Language attitudes, practices and identity in the new Lithuanian diaspora

After the changes in the socio-political situation in many countries of Eastern and Central Europe in the last decade of the 20th century, these countries experienced a major growth of emigration. In the context of the European Union, Lithuania is one of the countries that has faced the highest rates of emigration. The quick and somewhat sporadic emigration mainly for economic reasons is of interest both to linguists and language policy makers in order to support and give guidelines for the maintenance of the heritage language and identity. This paper deals with the data of the new post-Soviet wave of Lithuanian emigrants analysing the language behaviour and language attitudes. The aim is to look into the issues of language attitudes, practices and identity through the tripartite theoretical model - beliefs, emotions and declared language practices - of this wave and to compare it to the overall context of Lithuanian diaspora. The data analysed in this paper has been collected using quantitative (online surveys) and qualitative methods (in-depth interviews) in two research projects in the Lithuanian diaspora in 2011-2017. The main focus is on the use of the heritage Lithuanian language in various domains (home, community, friendship, church), comparing the use of Lithuanian by the post-Soviet emigrants with the language behaviour of the emigrants of earlier emigration waves. The results show equally positive beliefs and affective attitudes of the post-Soviet emigrants compared to previous waves, but a different language behaviour especially when comparing to the emigrants of the end of World War II.

When good attitudes are not enough: understanding intentions to keep yellow-shouldered Amazons as pets on Margarita Island, Venezuela

Unsustainable harvesting to supply the demand for pets is the second most significant threat to parrots (Psittacidae). Given that parrot keeping is widespread, in-depth and culturally sensitive research is needed to inform and develop interventions targeted at changing consumer preferences and purchasing behaviours. Parrot keeping is thought to be driven mainly by a desire for companionship (the affection hypothesis). Alternative hypotheses include a deeply ingrained culture of parrot ownership (the tradition hypothesis) or the influence of socio-economic context (the contextual hypothesis). We used the theory of planned behaviour to evaluate the relative importance of behavioural and contextual factors influencing the intention to keep the yellow-shouldered Amazon Amazona barbadensis as a pet. We interviewed 150 owners and non-owners of parrots in two locations in Macanao Peninsula, Margarita Island, Venezuela, where the primary population of this species is located. We found mixed evidence supporting both the affection and contextual hypotheses: intention to keep parrots was higher in non-owners with high education level, strong affective attitudes regarding human–animal relationships, and higher expectations about social norms (41% of explained variance). Our study expands previous research on the illegal parrot trade by taking into account behavioural measures beyond attitudes, highlighting the role of social norms frequently ignored in such research. We discuss how a behaviour change campaign could redirect affective attitudes in the human–parrot relationship, and promote new social norms that support parrot conservation. Future research should consider the inclusion of moral and injunctive norms, and monitoring of intervention effectiveness.

Non-English Majors’ Attitudes towards Using YouTube to Improve Speaking Skills

This study aimed to explore students’ attitudes towards using YouTube to improve speaking skills at the context of a Binh Duong based university. A total of one hundred and fifty students participated in the research. Both quantitative and qualitative data was obtained through two instruments, namely questionnaires and interview. For analysing the data collected, descriptive statistics and content analysis were employed. The results of the study revealed that non-English majors hade positive attitudes towards using YouTube to improve speaking skills. More interestingly, the findings revealed that they had affective attitudes towards the use of YouTube higher than the cognitive and behavioural attitudes. The study also made several suggestions for both teachers and students with the aim of contributing a small part to the teaching and learning of English speaking skills.

Place Affect Interventions During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 health and economic crisis has also brought a rise in people being unable to cope with their existing medical conditions and other issues such as domestic violence, drugs, and alcohol among others. Suicidal tendencies have been on the rise. Feelings of isolation causing emotional distress in place-confined settings have put additional pressure on the healthcare systems demanding that we find additional and complementary means of support for those in need. This is important not only in the current pandemic but also in the post-pandemic world. The goal is to collectively contribute and address the recurring calls for actions to maintain global well-being and public health. An important discussion to bring on the table is the need to promote interventions for people to cope with the pandemic and to adjust to the post-pandemic world. Promoting affective attitudes toward place can foster well-being outcomes. This has important benefits and is of relevance to governments, policymakers, and healthcare professionals in delivering better healthcare equipping people with coping mechanisms both throughout the pandemic and in the long run. However, the key challenge is how to foster these place affect attitudes meeting the changing demands in the post-pandemic world. It is in the middle of a crisis that the conversation needs to start about how to strategically plan for the recovery.

The Effects of Digital Virtual Reality Game-Based Language Learning on English Language Learners’ Development of Vocabulary and Cultural Knowledge and Affective Attitudes

The current study investigated the effects of using a 3D virtual reality (VR) game on university EFL students’ development of vocabulary and cultural knowledge. In addition, it explored how this new approach affected the students’ affective attitudes such as interest, confidence, and learning motivation. Furthermore, it examined the students’ perception and attitude toward VR game-based language learning. Over one semester, an experimental group of 25 students participated in the VR game-based language learning, while a control group of 24 students followed the regular curriculum of the university EFL course. To collect data, 1) pre- and post-tests for both vocabulary and cultural knowledge, 2) a pre- and post-questionnaire for affective attitudes, 3) an online survey for students’ perceptions and attitudes, and 4) a qualitative interview were administered. The results revealed that the VR game-based language learning group outperformed the traditional learning group in both vocabulary and cultural knowledge gains. In addition, VR game instruction was effective in increasing students’ interest, confidence, and learning motivation. Furthermore, the students reported overall positive perceptions and attitudes toward this new kind of instruction. This study suggested that VR game-based language learning is a new, effective way to promote students’ vocabulary and cultural knowledge.

FOSTERING THE ALPHA GENERATION: A CHARACTER EDUCATION BASED ON JAVANESE UNGGAH UNGGUH (ETIQUETTE) CULTURE IN MADRASAH IBTIDAIYAH

This paper portrays the implementation of character education based on Javanese unggah-ungguh (etiquette) in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Karanganyar, using 24 students from 5th-grade who were mentioned as the alpha generation in 2020. Generally, this generation refers to children born after 2010 in this digital era. The unggah-ungguh is one of the Indonesian ancestral heritages that must be preserved, as though it may originate from Java, it strongly represents the culture of the country’s society. Six (6) characters of Javanese unggah-ungguh were used in this research as indicators, which are tata krama (manners), lembah manah (relent), andhap asor (humility), tepa slira (tolerance), grapyak (friendliness), and ewuh-pekewuh (reluctance). This study was descriptive qualitative research that focused on observing the realization of character education based on this culture, using observation, interview, survey, and documentation as the data collection instruments. As reviewed from the affective theory of Krathwohl Taxonomy, the education character based on Javanese unggah-ungguh has influenced three-component domains of affective attitudes, which are in the level of receiving or attending, responding, and valuing. Lastly, the result showed that implementing character education based on this culture has truly shaped a better personality for students in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Karanganyar as the alpha generation.

Daily Instrumental and Affective Attitudes About Exercise: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study

Background Daily decisions to exercise may be influenced by day-to-day changes in affective attitudes (AA) and instrumental attitudes (IA) toward exercise. However, the within-day association between AA, IA, and exercise behavior has received little attention. Purpose To examine the effects of more temporally proximal (daily) AA and IA on daily exercise behavior beyond traditionally assessed distal (at the beginning of an exercise program) AA and IA. Methods In the context of a 3-month exercise promotion program (N = 50), distal AA and IA were assessed at baseline. Ecological momentary assessment was used to assess proximal AA, IA, and exercise each day. Results Between-subject differences in distal AA (OR = 1.28, p = .03) and distal IA (OR = 1.34, p = .01) were predictive of average likelihood of exercise each day over the 3-month period. Within-subject differences in proximal AA (OR = 1.19, p = .007), but not proximal IA (OR = 1.11, p = .18), predicted exercise each day beyond the between-subjects effects of distal AA and IA. Exploratory analysis revealed an interaction, such that the within-subjects impact of proximal AA on daily exercise was most evident among individuals who held more negative distal AA at baseline (OR = 0.80, p < .0001). Conclusions Attitude type (affective versus instrumental) and temporality (distal versus proximal) are important to consider in attempts to predict and understand exercise behavior. In addition to targeting change in distal attitudes, exercise interventions should target changes in daily AA to impact exercise later in the same day.

Are explicit and implicit affective attitudes toward different body shape categories related to the own body-satisfaction in young women? The role of mindfulness, self-compassion and social media activity

Implicit and explicit attitudes influence our behavior. Accordingly, it was the main goal of the paper to investigate if those attitudes are related to body image satisfaction. 134 young women between 18 and 34 years completed an explicit affective rating and an implicit affective priming task with pictures of women with different BMIs. Because it is well known that mindfulness, self-compassion and social media activity influence body image satisfaction, these variables were registered as well. The results confirmed an explicit positive affective bias toward pictures of slim women and a negative bias toward emaciated and obese body pictures. It adds to the literature that the explicit positive bias does not hold true for the strongest form of underweight, suggesting that instead of dividing different body shapes into two groups, different gradings of under- and overweight should be considered. Concerning the affective priming task, no significant differences between the different pictures could be carved out. Implicit and explicit affective attitudes were not related to the body satisfaction of the participating women. In line with former studies, body satisfaction was predicted by the actual-ideal weight discrepancy, the BMI, aspects of mindfulness and self-compassion. This study indicates that implicit and explicit affective attitudes toward underweight and overweight women are unrelated to the participants’ body satisfaction.