bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding of Reading among Teachers and Learners: A Descriptive Study of Pre-university English Language Teaching /Learning in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alenizi Mogbel Aid K
Published: July 2019

This study assesses pre-university teachers’ perception about reading comprehension in English as a foreign language (EFL) in Saudi context. It also identifies the difficulties faced by the students in their reading comprehension classes to have a holistic view of learning process. The main aim of the study is to explore the issues related to teaching reading, both from teachers as well as learners’ perspectives, so that the best teaching strategies can be adopted to achieve the desired outcomes. It assesses the ongoing prevalent scenario of learning to read in English as foreign language and observes that the learners’ difficulties are not addressed properly because the teachers/instructors are not trained well or pay less attention to reading skill. A descriptive approach has been used on a sample of instructors from various non-native English-speaking nationalities (n=60) and Saudi learners (n=146). Responses revealed that teachers’ poor awareness of teaching strategies cause poor learning outcomes. Their responses also reveals that their strategies do not take into account learners’ difficulties which somewhere cause learners’ helplessness in getting desired outcome. The results of the study elaborate how the culture and contextual knowledge play significant roles. These are the bases of teaching reading skills along with learners’ needs so that more robust teaching strategies can be followed to truly meet the desired learning outcomes. This will definitely help the teacher-educators as well as the instructors in improvising their teaching practices that suit their classrooms well.
Towards more Liable Use of Internet Sources among University Students: Rethinking Teacher’s Routine Evaluation Methods
Authors: KHIATI Nadia
Published: July 2019

Within the flow of information of today’s digital learning environment, university students’ ill-informed use of external electronic sources negatively affects the quality of their academic writing. While sanctions represent but the final disciplinary measure, university teachers’ pre-empting such academic misconduct before the final year project remains a necessity. This paper proposes a reconsideration of the teacher’s routine evaluation methods to promote good study skills, and thus high quality teaching and learning. Drawing on a personal teaching experience (in the department of English of Saida University), the paper suggests simple methods through which students routinely practise sound referencing. Preliminary observational data that triggered the topic of the present paper consist of samples of students’ internet-based assignments and project papers with missing references. Additional notes generated from classroom discussions with post-graduate Master students about (un)intentional plagiarism represent the insider student perspective of its causes. Initial findings reveal that student-submitted non-referenced work was not only due to poor time management, paraphrasing, or note taking skills but also to modelling poor citation habits (illustrated in the academic genres they were exposed to in their formal learning environment, such as PowerPoint presentations, class notes, hand-outs, and so on). The paper concludes with the necessity to raise teachers’ awareness to the importance of providing a good model of well-referenced teaching materials and learning supports as the initial step. Other practical methods consist of constantly checking students’ work for missing references, asking them to resubmit their work with requisite paraphrasing, as well as giving scores for correct referencing.
Percepciones de los católicos frente a las acusaciones de abuso sexual en la iglesia católica
Authors: Rivas Teresa
Published: July 2019

La religión Católica ha influido de una manera notable en la sociedad chilena desde tiempos remotos. Aunque últimamente su influencia no alcanzado tanta notoriedad, posiblemente por la exposición en los medios de comunicación de algunos casos de abusos sexuales apuntando como responsables a sacerdotes de la institución, causando así diversas reacciones en la población. Ante esta situación que experimenta la institución el presente artículo tiene como objetivo identificar el impacto que han producido en los creyentes católicos las polémicas para poder ver de que manera la iglesia puede actuar para evitar que en la organización se cometan actos indebidos relacionados a abusos y a encubrimiento dentro de la propia institución.
Re-thinking the Practice of Teaching Literature to Enhance EFL Students’ Civic Skills: An Algerian Perspective
Authors: KHELADI Mohammed
Published: July 2019

Besides the undisputable role of literature in teaching civic virtues through exposing students to characters and themes that accurately exemplify and truly represent civility, teaching literature can serve a means to inculcate in students various civic skills, such as conflict resolution, leadership, negotiation of meaning and constructive criticism. Yet, to attain such skills, teachers need to reshape their teaching practices to be in conformity with the principles of modern education that champion active learning methodologies. The present paper argues for the necessity of rethinking the traditional teacher-centered methods in teaching English literature in the Algerian context as they tend to reduce students’ active participatory roles in learning. In response to this, a number of suggestions have accordingly been put forward to enable students reach more independency in dealing with literature. This orientation of thought stems from the belief that active learning is conducive to active citizenship.
Bloom’s Taxonomy and Moroccan Children’s Vocabulary and Critical Thinking Skills Development
Authors: Benjelloun Mounia , Allame Yamina El Kirat El
Published: July 2019

Children normally feel unable or less confident to express their ideas clearly, freely, and critically both orally and in writing when learning a language. Research has demonstrated that children’s early exposure to Bloom’s Taxonomy levels in stories has a “remarkable power” on them (Dickinson, et al. 2012) and helps develop their language and critical-thinking skills (Egan, 1997; Curtain & Dahlberg 2004). The aim of this research project is to investigate the role of Bloom’s Taxonomy in the development of the vocabulary and critical-thinking skills of young Moroccan English learners. The study adopts a qualitative approach and addresses two research questions, namely, (i) To what extent does Bloom’s Taxonomy contribute to the development of the children’s vocabulary and critical thinking skills? (ii) How can the children’s vocabulary and critical-thinking skills development be justified? The comparison and analysis of the children’s story reviews at the start and end of a term reveals significant improvement, among the Moroccan young learners, especially the average ones. They are able to use a wider range of more appropriate and accurate vocabulary and to make use of a more extended, analytical and relevant discourse. Hence, children’s early exposure to Bloom’s Taxonomy is highly recommended as it contributes to the development of their vocabulary and critical-thinking skills.
Internalization the Concept of Local Wisdom for Students in the Listening Class
Authors: Naryatmojo Deby Luriawati
Published: July 2019

The purpose of this study is to find out the principle of composing listening materials that contain local wisdom based on the dimensions of roles and parts. The problem formulation of this study is how the principle of composing listening materials that contain the value of local wisdom based on the dimensions of roles and parts. The findings of this study can be used as a reference in making learning models, especially listening materials which can be used as a means to foster students’ characters related to their culture and appreciation toward local wisdom. The research design used in this study is research and development (R & D) design. This research produces roles with local wisdom to be an emotionally better person for a harmonious life, especially when the students are engaged in group discussion activities. To teach local wisdom related to environment care can be done through learning activities. It can be seen how the students are actively participating in the listening activities. Then, cognitive domain can be carried out in the learning process in the form of memorizing or remembering. Meanwhile, the affective domain can be performed through performance, discussion, and group work. It is expected that the finding can be an alternative reference to develop listening activities by internalizing local wisdom as a national identity. Also, the listening activities prepare young generations to preserve local wisdom from a nation.
Functioning of Emotive-Evaluative Vocabulary in a Political Text
Authors: Polyakova Liliya S. , Suvorova Elena V. , Trutnev Alexey Yu.
Published: July 2019

This paper is aimed at highlighting the problem of the use of emotive-evaluative vocabulary in the English-language mass media political discourse, which is a relevant topic since the scope of media texts in English is widespread in the information community and the media language is the basic means for communication, phrasing, conveying and storing information. Political discourse is a popular area of research of linguistics, as it covers all aspects of modern life and society. Being mainly broadcasted by the politicians, it is considered a complex linguistic phenomenon, whose objectives, direct or indirect, are aimed at disseminating, implementing political authorities and obtaining the majority of votes during the election campaigns. The article is devoted to the evaluation categories, which refer to the semantic and pragmatic categories and can be one of the strongest tools of influence on the public. Within the framework of our research 29 English articles, posted on the Internet, concerning the political leaders of the United States and Great Britain, attributing the personal characteristics to them, were analysed. Using the continuous sampling method there was found 214 examples of English emotive-evaluative vocabulary. During the study, the methods of compilation, interpretation, and descriptive methods were used.
Interactional Metadiscourse Markers in the Abstract Sections of Arabic Patents
Authors: Alzarieni Manal Mahmoud , Zainudin Intan Safinaz , Awal Norsimah Mat , Sulaiman Mohamed Zain
Published: July 2019

This study aims to investigate interactional metadiscourse markers (IMDMs) in 60 patent abstracts written in Arabic by Arabic-native drafters within the field of human necessity. Specifically, the objectives are to identify which categories of IMDMs are predominant in Arabic patent abstract and to explain how metadiscourse markers function in these abstracts. To achieve these objectives, data were analyzed quantitatively to count the frequency of IMDMs, and qualitatively to examine the functions of these markers within Arabic patent abstracts based on Hyland’s model (2005). The results indicate that boosters, hedges and attitude markers are the most frequently employed markers while the remaining categories show a low frequency of occurrence. Moreover, the analysis also reveals that IMDMs fulfill different functions, such as providing data in a truthful manner, avoiding commitment to precise figures and persuasion among others. The findings of this research are useful for Arabic-speaking drafters and novice inventors for a better understanding of IMDMs commonly applied in their patent abstracts. A better understanding of the pragmatic functions of IMDMs can improve not only patent drafting skills, but also the chance for successful patent grants. It is recommended that future research investigate IMDMs within other patent sections such as claims, description, and background among different disciplines in order to achieve better insights of the use of such rhetorical metadiscourse features.
Promoting Critical Thinking as a Social Practice: Shaping Students’ Voice, Agency and Inter-Subjectivity in a Cohesive Framework
Authors: Mashikhi Khalid Muslem Al , Thakur Vijay Singh
Published: July 2019

Strict outcome-bound approaches and text-books-based instructional practices, prevalent in the pedagogy of most of the colleges and universities in English as an International Language (EIL) contexts, involve language activities, tasks, and tests that predominantly require one right answer or response. Pedagogical practices and related quality assurance mechanisms regulated by such approaches limit students’ ability to be original and skeptical in reflecting upon various issues of importance and concern based on their own thinking and experiences. Such a focus, in Sivasubramaniam’s (2015) and Nunn and Sivasubramaniam’s (2011) view, has entirely centered on bureaucratic efficiency aimed at having a uniform curriculum for the majority of the students and a scheme of research and evaluation based on recalls, think-alouds, cloze tests and multiple-choice questions in standardized texts. In line with the socially-aligned view of competence much needed spontaneity, flexibility, and diversity accrues only through a process-centered pedagogy of voice, agency and response. In the backdrop of this as a premise, this paper aims to demonstrate how Critical Thinking (CT) can be promoted in EIL classrooms as a discursive practice that could shape students’ voice, agency and inter-subjectivity in a cohesive framework. The paper shares both theoretical and practical ideas about CT and its importance in facilitating a meaningful education and aims to demonstrate some innovative tasks and activities that could be exploited to shape student’s voice and agency and develop their higher order CT skills. The paper culminates in evolving a practically viable prototype pedagogical framework for promoting CT as a social practice in EIL classrooms that is capable of making Wilga River’s (1983) notions of ‘skill-getting’ and ‘skill-using’ a reality. Such a model will be useful for EIL practitioners in designing similar lessons with innovative tasks and activities and make the EIL class atmosphere stimulating and pedagogically more fruitful.
The “Communicative Circle” Method in Teaching English at a University
Authors: Suvorova Elena V. , Ahmetzyanova Tatyana , Zharova Kseniya
Published: July 2019

The article analyses the problems arising in teaching English at a technical university, offers and describes a new integrated method of teaching listening, reading and speaking called the Communicative Circle method. The development of the pragmatic, integrated method of Communicative Circle builds upon the linguo-didactic, integrated, and activity approaches, and the theory of three levels of awareness of learning. These perspectives are reflected in the integration of listening, reading and speaking skills, three stages of teaching, regarding the psychological phases of awareness of the studied material, and the choice of tasks according to the students’ abilities, basic skills and the tempo of learning. In the course of study students are gradually offered more complicated tasks for training speaking and texts for reading and listening, and the whole teaching process builds upon broadening some professional and scientific knowledge of students at a technical university. The efficiency of the developed Communicative Circle method is verified in the course of a two-year experiment. The results of teaching by the traditional program (developed on the basis of the Federal State Standards) and by the method of the Communicative Circle are compared and evaluated. The article concludes a greater efficiency of the developed method which reveals itself in higher English proficiency, confidence, and wider professional purview of the students who were taught by the Communicative Circle method.
Functional Analyses of Metadiscourse Markers in L2 Students’ Academic Writing
Authors: Jomaa Nayef Jomaa , Alia Mohammad M.
Published: July 2019

Stance in general and metadiscourse markers, in particular, have attracted the interest of several studies. Therefore, this study explores the use of metadiscourse in the second language (L2) academic writing by English as a foreign language (EFL) postgraduates in one of the Malaysian public universities. We analyzed the frequency and wordings of modality within the citations of the literature review chapters of 20 Ph.D. theses employing the Systemic Functional Linguistics. Data were analyzed manually utilizing the technique of quantifying the findings to highlight the similarities and differences in using metadiscourse markers. The findings revealed the dominance of full declarative clauses in both Applied Linguistics and Information Technology. Besides the Finite Modal Operators, Mood Adjuncts and Comment Adjuncts were also used to demonstrate modality with a variety in their stance, degrees, and frequencies. Pedagogically, these findings could help supervisors in identifying the implications of their students’ writings. In addition, students can be directed towards reading EAP textbooks and materials that are dedicated to areas of academic writing, metadiscourse markers, and citations.
Readability of Reading Passages in English Textbooks and the Thai National Education English Test: A Comparative Study
Authors: Srisunakrua Thanaporn , Chumworatayee Tipamas
Published: July 2019

Readability has long been regarded as a significant aspect in English language teaching as it provides the overall picture of a text’s difficulty level, especially in the context of teaching and testing. Readability is a practical consideration when making decisions on materials to match a text with target readers’ proficiency. However, few studies have compared the readability levels of teaching and testing materials in terms of the difficulty of passages. The present study, therefore, aims to explore the readability levels and the linguistic characteristics of reading passages in English textbooks and the Thai National Education English Test based on three readability formulas and eight aspects of linguistic characteristics as provided by the Coh-Metrix computational tool. Two sets of corpora were generated and analyzed by using Coh-Metrix as the main instrument. The obtained data from the reading passages compiled in the English textbooks and the Thai national education English test were compared to explore the significant differences. The results revealed a mismatch in the readability levels and linguistic characteristics. Passages from the English textbooks are easier than those used in the English test. It is recommended that all stakeholders in both teaching and testing administration be aware of the different levels of readability between reading passages. More considerations should be made when preparing the teaching and testing materials because a suitable difficulty level will ensure that students receive the most benefit from the materials. Moreover, an incongruity could affect students’ learning and testing performance.
Speech Act of Refusal on the Phone
Authors: Sammali Imed , Bayouli Tahar
Published: July 2019

This paper investigates the speech act of refusal taking as a case study British responses to a salesperson’s offer through the study of recordings of 109 conversations between the salesperson and a potential British customer. The data are analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively with the aim of finding the most frequent responses that denote refusal by the English native speakers. Most of the expressions used to reflect the British people’s annoyance with the use of cold calls, the majority being brief phrases of refusal. In addition to the recorded calls, two questionnaires were conducted in Britain to shed light on the frequent expressions used on the phone in response to the salesperson. It is interesting here to catalog the range of strategies used by individuals, most of the time verbal, to avoid talking to the salesperson. These strategies seem to exist on a continuum of directness-indirectness. Firstly to perform an act of refusal efficient enough to end the call. Secondly to make the balance between the impacts of refusal per se and the keeping up with the social convention of mutual cooperation presented in the theory of politeness.
Code Switching by Female Students of Islamic School in Daily Communication: Modern Islamic Boarding School
Authors: Susylowati Eka , Sumarlam  , Abdullah Wakit , Marmanto Sri
Published: July 2019

The multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society of Islamic boarding school students (santri) involves the occurrence of code switching. This research aims to reveal the code switching patterns by female students in daily communication in Islamic school Al-Mukmin Ngruki Islamic Boarding School and Assalaam Islamic Modern Boarding School in Indonesia, and the factors affecting the occurrence of code switching in daily basis communication in Islamic boarding school. The data are derived from the verbal interaction among the female students in Islamic school. Meanwhile, the data are populated by using the techniques of observation, recording, and interview. Further, they are analysed by the use of Hymes, (1996) ethnography method of communication. The result of this study shows that the code switching patterns includes Intersentensial switching, Intrasentensial switching, and Tag switching. However, the dominant pattern of code switching used by female students is Intersentensial switching. It is occupied in order to clarify the sender messages. In the domain of friendship, there are switches on the language of Indonesian, English, Arabic, Javanese, Sundanese, and Malay. The cause of the code switching relates to closeness between the speakers and the partners, prestige, popular terms. Also, it intends to convey the purposes and intentions of the speakers such as confirming information and maintaining cultures.
The Effect of an Intensive Language Course on Students' Linguistic Performance at Majmaah University, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Abahussain Majed O. , Ahmed Sami Hussein A.
Published: July 2019

This study aims to investigate the effect of an intensive language course at Majmaah University on improving students' linguistic repertoires. It also explores the perceptions of instructors at Majmaah University on students' performance after the intensive language course. The study also addressed the following questions: 1-To what extent did the intensive language course at Majmaah University improve students' linguistic repertoires? 2-How do instructors at Majmaah University react towards students' linguistic repertoires after the intensive language course? To achieve the set objectives: the study used a mixed-of qualitative and quantitative method. A total of 283 students participated in the study experiments, and eight instructors responded to the interview questions. A paired samples t-test was used to evaluate the students’ scores before and after the three-month program. The findings revealed that the students scored significantly higher on the post-test. Qualitative data also showed that improvement was not limited to their linguistic repertoires but also applied to their personal skills.
Using Awareness Raising in Syntactic and Semantic Errors to Foster Translation Performance among Majmaah University EFL Students
Authors: Amin Eman Abdel-Reheem
Published: July 2019

The present study aimed at developing English as a foreign language (EFL) college students’ translation performance through raising their awareness of related syntactic and semantic errors. During the pilot study, the researcher analyzed fifty translated passages from students' assignments. The aim of this systematic analysis was necessary to build a list of their most frequent errors. Besides, a checklist was used to determine students’ level of awareness of these errors. As a result, a program based on some metacognitive strategies was developed to raise students’ awareness of syntactic and semantic errors to improve their translation performance. Metacognition awareness went through five stages of preparation, presentation, practice, evaluation, and expansion. Students worked together in the process of translation to translate the given passages. They worked in pairs to proofread their translation by identifying their errors, correcting them, and finally editing their final copy. A pre-post translation test was developed to assess students’ translation performance. Data obtained from the test was dealt statistically with SPSS software. The results indicated improvement in students' translation performance.
Using Instructional Scaffolding Strategies to Support Oral Productive Language Skills among English Majors at Majmaah University
Authors: Abdelshaheed Bothina S. M.
Published: July 2019

This study aimed at investigating whether using some instructional scaffolding strategies would be effective in developing oral productive skills among female English majors in the college of education in Azulfi, Majmaah University. It also aimed to know the size of that effectiveness. The participants of the study were 62 and they were divided equally into two groups; the experimental one studied the course with the intervention of the instructional scaffolding strategies and the control group studied the same course without any intended focus on the instructional scaffolding. The study adopted the pre-post design; average scores of the participants were calculated using T-test. The ratio of effectiveness was calculated using the Modified Black's Gain Ratio. Results were very promising as they revealed significant improvement in the mean scores of the experimental group in the oral test as T-test value was (5.41). The evidence indicated that using instructional scaffolding strategies was effective as the ratio of effectiveness was (1.06). Results highlighted the real value of instructional scaffolding while teaching oral skills in English class. It is highly recommended to integrate instructional scaffolding strategies as an inspirable element of English courses and to further investigate the processes that the teachers focus on while scaffolding.
Lecturer’s Language Style and Students’ Academic Self Efficacy in Higher Education of Indonesia
Authors: Gunawan Fahmi , Mayasari Ros , Masruddin
Published: July 2019

This research is aimed at finding out the influence of lecturers’ language style on students’ academic self-efficacy in higher education in Indonesia. This research is conducted to describe the correlation between lecturers’ language style and students’ academic. As one of the aspects of forming academic self-efficacy, language style has an important role because someone who can get information verbally about his ability in mastering certain duty tends to do more efforts. In addition, it makes him more diligent in doing a duty. Also, language style positively increases the student's self-confidence and vice verse. This research involves seventy students who fill in the questionnaire about the lecturer language style and academic self-efficacy scale. Data were analyzed by using simple linear regression analysis. The result of the research shows that lecturer’s language style has a coefficient of determination of 23.5% towards the students’ academic self-efficacy. Finally, this research affirms that positive lecturer language style can improve the students’ belief towards their ability while the negative language style can weaken the students’ self-efficacy. This is supported by the statement of Pajares (2002) who state that the negative language style can easily weaken the students’ self efficacy.
Language Proficiency through Vocabulary Development: A Framework
Authors: BENRABAH Boumediène
Published: July 2019

The global aim of the present research paper is an attempt to reach a threshold level of the learning of a foreign language (English) through the development of vocabulary. Observing the very limited rate of use of English in the Algerian community, English as Foreign Language (EFL) students, actually, need to progress in the mastery of that language by reading and/or listening to texts or messages intensively. To achieve this goal, subsequent procedures should take place by giving the foreign language a rather more appreciable position in the community such as the one held by a second language. To be down-to-earth, a brief survey on the linguistic situation in Algeria is exposed where neat clarification of second-foreign language status in the community is laid out to show that the more a (foreign) language is explicitly exposed in its manifold forms, the more are learners, in that community, likely to acquire it as a second language. However, the assumption of presenting the receptive skills (reading and listening) as the most appropriate means for the growth of foreign language vocabulary is supported by Krashen’s input theory where any input to be understood, should come at EFL learners’ capacity to read/listen and decode easily the meaning. In due course, First year EFL students have been subject to a language proficiency test-‘a pre-test then a post-test’. This typical experimental design is an intervention study which contains two groups: ‘the treatment or experimental’ group which receives the treatment, or which is exposed to some special conditions of intensifying vocabulary learning through a varied, comprehensible input; and a second group of EFL learners- the control group- whose role is to provide a baseline. The findings showed better scores among the experimental group compared to the other group. Actually, the results proved the adequacy of the adopted theory.
The Effects of Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures in Teaching Subject–Verb Agreement among Rural Sarawak Learners
Authors: Txin Chong Xin , Yunus Melor Md
Published: July 2019

Even after undertaking years of formal education to acquire the language in schools, having a poor command of English remains a problem faced by most Malaysians, especially students in rural schools of Sarawak. Based on the error-analysis carried out by recent research, subject–verb agreement (SVA) is one of the most frequent errors committed by students. To overcome this problem, teachers should significantly improve students’ mastery of SVA in the English language through effective teaching methods. Therefore, this research was conducted to explore the effects of Kagan Cooperative Learning Structures in teaching SVA among rural Sarawak learners. In this study, 35 Form 4 students were selected from a secondary school in the Belaga District, Sarawak as the research participants. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used as data collection tools. Overall, findings demonstrated that students showed positive feedback after the intervention was implemented. Results of this research will hopefully provide insights to secondary school students, teachers and the community in the cooperative teaching and learning of grammar.
Linguistic Hegemony of English Language in the Medical Context of King Abdullah Hospital
Authors: Alsubaiai Hanan Sarhan
Published: July 2019

This study aims to investigate how the dominance of the English language at Bisha King Abdullah Hospital in Saudi Arabia affects service delivery. Specifically, the research focuses on the attitudes of patients and staff towards communicating in English instead of Arabic, which is the primary official language in Saudi Arabia. First, the study addresses the question of how the dominance of English language in the selected medical context affects service delivery. Second, the study explores the attitude of patients and medical staff towards the dominance of the English language. Third, the study presents a comparison of the attitude of patients and medical staff towards the use of English language. Finally, the study responds to the question of how patients' level of education influences their attitude towards the use of English at the hospital. The study is based on quantitative research, involving 60 participants, where 30 patients and 30 medical staff. The findings reveal that 86.7% of medical staff members find it challenging to communicate with their patients in English. On the same note, 60% of patients interviewed admitted that they find it difficult understanding medical practitioners when they communicate in English. The findings can have significant practical implications since they show a possible communication barrier that can be addressed to improve patient experience at Bisha King Abdullah Hospital. The findings provide statistical evidence to inform evidence-based strategies to improve communication between patients and medical practitioners at the hospital. Abbreviations and Acronyms Definition
English Language Teaching: Historical Overview, Current Issues and Suggestions for Enhancing Speaking Proficiency in EFL Contexts
Authors: Alghamdi Yahya Ali , Alghamdi Ahmed Mohammed , Alsolami Turki Gabr
Published: July 2019

The history of English Language Teaching (ELT) and learning in English as a Second and Foreign Language (ESL and EFL) contexts has gone through different practices. The role of memorization and repetition of English language structures has always been a dominant teaching attitude. This attitude has revealed unsuccessful results in promoting speaking proficiency among English language learners when communicating in real-world situations beyond the classroom context. Therefore, it is essential to address such practices and shed light on some of the issues that hinder English Language Learners (ELLs) from effectively using English in real-world communicative situations. This review paper focuses on ELT practices that have been unsuccessful in promoting English language learners’ speaking proficiency. Additionally, it provides implications for classroom teaching instructions that integrate authentic tasks and materials. Implementing meaningful tasks that represent real-world situations could be a promising solution for enhancing ELLs’ language competencies to enable them to transfer the language they learn to real-life situations beyond school settings. Some practical suggestions and recommendations are provided to enhance ELT in EFL contexts.
Attitudes of Saudi EFL Learners towards Speaking Skills
Authors: Ali Jamal Kaid Mohammed , Shamsan Muayad Abdulhalim , Guduru Rajakumar , Yemmela Nirmala
Published: July 2019

This paper looks at intensive program students’ perceptions of English-speaking skills and emphasizes the immediate need for improving them at all levels of higher education. For this purpose, 100 students (50 males and 50 females) of the intensive program from colleges of Arts, Business and Community, Saudi Arabia were administered a questionnaire. The data were analyzed quantitatively with SPSS. The findings of the study show that male and female students do not differ in their perceptions about learning to speak English and they are now becoming more aware of the growing importance of learning English. It is also found that lack of environment, interest and motivation are the most important factors that affect students’ speaking skills. In addition, female students’ perception towards English learning is more positive. The analysis also indicates that there is an undisputed agreement among the learners that English language will play an important role in Saudi Arabia. Finally, some implications for teachers to develop students' speaking skills are presented.
Refusal as a Social Speech Act among Thai EFL University Students
Authors: Boonsuk Yusop , Ambele Eric A.
Published: July 2019

This paper discusses the commonly realised social speech act of refusal strategies in English among university students in the Southern part of Thailand, in explaining how they say ‘no’ to request and the effects of this speech act on the hearer’s face. Using Discourse Completion Test (DCT) to collect oral data in naturally-occurring situations, together with a qualitative analysis of the transcribed data according to Beebe, Takahashi, and Uliss-Weltz (1990) classification scheme of refusal, the study affirms that there are two major common ways of realising refusals to request in English among these students, namely: direct and, overwhelmingly, indirect refusal strategies. The findings also reveal that the last strategy of the classification scheme, adjuncts to refusals, was not found in the data. Similarly, not all the indirect refusal sub-strategies were found in the data. However, two novel sub-strategies: giving advice/explanation, and lack of empathy were found in the analysis. The findings have implications for better socio-cultural communication and interaction in a multicultural university context.
Oral Corrective Feedback Techniques: An Investigation of the EFL Teachers' Beliefs and Practices at Taif University
Authors: Alkhammash Reem , Gulnaz Fahmeeda
Published: July 2019

Recent research has shown that little attention has been paid to teachers’ views regarding giving oral corrective feedback (Sepehrinia & Mehdizadeh, 2016). To fill this gap, this empirical study investigates the beliefs of Taif University’s teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) about their feedback practices and their perception of the impact that these practices have on students' performance. An opinionnaire of 18 items was designed with closed-ended questions. A five-point Likert’s scale was employed to measure three subscales: teachers’ beliefs and practices about their corrective feedback; types of oral corrective feedback used by EFL teachers; and their perception of students’ uptake. The survey was administered to fifty-seven English as foreign language (EFL) teachers at the English Language Centre (ELC), Taif University who were asked to fill in an online survey regarding their oral corrective feedback practices in the classroom. Their responses were analysed quantitatively. The findings of the study were that the participants allocated highest preferences to the techniques of elicitation, repetition and recast, and that they frequently use them in their classrooms.
The Importance of Pedagogical Empiricism for Sensitizing University English Language Teachers in Arab Context
Authors: Abdulmughni Saleh Ahmed Saif
Published: July 2019

There is a significant psychological aversion to English as a foreign language in Saudi Arabia. General weakness among learners opting for English majors and undergraduate learners of the English language is noted. Different learners are unaware of learning styles most suited to them. This research discussed the necessity for sensitizing university teachers towards the contributing factors in the success or failure of teaching and learning the English Language in Saudi Arabia. Teaching-learning processes would be fruitful if the syllabus designers, teachers, and learners become aware of important factors like teacher’s characteristics, learners’ characteristics, teaching materials, and educational institutions. This study aimed to emphasize the role of the English language teacher in facilitating learning processes, through conducting active research of English language learners at Wadi Ad-Dawasir in Saudi Arabia. This research enhances the prospects of pedagogical studies of different language learning and teaching.
Policies and Issues in Teaching English to Arab EFL Learners: A Saudi Arabian Perspective
Authors: Al-Tamimi Rashed
Published: July 2019

This paper examines the history, policies, and discussions relevant to the teaching of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Saudi Arabia. It investigates the value of EFL within the Saudi education system and surveys the extent to which English has been adapted to suit the needs and customs of Saudi citizens. While focusing on major policy issues related to planning and implementing EFL instruction, the paper examines how stakeholders have worked to preserve Saudi culture, Arabic, and the structure of Saudi society. It seeks to determine whether EFL courses in Saudi schools meet the needs of students, the results of which are compared with Saudi policies on language teaching. The study then presents observations on the compatibility of teaching practices and policies, as well as the issues involved. Saudi Arabia faces several challenges that have greatly hindered the planning and implementation of language-teaching policies. This study proposes strategies for strengthening these policies to fully achieve the desired objectives. It also shows that English is gradually being naturalized in Saudi Arabia, absorbing cultural, religious, and social values and beliefs.
A Preliminary Pharmacognostical and Physico Chemical Assay of Pippalikhanda Granules
Authors: Keshari Neha , Thakar AB , Gandhi RS , Bhatt NN , Harish CR , Shukla VJ
Published: July 2019

During an ethnobotanical survey conducted among the Zafimaniry clan in the Amoron'i Mania region of Madagascar, 164 medicinal plants species from 138 genera and 73 families are recorded to be used by local people to treat 65 different types of human diseases. The most prescribed species belong to Asteraceae (30 species), Fabaceae (8 species), Rubiaceae (7 species) Poaceae (6 species) and Solanaceae (7 species) botanical families. Helichrysum was the most cited genus with 6 species. The main pathologies treated with medicinal plants are abdominal colic (10.5%) using 25 species, cough (7.2%, 23 species), intestinal parasites (6.3%, 20 species) and diarrhea (5.8%, 25 species). The vernacular names and the recipes of used plants are also reported. Data are collected by interviewing 191 informants aged between 16 and 100 using standardized questionnaires. The present study shows that the Zafimaniry people use a large number of medicinal plants for their primary health care. Some of the recorded plants are new in the Malagasy ethnopharmacopoeia.
A Comprehensive Review on Anti-Diabetic Formulations Employed in Siddha System of Medicine
Authors: Gaddam Dayanand Reddy , Bhogireddy Rama Devi , Pitchaiah Dasari , Godlaveti Vijaya Narasimha Kumar
Published: July 2019

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a carbohydrate metabolic disorder; Siddha system of medicine is providing several effective preparations with minimal side effects compared with allopathic system of medicine to treat diabetes mellitus. Methods: The information on Siddha anti-diabetic formulations were acquired from pre-historic Siddha books and by literature searching in electronic databases such as Science direct, Pub Med, Pub Med Cochrane and Google-Scholar for publications up to August 2018. Results: Seven effective and clinically used anti-diabetic Siddha formulations have been identified and 34 references have been cited. Conclusion: The current review presents the detail background of composition, dose and folklore uses of Siddha anti-diabetic preparations, particularly focusing on scientific validation of these formulations in the treatment of diabetes.
Endothelium-dependent and independent effect of Guibourtia tessmannii (Caesalpiniaceae) on vascular contractility of rat
Authors: Orianna Koumba Madingou Noreen , Raissa Aworet Samseny Reine , Alain Souza , Alfred Sababenedyo Traore
Published: July 2019

The stem barks of Guibourtia tessmannii (Caesalpiniaceae) are used in traditional Gabonese medicine as antihypertensive remedies. In the present study, we investigated vasorelaxant properties effect of aqueous extract from G. tessmannii and fuller understanding these mechanisms of action in vitro. The activity of Guibourtia tessmannii was evaluated on isolated aorta rings of rat constricted with KCl (80 mM) and norepinephrine (10-4 M). Cumulative concentrations (1 mg/mL - 100 mg/ml) of G. tessmannii provoked a dose-dependent relaxation of the thoracic aorta precontracted by norepinephrine or KCl (95.69 ± 0.6% and 91.34 ± 4.90%, respectively). The vasorelaxant effect induced by G. tessmannii on the aorta precontracted by KCl was significant decreased in presence of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (11.30 ± 4.3 %, p<0.05), tétraéthylammonium (52.2 ± 9.20 %, p<0.01). Indomethacin and atropine modify the vasorelaxant effect of plant extract (57.13± 6.9 %, p<0.01 and 58.83± 5.9 %, p<0.01, respectively. These results suggest that the vasorelaxant action of G.tessmannii was mediated via the muscarinic receptors. The direct effect of G.tessmannii to be mediated by alpha-adrenergic receptors and potassium channels.
Anti-inflammatory potential of Tapinanthus globiferus (Loranthaceae) leaves as an alternative treatment against arthritis
Authors: Raceline Gounoue Kamkumo , Aubin Noukeu Kamta Bruno , Jaures Tsakem Nangap Marius , Ducos Youmsi Fokouo , Florence Ngueguim Tsofack , Desire Dzeufiet Djomeni Paul , Théophile Dimo , Véronique Penlap Beng
Published: July 2019

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease which treatment remains a challenge, due to adverse effects caused by conventional medicines. The study assesses the effects of aqueous extract of Tapinanthus globiferus leaves on complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced rheumatoid arthritis in rat. Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by inoculation of 0.1 mL of CFA under the plantar aponeurosis of rat. Animals were daily treated for 10 days with distilled water (10 mL/kg), sodium diclofenac (5 mg/kg) and aqueous extract of T. globiferus at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg. Healthy animals received distilled water (10 mL/kg). The volume of edema of the hind paw was measured using a plethysmometer. At the end of the treatment the animals were sacrificed, blood was collected for hematological and biochemical analyses. Some organs such as liver, kidney and tibiotarsal joint were used for biochemical and histological analyses. The administration of the aqueous extract of T. globiferus to diseased rats significantly alleviated physiological impairement by reducing of paw volume (p < 0.001), protecting animals from anemia (p < 0.001), leukocytosis (p < 0.001), transaminases activity increasing (p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.01) and hypercreatininemia (p < 0.001). The plant extract has improved the antioxidant status of animals (p < 0.001) and the architectural organisation at joint level. The beneficial effects generated by the aqueous extract of T. globiferus leaves against the physiological dysfunctions caused by CFA justify its current use in the traditional treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of Carpobrotus edulis: A global perspective
Authors: Mudimba Toonse Nguwesu , Nguta Joseph Mwanzia
Published: July 2019

Carpobrotus edulis has widely been used in South Africa as a traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments and its pharmacological activities has been widely studied. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive literature overview regarding phytochemistry, traditional use, pharmacology and toxicology of different Carpobrotus edulis extracts. The review was compiled through a thorough literature search from authentic resources using data bases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct, peer reviewed articles, books and thesis. Carpobrotus edulis is an important medicinal plant used in ethno medicine for the treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory infections, toothache and earache, facial eczema, wounds, burns, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Pharmacological studies performed on the fresh plant materials, crude extracts and various solvent extracts of Carpobrotus edulis validates the traditional medical use of the plant. Studies performed validate the use of Carpobrotus edulis extracts in antimicrobial, antiproliferative, and antioxidant therapy. Carpobrotus edulis also has proved to have anticholinesterase activity against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase. Information on therapeutic validation in wound healing, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, analgesia and gastrointestinal motility is scanty. To substantiate the traditional use of C. edulis in the aforementioned area, there is need for further experimental studies to validate its pharmacological use. The information on toxicology was also scanty however the available literature suggests that C. edulis extracts are non-toxic. The review article supports the folkloric use of the medicinal plant. However, in-depth studies evaluating the safety profile of C. edulis extracts are highly recommended.