Zooming in on the Indonesian EFL primary school students’ intercultural sensitivity and their extroversion

Intercultural sensitivity and personality traits constitute eminent and inseparable elements associated with EFL learning. Nevertheless, to the best of the writers’ knowledge, limited investigations in an Indonesian EFL primary school level concerning these two variables were found; therefore, the present study was intended to scrutinize the Indonesian EFL primary school students’ intercultural sensitivity and personality traits. 96 students from the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades of one primary school in Bandung were involved. An embedded design of a mixed-method was employed. The data were garnered using 4-Likert scale questionnaires gauging the students’ intercultural sensitivity and their personality traits focusing on extroversion, followed by some open-ended questions. The findings revealed that students’ intercultural sensitivity was considered good (the mean of 80.06 and standard deviation of 8.50), and most students tended to be extroverted (the mean of 72.62 and the standard deviation of 9.89). The students’ intercultural sensitivity was found to be significantly related to their extroversion at a 99% level of confidence (.000 .01). Finally, the findings along with the previous studies explicating the intercultural sensitivity and personality traits advocate some pedagogical implications for facilitating students’ English learning.

English Learning Strategies of Economics-majored Students at Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City

The purpose of this research paper is to look into the current situation of using learning strategies and the key factors that influence English learning strategies of tertiary students who major in economics at Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City. On the basis of Oxford’s (1990) theory on language learning strategies, the study conducted a questionnaire survey with the participation of 300 students. The results show that economics-majored students use English learning strategies at a relatively high frequency, with the metacognitive strategies group having the highest frequency; the groups of affective strategies and compensation strategies have the lowest frequency of use. It also draws a conlusion that individual factors such as gender, grade level, and major do not appear to have a significant impact on students' use of English learning strategies. There are no significant differences between male and female students, between students of all grades, and between students of different majors in the frequency of using English learning strategies.

Android-based English teaching material application at State Polytechnic of Fakfak

One of the ways to attract students' interest in learning English is to use interactive teaching materials. However, the teaching materials used at State Polytechnic of Fakfak are still in the form printed materials which seem inefficient to be used during the Covid 19 pandemic because the all the teaching process is online. Therefore, one of the solutions to implement mobile learning. Using mobile learning provides the users accessing material through smartphones and learning through mobile learning applications anywhere and anytime. This study aims to develop teaching materials in the form of an Android-based English Learning Application at Department of Informatics Management at the State Polytechnic of Fakfak, West Papua. The method used in this study is the Waterfall method, where a software development model is carried out sequentially, which means that one stage is carried out after the previous stage is completed. With the teaching materials in the Android-based English course, it can help the educators to carry out their duty as a lecturer to handle learning process during the Covid-19 pandemic. The result of this study is an Android-based English Learning Application that is functionally tested using the Black Box method. Based on the test results, the application is functioning properly. This is proved by the feasibility test using distributed questionnaires to 40 students of the Department of Informatics Management. There are 96% of students stated that the application can be operated easily and is satisfying

Application of Massive Open Online Course to Grammar Teaching for English Majors Based on Deep Learning

The study aims to explore the roles of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) based on deep learning in college students’ English grammar teaching. The data are collected using a survey. After the experimental data are analyzed, it is found that students have a low sense of happiness and satisfaction and are unwilling to practice oral English and learn language points in English learning. They think that college English learning only meets the needs of CET-4 and CET-6 and does not take it as the ultimate learning goal. After the necessity and problems in English grammar teaching are discussed, the advantages of flipped classrooms of MOOCs are discussed in English grammar teaching. A teaching platform is constructed to study the foreign language teaching mode under MOOCs, and classroom teaching is combined with the advantages of MOOCs following the principle of “teaching students according to their personalities” to improve the listening, speaking, reading, writing, and translation skills of foreign language majors. The results show that high-quality online teaching resources and the deep learning-based teaching environment can provide a variety of interactive tools, by which students can communicate with their peers and teachers online. Sharing open online communication, classroom discussion, and situational simulation can enhance teachers’ deep learning ability, like the ability to communication and transfer thoughts. Constructivism with interaction as the core can help students grasp new knowledge easily. Extensive communication and interaction are important ways for learning and thinking. The new model provides students with profound learning experience, expands the teaching resources of MOOCs around the world, and maximizes the interaction between online and offline teachers and students, making knowledge widely rooted in the campus and realizing the combination of online resources and campus classroom teaching. Students can learn the knowledge through autonomous learning and discussion before class, which greatly broadens the learning time and space. In the classroom and after class, the internalization and sublimation of knowledge are completed through group cooperation, inquiry learning, scenario simulation, display, and evaluation, promoting students to know about new knowledge and highlighting the dominant position of students.

An Evaluation of Popular Vocabulary Learning Mobile Applications in China and Their Implications for Language Learning?

Mobile-Assisted Language Learning (abbreviated to MALL) has proved to be both useful and efficacious for language learning. Mobile applications (apps) can help learners meet their needs for updating information and skills and learning without the constraints of time and place. In our current informational era, mobile learning has been more and more adopted in English teaching. Some mobile apps can also provide potential possibilities for foreign language learners to practice language skills on their smart mobile phones and tablet PCs. A lot of applications have been created and used for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning.Mastering vocabulary is an integral aspect of English learning, and an essential way to learn English vocabulary is via mobile learning apps. This study evaluates the four vocabulary learning apps which have become popularized in China: baicizhan, Youdao, Hujiang Happy Dictionary, and Momo word. Through a process of analysis and comparison, the affordances and limitations of these different English vocabulary apps in English learning will be examined. Then I would like to examine how mobile apps can be incorporated into English language teaching and learning and what kinds of tasks can be employed to improve EFL learning for learners.

Gamification in English as Second Language Learning in Secondary Education Aged Between 11-18

Since gamification has strengthened its place in education over the years, it is frequently preferred in English as a Second Language Learning. This study aims to investigate the literature on the effects of gamification on students’ English learning as a second language and the tendency of students to use games to learn English as a second language. This review contains a systematic review of published articles about gamification in English as a Second Language Learning for learners aged between 11-18 from 2013 to 2020. The study was designed according to the specifications of the PRISMA 2009 Checklist. A combination of words related to gamification, game-based learning, English as a Second Language, and secondary school was included as a search strategy. After selection, ten research articles written in English were reviewed. Their results indicated that the games enhance the fun, raise students’ motivation, and boost their participation while helping their autonomous learning. This review includes suggestions to support planning game-based English lessons.

TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED ENGLISH LEARNING TRAINING FOR MTs TEACHERS IN THE WAJO DISTRICT

For the majority of students, English is a dreaded subject. Mastering English necessitates the repetition of patterns used in daily speech, as our pupils are more likely to communicate in regional languages and Indonesian. It is almost always tough for English teachers to urge their students to learn English. As a result of this occurrence, we as English lecturers are committed to giving students with learning options that allow them to enjoy learning English while being focused on the goal. We introduce technology-based English classes and educate this subject to MTs teachers around Wajo Regency, who will later serve as the students' learning relay.