Solutions to Problems in Learning Tamil

This review presents the problems that arise when learning Tamil and the solutions for it, which is our mother tongue, and which has been a virgin language for a long time. Solutions to problems in learning can be found through oral training and error free writing training. Oral training should be given through different and flexible exercises. The speech of the linguist should be an example to eliminate the shortcomings of unedited speech. The difference in the duration of the writing of the characters and the place of birth of a word should be clearly stated through individual training and group training. Writing training plays an important role in providing error & free writing training. Being able to write without error is made possible by clear pronunciation, oral reading, relaxed writing, checking what is written, knowing the rules of grammar etc.

Practical Measures for Dealing With the Struggles of Nurses Caring for People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Comorbid With Cognitive Impairment in Japan

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no cure. This study aimed to explore the situations with which nurses struggled, their implemented practical measures, and the challenges they experienced when caring for patients with ALS comorbid with cognitive impairment (hereinafter, targeted patients). In this qualitative study, we conducted a survey with nurses (n = 121) experienced in caring for ALS patients; the survey contained a free-writing section in which participants described their struggles regarding care delivery for these patients. To collect data on practical measures that nurses had already implemented or wanted to propose regarding care delivery for the targeted patients, we conducted four focus group interviews (n = 22). We used a qualitative inductive approach to extract the categories. Fifty-eight nurses (49.6%) completed the free-writing survey section. The situations in which nurses struggled in care for the targeted patients were organized into three categories: “Patients’ strong persistency on specific requirements for nursing assistance in their daily lives,” “Patients’ problematic behaviors toward nurses,” and “Struggles in communicating with and understanding patients’ wishes.” Nurses reported these situations as stressful, and they affected care quality. The practical measures implemented when caring for the targeted patients were organized into five categories: “Cognitive impairment assessment,” “Care delivery to deal with patients’ strong persistency on specific requirements for assistance in their daily lives,” “Communication,” “Supporting the decision-making process,” and “Collaboration between the hospital and the community.” Multidisciplinary collaboration in the hospital, and collaboration between the hospital and the community from an early stage is necessary to share the results of the assessment and diagnosis of cognitive impairment. Our evidence underlines that guideline and care manual establishment may lead to improved care delivery and to the unification of care deliveries to respond to patients’ strong persistency.

Formula Poems for Enriching Writing in the English Classroom

The main objective of the study was to determine the effectiveness of formula poems for enriching writing in the English classroom at the University of Cebu- Main Campus. A quasi-experimental design was used. The experimental group was treated with the use of creative formulae, while the control group was taught to use freewriting. The experts utilized the researcher-made rubric to measure the students' writing performance in both groups. The writing performances of the free writing group had fair rating and there were students got ratings that were also poor. The writing performances of the formula writing group had a very good rating and good ratings which shows that they were better in poetry writing compared to the free writing group. There is a significant difference in the performances of the free writing and formula writing groups. The engagements of the subjects with the formula poems have proved that it is much effective compared to freewriting in assessing the outputs of the subjects. The study concluded that the writing strategy of the students of the formula writing group using formula poems is effective. Furthermore, student writing guided by poetic formulas contributes to more engaged learning and provides a strong framework for creative thinking.

The joy of teaching and learning in academia – teachers’ perspectives from three countries

All over the world, the educational landscape has changed dramatically over the last year, impacting the way we teach and learn. It is time for reflecting and searching for new ways to support each other, during these pandemic times and beyond; time to co-construct creative partnerships and to innovate new ways to co-create. Change is an inevitable part of teaching and learning but the adaptations currently required are of unprecedented scale. How can we teach and learn with joy in today’s academia? How can we support each other, as teachers, in more creative ways? These two reflective questions were at the base of the study, which was conducted by university teachers from three countries: “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, Romania; London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom; and University of Calgary, Canada. The methods used included interviews, focus groups and free writing with colleagues in each university. Findings revealed the challenges faced by each participant due to the emotional pressure caused in these supercomplex times, and the struggle to bring joy of teaching and learning in creative ways. This small ethnographic project reveals a need to shift our thinking about emotions and how we may facilitate the greatest success of all our students, by continually inventing new solutions and teaching with enthusiasm.

From Instructed Writing to Free-Writing: A Study of EFL Learners

Writing is an intricate process that encompasses various factors and is a key skill for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. Thus, writing assignments are vital for any curriculum. One of the essential aspects of effective writing includes good grammar knowledge. Advocates of process writing argue that a free-writing journal is a practical approach to teaching EFL students writing. This study is intended to examine the impact of the free-writing journal on EFL learners. This study was conducted on 80 students from a writing course at the University. Thirty-five students were randomly selected to join the free-writing program—the experimental group—and 45 students were kept in their regular structured writing program—the control group. The experimental group selected topics of interest to them and was encouraged to write in English freely without concern for errors, whereas the control group followed a regular structured writing program where the topics were selected for them and they wrote following a clear guideline. Five major areas were investigated to evaluate students’ progress: the number of words written, spelling, capitalization, subject-verb agreement, and punctuation. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 students of the experimental group to elicit their perception of the free-writing program. According to the analysis, students in the free-writing program acquired better grammar acquisition than the control group. The researcher also observed students’ perception of free-writing at the end of the study and found that free-writing improved their writing skills.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND PEDAGOGICAL CONDITIONS FOR THE FORMATION OF PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY OF FUTURE JOURNALISTS IN THE SYSTEM OF LIBERAL EDUCATION

The problem of professional identity of students in the field of "Journalism" has recently become increasingly relevant in connection with technological changes affecting the professional activity. Modern journalism is being robotized, there is a separation of human and machine labor in this profession. Changes in the industry entail a review of the educational process at the substantive and organizational levels. In this regard, the article substantiates a model of organizational and pedagogical conditions that contribute to the formation of professional identity of future journalists in the system of liberal education. We proceed from the provision on robotization of news journalism, therefore, analytical and publicistic journalism will become relevant, and for training in these areas liberal education methods are needed - in-depth reading, working with texts, free writing. The article presents and analyzes the system of organizational and pedagogical conditions for the formation of professional identity of future journalists studying in the liberal education system at NArFU named after M.V. Lomonosov.

She’s Really Kind and Hella Weird! ─ The Use of Intensifiers among Teens: A Sociolinguistic Analysis

This study aims to reveal language variation of the use of intensifiers that occurs between male and female teens. This study will also examine the effects of gender through the use of adjectives intensification. Seeing that society have stereotype towards male and female, it is being one of problems that cause the differences in their language. To answer this problem, qualitative and quantitative approaches are undertaken. All participants are asked to share stories through free writing section. A later interview process is accomplished to clarify their further reasons of their intensifiers. The results show that there are significant differences of intensifiers used by males and females such as intensifiers amount, adjective types, degree, positive-negative evaluation, emotional value, intensifiers choices, and the use of double and taboo intensifiers. These differences are caused by several reasons with gender related. It has connection with power, politeness, expressions, emotion, society compulsion, and others.