German Pronunciation Database and its Possible Applications in the Age of Homeschooling

Orthoepie research is a traditional field at the department of Speech Science and Phonetics at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg. After several pronunciation dictionaries, the department has now published a pronunciation database. With the establishment of the German pronunciation database (DAD), the desire for a publicly accessible reference source is met. It offers norm phonetic information on general vocabulary, as well as forms and rules of phonetical Germanization. The database can be used for various scenarios in German lessons. Continuous expansion means that further possible uses can be introduced in the future.

Using WebClass for Reduced Redundancy Testing

This article examines and reviews two types of reduced redundancy tests, namely cloze tests and C-tests, which involve completing a text from which certain units (whole words or their parts) have been removed. Assessment instruments of this kind are typically used to measure overall language proficiency, for example for the purpose of making placement decisions. The paper also discusses the development of these two measures of reduced redundancy with the help of the WebClass testing system.

Indonesian Efl Learners’ Attitude And Perception On Taks-Based Language Teaching

Task-based Language Teaching in Asia, especially Indonesia, was more popular in foreign language English teaching. The approach that focuses on the student is regarded to be more efficient than the traditional one. This study was undertaken so as to find out the attitude and perspective of learners regarding implementing language teaching based on tasks (TBLT). 96 learners of the Islamic Junior high school in Indonesia were randomly selected. In order to investigate participants' attitudes and perceptions a task based questionnaire has been designed. By employing the Likert Scale, data were evaluated quantitatively. The results of the study demonstrate that most EFL Indonesian learners have generally good attitudes and views concerning TBLT and so most of them like to join in TBLT English class. In other words, EFL learners are ready to adapt to a new methods of language learning because they are willing to apply TBLT successfully. In this study, some major issues highlighted by the results will be examined and some significant suggestions made by the results are discussed.

Technology-Mediated Education Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic Reflected in Students and Teachers’ Stories Via the Application of Storytelling Techniques

The article focuses on stories, revealing personal experiences related to the technology-mediated education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and storytelling as a tool in qualitative research. Stories and storytelling may play an important part in qualitative research through presenting a unique, subjective view, which may contribute to the universal perspective. The transition to online teaching has been related to the pandemic, that constitutes a traumatic experience, generating further difficult experiences of an individual nature, which need to be told and shared. That is why, the research through storytelling in the context of the transition to online reality, caused by the pandemic seems to be adequate. Stories as natural phenomena to the human psyche and everyday existence may provide an interesting insight into online teaching, which might have been lost in the limitations of other research tools.

Reconsidering Language Assessment Courses in Teacher Training Programs During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Assessing learners’ performance is crucial as it informs about learners’ achievement levels in addition to their strengths and weaknesses, not only in face-to-face but also in online teaching. The study aimed at investigating the challenges faced by language teachers in assessing learners during online teaching and to offer some suggestions regarding language assessment courses in teacher training programs. The study adopted a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis. The participants included 22 language teachers whose age was between 24 to 48. Of these teachers, 8 were male, while the rest were female. Their teaching experience varied from 2 to 25 years, with an average of 11.8 years. The data was based on the responses of the participants during semi-structured interviews. The participants were asked to attend ZOOM meetings to be held, considering their availability. The interviews lasted 10 to 25 minutes. The results of the study indicated that the challenges faced by the participants included five major themes: Assessment type, assessment item formats, support, previous training (assessment literacy), and academic integrity. Several suggestions were offered considering online testing and assessment literacy and language assessment courses in teacher training programs.

The Effects of Instructions in L1 and L2 in EFL Listening Classes on A2 Level Learners

The current study aimed to investigate the effects of proving instructions in L2 listening activities on the participants’ performance in the classroom and the participants’ views regarding the use of L1. The study included 48 students in the preparatory classes in the School of Foreign languages, at a state university in Turkey. Through the post-test, only quasi-experimental research design, the participants’ performance was compared in classes with L1 and L2 instructions in the listening activities. The results indicated that the participants in the experimental group scored higher than those in the control group who were exposed to L2 instructions.

Developing Selected Aspects of Intercultural Communicative Competence in the EFL Lower Primary Classroom: Learners’ Perceptions of Online Culture-Based Lessons

The present paper aims to outline a study devoted to the implementation of Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) into primary online classroom practice. The selected aspects of Anglophone cultural content were chosen to complement the students’ cultural issues covered by the core curriculum. The cultural elements were incorporated into the background of EFL materials focusing on teaching vocabulary by means of a range of activities suitable for primary school learners (42 second graders). The conclusions to be presented will provide the researchers' reflections on the implementation of and the students’ responses to the lessons.

Technology in Support of Developing Speaking Skills in ESP Courses

Nowadays, when face-to-face human interactions are restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have fewer opportunities to put their oral communicative abilities to the test. Under these circumstances, technology becomes an ally of both teachers and learners. While synchronous tools enable students to communicate with one another in real time, asynchronous tools allow them, among others, to record their utterances for review and self-evaluation. This paper aims to indicate which technological solutions could help teachers increase learners’ oral production in the ESP classroom (with particular emphasis on Medical and Business English) and which ones could help students improve their speaking skills independently.

Negative Emotions Experienced by Polish English Teachers During COVID-19. A Qualitative Study Based on Diaries

The aim of the article is to discuss the research results of the study conducted on English teachers’ negative emotions experienced during COVID-19. In order to collect the data, 30 English teachers from secondary schools were asked to keep a diary for one semester and describe situations that aroused feelings of anxiety, anger, and loneliness. The study was of a qualitative nature, and it showed that most of the emotions that the English teachers experienced were associated with the lack of support from the government and their colleagues, and also with the uncertainty about the future.