Cooperative Parent-Mediated Therapy in Children with Fragile X Syndrome and Williams Beuren Syndrome: A Pilot RCT Study of a Transdiagnostic Intervention-Preliminary Data

Children with fragile X syndrome and William Beuren syndrome share several socio-communicative deficits. In both populations, around 30/35% of individuals meets criteria for autism spectrum disorder on gold standard instruments. Notwithstanding, few studies have explored feasibility and validity of therapy for socio-communicative deficits in individuals with these genetic conditions. In this study, we present preliminary data on a pilot RCT aimed to verify the effectiveness of cooperative parent-mediated therapy for socio-communicative deficits in a transdiagnostic perspective in a small sample of 12 participants. Our preliminary data showed that the experimental group had significant improvement in one socio-communicative skill (responsivity) and in clinical global impression, while the control group in an adaptive measure of socialization and word production. Implications of these results are then discussed.

Recasts versus clarification requests: The relevance of linguistic target, proficiency, and communicative ability

This paper compares the effects of recasts and clarification requests as two implicit types of corrective feedback (CF) on learning two linguistic structures denoting past aspectual distinction in French, the passé composé and the imparfait. The participants in this classroom-based study are 52 high-school learners of French FL at a pre-intermediate level of proficiency (level B1 of CEFR). A distinctive feature of this study is the use of focused, context constrained communicative tasks in both treatment and tests. The paper specifically highlights the advantages of feedback using recasts for the acquisition of morpho-syntactically complex grammatical structures such as is the French passé composé. The study points to the participants’ communicative ability as an essential aspect of language proficiency, which seems to be crucial to bringing about the benefits of recasts. Oral communicative skill in a foreign language classroom is seen as a prerequisite for an appropriate interpretation and recognition of the corrective nature of recasts.

English Communicative Competence of Health Vocational High Schools (Case Study at Health Vocational High Schools in Internusa Institution in Central Java)

Indonesia must prepare the high-skill categories needs for every aspects. One of the aspects is the ability to compete in this era, the ability to communicate with other. Indonesian needs English communicative skill to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0. The aims of the study are: understand Vocational High Schools students’ English communicative competence and to understand the teaching method on Improving English Communicative competence for Health Vocational High Schools. This research used descriptive qualitative method. The study used a TOEIC Test to know the result of the study and interview the English teachers, the populations of the study are the third grades of Health Vocational High Schools at Internusa Institution in Central Java, there are 552 students from 6 Health Vocational High Schools. The results of the study is the students English Communicative competence is still on score 186-250 (Memorized Proficiency). The teachers have appled many methods to improved the English Communicative competence. most of the applied Discovery Learning Method.

Walking, pointing, talking – the predictive value of early walking and pointing behavior for later language skills

Both walking abilities and pointing gestures in infants are associated with later language skills. Within this longitudinal study we investigate the relationship between walk onset and first observed index-finger points and their respectively predictive value for later language skills. We assume that pointing as a motor as well as a communicative skill is a stronger predictor of later language development than walk onset. Direct observations, parent questionnaires, and standardized tests were administered in 45 children at ages 1;0, 2;0, 3;0, and 4;0. Results show that both walk onset and early index-finger pointing predict language abilities at age 2;0, but only early index-finger pointing predicts language skills at ages 3;0 and 4;0. Walk onset seems to contribute to an initial increase in language acquisition without a sustained advantage. The predictive value of first observed index-finger points, however, is strong and lasts at least until age 4;0.

English for Students in Faculty of Economic Studies IAIN Curup

Since the issue upon ASEAN as a single market and production base becomes tangible, people in business field are encouraged to compete with others. According to this, the working competition will be very tight. In finding a job, they will not only compete with people in their countries but also in South East Asia. Therefore, a good communicative skill in English is needed to broad their networking and knowledge. The issue does not only affect businessmen, but also other people from other fields regarding business, for instance, education. In this case, students from economic major should prepare themselves to face the competition. Thus, the present paper aims to discuss a new curriculum design for students in faculty of economic studies in IAIN Curup through conducting R and D. The writers believe that students are better taught using PPP method which is one of the methods in Audio-lingual approach. This approach derives from behaviorist theory in which students are deductively taught English since they have low level of English proficiency. The design also generates a module which is especially designed for students in faculty of economic studies in IAIN Curup. The curriculum are in the form of syllabus employs PPP method which uses communicative function as the orientation.Keywords: R and D, Audio-lingual, behaviorist, PPP, and ESP

FORMASI “CORAK TIM” DALAM SPEAKING CLASS

Pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris sebagai mata kuliah umum dengan jumlah SKS yang terbatas, diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kemampuan mahasiswa terutama dalam speaking sebagai communicative skill. Tuntutan tersebut mendorong pengajar Bahasa Inggris untuk memaksimalkan pengelolaan kelas dalam pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris khususnya speaking. Sebagai penelitian lanjutan yang sebelumnya menemukan bahwa formasi tempat duduk Corak Tim efektif dalam meningkatkan kemampuan Bahasa Inggris secara umum di Program Studi Arsitektur, fokus penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui korelasi antara pengaturan tempat duduk formasi Corak Tim terhadap efektifitas pembelajaran Speaking di Program Studi Arsitektur ITN Malang dan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi korelasi tersebut. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif kuantitatif dengan menggunakan metode True-Experimental Design. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di ITN Malang pada semester ganjil 2018/2019. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah mahasiswa Arsitektur ITN Malang angkatan 2018 yang mengambil mata kuliah Bahasa Inggris pada semester ganjil 2018/2019 yang akan diambil 90 sampel dengan sistem Random Cluster Sampling (sampel acak). Instrumen yang digunakan adalah wawancara, hasil pre-test dan post-test pada kelas Speaking yang dianalisis menggunakan Uji statistika non parametrik Mann Whitney U test dengan bantuan software SPSS for Windows version 24.

What Councillors Expect of Facilitative Mayors: The Desired Leadership Competencies in Job Advertisements for the Dutch Mayoralty and How They Are Affected by Municipal Size

Job vacancy texts for the Dutch mayoralty provide original evidence about what councillors expect of facilitative mayors. In this article, we conduct an automated content analysis of 231 advertisements and use focus groups to interpret our results. We find that the desired qualities of mayoral candidates include showing morally appropriate behaviour, acting as a liaison within local government and beyond, as well as vigour, empathy, and communicative skill. Further, we find that municipal size does affect the desirability of leadership competencies, but also that its impact is limited. This finding suggests that desired local leadership qualities may be less context-dependent than previously assumed.