Application of Differentiated Instruction on Japanese Language Proficiency Test to Build Students’ Awareness of Lifelong Learning

Along with the rapid development of technology and the occurrence of education 4.0, lifelong learning ability becomes an important element in 21st century learning. Lifelong learning ability consists of the ability to develop strategies and evaluate one’s own learning, to improve knowledge, skills, and competence, so that continuous and sustainability learning habit can be built. By applying lifelong learning, students can evaluate their own learning, recognize their weaknesses and strengths, so that they can design the right learning model for the development of their knowledge. The ability to do lifelong learning is very important to be mastered by a student, so the teacher should introduce this learning model to student. On the other hand, as teacher we also conduct classroom / group learning that the differences in student’s ability may vary in one class. It needs to be facilitated by designing student personal learning (Differentiated Instruction / DI) to maximize student outcome. This paper discusses how DI strategies that implemented in Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Intermediate Level (Noryoku Shiken III) courses can build student awareness of lifelong learning. The participant of this research is the student from Japanese Language Proficiency Test: Intermediate Level (Noryoku Shiken III) class in Japanese Department, in a private university in Jakarta. The result of this research is after applying DI, a good progress was seen in each student towards the achievement of JLPT N3 grades, and can create independent learning habits, so students can sustain this learning habits even after finishing this subject.

CLARITY AND PRONUNCIATION OF AB-INITIO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

The increasing number of aircraft flying around the world has led to the requirement for air traffic controllers to improve their communication skills to face high demand traffic in the future. The paper examines the communication errors in the pilot-controller communication of six ab-initio air traffic controllers during simulation training. More than three hours of conversation were collected and analyzed qualitatively using conversational analysis. The transcribed data yielded a total of 62 instances of communication errors. The data revealed that clarity and pronunciation of ab-initio controllers contributed to problematic communication and reduced the efficiency of the air traffic controllers in communicating. In contrast, pronunciation errors rarely diminished comprehension amongst the controllers and pilots who share a similar first language and are familiar with the use of English in a lingua franca setting. The study also describes other instances of communication errors in pilot-controller communication. The results indicate that ab-initio air traffic controllers need to be proficient in three main areas in pilot controller communication to improve their performance: aviation phraseology, aviation English, and aviation knowledge. The findings suggest that pilots and air traffic controllers should achieve level 4 (operational) in aviation language proficiency test, before proceeding to aviation training that requires them to be proficient in their language skills.

Aligning a University English Language Proficiency Measurement Tool with the CEFR: A Case in Malaysia

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) describes the capability of learners’ language skills at six reference levels. It is internationally recognised as the standard language proficiency framework for describing language learning, teaching and assessment. Many countries, including Malaysia, have attempted and invested tremendous efforts to adopt the CEFR as a reference for language ability at all levels of education. However, there are many ways of adopting CEFR, and it is a continuous process of alignment between curriculum and assessment. In this regard, this study is carried out to examine how a Malaysian university attempts to demonstrate this alignment by correlating the scores obtained from English language proficiency courses in the university, called the English Language Competence Score Average (ELCSA), to a CEFR-aligned English language proficiency test (Linguaskill). The results showed an overall significant positive correlation that varied in strength. The overall correlation was 0.371, a positive but weak correlation whereby the strongest correlation was seen between ELCSA and CEFR Writing score with a correlation of 0.417, which is positive and moderate in strength. Therefore, it could be identified that a score of 3.25 and 3.5 on the ELCSA can be considered equivalent to a Linguaskill score of 160 (CEFR Band B2). It could be considered that the B2 CEFR level could be subdivided into lower and higher B2. However, there is a need to correlate ELCSA with other CEFR-aligned tests and perform further revisions to the English language proficiency programme at the university to successfully benchmark the programme and its assessment tool, ELCSA, with the CEFR.

Can Japanese Learners Pass the JLPT N3 by Reading A3! Visual Novel?

A visual novel is a reading media in the form of conversations between characters shown in a static anime style that attracts readers to continue reading it. Equipped with audio in Japanese and translation in English, it is estimated that visual novels can be used as an exciting learning media for students. This study aims to determine the possibility of visual novels, which are usually used as a game for entertainment purposes, as a medium for learning Japanese to pass the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). The method used in this stusdy is a quantitative method to find the matching vocabularies, with a listening and note-taking method for data collection. The data analyzed here is a conversation transcript of some chapters of A3! visual novel and JLPT 2018 questions ranging from N5 to N3 level. The A3! visual novel data are grouped according to the JLPT's four linguistic aspects: Moji goi, bunpou, dokkai, and choukai, at each level (N5 to N3). The analysis results show that the visual novel A3! can be used as a strengthening medium for students to pass the JLPT from N5 to N3.

Pirmsskolēnu latviešu valodas apguves rezultāti Latvijā: Kurzemē, Rīgā un Latgalē

The issue of state language skills has been crucial in the Latvian education system since the renewal of the national independence in 1991, and important decisions have been taken in recent years, which could contribute to the learning of the Latvian language in the educational process. The main point is that minority pre-school education institutions should implement a bilingual learning methodology to ensure that children are able to speak Latvian in daily communication and successfully start learning at least bilingually in the first grade. The Cabinet Regulations No. 716 “Regulations Regarding the State Guidelines for Pre-school Education and the Model Pre-school Education Programmes” adopted 21 November 2018 and in force since 1 September 2019 (MK 2018, Nr. 716) state “to provide a child with a possibility to prepare for the acquisition of basic education” (section 3.5) and explain the differences in the content of pre-school education implementation programmes included in the pre-school education programme of the minority pre-school education programme, the special pre-school education programme, and the special pre-school minority education programme (see section 4). One of the tasks for pre-school language researchers in the sub-project No. 8 of the National Research Programme “Latvian Language” was to test Latvian and minority children’s real Latvian proficiency by performing the pre-school children’s Latvian proficiency test and analysis, taking into account the regional distribution, differences in pre-school education groups by the language of instruction and in children’s mother tongue. From 2018 to 2021, 1) a Latvian language proficiency test for children of pre-school age and its results’ assessment system were developed, 2) pre-school children’s language records were made in Kurzeme, Latgale, and Riga pre-school education institutions, 3) knowledge of Latvian and its usage skills were analysed and compared: a) for children with Latvian as the mother tongue, b) for minority children who attend pre-school groups with Latvian as the language of daily communication, c) for minority children who attend pre-school groups with Russian as the dominant language. During the study, in conversations with parents, the authors found out that in families of minority children whose knowledge of Latvian was insufficient, communication takes place in Russian, and in minority children’s groups in pre-school education institutions with Russian as daily communication language, Russian dominates in communication with children and their parents and visual information. The results of analysis of children’s language: Pre-schoolers who attend an educational establishment’s group with Latvian as daily communication language demonstrate good knowledge and skills of Latvian and are prepared to learn in Latvian at school. The Latvian proficiency of minority children attending pre-school education groups with the dominant Russian language is insufficient and does not comply with the requirements specified in the Cabinet Regulation No. 716 of 2018, that children should be prepared to start learning at school in Latvian or bilingually. This conclusion is not dependent on the region where the children live. Minority children who attend the groups with Russian as the dominant language have limited vocabulary, underdeveloped language of dialogue, impaired fluency of speech amplified by very minimal knowledge of grammar, and children’s reading skills do not meet the national requirements. Minority pre-schoolers are well able to imitate another language because in all regions studied, minority children have the best results in Latvian pronunciation. Insufficient Latvian language skills, in general, can be explained by insufficient daily use of Latvian. For minority children in pre-school age to successfully learn Latvian, it is not enough to have only a few Latvian language lessons a week; it is necessary to create a real bilingual language usage environment (communication, games, visual features, etc.) in pre-school education institutions.

Peningkatan Kemahiran Berbahasa Indonesia melalui Program Klinik Bahasa UKBI Adaptif

The Indonesian Language Proficiency Test (UKBI) is one of the Indonesian language proficiency tests that aims to measure written and oral proficiency, both by spoken and foreign speech. In its development, UKBI developed into an adaptive UKBI which can display different levels of question difficulty for each examiner, so that UKBI has a variety of questions that are not the same between participants and a different number of questions. The method used in this research is a simple qualitative and quantitative descriptive method with primary data obtained through survey results. The results in this study were that of the 51 participants who took part in the activity, 30 of them took part in the UKBI simulation activity with the lowest UKBI simulation score being 60 and the highest being 100. After attending the language clinic, the participants who were very interested in taking the UKBI test visited 15 people, interested in participating in the UKBI test. opened 16 people, and less interested in opening 2 people or 92%.

Um teste de verificação lexical de português brasileiro (TVLPB) como língua adicional: criação e validação / A Vocabulary Level Eest for Brazilian Portuguese as a Second Language: Design and Validation

Resumo: Dado o aumento de falantes de português como língua adicional, de acolhimento e de herança, é de grande importância ter uma ferramenta padronizada de medida de proficiência que seja de fácil e rápida administração. Neste trabalho, mostramos a criação e validação interna de um Teste de Verificação Lexical do Português Brasileiro (TVLPB). O teste foi criado com cinco bandas de frequência que correspondem à distribuição de frequência lexical encontrada em diferentes corpora. Os resultados com falantes nativos mostram convergência de respostas em relação às rubricas selecionadas e às bandas de frequência utilizadas, indicando uma validade interna. O teste foi aplicado também com falantes de herança, em que também percebemos um aumento da dificuldade em relação às bandas do teste.Palavras-chave: VLT; português como língua adicional; teste de proficiência; avaliação.Abstract: Given the growing number of speakers of Portuguese as a host, second, and heritage language, a proficiency level test that can be easily and reliably administered is necessary. In this work, we show the design and validation of the Brazilian Portuguese Vocabulary Level Test (TVLPB). The test comprises five different frequency bands that correspond to the lexical distribution found in different corpora. The results show that native speakers’ responses tend to follow the same pattern across the different bands of the test which indicates internal validity. The test was also administered with heritage speakers of Portuguese, and the results show that accuracy rates decline as the frequency of words is decreased.Keywords: VLT; Portuguese as a second language; proficiency test; evaluation.

SOLUSI STRATEGI PEMBELAJARAN KOSAKATA BAHASA JEPANG DI MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

Penguasaan kosakata menjadi kunci untuk dapat lulus dalam Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) yang penting bagi seorang lulusan bahasa Jepang dalam memperoleh pekerjaan. Masa pandemi Covid-19 yang mengharuskan pembelajaran daring menuntut inovasi dalam strategi belajar siswa. Penelitian ini memaparkan hasil Focus Group Interview (FGI) mengenai pembelajaran kosakata bahasa Jepang di masa Pandemi dengan peserta 9 orang siswa D3 Bahasa Jepang Sekolah Vokasi UGM Angkatan 2018. Peserta yang merupakan generasi Z, walaupun akrab dengan teknologi, ternyata masih mencatat secara manual kosakata yang ingin dipelajari sesuai dengan kebutuhan mereka. Selanjutnya sebagai solusi bagi permasalahan pembelajaran kosakata, ditawarkan aplikasi smartphone berbasis android bernama “Memora” yang digunakan untuk menambah perbendaharaan kosakata secara mandiri. Peserta FGI berpendapat bahwa “Memora” dapat menjadi salah satu strategi belajar kosakata di masa pandemi. Dengan “Memora”, siswa dapat memasukkan kosakata dan gambar yang dapat membantu pemahaman terhadap kata tersebut kapan saja dan di mana saja. Masih terdapat kekurangan seperti bugs pada permainan, dan belum adanya fitur audio sehingga aplikasi ini masih terus dikembangkan.