English as a Foreign Language High School Teachers’ Expectations of Continuing Professional Development Activities

<p style="text-align: justify;">This paper investigated (1) English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ expectations of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in a Vietnamese context, and (2) factors related to teacher demographics affecting their expectations of CPD activities. The study followed a mixed-methods approach, using a questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 224 Vietnamese EFL teachers, and individual semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data from six teachers. The results revealed that among five domains in light of the Vietnamese English Teacher Competence Framework, including subject knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, learner knowledge, professional attitudes and values, and knowledge of teaching practice and context, the participants desired to learn about pedagogical knowledge the most (M=4.14). The study also indicated that factors related to age, teaching experience, and field of study at undergraduate level differentiated the teachers’ expectations of CPD activities. Basically, the younger and less experienced teachers desired to participate in the CPD activities more than their counterparts. Moreover, the teachers with degree in teaching EFL expressed their eagerness and willingness to participate in the CPD events more than those holding a degree in English Linguistics and Literature. This paper also suggested recommendations for further studies in the field of CPD.</p>

The Effectiveness of Using Picture Word Inductive Model Strategy in Developing EFL Iraqi students’ Vocabulary Retention

<p style="text-align: justify;">Vocabularies represent the basic elements of any language, thus, if there wasn’t sufficient control in using them then the result would be a difficulty in vocabulary retention when needed. The Picture Word Inductive Model Strategy (PWIM) than traditional methods. The current study aims at investigating the effectiveness of using (PWIM) Strategy in developing EFL Iraqi students' vocabulary retention. The study is conducted by using an achievement test to check the study sample. The researcher has selected a sample of (65) students in third stage in English Department in the Colleges of Education at Missan University in the Academic Year (2021-2022). The students are divided into two groups, the first group is the experimental group and the second group is the control group. In order to find out whether there are any statistically significant differences among the two groups’ achievement, the researcher applied the T-test formula for the two samples in an independent way. Based on the outcome of the study, there are statistically remarkable differences appeared in the results from the two groups. Accordingly, the study proves that using (PWIM) can increase the vocabulary retention of the students.</p>

Vocabulary in EFL/ESL Context: An Analysis of General English Textbook

<p style="text-align: justify;">Vocabulary plays an important part in an EFL/ ESL textbook. The language input contained in textbooks and the representation of dimensions in vocabulary activities may have various impacts on learners’ language acquisition and development. According to Webb and Nation, vocabulary development requires the establishment of certain learning situations. It is imperative to analyze whether the vocabulary exercises presented in the book serve the desired purpose or not. The present research analyzed present General English textbook to ensure that it fulfills the learning needs of students. During the analysis, it was found that most of the sections of the vocabulary are well presented with proper context. However, there were some sections which do not contextualize the vocabulary as presented in the book. These items need to be substituted. Certain sections of the vocabulary are above the level of learners and need to be replaced with the easy ones.</p>

ELT in Both Private and Public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): An Approach to New Normal Pedagogy of Teaching

The study aims to analyze the different approaches to ELT in the new normal for both private and public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as the basis for teaching pedagogy in terms of the trend in teaching, syllabus utilization, materials, and resources, activities in learning, and competency learning. The study comprised thirty-nine (39) respondents only which employs the descriptive quantitative research design and random sampling. Results show that trend in teaching context based and content instruction on the English language as the medium of teaching and instruction in English Language Teaching (ELT) focuses on the language cooperative approach in teaching approaches that suits to the learning capacity of students. It emphasizes on the complex and competency based learning and outcome of the process of learning as to skills, application, knowledge, and attitude of the learners, materials and resources, show that different centered on the instruction of the English language approach to learning, the activity is focused on the task based-learning and the process of usage in the important skills of the ELT, and competency process of learning show to provide students in the competency of ELT and language learning inside the classroom and direction in the specific task in the English competency of learning. Findings show that there is a significant correlation between the different approaches to ELT in the new normal for both private and public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) as the basis for teaching pedagogy among the respondents.

An Optimality Theory-Based Approach into the Phonotactic Constraints of English Spoken by Broadcasters in Nigeria

<p style="text-align: justify;">One of the observations in the English spoken particularly in Nigeria is phonotactic constraints. The constraints pin down the generalization which guide the articulation of sequences of phonemes. The paper examines the patterns of English consonant clusters articulation of Nigerian broadcasters in the onset and coda positions against Received Pronunciation English. The study is conducted within the framework of Optimality Theory (henceforth OT). 20 radio and television broadcasters from 4 electronic media were selected as participants. Data were obtained by means of production test and OT was employed for the analysis. The findings revealed that the participants used epenthetic vowels to break-up consonants clusters in the onset and consonant deletion to simplify clusters in the coda. The subjects’ productions can be captured by ranking Markedness constraints higher than Faithfulness constraints.</p>