ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Cultural Schemata on EFL Learners&apos; Reading Comprehension Ability
Author: Bensalah, Hiba
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Cultural Influences,Teaching Methods,English (Second Language),Second Language Instruction,Reading Skills,Reading Comprehension,Schemata (Cognition),College Freshmen,Prior Learning

This research study aims to investigate the impact of cultural schemata on the process of reading culturally-loaded texts, and whether the use of pre-reading activities recompenses for the absence of cultural familiarity. In this regard, EFL readers bring to the text a wide range of experiences. Consequently, such diversity of prior knowledge influences their perception and interpretation of foreign language texts. Here comes the role of cultural schemata, which is indeed a very critical role. How do cultural differences in background knowledge influence students' reading comprehension ability? To recognize the effect of cultural schemata on comprehension, it is essential first to understand the significant role that background knowledge plays in the reading process. Therefore, to carry out this research, a selection of reading comprehension tests was assigned for an experimental and a control group in a quasi-classroom experiment of first-year EFL students at Ibn Khaldoun University (Tiaret). While the experimental group was provided with pre-reading tasks to activate their background knowledge, the control group received no treatment. We collected data from 40 participants, and the results show that many EFL learners belonging to the control group display a lack of cultural schemata since their prior-knowledge is not activated, which may well impact negatively on their reading practices. By contrast, participants of the experimental group performed better in the comprehension test than those in the control group. In brief, there is a correlation between activating students' background knowledge and the increase of reading comprehension ability.
An Activity Showing How to Use History of Science in Teaching Nature of Science
Author: Cansiz, Mustafa
Date: 2019-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Science History,Science Instruction,Scientific Principles,Middle School Students,Scientific Attitudes,Grade 6,Science Activities,Human Body,Biology,Questioning Techniques,Discussion (Teaching Technique),Generalization,Concept Formation,Scientific Literacy,Foreign Countries

The purpose of this study is to develop a history of science activity which can be used to improve middle school students' nature of science views. The activity was designed and implemented based on an explicit-reflective approach within the context of the circulatory system. The activity was designed for grade 6 students and implemented during the 3-hour class period. During the implementation, most of the students successfully participated in the whole class discussion and established a connection between historical material and the corresponding nature of science aspect. Since the history of science activities in teaching key aspects of nature of science are still insufficient, the activity might both contribute to filling this gap in the literature and provide an example for science teachers to teach nature of science.
The Impact of Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety on Saudi Male Students&apos; Performance at Albaha University
Author: Gawi, Elsadig Mohamed Khalifa
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Anxiety,Classroom Communication,Second Language Learning,English (Second Language),Performance Factors,Males,College Students,Applied Linguistics,Likert Scales,Measures (Individuals)

The present study aims at investigating the effects of foreign language classroom anxiety on Saudi male students' performance at Albaha University. This study is going to answer the question if the FLCA has an effects on Saudi students' performance. The participants of the study were (n=50) students, who enrolled in applied linguistics courses, level 2 in the College of Science and Arts in Almandaq in the second term (2018). The study ran a questionnaire for testing anxiety levels to the participants of the study to collect data. It contained fifteen elements, with the variables divided into three segments they are communicative apprehension, test anxiety, and Fear of negative evaluation, respectively. It also used a &quot;descriptive&quot; and inferential methods to investigate whether the students feel EFL anxiety. The study findings revealed a slightly higher level of communicative apprehension (3.6), a moderate level of test anxiety (3.4), and the participants experience a low level related to fear of negative evaluation (3.3). The calculated mean of overall hypotheses is (3.4) which suggests that the students suffer a moderate level of foreign language Classroom Anxiety. These findings explored significant effects of foreign language anxiety on the Saudi male students' performance at Albaha University due to these variables, respectively. Besides, the results of this paper provided teachers and decision-makers with some recommendations and pedagogical implications that will enable them to overcome the male students' language anxiety in the classroom in the Saudi setting, which will also help in achieving better learning outcomes.
Enhancing Critical Writing towards Undergraduate Students in Conducting Research Proposal
Author: Yamin, Moh.
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Undergraduate Students,Research Proposals,Critical Thinking,Writing (Composition)

Critical thinking in writing for learners is needed to able to build a sense of crisis towards any issues. This capacity is required to create a framework based on reflecting, exploring, and solving some practical problems in their learning, work, and daily lives. This article aims to enhance critical writing towards undergraduate students in conducting research. The research method used is descriptive method with qualitative approach. The data used to analyze is gotten from many research articles in international journals discussing critical writing to conduct a research proposal. The research discussion and result state that learners' capacity to be familiar with critical thinking writing is essential. It deals with brainstorming the problems of research topics, reflecting, and exploring the issues of research topics. Students should also have the capacity to write the research background, research problem, review of related literature, and research method based on the guidelines of the research proposal. The writing skill relating to the competence of organization, elaborating content, paying attention mechanics, language use, and vocabulary become the leading and supporting capital to be successful in conducting the research proposal.
Critical Thinking Skill Gap in the Kenyan Educational Curriculum: The 21st-Century Skills for the Global Citizen
Author: Ongesa, Cosmas Masega
Date: 2020-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Critical Thinking,Thinking Skills,Foreign Countries,21st Century Skills,Skill Development,Elementary Secondary Education,Higher Education,Educational Policy,Competency Based Education,Communities of Practice,Educational Change

Across the globe, the learning goals of elementary, secondary, and higher education curricula emphasize the development of the critical thinking approach. In Kenya, the curriculum mentions developing critical thinking as one of its objectives, but a critical review reveals that the education system prioritizes competitive exams and rote memorization over critical thinking and other vital 21st-century skills. In this paper, I argue that educational authorities can achieve this objective if they critically evaluate the purpose of education regularly to ensure that there is an alignment between the stated goals and practice. They also need to make sure that the education they provide leaves no learner behind.
Daisaku Ikeda&apos;s Philosophy of Value-Creating Global Citizenship Education and Africana Humanism: Africa as the Continent of the 21st Century
Author: Stewart Williams, Joy E.
Date: 2020-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Values Education,Global Approach,Citizenship Education,African Culture,Humanism

Daisaku Ikeda proclaimed that Africa would be the beacon of hope for the world in the twenty-first century. Contemporaneously, Kwame Nkrumah was excited about the potentially galvanizing role a united Africa might play on the world scene. Nkrumah envisioned the reawakening of an African personality, which would provide the foundational essence for the United States of Africa and accelerate African psychological, political, and economic decolonization. Nkrumah's conceptualizations of unity mesh with Ikeda's paradigms of global citizenship. This paper shows how Ikeda's philosophy of value-creating education for global citizenship could amalgamate Africana educational models toward global citizenship as a unifying factor in Africa and the diaspora and as an instrument for making Africana Humanism the spirit of the 21st century.
Investigating the Use of Internet Applications for Teaching at Higher Educational Level in the Indonesian Context
Author: Asri, Tri Mega
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Internet,Educational Technology,Technology Uses in Education,Higher Education,Teaching Methods,College Faculty,Technology Integration,Teacher Competencies,Technological Literacy

Regarding the need for lecturers to upgrade their competence in making use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and internet in their teaching practices in 4.0 era as stated in The Teachers and Lecturers Act No.14/2005, this study aims to investigate the use of internet application for teaching students in the university level. More specifically, this study is intended to find out the kinds of internet applications used by lecturers in Universitas Brawijaya in their teaching practices. This study employs a mixed-method resulting in qualitative and quantitative data. Data are collected using questionnaires distributed to 137 young lecturers with an age range of 30-40 years representing 16 faculties at Universitas Brawijaya. Then, it is continued with interviews in the form of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) to capture further information related to the use of the applications. The results show that Google Classroom has been used by most of the participants. Then the other kinds of internet applications used include Kahoot.com, Edmodo, Virtual Learning, EdPuzzle, Email, Moodle, WPLMS, Youtube, Google Form, Blog, Turnitin, Quissis, Classmaker, and Schoology. In relation to the limitations of the present study, future researchers are recommended to investigate the implementation of each of the applications to find out its effectiveness in helping students learn the subject-matter being taught. Moreover, further research related to students' perceptions in the use of the above-mentioned applications is important to be done. Also, investigating the use of internet-based applications for students in different grades and levels of education is still an interesting area to be studied further.
The &quot;Okule&quot; Cult Education and Practice in Ghana
Author: Ntewusu, Samuel
Date: 2020-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Females,Indigenous Knowledge,Cultural Influences,Teaching Methods,Cultural Maintenance,Recruitment,Folk Culture,Training,Language Usage,Second Language Learning,Health,Medicine,Religion

Using oral interviews, archival sources, observation, and published materials, we discuss the recruitment and training processes of the Okule Cult, an all-female cult. We analyze information obtained from the Nawuris of Northern Ghana to give insights into the relevance of Okule education practices to communities in Ghana. Knowledge about how members of the Okule cult educate new inductees and younger members advances our understanding of the continued importance of African Traditional Education. It would aid efforts to decolonize education on the African continent. The findings of our study can help educational authorities provide a balanced and holistic educational experience to learners.
Preparatory Learners&apos; Perspectives of Learner Autonomy in the Saudi Context
Author: Asiri, Jameelah
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Personal Autonomy,Foreign Countries,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Knowledge Level,Young Adults,Females,Learning Readiness,Negative Attitudes,Learning Strategies,Student Role,Higher Education

Learner autonomy is a developing concept that has been the focal point of number of research papers investigating language learning. It has been under investigation by number of scholars and researchers over the years, the concept of learner autonomy has been supported by number of researchers, others attempted to prove that it does not fit all learners of different backgrounds. In this research paper, the focus is mainly on learners' perspectives of learner autonomy, what do they know? To what extent the students understand the concept of learner autonomy? Developing autonomous learners is an area that needs to be explained. There are limited studies conducted in the Saudi context therefore, this study investigates Preparatory year female EFL students' perspectives of learner autonomy in the Saudi context. Moreover, it examines whether the learners have the knowledge and the competence to develop their learning. The perspectives and views of 150 learners were collected using a questionnaire. The study follows a mixed methods approach. The reviewed literature showed that implications of learner autonomy reflected positively on learners (Burkert &amp; Schwienhorst. 2008; Han, 2015). The main findings of this study revealed that students participated in this study had negative perspective of learner autonomy.
Promoting Students&apos; Intercultural Communicative Competence through English Literary Texts: Students&apos; Attitudes and Teachers&apos; Challenges
Author: Bagui, Hayat
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Intercultural Communication,Communicative Competence (Languages),English Literature,Student Attitudes,Second Language Learning,English (Second Language),Negative Attitudes,Cultural Awareness,Teacher Role,Language Teachers,Young Adults,Graduate Students,Integrated Curriculum,Foreign Countries

The focal aim of the current paper is to take an in-depth look at the effect of the English culture on foreign language learners. In this regard, the researchers inquire about how intercultural communication affects English as a foreign language (EFL) students during the process of learning English literary texts carrying aspects of the target culture. This study, thus, endeavours at shedding light on students' attitudes towards some aspects of the English culture when studying literary texts. It also intends at scrutinizing teachers' strategies in teaching culture through literature; referring to their active roles in fostering intercultural awareness and Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) among their learners. To do so, the researchers collected data through a questionnaire addressed to forty first-year Master students of Literature and Civilization in the department of English at Tlemcen University supported by an interview with teachers of literature. The findings revealed that most students exhibit negative attitudes towards some aspects of the English culture when studying literature. Their responses demonstrate that they are unaware and ignore the differences between cultures i.e., they are not culturally competent enough to avoid intercultural clash within various lectures of literature. The results also showed that teachers peacefully attempt to provide the appropriate teaching techniques and strategies to integrate teaching culture through literary texts to foster tolerance and empathy with speakers' target language, identity, and culture.
Five-Year Licensure Examination Performance of Library and Information Science Graduates
Author: Lascano, Elizabeth A.
Date: 2017-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College Graduates,Library Science,Licensing Examinations (Professions),Librarians,Outcomes of Education,Foreign Countries,Alumni,Academic Achievement,Information Technology,Indexing,Library Administration,Library Materials,Cataloging

Licensure examination performance of graduates is one measure of the effectiveness of curricular programs. This study analyzed the five-year performance of 159 BLIS graduates in the Librarians' Licensure Examination in from 2011 to 2015. Findings reveal that the passing the graduates' passing rates were statistically consistent in the five-year duration. The average passing rate was moderately high at 57.89%, but the mean general rating was only 73.23%. The general ratings had a slightly platykurtic, negatively skewed distribution. Overall, the institutional passing rate surpassed the national passing rate by 45.12%. Passing rates were highest in Information Technology, Indexing and Abstracting, and Library Organization and Management. Lower passing rates were posted in Selection and Acquisition of Library Materials, and in Cataloguing and Classification. The first timers, and the review center attendees, outperformed their respective counterparts, while the male and female examinees were statistically even. The first timers scored better than the repeaters in five areas, save cataloguing and classification. Meanwhile the male examinees and the center-reviewers were better than their counterparts on only one area - Library Organization and Management, and Selection and Acquisition of Library Materials, respectively. Recommendations as to the result of this study were proposed.
Summarizing as a Strategy to Enhance Grammar and Writing Skills: The Case of First Year LMD Learners at the Algerian University Dr. Tahar Moulay-Saida
Author: Mouri, Chahrazede
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Writing Strategies,Writing Skills,Grammar,Foreign Countries,Instructional Effectiveness,Writing Instruction,English (Second Language),Spelling,Error Patterns,Student Motivation,Story Reading,College Students

Writing is a major language skill that should be the concern of teachers and students. Some first-year English language students seem less interested in writing correct sentences and paragraphs because of the lack of grammar and writing practice in the classroom. They mostly encounter grammar use difficulties, which impede their written communication. The research question that arises in this respect is: does summarizing strategy help learners improve their grammar and writing skills? The aim is to raise teachers' awareness about the importance of summary as a strategy to help learners apply grammar rules correctly when writing. The participants were first-year students from the department of English, Dr. Tahar Mouley University-Saida. To achieve the work, the researcher applied the quantitative and qualitative research methods that resulted in excellent productions. Yet, findings displayed recurrent errors as tense verb agreement, articles misuse, and irregular verb past simple tense, in addition to mechanics and style problems. The purpose was precisely to cure these problems. Nevertheless, students showed interest and found it enjoyable to write summaries, for it offered them the opportunity not only to practice grammar rules but also to produce complete sentences, including mechanics. Subsequently, summarizing a movie, a book, an event, or a discussion could be recommended.
Feedback on the Classroom Performance of Pre-Service English Language Teachers in Oman
Author: Al-Malki, Moza Abdullah
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Preservice Teachers,Language Teachers,English (Second Language),Feedback (Response),Performance,Teacher Competencies,Student Attitudes,Cooperating Teachers,Student Teacher Supervisors,Emotional Response,Student Participation

The research reported here is part of a larger, doctoral study that aims at examining the process of assessing the classroom performance of pre-service English language teachers in three higher education institutions in Oman. This article reports on an investigation into the social practices associated with assessing the classroom performance of pre-service English language teachers at Sultan Qaboos Univeristy (SQU), Rustaq College of Education and Nizwa University. Specifically, this study aims at answering one research question: How do stakeholders understand and experience feedback when assessing pre-service teacher classroom performance? The research adopted a phenomenological approach for examining a total of 10 participants' feedback experiences through semi-structured interviews and observations of the phenomenon in situ. The findings of this study revealed shared understandings about the purpose of feedback for improving pre-service teachers' classroom performance. However, it was revealed that variations in feedback processes affected its efficacy in enhancing pre-service teachers' classroom readiness. Pre-service teachers confirmed this finding and expressed their desire for greater agency and some consistency and uniformity in the type of feedback they receive during their school experience. The paper concludes by presenting recommendations that go to heighten the quality of the feedback process provided to pre-service English language teachers in Oman.
Promoting Students Active Citizenship: The Project SPACE
Author: Chianese, Gina
Date: 2018-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Program Descriptions,Citizenship Education,Citizen Participation,Cooperation,Emotional Intelligence,Persuasive Discourse,Student Empowerment,Teaching Methods,Skill Development,Democratic Values,Cultural Awareness,Communication Skills,Leadership,Mentors,Active Learning

The project SPACE, described following, aims to support empowerment, participation and active citizenship of young people across Europe through active involvement in the school and local community. In order to support this process, SPACE offers innovative methods and tools to encourage students' participation and to develop their competences and skill, such as collaboration, participation, negotiation, and emotional intelligence. In this way, they can learn democratic ideas, and practice competencies for active citizenship through participation at working groups or involvement in student council, developing as future active citizens.
Omani Students&apos; Coping Strategies in an English Medium Engineering Programme
Author: Ali, Holi Ibrahim Holi
Date: 2020-06-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Coping,Language of Instruction,Engineering Education,Difficulty Level,Native Language,Semitic Languages,Code Switching (Language),Translation,Dictionaries,Web Sites,Social Support Groups,Tutoring,Second Language Learning,English for Academic Purposes,College Students

This study explores how Omani engineering students utilised coping strategies whereby they negotiated the challenges inherent in studying through the medium of English (EMI) both the students and their teachers utilised several coping strategies to overcome EMI-related problems and difficulties. A qualitative research design with a semi-structured interview with twelve engineering students as the main method of data generation. The interview data were coded thematically and analysed inductively. Key theories were chosen to inform the study design and help in interpreting and understanding the study data. The study seeks to answer the following question: How did Omani engineering students respond to EMI challenges? The data analysis and interpretation are presented according to the emergent themes and a priori themes. The identification of themes offers insights into understanding Omani students' learning experiences through the medium of English and presenting the participants' stories about their challenges and difficulties in college. These experiences are categorised and presented here based on the themes rather than through ascription to the individuals to which they relate.