The Impact of Divergent and Convergent Tasks on Iraqi EFL Students Reading Comprehension Success

This research attempted to explore the effects of divergent and convergent tasks on the successful reading of EFL students at the preparatory stage. To verify the analysis, the null hypothesis was established that states "There are no differences of statistical significance at the level of (0,05) among the mean of scores of the experimental group who study according to divergent and convergent task technique and the mean of the scores of the control group who study according to the regular method". The experimental approach is used by designing two equivalent experimental groups of 32 students studying the technique proposed, and an 8-week (2019-2020) control group of 32 students, three classes each week using the Google Classroom Platform and Telegram. The present study utilized the platform Google Classroom (GC) and Telegram as an educational platform to assist students during their course learning process. The writing skills test was administered after checking with the experts. The results show that there are statistical differences at level (0,05) between the average of the experimental and control groups' reading skills and those of the experimental group. This difference is because the experimental group uses divergent and convergent tasks.

Using Board Games Activities in Developing Iraqi EFL Preparatory School Students' Performance in Reading Skills

Learning a second language can be challenging and demanding, especially for teachers, as they are required to continuously innovate and improve their teaching by integrating new strategies and techniques into the classroom environment. Hence, the present study intents to examine the effect of board games activities on Iraqi Preparatory school students’ reading skills. A quantitative research method is adopted, and a sample of (30) preparatory school students is randomly chosen to exemplify the two sets of the research (the control and experimental groups). The study adopts a pre-test post-test design to measure the influence of the strategy. The first hypothesis is accepted, and the researcher concluded that indeed board games activities help in developing the students’ reading skills; however, other studies could concur or find different results.

(Re)Defining Fairy Tales: A Deontology Ethical Approach to Oscar Wilde’s Selected Fairy Tales

Fairy tales are often used by authors to impart their moral values and principles. This is commonly done through the portrayal of their main characters, including their personalities, actions, and the consequences of their actions. In some cases, authors use death as a moral lesson due to its connotation as a form of punishment for a character’s misdeed. However, Oscar Wilde’s fairy tales contradict the conventional aspect of death in classic fairy tales. His main characters experienced death or physical disfigurement in the end despite their actions which readers would perceive as good or morally permissible. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the theme of morality in Wilde’s selected fairy tales through a Deontology Ethical approach. This study addressed the relationship between the personalities and actions of Wilde’s selected characters, as well as the consequences of their actions. Furthermore, using Kantian Ethics, the study evaluated the moral permissibility of the characters’ maxims underlying their actions. The findings showed that the personalities of Wilde’s characters could be categorised into those who adhere to or oppose Kant’s definition of personality based on their actions. The study also highlighted the varying deaths that Wilde’s characters faced in the end. Additionally, the analysis suggests that the reasons behind the actions of Wilde’s characters could be categorised into “for duty” and “for other means”. At the end of this study, readers would be introduced to a different moral theory in understanding a character without justifying it based on the simple “right versus wrong” principle.

Bibliometrics Analysis of English Teaching Method in Covid-19 Pandemic

Covid-19 requires educators to innovate using the adaptive English teaching method. Various researchers have researched English teaching methods to solve the learning process in the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore multiple studies need to be compiled into one discussion to produce information for the next researchers about future opportunities. This study conducts the Bibliometrics Analysis method to analyze the citation of research articles. The study population adopts article primer data of English teaching method in Covid-19 pandemic by searching through Google scholar with the key “English teaching method in Covid-19 pandemic” using Publish or Perish (PoP) software in December 2020. Based on the initial data search using the Publish or Perish (PoP) application, there were 989 articles. After screening the suitability of the topic, 63 articles were obtained, which became data to discuss. Data mapping results using the VOSViewer Software show the research trend is in the keyword that appears the most of sixty-three articles such as student, pandemic Covid, teacher, education, teaching, and EFL Teacher. Therefore, the next research potential uses other teaching media of the keyword summary presented by VOSViewer.

Figurative language and Symbolism Manifested in Bukusu Cultural Songs and Proverbs

The paper investigates the place of song, dance and proverbs as manifested in selected cultural practices of Bukusu community. Song, dance and proverbs are notoriously utilized with each having roots and a focus to a specific event. The objective of the study include the role, occasion and function of such markers of culture that have been utilized during crowded festivities despite the Covid 19 pandemic. In light of this, the proposition made is that language and culture have a close interplay and promote social ties hence maintaining societal cultural festivities like marriage, burial, circumcision just to list a few. The trajectory created in such rich cultural festivities has been thwarted by the pandemic. Amid the pandemic, such manifestation of cultural rights are promoted either publicly or in hideout in a number of homes to ensure that culture is passed from one generation to the other. The argument raised in view of this, is one that ensures that culture is promoted through linguistic ability, oratory skills, song, music and dance with an aim of creating a cohesive society hence building a rich cultural society. Culture is communicated through literary and linguistic tools such as proverbs, song, symbolism and propaganda. Coupled with a myriad of cultural activities among the community the paper forms a base for an analysis of selected festivities that have gained prominence amid the ravages of the pandemic. The study adopts convenience sampling technique to identify subjects. Data was collected through participant observation and focus group discussion of the cultural activities within Bungoma County. The participants were drawn from notorious villages that have continuously promoted the cultural festivities through crowds despite the escalating numbers of Covid 19 victims. The data will be analyzed descriptively.