title: College learner's English learning beliefs in Taiwan EFL context

authors: Wang, Weipei

subjects: Taiwan

abstract: Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages (Wenzao) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan has run the 36-credit General English courses for seven years. Although it has collected information about the students' language proficiency, it has not, until now, collected information about students' beliefs about language learning. This paper reports on a survey of the beliefs about English language learning (ELL) of a group of tertiary level students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at Wenzao. The survey instrument, the Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) developed by Horwitz (1987), was designed to collect information about students' beliefs in the following areas: language learning aptitude, difficulty of language learning, the nature of language learning, learning and communication strategies, and motivation and expectations. Data were collected from the 38 freshmen attending one of one of Wenzao's 36-credit English program classes. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), a t-test being performed in the analysis of the learners' responses. The findings reveal that survey participants overall have a strong instrumental motivation for learning English and that most of them believe that they will ultimately succeed in speaking it very well. Even so, many of them appeared to have unrealistic expectations, with as many as 37% reporting believing (or strongly believing) that it is possible to become fluent in English in less than one year if you spend one hour a day learning the language. Among the most surprising findings were the fact that as many as 34% reported believing (or strongly believing) that learning English as a foreign language is mostly a matter of translation, and as few as 39% reporting believing (or strongly believing) that learning vocabulary is essential to learning English.

text: College learner's English learning beliefs in Taiwan EFL context Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages (Wenzao) in Kaohsiung, Taiwan has run the 36-credit General English courses for seven years. Although it has collected information about the students' language proficiency, it has not, until now, collected information about students' beliefs about language learning. This paper reports on a survey of the beliefs about English language learning (ELL) of a group of tertiary level students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at Wenzao. The survey instrument, the Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) developed by Horwitz (1987), was designed to collect information about students' beliefs in the following areas: language learning aptitude, difficulty of language learning, the nature of language learning, learning and communication strategies, and motivation and expectations. Data were collected from the 38 freshmen attending one of one of Wenzao's 36-credit English program classes. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), a t-test being performed in the analysis of the learners' responses. The findings reveal that survey participants overall have a strong instrumental motivation for learning English and that most of them believe that they will ultimately succeed in speaking it very well. Even so, many of them appeared to have unrealistic expectations, with as many as 37% reporting believing (or strongly believing) that it is possible to become fluent in English in less than one year if you spend one hour a day learning the language. Among the most surprising findings were the fact that as many as 34% reported believing (or strongly believing) that learning English as a foreign language is mostly a matter of translation, and as few as 39% reporting believing (or strongly believing) that learning vocabulary is essential to learning English.

year: 2009-09

title: The university in the epoch of digital reason: Fast knowledge in the circuits of cybernetic capitalism

authors: Peters, Michael A.

subjects: university

abstract: This article examines the university institutional in relation to the notion of time by postulating the concept of “the epoch of digital reason.” Within this epoch the university exhibits “fast knowledge” flows of knowledge in the circuits of “cybernetic capitalism.” The paper introduces the university on speed through the work of Paul Virilio and then in the next sections examines “the epoch of digital reason,” fast knowledge and fast capitalism and “the cybernetic hypothesis” including a conception of the university and “speed politics” within cybernetic capitalism.

text: The university in the epoch of digital reason: Fast knowledge in the circuits of cybernetic capitalism This article examines the university institutional in relation to the notion of time by postulating the concept of “the epoch of digital reason.” Within this epoch the university exhibits “fast knowledge” flows of knowledge in the circuits of “cybernetic capitalism.” The paper introduces the university on speed through the work of Paul Virilio and then in the next sections examines “the epoch of digital reason,” fast knowledge and fast capitalism and “the cybernetic hypothesis” including a conception of the university and “speed politics” within cybernetic capitalism.

year: 2015

title: Te Mauri o te Kaitiaki - Exploring Te Ao Māori in environmental relations and kaitiakitanga  in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Wareka, Mona-Lisa

subjects: Te Ao Māori

abstract: Indigenous environmental empowerment is on the rise as humans look at ways to slow the adverse effects of anthropogenic environmental degradation. In the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, the concept and practice of ‘kaitiaki’ and ‘kaitiakitanga’, respectfully, play a significant role in the co-existence of Māori with the natural world. Previous research shows the innate connections and responsibilities encompassed in being kaitiaki which extend beyond the human element to encompass nonhumans and spiritual manifestations. This research aims to illustrate how Māori use cultural values, concepts and practices in local-level conservational practices through ethnographic research in Matapōuri. I investigate the conflicts and convergences of a rāhui recently placed on two cultural significant areas to the local hapū, and through this, I analyse the practical and spiritual application of kaitiakitanga. Based on this ethnography, I discuss a model for relating environmental degradation with the wellbeing of Māori within Aotearoa New Zealand today. Here, I wish to highlight the ecological and cultural threats present from continuing in the current system. Lastly, I argue that the assertion of kaitiakitanga at the local-level is also an assertion of Indigenous autonomy for Māori and the environment.

text: Te Mauri o te Kaitiaki - Exploring Te Ao Māori in environmental relations and kaitiakitanga  in Aotearoa New Zealand Indigenous environmental empowerment is on the rise as humans look at ways to slow the adverse effects of anthropogenic environmental degradation. In the context of Aotearoa New Zealand, the concept and practice of ‘kaitiaki’ and ‘kaitiakitanga’, respectfully, play a significant role in the co-existence of Māori with the natural world. Previous research shows the innate connections and responsibilities encompassed in being kaitiaki which extend beyond the human element to encompass nonhumans and spiritual manifestations. This research aims to illustrate how Māori use cultural values, concepts and practices in local-level conservational practices through ethnographic research in Matapōuri. I investigate the conflicts and convergences of a rāhui recently placed on two cultural significant areas to the local hapū, and through this, I analyse the practical and spiritual application of kaitiakitanga. Based on this ethnography, I discuss a model for relating environmental degradation with the wellbeing of Māori within Aotearoa New Zealand today. Here, I wish to highlight the ecological and cultural threats present from continuing in the current system. Lastly, I argue that the assertion of kaitiakitanga at the local-level is also an assertion of Indigenous autonomy for Māori and the environment.

year: 2020