bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mycobacterium tuberculosis requires SufT for Fe-S cluster maturation, metabolism, and survival in vivo
Authors: Tripathi Ashutosh , Anand Kushi , Das Mayashree , O’Niel Ruchika Annie , P. S Sabarinath , Thakur Chandrani , R. L. Raghunatha Reddy , Rajmani Raju S. , Chandra Nagasuma , Laxman Sunil , Singh Amit
Published: April 2022

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster proteins carry out essential cellular functions in diverse organisms, including the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The mechanisms underlying Fe-S cluster biogenesis are poorly defined in Mtb. Here, we show that Mtb SufT (Rv1466), a DUF59 domain-containing essential protein, is required for the Fe-S cluster maturation. Mtb SufT homodimerizes and interacts with Fe-S cluster biogenesis proteins; SufS and SufU. SufT also interacts with the 4Fe-4S cluster containing proteins; aconitase and SufR. Importantly, a hyperactive cysteine in the DUF59 domain mediates interaction of SufT with SufS, SufU, aconitase, and SufR. We efficiently repressed the expression of SufT to generate a SufT knock-down strain in Mtb (SufT-KD) using CRISPR interference. Depleting SufT reduces aconitase’s enzymatic activity under standard growth conditions and in response to oxidative stress and iron limitation. The SufT-KD strain exhibited defective growth and an altered pool of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, amino acids, and sulfur metabolites. Using Seahorse Extracellular Flux analyzer, we demonstrated that SufT depletion diminishes glycolytic rate and oxidative phosphorylation in Mtb. The SufT-KD strain showed defective survival upon exposure to oxidative stress and nitric oxide. Lastly, SufT depletion reduced the survival of Mtb in macrophages and attenuated the ability of Mtb to persist in mice. Altogether, SufT assists in Fe-S cluster maturation and couples this process to bioenergetics of Mtb for survival under low and high demand for Fe-S clusters.
Crafting political gestures of locality: The transposition of artisanal traditions in the artwork of Catarina Branco
Authors: Nolasco Ana
Published: April 2022

This article seeks to shed light on the transposition of traditional crafts related to the popular religion of the Azores into the secular context of art in the works of Catarina Branco, taking two of the artist’s exhibitions – Fez-se Luz, 2012, and Alminhas, 2013 – as case studies. The research first shows how this transposition leads to the cross-fertilization of the religious and artistic domains, imbuing art with greater spirituality and introducing reflections concerning contemporary issues, such as emigration and the position of women into the context of religion. Second, I discuss how the contingent nature of craft in art is used as a disruptive element that liberates the imagination, thought and feelings, dismantling hierarchies between the manual and the intellectual, the masculine and the feminine, as well as those between religion, art and craft, through embodied gesture. Religion is here understood in its wider sense as a form of mediation of the transcendent (). I argue that these works can be seen as a political gesture, which highlights the past of women who lived in anonymity, simultaneously preserving and renewing traditional crafts that are dying out while also deconstructing the false dichotomy between the manual and the intellectual or spiritual. The act of papercutting gives physical form to the experiences of Azorean women, while at the same time addressing questions relevant to the human condition, including migration and the eternal search for transcendence. Through its inevitable polysemy, this act reveals meanings that have been hidden by habit, allowing the viewer to rediscover them.
Learning ‘flow’: The anatomy of Lulesámi handicraft
Authors: Gustafsson Anna
Published: April 2022

While it is acknowledged that craftwork has the potential to generate well-being, relatively few empirical studies explore how this happens in practice. Some scholars have used the theoretical concept and phenomenological experience of ‘flow’ to analyse why craft-makers find their work satisfying and engaging. This article builds on such scholarship by empirically demonstrating how ‘flow experiences’ emerge. Drawing on anthropological fieldwork among Lulesámi craft-makers in Northern Norway, the article argues that ‘flow’ should not be taken for granted or seen as a straightforward and easily achieved benefit of craft. Instead, it is a skilful practice that requires learning, collaboration, time and repeated, embodied effort. It involves the transformation of the body through collaborative learning; something that makes ‘flow experiences’ not only learnt but deeply personal and communal at the same time. Through a detailed ethnographic account of how ‘flow’ emerges through the making of the gáppte (characteristic dress), the article provides important insights into contemporary Lulesámi craftsmanship at the same time as it speaks to the wider literature on craft, well-being and learning.
Expanding wood: Developing and validating a new material
Authors: Murlak Karol
Published: April 2022

Expanded Wood is an openwork panel made out of wood that maintains its original strength but significantly gains width and minimally loses weight. The material uses raw wood in a more efficient way that can help to reduce deforestation and may offer a solution to the problem of dwindling natural resources. This article explores the process of creating and developing the new material through making, experiencing physical models and empirical, physical testing. The combination of these three techniques produces a creative process that is based in both individual sensory perception and quantitative data analysis.
Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning through Making, Anna Ploszajski (2021)
Authors: Chandler Kimberley
Published: April 2022

Review of: Handmade: A Scientist’s Search for Meaning through Making, Anna Ploszajski (2021)

London: Bloomsbury Publishing (Sigma), 320 pp., 288 pp., 288 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-47297-107-4, h/bk, £16.19

ISBN 978-1-47297-106-7, e-book (Epub and Mobi), £12.59

ISBN 978-1-47297-106-7, e-book (PDF), £12.59
On Ricci negative derivations
Authors: Gutiérrez María Valeria
Published: April 2022

Given a nilpotent Lie algebra, we study the space of all diagonalizable derivations such that the corresponding one-dimensional solvable extension admits a left-invariant metric with negative Ricci curvature. Lauret and Will have conjectured that such a space coincides with an open and convex subset of derivations defined in terms of the moment map for the variety of nilpotent Lie algebras. We prove the validity of the conjecture in dimensions ≤ 5, as well as for Heisenberg Lie algebras and standard filiform Lie algebras.
Crystallization kinetic and dielectric properties of CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 glass/Al2O3 composites
Authors: Gong Weiping , Luo Zhihong , Liu Yanzhi
Published: April 2022

The sintering behavior and the dielectric properties of CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2 (CMAS) glass and CMAS glass/Al2O3 ceramic composites were studied by the combination of differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy as well as dielectric properties measurement. The results demonstrate that the CMAS glass with composition 25CaO-15MgO-12Al2O3-48SiO2 (wt.%) can significantly improve the sintering performance of Al2O3 ceramics, and does not lead to an obvious decrease in the dielectric properties. Low dielectric constant and low dielectric loss were obtained when sintering the CMAS/Al2O3 composites at 1273 K, which demonstrate that it satisfies the requirement of the integrated circuit substrate materials when working at high frequency.
Calculation of core neutronic parameters in electron accelerator driven subcritical TRIGA reactor
Authors: Yazdani Nafise , Firoozabadi Mohammad Mehdi , Zangian Mehdi
Published: April 2022

Investigating the dependence of reactor core neutronic parameters on the accelerator related parameters such as source multiplication coefficient (K

s
), beam profile and electron beam energy (E

e
), have a significant impact on the design of future ADS reactors and the cost of their construction. Using the MCNPX code, core neutronic parameters were calculated for three eigenvalues levels (k

s
) such as axial and radial distributions of neutron flux, effective multiplication coefficient (K
eff), photoneutron yield (Y

n/e
), net neutron multiplication (M), energy gain (G), energy constant gain (G
0), power peaking factor (P
max/P
ave), and importance of neutron source (φ*) for the tungsten target in the core of TRIGA reactor which was driven by an electron accelerator. According to the results, when K

s
increases safety margin and the required accelerator current (I

e
) decrease, but the parameters G and φ* increase. Also, using the parabolic spatial distribution for the electron source instead of the uniform spatial distribution, the parameters Y

n/e
, G and M increase. In addition, by increasing E

e
from 100 to 500 MeV, Y

n/e
and G are improved, and I

e
and accelerating power (p
acc) decrease. Therefore, these results suggest that the dependence of reactor core neutronic parameters on accelerator related parameters is necessary to optimize the design cost of an ADS reactor.
Training the pronunciation of L2 vowels under different conditions: the use of non-lexical materials and masking noise
Authors: Mora Joan C. , Ortega Mireia , Mora-Plaza Ingrid , Aliaga-García Cristina
Published: April 2022

The current study extends traditional perceptual high-variability phonetic training (HVPT) in a foreign language learning context by implementing a comprehensive training paradigm that combines perception (discrimination and identification) and production (immediate repetition) training tasks and by exploring two potentially enhancing training conditions: the use of non-lexical training stimuli and the presence of masking noise during production training. We assessed training effects on L1-Spanish/Catalan bilingual EFL learners’ production of a difficult English vowel contrast (/æ/-/ʌ/). The participants (N = 62) were randomly assigned to either non-lexical (N = 24) or lexical (N = 24) training and were further subdivided into two groups, one trained in noise (N = 12) and one in silence (N = 12). An untrained control group (N = 14) was also tested. Training gains, measured through spectral distance scores (Euclidean distances) with respect to native speakers’ productions of /æ/ and /ʌ/, were assessed through delayed word and sentence repetition tasks. The results showed an advantage of non-lexical training over lexical training, detrimental effects of noise for participants trained with nonwords, but not for those trained with words, and less accurate production of vowels elicited in isolated words than in words embedded in sentences, where training gains were only observable for participants trained with nonwords.
KL1 Domain of Longevity Factor Klotho Mimics the Metabolome of Cognitive Stimulation and Enhances Cognition in Young and Aging Mice
Authors: Gupta Shweta , Moreno Arturo J. , Wang Dan , Leon Julio , Chen Chen , Hahn Oliver , Poon Yan , Greenberg Kenneth , David Nathaniel , Wyss-Coray Tony , Raftery Daniel , Promislow Daniel E.L. , Dubal Dena B.
Published: April 2022

Cognitive deficits are a major biomedical challenge—and engagement of the brain in stimulating tasks improves cognition in aged individuals (Wilson et al., 2002; Gates et al., 2011) and rodents (Aidil-Carvalho et al., 2017), through unknown mechanisms. Whether cognitive stimulation alters specific metabolic pathways in the brain is unknown. Understanding which metabolic processes are involved in cognitive stimulation is important because it could lead to pharmacologic intervention that promotes biological effects of a beneficial behavior, toward the goal of effective medical treatments for cognitive deficits. Here we show using male mice that cognitive stimulation induced metabolic remodeling of the mouse hippocampus, and that pharmacologic treatment with the longevity hormone α-klotho (KL), mediated by its KL1 domain, partially mimicked this alteration. The shared, metabolic signature shared between cognitive stimulation and treatment with KL or KL1 closely correlated with individual mouse cognitive performance, indicating a link between metabolite levels and learning and memory. Importantly, the treatment of mice with KL1, an endogenous circulating factor that more closely mimicked cognitive stimulation than KL, acutely increased synaptic plasticity, a substrate of cognition. KL1 also improved cognition, itself, in young mice and countered deficits in old mice. Our data show that treatments or interventions mimicking the hippocampal metabolome of cognitive stimulation can enhance brain functions. Further, we identify the specific domain by which klotho promotes brain functions, through KL1, a metabolic mimic of cognitive stimulation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTCognitive deficits are a major biomedical challenge without truly effective pharmacologic treatments. Engaging the brain through cognitive tasks benefits cognition. Mimicking the effects of such beneficial behaviors through pharmacological treatment represents a highly valuable medical approach to treating cognitive deficits. We demonstrate that brain engagement through cognitive stimulation induces metabolic remodeling of the hippocampus that was acutely recapitulated by the longevity factor klotho, mediated by its KL1 domain. Treatment with KL1, a close mimic of cognitive stimulation, enhanced cognition and countered cognitive aging. Our findings shed light on how cognition metabolically alters the brain and provide a plausible therapeutic intervention for mimicking these alterations that, in turn, improves cognition in the young and aging brain.
Validating the Effectiveness of the Mandarin Pronunciation Guide among Malay Learners
Authors: Ah Kow Chong , Ying Mei Yong
Published: April 2022

This paper reports on a study which was conducted to validate the effectiveness of a guidebook entitled “Mandarin Pronunciation Guide with a Comparison of English and Malay words.” Many authors (i.e. De Mente, 2006; Peters, 2006; Sharma, 2007) have used English phonetic to explain Mandarin pronunciation. However, no study has been conducted to prove the effectiveness of using English phonetic to learn Mandarin. Mandarin Pronunciation Guide, which content includes using similar corresponding English and Malay sounds, is a guidebook which is written for Malay and English speaking students who learn Mandarin as a foreign language. This study therefore aimed to verify the effectiveness of the guidebook as used among students of a public university in Malaysia. Participants were fifteen Malay students who were asked to use the guidebook. Pre-test and post-test were administered before and after the utilisation of the guidebook where participants were requested to record their pronunciation of 100 Chinese words. The results showed a significant improvement among participants which validated the effectiveness of the Mandarin Pronunciation Guide for use among Malay learners.
English Language Literacy: Juxtaposing Undergraduate Students‟ Competencies with Workplace Requirements
Authors: Wahi Wahiza
Published: April 2022

Despite various measures executed by the Malaysian government, graduates unemployment remains a national issue given the escalating number of local graduates with low level of competence in English produced by Malaysian higher education institutions every year. In the provision of graduates for the challenging workforce, prospective employers‟ expectations of future recruits should be explored and taken into account to enhance the quality of teaching and training at these institutions. This paper presents a proportion of a larger study which aimed at (i) exploring undergraduate students‟ English language literacy practices and competencies and (ii) juxtaposing their competencies with prospective employers‟ expectations. Employing a qualitative case study approach, this paper draws on data gathered from in-depth interviews with the students and employers and supplemented by a small-scale survey. Key findings centre on issues of the students‟ technical difficulties in English and the discrepancy between their existing competencies and prerequisites set by the employers. The research findings contribute new dimensions and knowledge to understanding university students‟ predicaments at the intersection of English language competencies, tertiary education and the preparation for employment. These outcomes are predominantly beneficial for informing policy makers‟ agendas in producing competent graduates for future local and global workforce.
Comparative Analysis of Independent Propositional Test and Chinese Proficiency Test in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language
Authors: An Qi Peng , Li Xia Wang
Published: April 2022

Doing research on the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language is an important part of professional evaluation and personal assessment in order to obtain feedback and promote Chinese language and culture. As one of the efforts, this paper therefore reports on the use of Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK) developed by Chinese educators in a technical-based Malaysian university by comparing it to the Independent Propositional Tests developed by local language educators. The HSK is commonly used in Hebei Province, China in an international context, and examining its use outside China is essential. Participants were students who enrolled in Mandarin course for beginners, who were also non-Chinese speakers. The objective of the study was to analyze the final test of HSK aiming at examining the questions and its content by examining its effects on students’ foreign language learning. After comparing the independent propositional tests with the actual Chinese Proficiency Certificate (HSK) Level 1, it can be drawn that the difficulty level of the final test is greater than the HSK Level 1. Independent propositional final test demands a higher ability of grasping a larger vocabulary and understanding concepts of words that could be reflected on the writing skills. Development of the tests should therefore focus more on making it scientific, standardized and institutionalized.
Unsur Eufemisme dalam Novel Ranggau
Authors: Arumugam Balakrishnan A/L , Abd. Mutalib Mashetoh , Md Yusoff Melor Fauzita
Published: April 2022

Bahasa beretika adalah bahasa yang menjaga adab pertuturan seperti penggunaan unsur eufemisme. Unsur eufemisme merupakan medium penting dalam memastikan kesopanan berbahasa supaya dapat mengurangkan isu-isu yang boleh menyinggung, mengaibkan serta mengundang kemarahan masyarakat terutamanya melalui bahan cetak seperti novel. Namun begitu, unsur eufemisme masih kabur penggunaannya dalam penulisan sesebuah novel. Ia memerlukan kajian yang terperinci untuk memastikan jenis-jenis unsur eufemisme yang sesuai digunakan oleh penulis-penulis tempatan. Oleh itu makalah ini akan menjelaskan jenis-jenis eufemisme yang terkandung dalam sebuah novel. Pengkaji menggunakan kaedah analisis teks dan pendekatan Allan dan Burridge (1991) untuk mendekripsi jenis-jenis eufemisme dalam novel Ranggau oleh Ramlee Awang Murshid. Kajian telah mengenal pasti jenis eufemisme dalam novel tersebut, iaitu konotasi negatif, penggantian dan bahasa kiasan. Dapatan juga menunjukkan eufemisme jenis konotasi negatif paling kerap digunakan. Makalah ini mampu menyumbang idea-idea eufemisme dalam berkarya dan boleh dijadikan sebagai panduan untuk lebih mendalaminya.

Politeness in language is needed to maintain speech manners such as through the use of euphemism elements. Euphemism elements are pertinent means of expression to ensure language politeness in printed media like novels in particular, so that offensive, disreputable and provocative issues can be minimised. However, there is inexplicit study to substantiate the use of euphemisms among Malaysian novel writers. This calls for a conscientious study to determine the types of euphemism that are appropriate for the local novel writers. Hence, this paper aims to explore the types of euphemism elements utilised in a novel, Ranggau by Ramlee Awang Murshid. This study used textual analysis method, as well as Allan and Burridge’s (1991) approach to decipher the types of euphemism elements in the novel. Findings identified certain types of euphemism elements namely substitutions, figurative language and negative connotation as the dominant types of euphemism found in the novel. This study contributes to ideas on utilising euphemism elements in literary works and as a guideline for a more in-depth exploration on the elements.
An Emerging Framework: Literacy Training Module for Social Navigation of Refugees
Authors: Mohd Ali Suraini , Baharun Hazleena , Abdullah Hazlina , Mat Saad Noor Saazai , Puteh Behak Fariza , Ismail Habibah , Baharudin Dini Farhana , Zakaria Mohd Zaliridzal , Idrus Mohd Muzhafar
Published: April 2022

Rohingya refugees are a group of people who does not only have well-founded fear that they cannot return home, but are afraid of challenges awaiting them in the host country. Due to their traumatic past experiences, the Rohingya refugees rely much on their own community specifically the community leaders for assistance. However, the lack of community leaders as well as deficient hierarchical engagement with the leaders have created more difficulties for the refugees to seek for help. Social navigation for survival becomes an issue not only because they have language barriers but also internal conflicts on the imagined terrains (the hopes) and the unexpected circumstances (the difficulties) they encounter in the host country. This study aims to develop a literacy training module for Rohingya youth refugees to become social navigators. These refugees are expected to provide horizontal (peer-like) engagement to their community. To meet the aim of the study, 15 Rohingya youth refugees were recruited using a snowball sampling technique. Both qualitative and quantitative data collection instruments were used: guided questionnaires, interviews and baseline tests. The themes from the data suggest that despite the challenges in language, the participants exhibited strong sense of brotherhood with other fellow refugees. Religion has developed a powerful bond that ignites their willingness to extend assistance to their community. However, the participants unfolded their uncertainties on the ways and resources available, to be of help. It is also apparent that, a conceptual framework suitable for this literacy training module for social navigation emerged from the overall data. The framework will serve as a guide to develop a Literacy Module to groom social navigators to help their people, the Rohingya refugees.
Opposing Native Interest in Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Tagore’s Tasher Desh and Achalayatan: A Comparative Study
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Safiur , Idrus Mohd Muzhafar
Published: April 2022

In the field of literature, the study of colonization and its aftermath is a significant phenomenon. Shakespeare’s The Tempest presents the story of colonial exploitation, and the tragic and inevitable disintegration of native culture as the result of European invasion and colonization. Instead of justifying the idea of colonization, The Tempest presents a criticism of it.  On the other hand, in Tagore’s Tasher Desh (The Country of Cards) and Achalayatan (The Land of Immobility), we see the different attitudes towards European invasion and colonization. Instead of presenting the negative aspects of colonization, as expected from a writer who spent whole of his life under the British colonial rule, Tagore rather shows ambivalent attitudes towards colonization. In this paper we discuss different attitudes towards colonization as expressed in Shakespeare’s The Tempest in the one hand, and Tagore’s Tasher Desh and Achalayatan on the other hand. This paper draws on a close analysis of the texts using some postcolonial insights, theory of hybridity, and theory of ambivalence. Hybridity theory is credited to Homi K Bhabha. It claims that in creating a shared culture the colonizer and the colonized are mutually interdependent. Again, ambivalence theory, adopted by Bhabha into colonial discourse, examines the ambivalent feeling of repulsion and attraction that typifies the relationship between the colonized and the colonizer. The insights developed from the research will contribute to academic understanding of the shared culture constructed by the interactions between the colonized and the colonizer.
Integrating 21st Century Skills in an English Language Summer Camp for Upper Secondary School Students: Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia’s Experience
Authors: Mohamed Zain Azni , Ab Wahab Nursyuhada’ , Abdullah Hazlina , Ismail Adnan Juliana Niza , Mohamad Nazri Nur Dalila
Published: April 2022

Module development is one of the essential components in planning a course, especially in instilling specific learning objectives into the teaching and learning process.  In language learning, the aspect of module development needs to incorporate interesting, creative, interactive and communicative elements, as it should serve as a guideline to navigate courses and programmes in specific contexts.  21st century learning is a new concept that has become widespread globally and aims to produce more flexible learners. This concept is equipped with a myriad of skills that can assist learners in the future job market and beyond.  However, there are many perceptions that surround this new mode of learning, as most people seem to dismiss 21st century learning as merely focusing on technology, with a limited scope of variety in relating teaching and learning to incorporate other aspects. This paper aims to present the development of a module based on 21st century learning skills for a group of upper secondary school students, participating in a short duration Language Summer Camp, which entails the usage of ICT skills, creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and leadership skills. Examples of lessons and activities that support the learning of language together with the essential 21st century skills are presented. From garnering new technological skills, to becoming competent communicators and advanced problem solvers, students are hoped to benefit from this dynamic and engaging module, hence, enhancing the connection between traditional learning methods, while expanding teaching modes to become more collaborative for teachers and learners alike.
Use of Discourse Marker ‘so’ in the Malaysian ESL Job Interviews
Authors: Turiman Syamimi
Published: April 2022

The discourse marker ‘so’ has been identified as being typically high in spoken discourse, but previous studies have been focusing on its use in the oral production of native speakers. This paper explores the use of ‘so’, concentrating on job interview speech in the Malaysian English as a Second Language (ESL) context. It aims to explicate the multifunctional uses of ‘so’ in a self-developed corpus made up of 16 actual job interviews conducted in English, comprising job interviews in two different organizations in Malaysia. In the corpus, ‘so’ is identified as the tenth most frequent word, which also makes it the most-used discourse marker in the job interview speech. The results suggest that ‘so’ in the corpus serves five main functions, namely 1) to introduce summary; 2) to continue previous speaker’s topic; 3) to mark sequential relations; 4) to hold the floor; and 5) to introduce elaboration to justify a prior statement. Interestingly, when ‘so’ is used in turn-initials, it points to a specific function which is 6) to introduce new information. However, it was also found that the high frequency of ‘so’ in the corpus is associated with ‘pseudo-bridging’ whereby ‘so’ is simply used to 7) add new information and making speech seem coherent. The study implies that the teaching of discourse markers in speech, specifically the use of ‘so’ should focus more on the pragmatic functions than on semantic meanings per se, to avoid the inappropriate or overuse of this particular linguistic element.
English for Professionals and Graduate Employability: Exploring Malaysian College ESL Students' Perceptions of Creating Digital Video CV Task in 4.0 Classroom
Authors: Darmi Ramiaida , Mat Saad Noor Saazai , Ab. Wahab Nursyuhada' , Puteh-Behak Fariza , Haji Darmi Ramiza , Idrus Mohd Mushafar
Published: April 2022

Unemployability among graduates has become one of the greatest concerns of the education ministry in Malaysia. One reason is that graduates lack the potential skills listed by the Malaysian industries. This study focuses on one of the hard skills listed, curriculum vitae (CV) writing. The study proposed a shift from the conventional written CV to a digital video CV. Such proposal could support the ministry’s shifts in embedding technology-based tasks into the 4.0 classroom. Using a heutagogical approach in the English for Professionals course, learners were required to prepare a 2-minute digital video CV, which was then posted in Padlet. Through the task, the researcher aimed at exploring learners’ perceptions of the learning task of creating a digital video CV and gather their perceptions of the conduciveness of creating the digital video CV for future employment. By employing a quantitative approach, learners were required to answer an online 5-point Likert-type survey, which was analysed using Microsoft Excel. The findings showed that most of the participants agreed that the task was not only fun, interesting, and enjoyable, but also challenging, creativity-driven, and knowledge-seeking. Concerning the workforce, majority of the participants felt that the task made them work-ready, exposed them to multiple online tools, became more independent and critical as they employed different higher-order thinking skills when completing the task. Future research should apply the heutagogical approach so that learners are more independent towards their learning and focus on the hard and/or soft skills required in graduates, making them more marketable.
Teaching and Learning Languages in Multimedia Environments in Higher Education
Authors: Azmuddin Ruhil Amal , Mohd Radzuan Noor Raha
Published: April 2022

With the current technological innovations in language teaching and learning fields, many higher education institutions (HEIs), particularly HEIs in Malaysia have integrated technological tools in and outside of classrooms. To support this move, education policies are being introduced to prepare ESL learners and instructors, particularly language instructors for the challenges in this technology-enhanced language learning milieu. This editorial section highlights pedagogical benefits for ESL learners from various e-learning environments which are adapted in higher education context, focusing on HEIs in Malaysia. The e-learning environments discussed include Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Computer-supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL). Blended learning and its benefits are also briefly addressed considering it to be an essential feature to successfully achieve a globalized online learning environment. With the integration of these technological tools in language classrooms, it is anticipated for learners to possess the necessary skills and competencies to be active participants in global communities in the future.
Race for Literacy: Alternative for LINUS2.0
Authors: Md Yusop Yusnamariah , Rahamat Rashidah
Published: April 2022

Teachers often struggle to deal with pupils who have minimum mastery levels towards learning. On the other hand, teachers need to provide all pupils with access to specific learning activities that work best for them. However, what works best for some pupils might not work for others and as a result, teachers need to think out of the box to improve the pupils’ motivation. In dealing with mixed-ability pupils, differentiated instructions would make sense because it offers different paths to understanding the content, process, and products which will eventually affect the students’ motivation to perform better. Hence, this study presents the findings gathered from a programme called Race for Literacy (RFL) which was intended for the struggling learners. The RFL programme comprises outside classroom activities to boost the struggling learners’ four basic skills of English language. 200 Literacy and Numeracy Screening (LINUS) pupils from two districts in one of the states in Malaysia were involved in the programme and their performances were measured using LINUS screening instrument from the Ministry of Education. The spiral cycle of Kemmis and McTaggart (1988) action research methodology was used to collect the data, and results from the screenings proved the positive impact of RFL activities on the pupils’ performance. Apparently, learning out of the four walls of classroom, and providing equal opportunities to be involved are highly recommended to boost struggling pupils’ motivation to improve their language proficiency levels.
Language and Education in the Midst of the 4IR Challenges
Authors: Mohd Ali Suraini , Ismail Habibah
Published: April 2022

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) era brings with it exciting new possibilities and at the same time new challenges for the language and education sector. Due to the exponential changes brought about by the 4IR, researchers predicted that pretty soon, we will witness changes in most sectors in the world including the employment sector. Over the years, the delivery of Malaysian Higher Education Programmes (MyHE) has transformed significantly. The challenges and the way forward towards addressing the issues pertaining to 4IR in the realm of language and education are presented and discussed in this editorial.
Continuous Professional Development of Primary School EFL Teachers in Ethiopia: Needs and Challenges
Authors: Mohammed Abrar , Gutema Hailu
Published: April 2022

This study intended to examine the continuous professional development needs and challenges of primary school EFL teachers in Ethiopia. A mixed methods design was employed to gather data from teachers, principals and trainers in the study. Survey and interview protocols were employed to collect pertinent data to answer the study’s research questions. Fifty (50) randomly selected primary school English language teachers participated in the survey. Meanwhile, four English language teachers, four principals and three trainers were interviewed to corroborate the data collected from the survey. The quantitative data from the survey were analysed using SPSS version 21. Statistical analysis was carried out on the data, focusing on computing descriptive statistics to determine the mean values of the questionnaire items. The survey data indicated that the participating primary school EFL teachers needed in-service professional development training to improve their English language proficiency skills, particularly their speaking skills and pedagogical knowledge. Additionally, teachers faced personal and institutional challenges while participating in ongoing professional development activities. On the other hand, the qualitative data were analysed thematically and corroborated with the results of the survey. Based on the findings, this study suggests that Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education addresses the specific needs of primary school English language teachers by preparing and implementing continuous professional development activities.
Blended & Flipped Learning: Case Studies in Malaysian HEIs
Authors: Yusoff Zailin Shah
Published: April 2022

Editor Mohamed Amin Embi, Centre for Teaching & Learning Technologies, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education Malaysia, (2014), 315 pp, ISBN 978-983-3168-40-8.
Types of Linguistic Error on Mandarin Time Phrase Construction among Malay Learners
Authors: Ying Mei Yong , Chia Kuang Lee
Published: April 2022

Aligned with the economic development in China, Mandarin has been made popular worldwide. The ninth Malaysian plan (2006-2010) has strongly substantiated the need of Mandarin to be introduced as a foreign language elective course in public institutions of higher learning. Due to the fact that numerical phrases play a prominent role in daily lives, the main aim of this study is to explore the construction of Mandarin time phrase among Malay learners. A total of 40 Malay students who registered in Mandarin for Beginners course took part in this study. A test which consisted of 10 questions covering construction of time phrase was administered to the students. Grammatical description and frequency analysis were employed, and the results showed five types of linguistic error committed by the students in constructing Mandarin time phrase: (1) error in words usage, (2) confusion of numbers, (3) Hanyu Pinyin errors, (4) structural errors and (5) omissions of words. The factors influencing students in the construction of Mandarin time phrase include students‟ attitude, different structures between Mandarin and Malay, language transfer from native language and lack of learning time. Accordingly, this study sheds light on Mandarin teachers in improving academic performances of Malay students in conceptualizing and mastering Mandarin time phrase
Konsep Makna Kata dalam Kalangan Kanak-kanak Berdasarkan Lakaran Visual 2D dan 3D Terpilih
Authors: Mat Saad Zalikha , Syeik Said Normahdiah
Published: April 2022

Kajian ini merupakan kajian awal untuk melihat pemerolehan bahasa kanak-kanak dari segi semantik. Penyelidikan ini adalah bertujuan untuk menghuraikan makna kata dan menganalisis pembinaan konsep makna kata yang diujarkan oleh kanak-kanak berdasarkan pemahaman mereka apabila melihat visual dua dimensi (2D) dan tiga dimensi (3D). Subjek kajian ialah dua orang kanak-kanak berumur lima tahun. Pengkaji menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif untuk menganalisis data yang diperoleh melalui kaedah kepustakaan dan kajian lapangan yang melibatkan teknik pemerhatian, teknik rakaman dan teknik temubual. Data yang diperolehi dianalisis menggunakan hipotesis fitur semantik dan kajian ini juga diperkukuhkan dengan bantuan pendekatan Teori Kognitif iaitu teori yang menerangkan bahawa pembelajaran sebagai perubahan dalam pengetahuan yang disimpan di dalam memori. Hasil kajian menunjukkan gambar bervisual (2D) dan (3D) mampu membantu kanak-kanak memberikan makna terhadap sesuatu kata. Kajian ini mendapati subjek kajian lebih mudah membina kata konkrit iaitu kata-kata yang boleh dirujuk dan yang berisi makna. Kajian yang dilakukan ini diharapkan dapat memberi maklumat tentang kepentingan salah satu unsur multimedia iaitu lakaran 2D dan 3D terhadap penguasaan bahasa kanak-kanak.
Pengaruh Elemen Cerita Binatang Berbentuk Digital ke atas Ujaran Kanak-kanak Sindrom Asperger
Authors: Rosly Nurfarhana Shahira , Abd Rahim, Normaliza , Abdul Halim Hazlina
Published: April 2022

Sindrom Asperger merupakan sindrom yang memperlihatkan kecelaruan dan kesukaran dalam diri seseorang individu dari segi interaksi sosial dan komunikasi. Interaksi ujaran kanak-kanak sindrom ini dapat dikembangkan menerusi pendekatan berbentuk penceritaan dan pendigitalan. Oleh itu, kajian ini dijalankan untuk mengenal pasti jenis binatang dalam cerita Sang Singa dan Sang Tikus yang merangsang interaksi ujaran kanak-kanak sindrom Asperger serta menganalisis perkaitan Theory of Mind (ToM) dan Teori Analisis Wacana terhadap refleksi ujaran kanak-kanak sindrom Asperger. Dua orang kanak-kanak sindrom Asperger dari Sekolah Kebangsaan Putrajaya Presint 8 (2) yang berumur sembilan dan dua belas tahun dipilih sebagai subjek kajian. Kaedah kajian yang digunakan ialah kaedah temu bual, rakaman dan pemerhatian. Hasil kajian ini memperlihatkan bahawa terdapat jenis binatang dalam cerita Sang Singa dan Sang Tikus yang berjaya merangsang ujaran kanak-kanak sindrom Asperger serta berlaku juga perkaitan antara ToM dengan Teori Analisis Wacana terhadap mental dan penghasilan ujaran kanak-kanak tersebut. Kajian ini diharapkan dapat menjadi pemangkin ke arah penciptaan pendekatan dengan penerapan elemen penceritaan dan pendigitalan terhadap perkembangan interaksi dan komunikasi sosial kanak-kanak sindrom Asperger.
Teaching Prepositions to Japanese EFL College Students: Bridging Theory and Practice
Authors: Hanazaki Miki , Hanazaki Kazuo
Published: April 2022

Although universities in Japan have begun emphasizing on the importance of English education in producing globally-competitive human resources, in reality, the English proficiency level of the Japanese college students has deteriorated. Judging from the current situation, the Japanese college students need to take more English classes to improve their English proficiency level. However, they found it difficult to learn English in the classroom more than what they already have due to time constraint. This paper introduces modularstyle teaching materials that are offered at our university in the e-learning system called eAlps, which utilizes Moodle. E-Alps is a platform that enables the students to learn English on their own, outside classroom, to overcome the problem of limited English learning class hours. The English materials are available on e-Alps for students to download freely. This paper is twofold. Firstly, it discusses the semantics of the English preposition to and secondly proposes a modular-style material concerning to and will prove our material to be advantageous for the Japanese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students.
EFL Teacher Perceptions of Error Correction in Grammar Teaching: A Case Study
Authors: Ahmad Iftikhar , Mohd Radzuan Noor Raha
Published: April 2022

This study investigated non-native English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ perceptions regarding error correction in grammar teaching in Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. The main data collection tool of this study was a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire, administered to 48 EFL teachers. In order to triangulate the study, four semistructured interviews were conducted. Participants were selected based on convenience sampling. The study attempted to identify experience-based and gender-based differences among EFL teachers about error correction in grammar teaching. Descriptive analyses and independent-samples t-tests were run using a statistical software, SPSS. The results show that there were no differences of perceptions across teaching experience and across genders. The findings of the study revealed that experienced and less experienced and male and female teachers’ perceptions about error correction in grammar teaching are independent of these individual characteristics. Eventually, implications of this study are identified for effective teaching of error correction in grammar.
ESL Educators’ Belief in Teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP) to Low Level Learners
Authors: Khamis Nor Yazi , Abdul Rahim Azwin Arif , Sinnadurai Suriyakumar , Mohd Ali Zarina , Ali Zuraina
Published: April 2022

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) emerged from the broad concept of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). EAP is intended to facilitate learners in academic setting whilst the latter is more general in its purpose and approach. As such, lack of fundamental knowledge and understanding among ESL educators on the differences of the two teachings could lead to ineffective EAP classroom practices. This study identifies 72 ESL educators’ belief on EAP teaching for low level engineering undergraduates at four Malaysian technical universities. The study used an online reflective questionnaire adapted from Alexander (2012) and semi structured interviews with eight senior members of the institutions. The findings indicated a tension which might exist between the beliefs about general CLT and specific EAP teaching among the educators. The lack of awareness among the educators on the differences between the two has consequences on their EAP practices. The senior educators concurred with the findings and highlighted the need of specific EAP competency and formal trainings for the ESL educators in teaching EAP at the Malaysian technical and engineering based higher education institutions.
Pronunciation Problems: A Case Study on English Pronunciation Errors of Low Proficient Students
Authors: Shak Priscilla , Siew Lee Chang , Stephen Jeannet
Published: April 2022

Pronunciation plays a vital part in employability. Graduates are often unfairly judged when they fail to convince others of their capabilities due to poor pronunciation and not having the language to express themselves well. In order to present confidently to impress potential employers or enhance mobility, it is important to improve students’ pronunciation, especially those with low oral proficiency level. The primary step to counter this matter is finding out students’ problems in their pronunciation. The aim of this study is to identify the specific sounds that are commonly mispronounced by low oral proficiency Malaysian students. This study employed the qualitative methodology where data came in the form of reading aloud voice recordings. Based on the thematic analysis conducted, the sounds that were commonly mispronounced by the students were vowels (pure short vowels, pure long vowels and diphthongs), consonants (plosives, fricatives and affricates), silent letters, and the ‘-ed’ form. From the findings, this study recommends the use of the commonly mispronounced sounds as the content in producing an instructional pronunciation video for helping low oral proficiency students of the 21st century to address their pronunciation problems
Relationship between English Language Proficiency and Intercultural Communication Competence among International Students in a Malaysian Public University
Authors: Sarwari Abdul Qahar , Abdul Wahab Muhammad Nubli
Published: April 2022

Postgraduate students from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds enrol at Malaysian universities to have better learning opportunities, and gain new social and cultural skills. Students may also gain essential competence through their contacts with their peers from different cultures, but some factors may affect their daily interactions. English language is the main means of interactions among international students in Malaysian universities. This study therefore was conducted to examine the relationship between English language proficiency (ELP) and intercultural communication competence among international postgraduate students at a Malaysian public university. A mixed method research design which includes quantitative and qualitative data was employed. Participants were 120 postgraduate students from 17 different countries, in which, 12 participants were interviewed. The findings confirm that ELP is among the main factors that influence interactions among international postgraduate students in a Malaysian public university. The students’ ELP has helped them to have more interactions and improve their intercultural communication competence. The results also illustrate that daily interactions have helped the students to improve their ELP and discover new strategies to deal with different linguistic and communicative challenges while they are in a multicultural collegiate environment.