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Silva, Jorge Francisco da. "How good is your english?: um Estudo dos Níveis de Proficiência do Quadro Comum Europeu (Common European Framework of Reference)." Universidade Católica de Pernambuco, 2016. http://www.unicap.br/tede//tde_busca/arquivo.php?codArquivo=1202.
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O objeto de investigação desta dissertação é o Quadro Comum Europeu (Common European Framework of Reference) e seus níveis de proficiência em línguas estrangeiras. O Quadro ou CEFR começou a ser desenvolvido pelos quase 50 paísesmembros do Conselho Europeu em 1991. As matrizes de referência do CEFR tornaram-se um marco internacional e oferecem atualmente orientações para a formulação de políticas linguísticas para o ensino, aprendizagem e avaliação em cerca de 30 línguas europeias, incluindo o inglês. Apesar de o CEFR também ser usado no Brasil em cursos preparatórios para testes internacionais e em vários tipos de processos seletivos, pouco se sabe sobre ele e a literatura sobre o assunto em português ainda é escassa. O objetivo geral deste estudo é investigar quais teorias de
linguagem foram usadas na elaboração do CEFR. O objetivo específico é analisar as concepções de língua/linguagem, ensino e aprendizagem, sujeito e avaliação do CEFR para entender como os seus níveis de proficiência foram determinados. Por meio de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, foram reunidas e organizadas diversas publicações do Conselho Europeu, de suas instituições parceiras e de pesquisadores
independentes, para investigar as questões propostas nesta dissertação. Ao final, foi possível estabelecer a evolução histórica das bases teóricas do CEFR, com origem na Virada Linguística, passando pela Escola da Filosofia da Linguagem e pelas disciplinas da Sociolinguística e da Pragmática. As diferentes concepções, com destaque para a concepção de língua/linguagem no CEFR, também foram devidamente analisadas. Finalmente, foi possível compreender com mais profundidade como os referidos níveis de proficiência foram determinados.The object of research of this thesis is the Common European Framework (CEFR) and its levels of proficiency in foreign languages. The development of the CEFR by nearly 50 member countries of the European Council started in 1991. The CEFR reference scales have become an international landmark and currently provide guidelines for the formulation of language policies for teaching, learning and assessment in about 30 European languages, including English. Although the CEFR is also used in Brazil in preparatory programs and in different types of selection processes, little is known about it and the literature on the subject in Portuguese is still scarce. The general aim of this study is to investigate which language theories were used in preparing the CEFR. Our specific aim is to analyze the concepts of language, teaching, learning, self and assessment in the CEFR to understand how its proficiency levels were determined. By means of a bibliographical research, several publications of the European Council, partner institutions and independent researchers were gathered and organized to investigate the questions proposed in this research. In the end, it was possible to establish the historical evolution of the theoretical basis of the CEFR, its origins in the Linguistic Turn, with later developments from the School of Philosophy of Language and the disciplines of Sociolinguistics and Pragmatics. The different concepts, especially the concept of language in the CEFR, were also duly considered. Finally, it was possible to understand more clearly how the said proficiency levels were determined.
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Santos, Sara Gonçalves dos. "Desempenho oral de falantes de língua materna Chinesa, aprendentes de Português Europeu língua estrangeira :efeitos do aumento da complexidade cognitiva da tarefa = Oral performance of Chinese learners of European Portuguese foreign language : effects of increasing the cognitive complexity of the task." Thesis, University of Macau, 2018. http://umaclib3.umac.mo/record=b3953535.
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Beek, Pieta van 1958. "Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678) en haar kennis van oud-oosterse talen." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/49748.
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Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We know very little about women who studied and excelled in the field of Semitic languages in the seventeenth century - it is an unknown territory, terra incognita. In this thesis I will map Anna Maria van Schurman's (1607-1678) studies in Semitic languages. Of the fourteen languages she knew, seven were Semitic or Near-Eastern languages: Hebrew (Rabbinic Hebrew included), Aramaic, Syriac, Samaritan, Arabic, Persian or Ethiopian. The thesis commences with a brief discussion of her life (including some new material), followed by an overview of the knowledge about Semitic languages that prevailed in the seventeenth century, which at the time underwent a surge of growth. Thereafter the discussion will focus on Van Schurman's mentor, Voetius, and his knowledge and views of Semitic languages. It will be based on the Sermoen (lecture) delivered at the opening of the University of Utrecht in 1636. His library, which Van Schurman used, also appears to be an invaluable source, full of reference books for the study of 'orientaelsche' languages. In order to determine the standard of Van Schurman's work, it was useful to read first what her contemporaries wrote about her, as well as what she wrote in her various works, including her autobiographies, about Semitic languages. Adfontes did I research what has been preserved in these seven languages: letters in Hebrew, a poem, many references - in particular in Hebrew, Aramaic, Syriac and Arabic - in her works such as the Dissertatio, the Opuscula Hebraea Graeca Latina et Gallica, unpublished letters and the texts she wrote in alba amicorum and on polyglottal artworks in Hebrew, Rabbinic Hebrew, Syriac, Aramaic, Arabic, Samaritan and Ethiopian. Her letters in Hebrew (and some letters to her) have only now been translated for the first time. From these it seems that she had, in contrast to her work in Latin, Greek, Dutch and French, such a religious regard for Hebrew that she wrote these letters as a collage of Biblical texts. It was, however, also an intellectual game. Van Schurman designed a grammar for Ethiopian, an outstanding achievement in the erudite Netherlands. Although it is thought to be lost, it is nevertheless possible to ascertain, by means of reports and poems by her contemporaries, what constituted this grammar. Lastly, Van Schurman's oeuvre is compared to that of the men and women of the educated community in Europe (Res Publica Litterarum ) who were also involved in the study of 'orientaelsche' languages. She was a source of inspiration for several women, such as Marie du Moulin, who also studied Hebrew and corresponded with Van Schurman in Hebrew. Anna Maria Van Schurman can rightfully be called the only female christian hebraist who could hold her own in the company of her male counterparts, despite the fact that, as a woman, she did not have the same opportunities as they had. She even exceeds them in her knowledge of Ethiopian. With regard to other women, she undoubtedly stood head and shoulders above them, and deserves to be known as the "Babel of her time".
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons weet byna niks van wat vroue in die sewentiende eeu op die gebied van die Oud- Oosterse tale gepresteer het nie, dis 'n onbekende terrein, 'n terra incognita. In hierdie tesis word Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678) se studies in Oud-Oosterse tale gekarteer. Van die veertien tale wat sy geken het, was sewe Oud-Oosterse tale: Hebreeus (Rabbyns-Hebreeus ingesluit), Aramees, Siries, Samaritaans, Arabies, Persies en Ethiopies. Ek bespreek eers kortliks haar lewe (met heelwat nuwe materiaal), gee dan 'n oorsig van die 17de-eeuse kennis van hierdie tale wat toe 'n groot bloeitydperk beleef het. Dan bespreek ek haar leermeester Voetius se kennis van Oud-Oosterse tale. Dit word gedoen aan die hand van die Sermoen wat hy by die opening van die Utrechtse Universiteit in 1636 gehou het. Sy biblioteek wat sy ook ter insae gehad het, blyk 'n skatkamer van naslaanwerke vir die studie van 'orientaelsche' tale te wees. Om die standaard van Van Schurman te bepaal, het ek eers gekyk na wat tydgenote oor haar geskrywe het en wat sy self in haar werk, onder andere in haar outobiografie, oor Oud-Oosterse tale geskryf het. Ad fontes het ek ondersoek wat daar van haar in die sewe tale oorgelewer is: briewe in Hebreeus, 'n gedig, die verwysings in veral Hebreeus, Aramees, Siries en Arabies in haar werke soos die Dissertatio, die Opuscula Hebraea Graeca Latina et Gallica, ongepubliseerde briewe, en die tekste wat sy in alba amicorum en op polyglotte kunswerkies geskrywe het in Hebreeus, Rabbyns- Hebreeus, Siries, Aramees, Arabies, Samaritaans en Ethiopies. Haar briewe in Hebreeus (en sommige aan haar) is nou vir die eerste keer vertaal. Uit die briewe blyk dat sy, in teenstelling tot haar werk in Latyn, Grieks, Nederlands en Frans, so 'n heilige ontsag vir Hebreeus gehad het dat sy die briewe geskrywe het as 'n collage van Bybeltekste. Maar dit was ook 'n intellektuele speletjie. Van Schurman ontwerp 'n grammatika vir Ethiopies, 'n topprestasie in geleerde Nederland. Hoewel dit nou verlore is, kan mens tog aan die hand van verslae en gedigte van tydgenote 'n beeld kry van wat haar grammatika behels het. Ten slotte vergelyk ek haar met die manne en vroue in die Europese akademiese gemeenskap, die Republiek van Lettere, wat ook in die veld van 'orientaelsche' tale besig was. Vir 'n aantal vroue soos Marie du Moulin was Van Schurman 'n bron van inspirasie. Sy het ook Hebreeus bestudeer en met Van Schurman gekorrespondeer in Hebreeus. Van Schurman kan met reg die enigste vroulike Christelike Hebraïs genoemd word wat met manlike geleerdes op gelyke voet kon verkeer, al het sy deur haar posisie as vrou nie dieselfde geleenthede gehad nie. Tog steek sy met haar kennis van Ethiopies hulle na die kroon. Wat betref die vroue: sy het kop en skouers bo haar vroulike tydgenote uitgestaan en word met reg die Babel van haar tyd genoem.
NEDERLANDSE OPSOMMING: We weten vrijwel niets wat vrouwen in de zeventiende eeuw op het gebied van oudoosterse talen presteerden, het is een onbekend land, een terra incognita. In deze thesis breng ik de studies in oud-oosterse of semitische talen van Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678) in kaart. Van de veertien talen die ze kende, waren er zeven oud-oosters of 'orientaelsch": Hebreeuws (Rabbijns-Hebreeuws ingesloten), Aramees, Syrisch, Samaritaans, Arabisch, Perzisch en Ethiopisch. Ik bespreek eerst kort haar leven (op grond van veel nieuw materiaal), geef dan een overzicht van de kennis van oud-oosterse talen in de zeventiende eeuw die toen een grote bloei doormaakte. Dan bespreek ik de kennis van en de visie op oud-oosterse talen van haar leermeester Voetius aan de hand van het Sermoen dat hij hield bij de opening van de Utrechtse Universiteit in 1636. Zijn bibliotheek die zij ook gebruikte bleek een schatkamer aan standaardwerken voor de studie van 'orientaelsche ' talen. Om het niveau van Van Schurman te bepalen, inventariseerde ik eerst wat tijdgenoten over haar schreven en wat ze zelf in haar werk, onder andere in haar autobiografie, over oud-oosterse talen schreef Ad fontes onderzocht ik naar wat er van haar in die zeven talen is overgeleverd: Hebreeuwse brieven en een gedicht, de vele verwijzingen in vooral het Hebreeuws, Aramees, Syrisch, Arabisch in haar werken als de Dissertatio, de Opuscula Hebraea Graeca Latina et Gallica, en ongepubliceerde brieven plus de teksten die ze in alba amicorum en op haar polyglotte kunstwerkjes schreef in het Hebreeuws, Rabbijns-Hebreeuws, Syrisch, Aramees, Arabisch, Samaritaans en Ethiopisch. Haar brieven in het Hebreeuws van (en sommige aan haar) zijn nu voor het eerst vertaald. Uit die brieven blijkt dat ze, in tegenstelling tot haar werk in het Latijn, Grieks, Nederlands en Frans, zo'n heilige opvatting heeft van het Hebreeuws dat ze die brieven schrijft als een collage van bijbelteksten. Maar het was ook een intellectueel spel. Ze ontwierp een grammatica voor het Ethiopisch, een topprestatie in geleerd Nederland. Ook al is deze nu onvindbaar, toch was het mogelijk om aan de hand van verslagen en gedichten van tijdgenoten een beeld te krijgen van wat haar grammatica behelsde. Tenslotte vergeleek ik haar met de mannen en vrouwen in de Europese geleerdengemeenschap, de Republiek der Letteren die ook in het veld van de orientaelsche' talen bezig waren. Voor een aantal vrouwen zoals Marie du Moulin was Van Schurman een inspiratiebron. Zij ging ook Hebreeuws studeren en correspondeerde met Van Schurman in het Hebreeuws. Van Schurman kan met recht de enige christelijke hebraïste in Europa genoemd worden die met de mannelijke geleerden op gelijke voet verkeerde, al had ze door haar positie als vrouw niet dezelfde mogelijkheden. Toch stak ze hen door haar kennis van het Ethiopisch naar de kroon. Wat betreft de vrouwen: ze stak er met kop en schouders boven uit, ze werd terecht het Babel van haar tijd genoemd.
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Torstensson, Camilla. "English Language Teaching in Two Countries in the European Union– Spain and Sweden : A comparative study." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för språk och litteratur, SOL, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-24232.
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Abstract The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is a tool, developed by the European Commission, which has been used as a base in the development of curricular documents in many countries. This would suggest a high level of similarity between the language teachings in different European countries, but how similar are they really? The aim of this thesis is to make a comparison between the general approach to foreign language teaching in two European countries, Spain and Sweden. It is important to note that the purpose has only been to find out what differences and similarities can be found between the two countries and not to make any kind of judgement as to what English teaching is preferable. A design consisting of two methods has been used to carry out the investigation: text analysis and in-depth interviews. The analysed texts are the English syllabus for upper secondary school in Sweden and the syllabus for the first foreign language in the Spanish upper secondary school. As a complement to the text analysis, interviews have been made with two English teachers from each country. The results that were found show that the two syllabi are similar in the way that both have been inspired by the CEFR and both promote Communicative Language Teaching. However, they also show several rather striking differences. The Spanish syllabus appears, for example, to focus much more on grammatical and phonetic knowledge than the Swedish one does. The results of the interviews, which cannot be generalized, indicate that the two English teachers in Sweden look for guidance in the syllabus and other official documents, while their Spanish colleagues prefer to turn to the textbooks, since they trust that the editors have made sure they follow the official regulations. This study shows that there are many differences between the language teaching in Spain and Sweden, despite the fact that both syllabi relate to the CEFR.
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Roth, Dawn. "The European Language Portfolio : An assessment in Mother Tongue Teaching." Thesis, Linnéuniversitetet, Institutionen för språk och litteratur, SOL, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-17352.
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The present study focuses on teacher’s attitudes to the European Language Portfolio (ELP) in mother tongue English programs. More specifically it will explore how effective the ELP and portfolio assessment are in mother tongue teaching inSweden. The aim is also to assess whether mother tongue English students perform equally well in the four language skill areas. This case study seeks to find the strengths and weaknesses of the ELP according to the teachers that are using the ELP as an assessment tool, as well as investigating previous evaluation materials used to identify achievement in mother tongue. For this purpose, a case study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with four English mother tongue teachers at theLanguageCenterin Göteborg (henceforth LCG). The teachers interviewed at the language center use the ELP assessment but do not actively use the other parts of the language passport. The LCG materials for the mother tongue ELP were adapted from the original ELP 6 to 16 years created for Österåker municipality by Iakovos Demetriádes in 2007. Mother tongue teachers in Göteborg have since identified a number of the ELP’s strengths, as well as some of its weaknesses. The ELP is compatible with the Swedish syllabus, which makes it easier to write a written assessment for each class from the 1st grade and up. There are however problems with individual teachers interpretation of ELP descriptors. These problems will be brought to light later on in this paper.
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Brodin, Martina. "A case study of Turkish teachers’ perceptions and practices regarding Communicative Language Teaching in English." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för språkdidaktik, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-116236.
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The aim of this study was to gain an insight into how teachers work practically with the Communicative Oriented Curriculum in English and what factors that could influence the teachers’ methodology. The investigation partially replicated a study by Kırkgöz (2008). The study was conducted at three state elementary schools in Turkey by using multidimensional qualitative research procedures, including classroom observations and interviews. Results demonstrated that all participants showed attributes identified to an Eclectic-Oriented teaching approach placing them in the middle of a continuum from Transmission to Interpretation-Oriented teachers. The results were later compared with the original study displaying both a satisfying and unsatisfying outcome depending on a qualitative or quantitative comparison. Findings also indicated that a holistic perspective must be considered in order to interpret and understand the results.
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Soubeyran, Mathilde. "The European Dimension in foreign language teaching in France : Foreign languages in elementary school and European programmes." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Teologiska institutionen, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-393419.
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Mathey, Alain Bernard. "Teaching languages the natural way with visual cues." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1987. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/403.
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Berg, Kristofer K. "A comprehensive study of the teaching of foreign language at the elementary school level." Online version, 2003. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2003/2003bergk.pdf.
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Huber, Jeanine L. "The Use of the First Language (L1) and the Target Language (TL) in the Foreign Language Classroom." PDXScholar, 1995. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/5029.
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Oftentimes it is the foreign language classroom that provides the basic foundation for language exposure and acquisition. In the context of the foreign language classroom there is not much exposure to the TL outside of this setting. This being the case, the quantity of the TL should be relatively high as it is an essential requisite for language acquisition. In addition, most recent research tends to suggest that high quantities of TL from the instructor is ideal. The main purpose of this study has been to focus on university-level foreign language classrooms to explore the issue of language choice, Ll or TL, among instructors. Over a ten week period, six languages were observed and audiotaped on five separate occasions. The study asked the following questions: 1) If Ll (English) is used in university-level foreign language classrooms, what is the ratio of Ll to TL?; 2) For what purposes is the Ll used?; 3) What are teachers' and students' perceptions and attitudes regarding use of the Ll in the foreign language classroom? A categorization grid was created to answer the second research question. A student questionnaire and teacher interview were administered to answer the third research question. The results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. It was found that three out of the six languages used the Ll an average of 10% or less of the time, while the remaining three languages used the Ll for an average of 13% or more of the time. In regard to the second research question, four out of the six languages used the Ll most frequently for the purposes of language analysis and vocabulary translation. This investigation has attempted to explore and discuss practices within some foreign language classrooms at the university-level and to create greater awareness of those practices.
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Ngwendu, Amandla. "The use of translation as a teaching method in second language teaching: a case study with second language learners of isiXhosa at the University of Cape Town." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22878.
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This research topic came about during my honours research project. The honours project studied strategies that are used by second language learners in acquiring vocabulary. One of the strategies that were used was direct translation. Upon further research into the subject, it was we discovered that no work has been done on the use of translation as a teaching method in isiXhosa. This study attempts to bridge the information gap in the area of second language learning and teaching in African languages. The current study followed two classes at University of Cape Town where isiXhosa literature is taught as a second language. Given that the students do not speak any isiXhosa at entry level, they rely heavily on their first language for making sense of the second language. In the case of literature, where terminology is not carefully selected to accommodate second language learners, students rely heavily on translation. This study therefore investigates the role and process of translation as a teaching method. The lack of research in this area made it very difficult to follow a particular theoretical framework, therefore the study followed a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Students were given activities that would require translation in order for the task to be completed. This forms part of their normal learning process. These activities were analysed. The second part consisted of a questionnaire that surveyed the student's views regarding the use of translation. Findings based on the qualitative data analysis revealed heavy relianace on translation as a learning strategy. Students also indicated that prior knowledge of vocabulary as well as an understanding of morphology were both very beneficial.
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Yonemoto, Kazuhiro. "Languages and identities : voices of repatriated students from China." Thesis, McGill University, 2007. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=100221.
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In this inquiry, I examine how six repatriated students from China perceive their experiences in Japanese schools and in Japanese second language education. I focus on their voices and perspectives gained through audio-taped interviews. Employing Pierce's (1995) concept of investment and Rampton's (1990) concepts of language expertise, affiliation, and inheritance, I focus on how these adolescent students perceive the relationship between languages and identities and how their experiences affect their ways of looking at themselves. The data I collected through interviews in Japan supports the views that identity is multiple and fluid, and languages are profoundly and intricately related with learners' identity construction. Depending on their particular contexts in which they situate themselves, they hold distinct views on the relationship between languages and identities. I address how the particular context in Japan's educational system may influence their ways of looking at themselves. The study confirms that teachers need to examine our students' identities and frames of reference, values and beliefs.
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Hirvela, Alan. "A study of the integration of literature and communicative language teaching." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2140.
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Since the early 1980s, attitudes toward literature in English language teaching (ELT) have undergone two major changes. First, after a long period in which literature was essentially excluded from ELT, it began to be seen in a more favourable light. Second, literature began to be viewed more as a tool in ELT, rather than as the end towards which ELT students should be led. These changes in attitude have led to a surge of interest in literature in ELT, particularly in the context of Communicative language teaching (CLT). This study examines, in several ways, the nature and the extent of this renewed interest in literature. The study explores the evolution of these changes, and puts them in perspective by creating various classifications for current types of approaches to literature in ELT and CLT. It also investigates the degree to which interest in literature in ELT has moved from research and scholarship to actual practice among teachers. In addition, it attempts to extend literature's applications in CLT by experimenting with the use of literature in a domain of CLT generally regarded as unsuited to literature-based teaching: English for Specific Purposes (ESP). The study also offers a series of proposals through which further integration of literature and CLT can take place.
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Petringa, Natascia. "Science Literacy for English Language Learners: A Qualitative Study of Teacher Practices in European Private International Schools." Thesis, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/42499.
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Worldwide, an influx of immigration, has increased the heterogeneity of our classrooms. In light of today’s heightened teacher accountability, standards and high-stakes assessment, traditional ways of teaching need to change in order to effectively serve the needs of our culturally and linguistically diverse students. Therefore, a qualitative-interpretive study was conducted with ten science teachers working in six private, international schools based in Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium with a focus on teacher perceptions, beliefs, teaching practices, and instructional resources used to teach science to English Language Learners (ELLs).
Emphasis was placed on the specific teaching modalities and resources that science teachers use to support ELLs in their classrooms. It also addressed the needs of teachers to effectively teach science to ELLs. In response to the research questions, the thematic analysis revealed that the teachers working in these schools had a good awareness of ELL needs in science and wanted to make a difference for these learners. They perceived ELLs as quiet, but hardworking and motivated students. To some degree, the teachers used all seven modalities of teaching: reading, writing, speaking, listening, doing, interpreting, and representing, with or without the use of technology, and considered multimodality to be the most effective way to make science accessible to ELLs.
Though not exhaustive, this research offers a set of pedagogical tools and resources for pre-service and in-service teachers to meet the needs of their ELLs in science. Furthermore, based on the teacher responses, the research identifies five key areas which are necessary for science literacy development of culturally and linguistically diverse students. These include: (i) teachers’ positive mindset and awareness towards ELLs in science; (ii) school leadership and administrative support for ELLs; (iii) time, multimodality, and specialized professional development (PD) to scaffold science for ELLs; (iv) the provision of realistic opportunities to collaborate with the ELL or English Language Development (ELD) teacher; and (v) co-teaching science with an ELL/ELD teacher. I would hereby like to share the findings of this thesis and make these accessible to fellow science teachers in the hope that they will refer and/or utilize the proposed strategies and resources in their daily practice.
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Chuk, Yim-ping Joanne. "Learning to teach, teaching to learn a longitudinal study of student teachers' autonomous development /." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2010. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B4401417X.
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Wachob, Phyllis. "Mature language learners." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2000. https://hdl.handle.net/2123/27820.
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Mature language learners, in this study those between age 40 and 50, are seen as different from younger learners physically, psychologically and socially. These differences have effects on learners that can cause them to be marginalized and disempowered both on an individual basis as well as at an institutional level. A qualitative study conducted in Taiwan with 32 mature learners and seven teachers forms the basis of the research.
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Calder, Maryna. "Self-assessment of lexical knowledge in second language vocabulary acquisition." Thesis, Swansea University, 2013. https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa43186.
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Katon, Ruth Steinfeld. "Case Study: How an East European Student Learns to Compose in English." PDXScholar, 1994. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/4770.
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Since the political climate in the former Soviet bloc has shifted, there is an influx of East Europeans to the United States. As these refugees enter the U.S. educational system in greater numbers, teachers must adapt to the special needs of this population. The intent of this study is to focus on the composing skills of a Polish student who enrolled in an English for Non-Native Residents (ENNR) program at an urban university. The investigation examines the contextual framework that supports the subject's literacy experiences by means of a longitudinal case study format Several ethnographic and experimental techniques are used to explore three areas of interest: cultural context, the learning situation, and the composing processes. Multiple sources of data are used to investigate culture and learning, and a single elicitation technique is applied to the study of the writing process. Study of the cultural context suggests that the subject's early education and literacy experiences in Poland strongly influenced her development as a writer of English. Investigation of the classroom context at the university revealed both her preferences and frustrations with teaching and learning experiences. The primary focus of this study is exploration of writing process by means of a think-aloud protocol. The subject was asked to speak aloud while composing an essay on a narrative topic. She was instructed to say everything that came to mind while writing, and the session was videotaped for later analysis. A coding system was developed to help identify various components of the writing process, such as planning, commenting, rereading and pauses. Writing strategies, repetitions, fillers, revisions, verbal rehearsing, and quantity of words were identified according to frequency and location within the protocol. The results of the protocol analysis suggest that composing is not a neat and tidy process, but a complex configuration of multiple strategies. In the early stages simple patterns such as comments, planning, and fillers help the subject get started. A cycle of patterns, which seem automatic and deeply embedded, occurs throughout. These patterns emerge as Writing-Rehearsing-Pausing events. Each of these categories contains within a multitude of behaviors, such as pausing to think, rereading, and trying out new ideas. The data reveal numerous efforts at surface editing, yet the final product contains an average of 2.8 errors per sentence. The findings suggest that a writer's strategies and goals may shift during a controlled writing situation, and that initial steps may differ from those needed to attain closure. They suggest that attempts at surface revisions may not, in fact, improve the final product.
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Mackenzie, Kevin Roderick. "Teachers' beliefs about classroom practice: implications for the role of second language acquisition theory inteacher education." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1998. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31944887.
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Liaw, En-Chong. ""How are they different?" a comparative study of native and nonnative foreign language teaching assistants regarding selected characteristics: teacher efficacy, approach to language teaching/teaching, teaching strategies and perception of nativeship /." The Ohio State University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1092324144.
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Mueller, Caroline. "The piecing of identity : an autobiographical investigation of culture and values in language education." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=31125.
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This study will explore my own perception of my personal and professional roles as a language teacher in Nunavik and in Japan. In this qualitative study, I attempt to understand the negotiation of language and culture both in and out of the classroom. Using the autobiographical narrative method, I investigate questions about language and identity through my own personal lens and voice. My inquiry comprises two elements; it examines and interprets key episodes in my life as a learner and teacher, and as a researcher, I link these topics to theoretical and empirical knowledge. My narrative begins with the early years of my life as a Francophone immersed in an English neighbourhood in Montreal, grounding it in the particular experiences of my own learning and teaching. The study also includes a comparative analysis of my teaching experiences in Northern Quebec and in Japan. The journals I kept throughout my teaching assignments provide material for analysis which contributes a unique perspective to the body of literature addressing the relationship between culture, values, language and identity. I close the discussion with recommendations for the improvement of second language teaching and teacher development in intercultural contexts.
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Berwall, Isac. "Democracy, Culture and Language Teaching : A Study on the Promotion of Cultural Awareness and Democratic Values in the SwedishEnglish Language Classroom." Thesis, Örebro universitet, Institutionen för humaniora, utbildnings- och samhällsvetenskap, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:oru:diva-51287.
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Xiang, Chun Ping. "A study on task-based language teaching and learning : tasks and language focus." Thesis, University of Macau, 2010. http://umaclib3.umac.mo/record=b2180749.
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Weyrick, David. "The utilization of pedagogical techniques sensitive to potential student frustration in the study of New Testament Greek." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1990. http://www.tren.com.
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Chou, Pei-Ying. "Co-teaching and reciprocal teaching for English-as-a-foreign-language reading." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2006. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2873.
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The purpose of this project is to help promote elementary English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) students' reading comprehension. The project investigates the co-teaching model and its implementation in the Taiwanese English class. Curriculum and lesson plans are included.
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Gallagher, John James. "Vernacular language-learning in early modern England." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2015. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.708914.
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Sepeng, Johannes Percy. "Grade 9 second-language learners in township schools : issues of language and mathematics when solving word problems." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1455.
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Second language (English) learning of mathematics is common in South African mathematics classrooms, including those in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa where isiXhosa speakers are taught in the language that is not spoken at home by both teachers and learners. The purpose of this research was to investigate issues of language, both home (isiXhosa) and the language of learning and teaching (LoLT), i.e. English, when 9th grade second language learners engage in problem-solving and sense-making of wor(l)d problems in multilingual mathematics classrooms. In addition, the aim of the study was to explore whether the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in these classrooms can ameliorate these issues. The study used a pre-test – intervention – post-test mixed method design utilising both quantitative and qualitative data. The data collection strategies for the purpose of this study included interviews (learners [n=24] and teachers [n=4]), classroom observations, and tests (experimental [n=107] and comparison [69]) in four experimental and two comparison schools in townships of Port Elizabeth. This study is framed by socio-cultural perspective which proposes that collective and individual processes are directly related and that students‘ unrealistic responses to real world problems reflect the students‘ socio-cultural relationship to school mathematics and their willingness to employ the approaches emphasised in school. Analysis of the data generated from pre- and post-tests, interviews and classroom observation schedule suggest that the interventional strategy significantly improved the experimental learners‘ problem-solving skills and sense-making abilities in both English and isiXhosa (but more significantly in English). The statistical results illustrate that the experimental group performed statistical significantly (p < .0005) better in the English posttest compared to comparison group. The data also suggests that the interventional strategy in this study (discussion and argumentation techniques) positively influenced the participating learners‘ word problem-solving abilities. The experimental group appeared to show a tendency to consider reality marginally better than the comparison group after the intervention. In particular, learners seemed to make realistic considerations better in the isiXhosa translation post-test compared to the English post-test. A large practical significant (d = 0.86) difference between the experimental group and the comparison group was also noted in the isiXhosa translation compared to a moderate practical significance (d = 0.57) noted in the English tests after the intervention. As such, the results of the study suggest that the introduction of discussion and argumentation techniques in the teaching and learning of mathematics word problems had a positive effect on learners‘ ability to consider reality during word problem-solving in both languages. Analysis of learners‘ interviews suggests that, although English is the preferred LoLT, they would prefer dual-use/parallel-use of English and isiXhosa for teaching and learning mathematics. There was also evidence of the benefits of code-switching throughout most of the lessons observed, coupled with instances of peer translation, and/or re-voicing. Overall results in this study illustrate that number skills displayed and mathematical errors made by learners seem to be directly related to language use in the classroom.
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Maby, Mark. "How non-native speakers learn polysemous words : a study of the equivalence of prototypicality across languages." Thesis, McGill University, 2005. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=83122.
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This study investigated whether English second language learners learn the senses of polysemous vocabulary items in an order from a core sense to more extended senses. Polysemous words have one form but many interrelated meanings. It was hypothesised that such an order could be explained by way of the theory of prototypicality.48 ESL learners from three language groups, French, Japanese and Chinese, took part in the study. The participants translated into their first language 29 English sentences using different senses of the word over. Translations were coded for correct translations of the sense of over and for variation in the correct translations. A MANOVA analysis showed that core senses were translated significantly more correctly than extended senses. A negative correlation was shown between variation in translation and correctness of translation. Following Krzeszowski, T. (1990), the study confirms that the theory of prototypicality offers an effective way of explaining language transfer.
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Chan, Hang. "The effectiveness of teaching methods incorporating formulaic sequences for foreign language oral fluency." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2014. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.648794.
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Macedo, Celia Maria Macedo de. "A functionally-based course for adult foreign language learners in Brazil." Virtual Press, 1986. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/471713.
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This creative project consists of a course syllabus and materials based on the functional approach. It was designed for students of English at Universidade Federal do Para in Brazil.The first chapter is about the teaching-learning situation where the syllabus will be applied; the second chapter is the proposed syllabus; the third chapter consists of the teacher's manual; and the fourth chapter is the students' book.
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Harris, Joel Christopher. "The teaching of implicature to ESL learners." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 1995. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1095.
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Woodman, Karen. "A study of linguistic, perceptual and pedagogical change in a short-term intensive language program." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/nq36654.pdf.
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Maseko, Pamela. "Intellectualisation of African languages with particular reference to isiXhosa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/58035.
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The research explores the relationship between language and education, and motivates for the intellectualisation of African languages, isiXhosa in particular, and for their use in education. The main rationale behind this is that access to, and success in education can largely be realised if that education is mediated in one’s first language. The thesis discusses works of prominent scholars who have written on the subject - relating cognitive abilities and achievement in education to language in which that education is offered. The lack of terminology in new domains in African languages as barrier to mother tongue education is laid bare by looking specifically at the history of intellectualisation of isiXhosa, from the missionaries in the 1820s up to the new endeavours as recently as 2008. Terminologies that were developed during the Bantu Education era, where development of isiXhosa and other indigenous African languages was accelerated in order to respond to the demands of moedertaal-onderwys (mother tongue education) are surveyed, and the process of their development analysed. Three main terminology lists developed during this period are analysed against terminology development principles, approaches and methods that are seen as a measure to ensure quality terminology development. The efforts of the development of isiXhosa during the post-apartheid South Africa, especially the government-driven initiatives, are also critiqued even though these are not as effective and as extensive, especially in education. The result of this analysis is that African languages and isiXhosa in particular, can be used in scientific disciplines and at the highest levels of education. Its grammar is advanced, and its lexicon is extensive such that new concepts that need to be named can be named, using appropriate term creation strategies. There are also technological tools such as WordSmith tools that can be used that can advance its development, ensuring that the concept represented in the newly-created term is precise, concise and appropriate in terms of its discipline. Therefore it is argued that, in the interim, terminologies should be developed, in various subjects, to support learning, which at this stage is mediated in English, for those students who have other languages as mother tongue. Those terminologies that have been developed in the various historical periods should be collated, revised and brought into the classrooms. The thesis argues that real intellectualisation of isiXhosa and other African languages rests on the use of these languages in classrooms and lecture halls, and in the value that all role players place on these languages.
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Stear, Ezekiel Glenn. "Dual-language drama as a door to classic literature." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2007. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3270.
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The author believes that the mediation of classic literature through drama would increase student's opportunity for academic success on the secondary and post-secondary levels of education. This project develops curriculum and materials using dramatic adaptations of ancient literature created by the author.
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Boswell, Paul Duane. "Acquisition versus long-term retention of Japanese words and syntax by children and adults: Implications for the critical period hypothesis in second language learning." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/186502.
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The critical period hypothesis for second language learning, which states that young children learn additional languages better than adults, lacks unambiguous empirical support as well as a coherent theoretical model. An experimental study was conducted which analyzed child-adult differences in difficulty of acquisition and long-term retention for rules of syntax and words in Japanese, a language unfamiliar to the subjects. The results of this study found no advantage for children over adults either in acquisition or long-term memory. However, relative to the difficulty of acquisition, the children had lower forgetting rates for words than for rules when both materials were learned completely. In the lexical study, the children's performance at retention was closer to the adults' than at acquisition, whereas in the syntax study, the opposite was the case. These results confirm the existence of developmental differences in the forgetting rates of different materials. Such results imply that, if there is an advantage for learning language at an early age, it might be localized in lexical retention.
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Gibb, Nancy Jo 1957. "AN EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF NOVEL BILINGUAL VOCABULARY ACQUISITION BY FOUR MINORITY-LANGUAGE PRESCHOOL CHILDREN (NONSENSE WORDS)." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/275394.
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Lin, Shaojuan. "Foreign Language Teaching in U.S. Higher Education Classrooms: An Investigation of the Relationship between Teacher Pedagogical Beliefs and Classroom Teaching." PDXScholar, 2011. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/283.
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Previous research indicates that former schooling is an important factor to shape teachers' beliefs about teaching; teachers change the way they teach when their beliefs about foreign language teaching change. However, little research has discovered direct evidence concerning the processes that effect change in teacher beliefs. This study investigated the relationship between teachers' pedagogical paradigms and practices in Chinese language classrooms. Specifically, a qualitative analysis of educated teachers born in China examined how early pedagogical frames were formed, and then transformed in the context of American classrooms. Results of this study indicate that early schooling, language learning, and initial teaching experiences have a powerful effect on Chinese teachers' epistemological beliefs and pedagogical practices. Indeed, embedded and unexamined beliefs can inhibit effective teaching of Chinese language and lead to traditional behaviorist-centered learning approaches. However, these data indicate that critical reflection on preconceptions, beliefs, values, principles, and practices can become a precursor for constructivist and transformational Chinese language teaching and learning. The Lin Transformational Teaching and Professional Development Model demonstrates how traditional Chinese language approaches can be transformed into more effective epistemological and pedagogical strategies through assessment and reframing, consideration of cultural contexts, incorporation of diversity, and inclusion of continual professional reflection. Implications of the Lin Model to increase teacher competence and learner proficiency are recommended in four areas (individual professional development, collaborative professional development, teacher training programs, and students of Chinese) and are applicable to three different types of departments: foreign languages and literatures, applied linguistics, and education.
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Ssembatya, Henry Hollan. "An analysis of the implementation of the integrated approach in a Luganda language classroom in Uganda." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/14422.
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This qualitative study set out to examine how the integrated approach to language teaching led to an enhancement in Luganda language practices in selected ordinary level secondary schools in the Kampala district of Uganda. The study was positioned within an interpretive paradigm, and employed a phenomenological approach in its intention to uncover the lived experiences and common hidden meanings that participants attached to the phenomena. Purposeful sampling was used to identify 30 teachers from 15 schools and 3 inspectors of school curricula who participated in the study. Data generation strategies included personal interviews and observations which were analyzed according to transcendental phenomenological data analysis methods such as bracketing, horizontalization, clustering into themes, textual description, structural description and textual-structural essence of the study. This study is located in the field of language education and informed by the theoretical framework of the cognitive constructivist theory of learning. In terms of the integrated approach in a Luganda language classroom, the findings show firstly, that teachers held positive perceptions towards the integrated approach in a Luganda language classroom and, as such, they perceived it as a basis for teaching language content and literacy practices collectively through various interactive strategies. Secondly, teachers implemented the integrated approach in a Luganda language classroom as a practical-based activity where learners are engaged in tasks which promote meaningful and real communication in the form of content, task-based instruction, literary texts or readers and contextual or experiential learning. Thirdly, findings on the enhancement of language practices in an integrated Luganda language classroom show that if teachers adopted and implemented the principles of the integrated approach, learners would be motivated to acquire not only the four language practices, but also other related practices such as cognitive, social and interpersonal practices which collectively simplify the language use. Lastly, while teachers are aware of what learners could achieve in an integrated Luganda language classroom, findings indicate that they are demotivated by the many challenges in the implementation process which stem from the teachers, the education system, the learners, and the integrated approach itself. The major implications and recommendations of this study’s findings include: firstly, teachers’ perceptions on the use of the integrated approach in a Luganda language classroom imply that since language learning is a function of social and meaningful classroom interactions learning activities should recognize a teacher as a reflective practitioner, consultant or facilitator of learning rather than an instructor. Secondly, the implementation of the integrated approach in a language classroom would require teachers to be grounded in both practical and theoretical instructional strategies which form a basis for monitoring and engaging learners’ oral and interactive practices. Thirdly, the enhancement of language practices is an outcome of classroom motivation and active interactions which involve creative and critical thinking. Thus, creating and sustaining situations for the enhancement of language practices in a language classroom would require effective branding of learners’ interactive activities with ample opportunities for practice as well as instructional support. Fourthly, considering the perceived challenges in the implementation of the integrated approach, the overall recommendation would be that those challenges need to be resolved if the integrated approach is to be successfully implemented in the context of the Luganda language. An awareness of such challenges provides teachers, educators and policy-makers with insightful ideas in terms of how to manage or change instructional strategies in the classroom.
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Chan, Suk-ching Clarice, and 陳淑貞. "A sociocultural study of second language tasks in business English contexts: an activity theory perspective ontask processes and outcomes." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2010. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B45554444.
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Bozzetti-Engstrom, Marie Linnea. "What's in a word?: Connotation in teaching English to speakers of other languages." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2002. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2078.
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This thesis focuses on connotative meaning routinely ignored or difficult to locate in the available ESL textbooks and dictionaries. This perceived absence led to the following study: a review of ESL textbooks, a review of standard monolingual English and learner dictionaries, and a survey of ESL instructors.
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Chan, Siu-wing, and 陳兆榮. "When the Cantonese "b" is the English /p: stop-consonant voicing strategies across languages." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2009. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B42841458.
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Jansen, Richo. "The language of arts and culture." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2362.
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Thesis (MPhil (Modern Foreign Languages))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.Arts and Culture is one of the new learning areas in the grade 8 and 9 school curriculum. To understand and then express themselves in a correct and confident manner, learners need the correct terminology for Arts and Culture. The learners need more than the day to day terminology in order to participate in conversations focussing on specialised subjects such as music, dance, drama and visual arts. It is important to note that the idea is not to develop expert academics but it is an attempt to enrich children for life and give them more self confidence. The aim of this computer project is to provide an information website to assist the grade 9 learners in the Arts and Culture domain to develop the appropriate language needed in the learning area.
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Ahmed, Hussein Ali. "The role of attitudes and motivation in teaching and learning foreign languages : a theoretical and empirical investigation into the teaching and learning of English in Iraqi preparatory schools." Thesis, University of Stirling, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/2133.
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Attitude and motivation, two central concepts in the domain of educational psychology, have not been attended to as required in the literature on English language teaching and learning in Iraq. Consequently, the current study aims at launching a theoretical and empirical investigation into the role of both concepts in bringing about the current discouraging situation of teaching and learning English as a foreign language in Iraq. The theoretical part of the work subsumes the first four chapters. Chapter One is the introduction where the problem to be investigated, the hypotheses, the aims of the research, and the reasons behind the choice of this topic for research have been stated. Chapter Two describes the educational system and the current situation of English language teaching and learning in Iraq. Worth mentioning in this respect are the different pre- and in-service training establishments, English textbooks and tests, and the supervision of teachers of English. Chapter Three is on attitude. The concept has been initially considered from a purely psychological viewpoint with focus on the historical review of attitude development, definition, basic components, main characteristics, formation, and change. Attitude in education forms a second point of departure with emphasis being laid on the role of the concept in teaching and learning foreign languages. Chapter Three ends with attitude measurement. Motivation, the topic of study of Chapter Four, is tackled in terms of its historical development, definition, and different theories. Reference is also made to the role of motivation in education in general, and in foreign language teaching and learning in particular. Accordingly, types of motivation, factors affecting pupils' and teachers' motivation, and teachers' role in motivating pupils form main subjects of discussion. Chapter Four ends with two sections; the first of which tackles the facets of difference between attitude and motivation, while the second deals with the differences between interest on the one hand, and attitude and motivation on the other. Chapter Five is on the method of research adopted to gather the data for the current study. It also contains the analysis of the Pupils' and Teachers' Attitudes and Motivation Questionnaires. Finally, some general remarks about the empirical part of the work are also made. Chapter Six presents the statistical analysis and survey results. It also contains some hypotheses on pupils' and teachers' attitudes and motivation. There is further analysis of some responses made by pupils and teachers which could not be hypothesized. This chapter ends with the analysis of headteachers' and supervisors' perceptions of English language teaching and learning in Iraq. The final chapter titled 'conclusion' contains the general conclusions arrived at by the researcher, followed by some implications for future work.
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Pulfer, Charles E. "A comparison of the ability of novices and experienced third generation language programmers to learn fourth generation languages." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26111.
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This thesis describes research which was carried out to determine whether novices could program in fourth generation languages as well as experienced third generation programmers.
It was thought that experience with a third generation language could be transferred to a fourth generation environment. This hypothesis was tested using a completely randomized block design lab experiment consisting of two factors and a block. The two factors were experience with third generation languages, and complexity of the task. The block was the educational institution where the lab sessions were conducted. Each of the factors and the block had two levels. The specific hypotheses tested were:
1. Experienced third generation language programmers will record higher mean scores on both simple and complex tests of fourth generation languages.
2. The difference in test scores, between simple and complex fourth generation language tasks, will be greater for novices than for experienced third generation language programmers.
3. Experience with other software tools, especially report writers, query languages, and other fourth generation languages will affect the subjects' performance on the fourth generation language tests.
Using FOCUS as the fourth generation language, lab sessions were run for fifty-seven subjects. The results indicate that experience with third generation languages affects a subject's performance on simple tests of fourth generation languages. The results also indicate that the experience has no effect on complex tests of fourth generation languages. Because of a lack of data, no meaningful conclusions could be reached for hypothesis number three.
We feel experienced third generation language programmers scored higher than novices on simple 4GL reporting tests because experienced 3GL programmers had skills which were very similar to the skills needed in a simple 4GL reporting application.
There are several possible ways of explaining why experienced programmers could do no better than novices on complex 4GL reporting tests. One possible explanation follows; because complex 4GL reporting commands are so different from third generation language commands, third generation language programmers had no advantage over novices. A second explanation might be that the complex test was too difficult, or too long. As a result of this difficulty, no one was able to perform very well.
We conclude that experienced programmers should be preferred over novices when applications involve simple 4GL commands. More research is necessary to determine if in fact novices can perform as well as experienced third generation language programmers on complex 4GL tasks.Business, Sauder School of
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Kangootui, Angela Lydia. "On becoming literate in English: a literate life history study of selected Grade 12 learners in a Namibian secondary school." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/62252.
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This study sought to investigate English literate journeys of selected Grade 12 learners who come from educationally disempowering home backgrounds, and who ‘meet’ informal and/or formal exposure to English language mainly within the confines of school hours. Located within the qualitative, interpretive life history study design, the study used questionnaire and learners’ autobiographies to generate data. These data were then subjected to explore the literate journey of these learners in English as a second language through a comprehensive descriptive analysis. The study was conducted in an urban high school in Omaheke region, Namibia, and the research site and study participants were selected purposively. Theoretically, the study drew from Krashen’s (1981) Second Language Acquisition Theory, which offered this study the five hypotheses that were used as categories to generate, analyse, interpret and discuss data. Research findings reveal that, for various reasons discussed in the study, there is minimal parental involvement in the English literacy journey of their children at home. These include parents not reading regularly to their children, not encouraging visits to the library and the shortage of literacy materials such as newspapers and magazines. The educational level of parents is also a major contributing factor in the literacy journey of their children. The contribution of the community towards the literacy journey in English as a second language of these learners was minimal since the vernacular languages or Afrikaans were used to communicate. At the school level it was found that the attitude of some teachers was a hindrance, as was the way they taught. The use of the mother tongue during teaching also had an effect on the literacy development of the learners. Although the different methods used by various teachers at school level contributed in a way towards literacy development of the learners at school, the huge number of learners in the classrooms was a force to be reckoned with. It is hoped that the study’s findings will assist the Ministry of Basic Education Arts and Culture (MBEAC) in Namibia in informing the type of syllabus content and pedagogical practices to be utilised in teaching English as a Second Language.
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Tuomas, Petra. "Teaching grammar: A study of the common English grammar errors and grammar teaching methods that can be relevant for Swedish upper secondary schools." Thesis, Högskolan Dalarna, Engelska, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:du-19842.
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Grammar has always been an important part of language learning. Based on various theories, such as the universal grammar theory (Chomsky, 1959) and, the input theory (Krashen, 1970), the explicit and implicit teaching methods have been developed. Research shows that both methods may have some benefits and disadvantages. The attitude towards English grammar teaching methods in schools has also changed and nowadays grammar teaching methods and learning strategies, as a part of language mastery, are one of the discussion topics among linguists. This study focuses on teacher and learner experiences and beliefs about teaching English grammar and difficulties learners may face. The aim of the study is to conduct a literature review and to find out what scientific knowledge exists concerning the previously named topics. Along with this, the relevant steering documents are investigated focusing on grammar teaching at Swedish upper secondary schools. The universal grammar theory of Chomsky as well as Krashen’s input hypotheses provide the theoretical background for the current study. The study has been conducted applying qualitative and quantitative methods. The systematic search in four databases LIBRIS, ERIK, LLBA and Google Scholar were used for collecting relevant publications. The result shows that scientists’ publications name different grammar areas that are perceived as problematic for learners all over the world. The most common explanation of these difficulties is the influence of learner L1. Research presents teachers’ and learners’ beliefs to the benefits of grammar teaching methods. An effective combination of teaching methods needs to be done to fit learners’ expectations and individual needs. Together, they will contribute to the achieving of higher language proficiency levels and, therefore, they can be successfully applied at Swedish upper secondary schools.
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Nel, Joanine Hester. "The comprehension and production of later developing language constructions by Afrikaans-, English- and isiXhosa-speaking Grade 1 learners." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/97144.
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Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigated the comprehension and production of articles, quantifiers, binding relations and passive constructions as later developing constructions (LDCs) by 27 Grade (Gr) 1 monolingual Afrikaans-speaking learners with Afrikaans as language of learning and teaching (LOLT), 31 bilingual isiXhosa-speaking learners with English as LOLT and 31 monolingual isiXhosa-speaking learners with isiXhosa as LOLT in three non-fee-paying schools, each in a different low socio-economic status area, in the Stellenbosch area of the Western Cape Province in South Africa. The overarching aim of this study was to determine which LDCs these learners are capable of comprehending and producing at the start of Gr 1 and what progress they make in terms of these LDCs during their Gr 1 year. The English and isiXhosa LOLT groups were then compared on how they fared on the LDCs in their respective LOLTs in order to ascertain whether the English language proficiency of the English group is at such a level at the start of Gr 1 that they can, without disadvantage, undergo schooling successfully in English. Data were collected on articles, binding relations, quantifiers and passive constructions by using the informal language assessment instrument, the Receptive and Expressive Activities for Language Therapy (Southwood & Van Dulm 2012a), which makes use of picture selection- and pointing tasks for assessment of comprehension and sentence completion, picture description- and question answering tasks for assessment of production. The results showed that for the Afrikaans and English groups all four LDCs are indeed later developing and are only mastered after the end of Gr 1. For the isiXhosa group, quantifiers and passive production are mastered by the end of Gr 1. In terms of the language-in-education and teaching policy, the results show that the time allocated to listening to and producing language in Gr 1 is sufficient for children whose first language is also their LOLT, whereas it is not sufficient in the case of English additional language learners. The latter group made significant progress in all LDCs assessed, but still performed worse than their isiXhosa-speaking peers, for whom there was a match between first language and LOLT. The implication of the results are that (i) the Foundation Phase school curriculum should be refined so as to consider the needs of all Gr 1 learners, as learners enter Gr 1 with different language skills and different levels of preparation for the tasks which lie before them, (ii) teachers should be assisted to foster the development of language skills in additional language learners, and (iii) the institution of a universal Gr R year, which is free to those who cannot afford school fees, should be considered a necessity. Without ensuring that all children enter Gr 1 with an adequate language foundation on which literacy development can build, historical inequalities still present in South Africa will likely be perpetuated rather than systematically removed.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die begrip en produksie van lidwoorde, kwantifiseerders, bindingsverhoudings en passiefkonstruksies as later-ontwikkelende konstruksies (LOKs) deur Graad 1 (Gr 1)-leerders. Die deelnemers was 27 eentalige Afrikaanssprekendes met Afrikaans as taal van leer en onderrig (TLO), 31 tweetalige isiXhosa-sprekendes met Engels as TLO en 31 eentalige isiXhosa-sprekendes met isiXhosa as TLO, in drie nie-skoolfondsbetalende skole, elk in 'n ander area met lae sosio-ekonomiese status in die Stellenbosch-omgewing in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika. Die oorkoepelende doel van hierdie studie was om te bepaal watter LOKs hierdie leerders in staat is om te verstaan en te produseer aan die begin van Gr 1 en watter vordering hulle in terme van hierdie LOKs maak tydens hul Gr 1-jaar. Die Engelse en isiXhosa TLO-groepe is vergelyk in terme van hoe hulle gevaar het op die LOKs in hul onderskeie TLOs, ten einde vas te stel of die Engels-taalvaardighede van die Engelse TLO-groep op so 'n vlak aan die begin van Gr 1 is dat hulle sonder benadeling hul skoolopleiding suksesvol in Engels kan ontvang. Data is ingesamel oor lidwoorde, bindingsverhoudings, kwantifiseerders en passiefkonstruksies met die informele taalassesseringsinstrument, die Reseptiewe en Ekspressiewe Aktiwiteite vir Later-ontwikkelende Taalvaardighede (Southwood & Van Dulm 2012a), wat gebruik maak van prentseleksietake vir die assessering van taalbegrip en van sinsvoltooiings-, prentbeskrywings- en vraagbeantwoordingstake vir die assessering van taalproduksie. Die resultate het aangetoon dat al vier LOKs wel later ontwikkelend is vir die Afrikaanse en Engelse TLO-groepe en slegs bemeester word ná die einde van Gr 1. Vir die isiXhosa-groep is kwantifiseerders en passiefproduksie teen die einde van Gr 1 bemeester. Gegee die taal-in-onderwys- en onderrigbeleid toon die resultate dat die tyd wat toegeken is aan die ontwikkeling van luister- en taalproduksievaardighede in Gr 1 voldoende is vir kinders wie se eerste taal ook hul TLO is, terwyl dit onvoldoende is in die geval van Engels Addisionele Taalleerders. Laasgenoemde groep het beduidende vordering gemaak oor hul Gr 1-jaar in alle LOKs, maar het steeds swakker gevaar as hul isiXhosa-sprekende eweknieë wie se eerste taal en TLO ooreenstem. Die implikasies van die resultate is (i) dat die grondslagfase-skoolkurrikulum verfyn behoort te word met inagname van alle Gr 1-leerders se taalbehoeftes, omdat leerders Gr 1 betree met verskillende taalvaardigheidsvlakke asook verskillende vlakke van voorbereiding vir die take wat voorlê in Gr 1, (ii) dat onderwysers gehelp moet word om die ontwikkeling van taalvaardighede vir Addisionele Taal-leerders te bevorder, en (iii) dat die instelling van 'n universele Gr R-jaar, gratis vir diegene wat nie skoolfonds kan bekostig nie, as noodsaaklik beskou behoort te word. As daar nie verseker word dat alle kinders Gr 1 betree met ‘n voldoende taalbasis waarop geletterdheidsontwikkeling kan bou nie, sal historiese ongelykhede, steeds teenwoordig in Suid-Afrika, waarskynlik eerder voortgesit as stelselmatig verwyder word.
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Vargas, Dolores Judy. "Fluency and comprehension process for English language learners." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2008. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3340.
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The purpose of this study is to reengage low-performing students. This study will incorporate meaningful activities, strategies, and techniques to improve reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.
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Benstein, Patricia. "The role of the 'self' and 'awareness' in language teaching and learning : a case study of the 'silent way'." Phd thesis, University of Sydney, 1996. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/16155.
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Dobinson, Toni. "The recall and retention of new vocabulary from second language lessons." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1996. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/954.
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This study set out to take a close look at English language lessons and the Individual language learners ability to recall new words arising In those lessons. Learners were asked to report the new vocabulary items that they could recall immediately after a lesson. Many words were recalled and in some Instances the same word was recalled by more than one learner whereas in others, learners recalled words not recalled by anyone else. Just under half of the words recalled, fitted the former category and just over half fitted the latter category. The amount of vocabulary recalled by individuals varied enormously although the average recalled was 6 items per learner. The majority of these words were two syllable nouns with neutral, abstract connotations. Some part words were recalled also. The rate of retention for these words was high over a six week period and some words which had originally been recalled only weakly (In other words without their meanings) came to be recalled Strongly (or with their meaning as well) over time, trusting the learner as a reliable and valuable source of data in terms of reporting the conscious processes undergone during a lesson, the researcher documented each individual's introspections of the processes involved in the noticing, recollection and retention of Items of vocabulary from the lessons. The decision to investigate only those words recalled by more than a quarter of the learners was made fairly early in the study, as the researcher was keen to see why certain words were recalled by learners much more than others. The learners gave reasons which could be grouped together under the headings of Interaction with the Data, Classroom Interaction, Personal Agenda/Priorities and Previous Learning/ Beyond the Classroom. Reasons given most often related to the category of Interaction with the Data. The second largest group of reasons given for recall of new words from the lessons related to Classroom Interaction. II seemed that reamers attributed noticing and recollection of new words to the fact that they had worked on the words in some way or been affected by qualities of the words themselves. In other words, they maintained that recall was due to the fact that they had interacted with the data presented In the lesson rather than interacted with the teacher or other students. Reasons relating to Personal Agendas/ Priorities and Previous Learning! Beyond the Classroom were present in the study but did not form a significant part of all reasons given. The researcher also decided to check if what learners had said was true in the case of events occurring in the classroom interaction and, at the same time, see If any trends could be ascertained In terms of links between features of the discourse and recall of new words. It was found that events recalled by learners in the classroom Interaction were borne out in almost all cases. What was more, nearly all words recalled by more than a quarter of learners had been 'mentioned' during the lesson, Words which had been 'repeated', 'focused upon', ‘introduced then reintroduced' during the lesson and were at the centre of a lot of 'turn-taking' were more likely to be recalled. This was only true up to a certain point, however. Too much of any of these things seemed to produce a negative relationship with recall or the relationship already established with a smaller amount of these variables present, remained unchanged. There appeared to be links between more student 'repetition' of words, and greater recall of that word, however, it was not necessary for learners to participate in the classroom interaction in order to recall large numbers of new words. Overall the study found that words which were made explicit in some was for learners and given attention during the lesson they were likely to be recalled by more learners.