced Learners (ALs) (comprehension = 77% and production = 62%) is better than that of the Intermediate Learners (ILs) (comprehension = 64% and production = 48%) on the tests. In particular, there is a statistically significant difference between the answers of ALs and ILs on both tests. Regarding the types of error made by the participants, I argued that the most noticeable ones are due to: (1) the modification that non-neutral derivational suffixes cause when they are attached to the word (stems/roots); and (2) first language (L1) influence. Finally, the study concludes with some recommendations for further research.

Effects of Lexical Simplification and Elaboration on Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners’ Learning and Retention of Phrasal Verbs

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 1003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melika Ghorbanian ◽  
Shadab Jabbarpoor
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
The Other ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Phrasal Verbs ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Different Order

This study aimed at investigating the effect of lexical simplification and elaboration on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ learning and retention of phrasal verbs. In order to achieve this goal, a PET test was run into 130 learners. When target participants were chosen, they were assigned into three groups including two treatment groups and one control group. Through a multiple choice test, 40 out of 60 phrasal verbs were selected as target phrasal verbs. Through 8 sessions of treatment, each group received a reading comprehension text that contained 5 phrasal verbs. But the way the phrasal verbs in two experimental groups were modified was different. One of them received elaborated input and the other group received simplified input; meanwhile, the control group received unmodified input. After eight sessions of treatment, an immediate multiple choice test was administered to find out which techniques had stronger effect on participant’s learning and retention of phrasal verbs. After one month, the same test, with a different order of items, was administered as delayed posttest to check the participants’ level of retention.  According to the results of the study simplified input group significantly outperformed the control and elaborated group on both learning and retention of phrasal verbs.

scholarly journals On the Production of Synonyms by Arabic-Speaking EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majed Alanazi
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Placement Test ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Chi Square Test ◽  
Arabic Speaking ◽  
Lack Of Knowledge

This study examines the productive knowledge of synonyms in English by 40 Saudi EFL learners. It also tests whether the participants’ English proficiency level plays a role in their production of English synonyms. To this end, the researcher designed a translation test to measure Saudi EFL learners’ ability to produce the correct synonym in contextualised English sentences. In order to test whether the English proficiency level of the participants influenced their production of English synonyms, the participants were divided, on the basis of their scores on the Oxford Placement Test, into two groups: 20 Advanced Learners (ALs) and 20 Intermediate Learners (ILs). The answers of the two groups on the translation test, i.e., the ALs and ILs were compared to check whether their English proficiency level played a role on their answers. A Chi-square test was employed to determine whether the differences between the ALs and ILs on the test were statistically significant. The results show that the number of correct answers provided by ALs was higher than that provided by ILs, suggesting that their English proficiency level may have played a role in their answers. The study suggested that the main sources of error were L1 interference, lack of focus on the acquisition of vocabulary in schools in Saudi Arabia, lack of knowledge of some English lexical items, lack of awareness of the different nuances of meaning between the synonyms in English and lack of knowledge with English collocations. Finally, the study concludes with some recommendations for further research. 

scholarly journals An Analysis of Compliment Responses by Kuwaiti EFL Learners: A Pragmatic Approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah M. Alotaibi
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Group ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
British English ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Pragmatic Transfer ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Compliment Responses

This study investigates the extent to which 80 female Kuwaiti EFL learners produce target-like compliment responses when they are communicating in English, through comparing their responses to those of British English speakers. It also examines whether the English proficiency level of Kuwaiti EFL learners plays a role in their responses to compliments in English. Essentially, this study explores whether pragmatic transfer has an impact on the Kuwaiti participants' responses. A Discourse Completion Task (DCT) was given to 50 female native speakers of British English (the control group) and to 80 female Kuwaiti EFL learners (the treatment group), in order to determine whether the responses of the latter group are similar or different to those of the former group. The results reveal that the English proficiency level of the treatment group had no effect on their answers on the DCT. In comparison with the control group, the results also demonstrate that the treatment group transferred both L1 expressions and strategies to respond to compliments in English. This has been attributed to the fact that they may not be aware of any culture-specific nature of verbal communications crosslinguistically, among other reasons. Finally, the study concludes with recommendations for further research.

Effect of Prequestions on Control of Attention in Written Instruction

1974 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graeme H. Watts
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Extra Information ◽  
Primary School Pupils ◽  
6Th Graders

It was predicted that varying the kind of prequestion asked would differentially affect the inspection behaviour of students reading a given passage. Primary school pupils (80 5th and 6th graders) read a short passage after being asked either a specific, general, or integrative question. A no-question control group also read the passage before all subjects attempted a multiple choice test. Consistent with previous findings, a specific prequestion most effectively focussed attention on particular points. General prequestions ostensibly referred the reader to more of the passage, but it can be inferred from test data that there was no advantage from this spread of attention unless the extra information was organized or ‘integrated’. The results were interpreted in terms of control of attention to critical stimuli.

scholarly journals PENGARUH MODEL DISCOVERY LEARNING BERPENDEKATAN STEM TERHADAP PEMAHAMAN KONSEP HIDROLISIS GARAM SISWA SMA

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukman Abdul Rauf Laliyo
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Choice ◽  
Discovery Learning ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Science Technology

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh model Discovery Learning berpendekatan Science, Technology, Eengineering, and Mathematic  terhadap pemahaman konsep siswa SMA di gorontalo. Penelitian kuantitatif Quasi Eksperimental ini menggunakan disain Pretest-Posttest Control Group. Sampel berjumlah 180 siswa, yaitu sebanyak 91 siswa kelompok eksperimen dan 89 siswa kelompok kontrol. Kelompok eksperimen dibelajarkan dengan model Discovery Learning berpendekatan Science, Technology, Eengineering, and Mathematic, dan untuk kelompok kontrol dibelajarkan dengan model Discovery Learning berpendekatan Saintifik. Intrumen yang digunakan adalah four-tier multiple choice test. Hasil pengujian hipotesis menggunakan Mann-Whitney dan Wilcoxon dengan taraf signifikan kurang dari 0,05, menunjukkan bahwa hipotesis diterima. Temuan ini menyatakan bahwa terdapat pengaruh model pembelajaran Discovery Learning berpendekatan Science, Technology, Eengineering and Mathematic  terhadap pemahaman konsep siswa. Hasil penelitian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi bahan rujukan bagi guru dalam mengembangkan pembelajaran kimia di masa depan

scholarly journals The Comprehension of English Relative Clauses by Arabic-Speaking EFL Learners

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
Sofia Sabahat Khan ◽  
Lubaba Abdul-Salam Al-Namer
Keyword(s):  
Relative Clauses ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Relative Pronoun ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Arabic Speaking ◽  
English Relative Clauses

This study investigates the extent to which 50 Arabic-speaking EFL learners comprehend English relative clauses (RCs). It also aims to test which relative pronoun among the seven pronouns we are investigating is the easiest to comprehend and which is the most problematic. Furthermore, it aims to measure whether the English proficiency level of the participants affects their performance on the test. Therefore, a multiple-choice test was administered in order to examine their comprehension of this complex syntactic structure.  The participants were asked to choose the correct answer out of four choices. The results demonstrate that Arabic-speaking EFL learners may not be fully aware of English relative clauses (total percentage= 48.5%). The t-test shows that the English proficiency level affected the participants’ performance on the test. Consequently, there is a significant difference between the answers of the advanced learners (ALs) (61.3%) and those of the intermediate learners (ILs) (35.6%). Moreover, the results reveal that the easiest relative pronoun to comprehend is the pronoun when, and the most difficult one is the pronoun whom. This study accounts for these difficulties and concludes with pedagogical implications and recommendations for further research. 

The Influence of using Hangman game on the seventh graders’ vocabulary mastery

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 172
Author(s):  
Dewi Sri Kuning ◽  
Rohaina Rohaina
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Study ◽  
Multiple Choice ◽  
T Test ◽  
Choice Test ◽  
Seventh Graders ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Multiple Choice Test ◽  
Control Group Design ◽  
Group Design ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Vocabulary is an important component in learning a language. Vocabulary is used to communicate to each other through listening, writing, speaking, and reading. These skills are closely related to vocabulary mastery. However, students have difficulties in understanding the vocabularies from their reading or listening activities. This research belongs to quantitative study using quasi experimental of nonequivalent control group design to find out the influence of using Hangman game on the seventh graders’ vocabulary mastery. The data were collected through a multiple-choice test. The hypothesis is tested using t-test. From the calculation of t-test, it was found that tobserved = 2.7, with df = 30+29-2 = 57 in ttable = 2.0, because tobserved ≥ ttable or 2.7 ≥ 2.0. Therefore, it can be concluded H0 is rejected, while Ha is accepted. In other words, “Hangman game influences the seventh graders’ vocabulary mastery.”

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