Exploring social media use of Filipino learners

Profusely widespread use of social media opened multiple reading opportunities for learners. However, educators have growing concern that excessive use of social media compromises learners’ reading competence and, eventually, academic performance. The current work aimed to examine the extent to which social media use may affect the university students’ (N=101) reading attitudes and competence, which are the backbone of scholastic performance. A mixed-methods approach was applied in the study. The data collected were analyzed using version 26 of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Interview answers were qualitatively analyzed. Results indicate that social media platforms (SMPs) were least used for educational purposes. Students showed positive reading attitudes emphasizing their accorded importance to reading and finding happiness to learn new things. However, as they managed to read posts daily, lesser inclination was accorded to productive reading attitudes such as finding time to read during vacant hours and having enthusiasm towards advanced reading and reading with friends. Overall, reading competence indicated ineptitude. This study provides insights into the context of social media use in shaping learners’ reading attitudes and affecting their level of reading competence.

The Paradigm of Transmediation: An analytical reading of the dynamics of comic strip translation with reference to select Nonte Fonte panels

The present study focuses on the translation of a pure Bengali vernacular strip Nonte Fonte in English and to colour and its reception across the Bengali reading and speaking populace especially of Tripura, a North Eastern state of which the researcher is a part. At the same time this paper also highlights the way in which an apparently innocent comic strip such as Nonte Fonte showcases and disseminates, naturalizes and legitimizes stereotypes that represent negative codification of the cultural ‘Other’ (the inhabitant of Orissa relocated to Kolkata for work for instance) through its image /illustration medium and how the target reader internalizes it. Attempt has also been made to locate how market forces and the demand of English readership/target culture influence the translated product/text, thus pertaining to Bassnet’s (2007) concept of cultural capital which can be loosely defined as that which is necessary for an individual to belong to the ‘right circle’ in the society (p.19). Translation helps a culture to come closer to the ‘cultural capital’ of the other. The concept of cultural capital is most pertinent to the power relation, concept of hierarchy and negotiation involved in translation in this context. Cultural capital here is not the Source Text (ST), but the Western canon of English language and English readership (global readership in English in this context that would generally define itself as a summation of the Bengali (with or without Bengali reading competence, but with English reading competence) and non- Bengali but English reading domains in India and the rest of the English reading world). However as has been pointed out later in this paper, the publisher tends to contain and restrict the consumption of his product- the text thus translated, within a supposed niche of target readership, the Bengali children. The paper also interrogates the impracticality of such a proposition.

Learning Japanese: observations from a lifelong experience

This paper discusses the author’s first encounter with the Japanese language at the age of 23 and documents his continuing response to it up to the present time. At first, the language learning methodology he had used before failed and proved to be inappropriate for learning Japanese. Then came the realization that learning a foreign language needs some previous knowledge to build on. The search for the most efficient way to master Japanese brought the author to receptive multilingualism, which by chance opens up new vistas for the aspiring learner to improve listening skills. The physicality of speech and the consequent importance of some form of outside stimulation for its development are discussed. Mention is made of how he came upon the idea of adapting childhood techniques in learning how to read to the acquisition of reading competence in the Japanese language. In connection with this, the author makes another digression on the relationship he perceives as existing between active and passive language skills, and from this proceeds with the mention of how this might be applicable to his progress to date in learning Japanese and why, for better or worse, this would not normally apply to classroom acquisition of Japanese either inside or outside of Japan today

The History of the Seven Wise Mistrisses of Rome (1663) as Children’s Literature: Textual History, Gender and Folktale Motifs

This article analyses The History of the Seven Wise Mistrisses of Rome, attributed to Thomas Howard, and traditionally underrated by literary critics and historians as a mere imitation of the Seven Sages, despite its enormous success. The early parts examine the literary and editorial relationship with its source text, and Howard’s prefatory “Epistle.” The latter parts concentrate on the frame story and the fifteen exemplary tales. Special attention is drawn to the gender/feminist issues in the original extension of the frame story, and to the folktale motifs displayed in this compilation, stylistically and thematically conceived to help children improve their reading competence.

The achievement gap in reading competence: the effect of measurement non-invariance across school types

Background After elementary school, students in Germany are separated into different school tracks (i.e., school types) with the aim of creating homogeneous student groups in secondary school. Consequently, the development of students’ reading achievement diverges across school types. Findings on this achievement gap have been criticized as depending on the quality of the administered measure. Therefore, the present study examined to what degree differential item functioning affects estimates of the achievement gap in reading competence. Methods Using data from the German National Educational Panel Study, reading competence was investigated across three timepoints during secondary school: in grades 5, 7, and 9 (N = 7276). First, using the invariance alignment method, measurement invariance across school types was tested. Then, multilevel structural equation models were used to examine whether a lack of measurement invariance between school types affected the results regarding reading development. Results Our analyses revealed some measurement non-invariant items that did not alter the patterns of competence development found among school types in the longitudinal modeling approach. However, misleading conclusions about the development of reading competence in different school types emerged when the hierarchical data structure (i.e., students being nested in schools) was not taken into account. Conclusions We assessed the relevance of measurement invariance and accounting for clustering in the context of longitudinal competence measurement. Even though differential item functioning between school types was found for each measurement occasion, taking these differences in item estimates into account did not alter the parallel pattern of reading competence development across German secondary school types. However, ignoring the clustered data structure of students being nested within schools led to an overestimation of the statistical significance of school type effects.

Printed and e-book: problems of choice of modern students of the university

The article highlights the urgency of the problem of digitalization of education, substantiates the need to develop digital competence of young people in the context of using various electronic resources, technologies, the ability to be critical of the accuracy of information, competently use digital media to achieve personal, professional or social goals. The need for the development of reading competence in university students is emphasized. The study used methods of conceptual and comparative analysis, as well as psychodiagnostic and statistical methods. The results of an empirical study conducted in Ukrainian universities on the researched problem are presented. The positive and negative sides in the use of printed and electronic publications by modern students are given. Their preferences for using these sources to solve educational problems are revealed. The peculiarities of the development of readers’ interests of future specialists and the prospects of competition of the printed book with the electronic one are determined. According to the survey, it was found that respondents prefer e-books, they have more advantages in terms of practical application. It is investigated that for study they more often choose printed books, textbooks, which help them to focus more deeply on scientific information and to comprehend it critically (more than 70% of respondents). Emphasis on the importance in modern conditions of a successful combination in educational (professional) activities of electronic and printed publications.

PECULIARITIES OF THE READING COMPETENCE OF HEARING IMPAIRED JUNIOR SCHOOLCHILDREN

В статье рассматриваются вопросы формирования читательской компетентности у младших школьников с нарушением слуха. The article deals with the formation of reading competence in junior schoolchildren with hearing impairment.

Eminescu's qualities of a scientist (I)

There are listed Eminescu's qualities as a scientist: curiosity, the quality of expressing amazement, thirst for knowing, thirst for absolute, desire to seek the ultimate essences, passion for reading, competence, passion to broaden his knowledge horizon and to be up to date with specialized literature, documentation from truthful sources, call to science, constant passion for research, scientific character of his work, spirit of observation, the innate ability to contemplate and tempt thw nature, rich imagination, intelligence, sharpness of mind, native intuition and wisdom, strong memory, independence and freedom of thought, the meditative, dreamy,and romantic nature.