ethanporcaro/eric-fulltext-meta huggingface dataset:
English Digital Dictionaries as Valuable Blended Learning Tools for Palestinian College Students
Author: Dwaik, Raghad A. A.
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Blended Learning,Second Language Learning,Second Language Instruction,English (Second Language),Dictionaries,Foreign Countries,College Students,Structured Interviews,Language Tests,Questionnaires,Language Attitudes,Student Attitudes,Electronic Publishing,Vocabulary Development,English for Academic Purposes,Learning Activities,Assignments,Teaching Methods,Language Proficiency,Instructional Effectiveness

Digital technology has become an indispensable aspect of foreign language learning around the globe especially in the case of college students who are often required to finish extensive reading assignments within a limited time period. Such pressure calls for the use of efficient tools such as digital dictionaries to help them achieve their academic purposes. Efficient use of such tools, however, would not be possible unless students are familiar with their special features so as to use them to their maximum advantage. This paper investigates the extent to which Palestinian college students are familiar with the features and advantages of different dictionary types especially digital ones. It also probes the effect of using certain activities on the students' level of awareness and dictionary use. A structured interview and a test were applied on a group of 148 Arts and Science students at two local universities. The interview measured the purposes (skills) that these dictionaries are used for and the domains they are used in. At a later stage in the experiment, these students were involved in an eight week activity that required them to use an online dictionary on a daily basis to complete an assignment. After the experiment, it was found that the frequency of dictionary use declined in the case of the print dictionary and increased remarkably in the case of the electronic (CD-Rom) and online dictionaries. It was also found that exposing students to the authentic language available in electronic dictionaries notably enhanced the students' overall language proficiency.
On the Relationship between Iranian L2 Teachers' Pedagogical Beliefs and L2 Learners' Attitudes
Author: Sharajabian, Maryam
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Teacher Attitudes,Teaching Methods,Student Attitudes,Second Language Learning,Second Language Instruction,Surveys,Beliefs,Teacher Student Relationship,Questionnaires,Attitude Measures,Scores,English (Second Language),Language Teachers,Foreign Countries,Semi Structured Interviews,College Students,Adult Students,Majors (Students),Teacher Education

The present study employed a descriptive survey design to investigate L2 learners' attitudes towards language learning, and the possible effects of teachers' beliefs on learners' attitudes. Participants were chosen from among 2 groups: Twenty EFL teachers were asked to take part in this study and 80 from a pool of 213 learners at 2 language schools who were chosen to fill out the learners' attitude questionnaire. The teachers were subsequently placed at/in 3 groups of high-opinion group (HOG), moderate group (MG), and low-opinion group (LG), and the attitudes of the learners of these 3 groups of teachers were compared to uncover the possible impact of teacher beliefs on learner attitudes. The relationship between the teachers' beliefs and the learners' attitudes was analyzed, and it that showed there was a statistically significant difference in the learners' attitude scores for HOG, MG, and LOG. Analysis of the data showed that the learners of the HOG teachers gained significantly higher attitude scores than the learners of the MG teachers. Simply put, it was found that EFL teachers' beliefs can influence their learners' attitudes about language learning. Language teachers should learn about the effect of their beliefs and experience it and become more aware of practicing them.
Instructors' Perceived Effectiveness of Current Professional Development Programs at Taif University English Language Center
Author: Tawalbeh, Tha'er Issa
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,English (Second Language),Language Teachers,Teacher Effectiveness,Professional Development,Second Language Instruction,Teacher Attitudes,Positive Attitudes,Questionnaires,Likert Scales,Statistical Analysis,Content Analysis,Needs Assessment,Universities,Educational Quality

The present paper aimed to explore the EFL instructors perceived effectiveness of current professional development programs run at Taif University English Language Center (TUELC) in Saudi Arabia, and to provide suggestions to improve the current situation of these programs. To achieve these purposes, the researcher tried to answer three questions. The first question investigated instructors' perceptions of current professional development programs offered at the end of each semester, and the second and third questions examined the instructors' possible reasons for agreement and disagreement with the items proposed in the questionnaire distributed to them, and the instructors' suggestions to improve the current situation of professional development programs. A questionnaire of 4-Likert Scale and open-ended questions were used to gather data from seventy six teachers. The collected data were analyzed in the form of descriptive statistics, and content analysis was used for the open-ended questions. The results of the first question indicated that instructors in general have a negative attitude towards the current professional development programs run at the English Language Center. They only expressed their positive attitude towards the domains of professional knowledge and assessment strategies on the ground that they were given the opportunity to be interactive participants during discussing these two domains. Other possible reasons for agreement indicated that instructors shared knowledge and experience during the sessions of the program. However, their possible reasons for disagreement with the other domains showed that their actual needs were not considered when developing the program; they were mainly passive listeners, and the presenters were not professional enough to handle certain topics. Also, there was not enough focus on practice where learners could seek solutions to problems relevant to their classroom situations. They suggested that a needs assessment should be carried out and electronic professional development would be a good alternative to traditional meetings. Based on the results, the researcher drew certain conclusions and recommendations.
An Exploratory Study of Thai University Students' Understanding of World Englishes
Author: Saengboon, Saksit
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College Students,Language Variation,English (Second Language),Second Language Learning,Second Language Instruction,Student Attitudes,Pronunciation,Language Research,Teaching Methods,Questionnaires,Language Attitudes,Teacher Role,Language Teachers,Foreign Countries,Native Language,Thai,North American English

This exploratory study investigated the perceptions of Thai university students towards World Englishes (WEs). One hundred and ninety-eight students from three universities in Bangkok were administered a questionnaire inquiring about definitions of WEs, the Kachruvian concentric circles, the concepts of standard and ownership of English, Thai English and the role of native vs. non-native English speaking teachers. Findings revealed that the majority of the respondents were ambivalent about WEs, although they still prized British and American English as most desirable. However, Thai English was perceived as undesirable, although they did not mind whether Thais may speak English with the Thai accent. Implications for classroom teaching and future research are provided.
Using Goal Setting and Task Analysis to Enhance Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching
Author: Rubin, Joan
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Goal Orientation,Task Analysis,Language Acquisition,Second Language Instruction,Student Educational Objectives,Educational Planning

Task-Based Language Learning and Teaching has received sustained attention from teachers and researchers for over thirty years. It is a well-established pedagogy that includes the following characteristics: major focus on authentic and real-world tasks, choice of linguistic resources by learners, and a clearly defined non-linguistic outcome. This paper will focus on the contributions Goal Setting and Task Analysis can make to more effective Task-Based language learning and teaching.
Psychoanalysis of Jack London's &quot;The Call of the Wild&quot; and &quot;White Fang&quot;
Author: Yang, Hongyan
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Novels,United States Literature,Literary Criticism,Psychology,Sleep,Parent Child Relationship,Western Civilization,Physical Environment,Animals

&quot;The Call of the Wild&quot; and &quot;White Fang&quot; both are masterpieces of Jack London. The protagonists Buck and White Fang are the incarnation of Jack himself to some extent for the two novels reveal a great deal of the writer. This essay aims at psychoanalyzing Jack London's creative process, the Oedipus complex and the confliction between his dreams what he had been aspiring for and his real life.
Exploring Homework Completion and Non-Completion in Post-Secondary Language Study
Author: Gascoigne, Carolyn
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Homework,College Students,Second Language Instruction,Self Efficacy,Student Behavior,Theories,Case Studies,Technology Uses in Education,French,Study Habits,Student Surveys,Textbooks,Workbooks,Comparative Analysis,Student Attitudes

While homework is something that language professionals often assign, based on the paucity of research on the topic, it is clearly not something to which much attention is given in terms of professional discourse or research. In the following pages, the author reviews the limited available research and describes a case study that seeks to examine what students are doing, as well as not doing, in terms of written and online homework in beginning post-secondary foreign language courses. Results are examined through the lens of self-efficacy theory. Implications include allowing for student choice in homework options, particularly for those students with high levels of self-efficacy.
The Effectiveness of the Continuation Task on Second Language Learning of English Articles
Author: Jiang, Lin
Date: 2015-00-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Second Language Learning,Second Language Instruction,English (Second Language),Form Classes (Languages),Pretests Posttests,Task Analysis,Pictorial Stimuli,Asians,Error Correction,Teaching Methods,Language Usage,Writing Instruction,College Students,Foreign Countries

This article aims to uncover how alignment in the continuation task affects second language (L2) learning of English articles. Two classes of 47 Chinese students participated in the study which employed a pretest-treatment-posttest research design and lasted for a period of 20 weeks. One class received the continuation task treatment, during which learners first read a provided text and then continued it to make a complete story. The other class received the traditional topic-writing task treatment, during which learners were required to write a composition on a given topic. An error correction test and a picture description test were used to assess learners' L2 learning of English articles. Results showed that the continuation task was superior to the topic-writing task in facilitating L2 learning of articles, suggesting that the intimate coupling of production with comprehension in the continuation task triggers interaction between learners and the text, thus motivating learners to use the linguistic forms immediately available in the preceding text to make the content and language of their continuations in line with the text. This process can no doubt enhance the likelihood of L2 learning, especially in terms of article use.
An Implementation of Tolerance Training in a Geography Lesson: Students' Opinions
Author: Gökçe, Nazli
Date: 2015-10-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Geography Instruction,Multicultural Education,Student Attitudes,High School Students,Grade 9,Vocational High Schools,Qualitative Research,Questionnaires,Content Analysis,Foreign Countries

People around the world differ in race, language, religion, gender, and social and economic traits. Peace and calmness in the world can be created by teaching the value of &quot;tolerance&quot; to all people. In this age, war, violence and terror occur frequently. Thus, it was particularly important that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 1995 as The Year for Tolerance. Tolerance training is an important subject and it cannot be restricted to certain courses and curricula. Therefore, this study is a sample practice about how tolerance training can be provided in a Geography lesson. The study also determined students' evaluations about the practice. This study employs a qualitative design. The participants are the ninth grade students in Ataturk Technical and Industrial Vocational High School. The author has recorded the process of the practice and collected the opinions of all students by means of a questionnaire consisting of open-ended questions. The data were analyzed using content analysis. The study results indicated that a geography lesson offers a fine opportunity for tolerance training. However, the teaching and learning environment needs to be organized well.
Strengthening Preceptors' Competency in Thai Clinical Nursing
Author: Mingpun, Renu
Date: 2015-10-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Practicum Supervision,Professional Personnel,Nursing Education,Nurses,Questionnaires,Clinical Teaching (Health Professions),Surveys,Teacher Competencies,Teaching Methods,Likert Scales

The problem of lack of nurses can be solved by employing student nurses. Obviously, nurse instructors and preceptors have to work extremely hard to train student nurses to meet the standard of nursing. The preceptorship model is yet to be explored as to what it means to have an effective program or the requisite skills to be an effective preceptor. The purpose of this study is to explore how competencies and learning methods can improve nurse preceptors. The objectives of this study are to (1) identify the components of nurse preceptors' competency and their indicators, (2) determine learning method applicable to program development of qualified preceptors, (3) obtain empirical evidence of the degree of the importance of the competencies and indicators to the constituents associated with program development of qualified preceptors. This study is a descriptive survey design. A purposive literature review identified 7 relevant preceptors' competencies and 23 indicators. A total of 291 nurses volunteered to complete a questionnaire, indicating support of the desired competencies and preferred learning methods. Findings provide a competency-based model for program development to train nursing student preceptors in Thailand.
An Examination of Graduate Theses Related with Guitar in Terms of Methodology and Content: A Case of Turkey
Author: Yöndem, Sadik
Date: 2015-10-10
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,Theses,Musical Instruments,Graduate Study,Music Education,Research Methodology,Content Analysis

The aim of this study is to examine post-graduate thesis completed on guitar in Turkey. For this purpose, a total of 89 theses were investigated in terms of selected research topics, study participants, and methods for analysis. For the selection of the thesis included in this study three criteria were used; first, theses from 1990 (beginning time for first completed theses on guitar topic) to 2013 period, second, reaching the full text of theses, and third permission of author. The number of thesis investigated in this study represents about 93% (105 at total) of whole completed theses from different institutions in Turkey. Descriptive survey and content analysis method were used for examination of theses. The results of study showed that while selected theses topics reflect more diversity and school related issues at Faculty of Educations (using guitar at school music, teaching methods, etc.), the piece analysis from different compositors was mostly selected study topic at Conservatories and the Fine Art Faculties which parallel to institutions mission. As a conclusion, there are some summarized results and recommendations for upcoming researches on this guitar or guitar education in the light of completed theses and related research literature.
Perspectives of Women Decision-Makers Over the Participation and Recreational Events in Sports: A Turkish Perspective
Author: Guzel, Pinar
Date: 2015-10-23
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Females,Recreational Activities,Leisure Time,Decision Making,Participation,Foreign Countries,Role,Professional Personnel,Case Studies,Qualitative Research,Women Administrators,Administrator Attitudes,Gender Differences,Semi Structured Interviews

The purpose of this research is to put forth the role of the leisure and recreation events awareness including women decision-makers effects on their fellow women. Three main themes were recognized: Past; &quot;Process of leisure and recreation events of women in Turkey&quot;, Present; &quot;Model of Turkey for women on leisure and recreation&quot;, Future; &quot;Process of women's leisure and recreation in the near future&quot;. At the end of this research, it is expected to give new ideas to the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), academic institutions, local governments and private sectors who are in the aim of supporting women's participation in leisure and recreation.
A Study on the Application of the Immersion Teaching Model to EFL Learners in Institutions of Higher Learning
Author: Luan, Yuqin
Date: 2011-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Foreign Countries,English (Second Language),Second Language Instruction,Immersion Programs,Student Improvement,Instructional Effectiveness,Student Attitudes,Positive Attitudes,College Second Language Programs,College Freshmen,Pretests Posttests,Questionnaires

This paper reports an empirical study on the application of the immersion approach to English teaching in North China Institute of Science and Technology (NCIST) in line with the basic principles of the Canadian immersion teaching mode. The experiment result and survey shows that the students involved in the immersion course improve faster in productive skills (i.e. writing and speaking) than those in conventional education programs. The study reveals that, apart from gains of social and cultural knowledge, the immersion students seem to have developed a more positive attitude towards English study. It also suggests that the immersion approach to English teaching in colleges could be a feasible alternative to the traditional mode.
On Vague Reference in College English
Author: Ma, Jianhe
Date: 2011-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: College English,Ambiguity (Semantics),Educational Theories,Pragmatics,Syntax,Educational Practices,Structural Grammar

We often come across examples of vague reference in English learning, especially college English learning. On entering college, students tend to feel at a loss since their vocabulary is required to be enlarged rapidly and a variety of reference patterns are included in their learning materials which mostly come from American and European original works. Trying to break away from those traditional researches, this paper proposes to generalize the concept of reference from the perspective of pragmatic functions and analyzes a variety of vague reference phenomena.
A Comparison Study on the Rhetorical Moves of Abstracts in Published Research Articles and Master's Foreign-Language Theses
Author: Ren, Hongwei
Date: 2011-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Documentation,Rhetoric,Journal Articles,Masters Theses,English (Second Language),Applied Linguistics,Comparative Analysis,Graduate Students,Expertise,Foreign Countries

The abstract of research papers is one of the first things that a reader will read to determine the value of the research. A well-written abstract will surely promote the text attached to it more effectively. By examining the rhetorical moves in the abstracts of Chinese Master's English theses and published research articles in applied linguistics, this study compares the practices of student writers and expert writers in fulfilling the rhetorical goal of abstracts to shed light on the degree to which students appropriate to the practices of their own discipline and to provide relevant ESP materials for both teachers and student writers of applied linguistics, especially those who write in English as a foreign language.
A Contrastive Study on Metadiscourse Elements Used in Humanities vs. Non Humanities across Persian and English
Author: Zarei, Gholam Reza
Date: 2011-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: Contrastive Linguistics,Discourse Analysis,Indo European Languages,Humanities,Applied Linguistics,Computer Science,Engineering,Computational Linguistics,English,Models,Language Research,Language Usage,Statistical Analysis

The present study studied contrastively the use of metadiscourse in two disciplines (applied linguistics vs. computer engineering) across two languages (Persian and English). The selected corpus was analyzed through the model suggested by Hyland and Tse (2004). The results revealed the metadiscursive resources are used differently both within and between the two languages. As for the two courses, applied linguistics representing humanities relied heavily on interactive elements rather than interactional ones, compared with computer engineering representing non humanities. The analysis attests that humanities focus on the textuality at the expense of reader involvement. As indicated by the result, the idea of disciplinary prominence of metadiscourse across different languages needs to be cautiously taken into account.
Characteristics of English Teachers When Training Global Multi Cultural Students (Sinop Sample)
Author: Usakli, Hakan
Date: 2011-03-00
Type: Journal Articles
Subjects: English Teachers,Teacher Characteristics,Global Approach,Student Diversity,English Instruction,Qualitative Research,Teaching Methods,Academic Standards,Teacher Qualifications,Multicultural Education,Semi Structured Interviews,Questionnaires,Migrant Children,Teacher Competencies,Foreign Countries

Language teaching, particularly English language teaching was discussed in this study. That is why it is integral to the globalization. The study demonstrates that problems addressed from the aspects of administration, educational program and psychology can indeed be generalized to all. This study is conducted according to qualitative research methods. 60 English teachers explained their ideas on qualifications and teaching standards. As a conclusion, it was emphasized that English learning is a life style rather than simply being a preparation for passing examination. It is recommended for researchers to study on possible problems of multicultural education and their way of solutions.