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Volume 6. Issue 4
December
2004 Articles
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We
present 11 articles in this December 2004 edition. We thank both
the authors for their outstanding work and our Editorial team
for their dedicated efforts enhancing and promoting the TEFL profession.
Articles can be read in up to three formats,
MS Word format, and
PDF format and some in HTML format.
You need Adobe pdf reader
to read the pdf files, and always run a
virus scan of all MS Word files before opening any file.
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The
first
article
is presented by Dr.
Erlenawati Sawir from the Monash University. Australia. The paper
examines one feature of communication strategies, allo-repetition
(two-party repetition) in conversation. It explores the many roles
of repetition through a study of informal dyadic conversations between
English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners from Indonesia, Vietnam
and Japan, and native speakers of English.
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The
second article is presented by Roger
Cohen. This essay describes the developments of English language
education in the People's Republic of Mongolia since the country's
democratic revolution in 1990. Although the study and use of English
in Mongolia has been thriving since this time, virtually no information
about this phenomenon has been reported. Therefore, an overview
of the country's English language planning policy and governmental
and non-governmental English language projects since 1990 will be
provided.
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The
third article is presented by Professor.
F. Sadighi, assistant Professor M.R. Parhizgar and M. Saadat of the
Shiraz University, Iran. Their study examined the development of preposition
pied-piping and preposition stranding in the interlanguage grammar
of 80 Iranian participants at three proficiency levels and specifically
focused on null-prep constructions in the participants' grammar to
test the two conflicting hypotheses.
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The
fourth article is presented by Mr. David Brown. This
action research paper examines the problems of student participation
in English conversation classes at a Thai university. It case studies
the use of an instant reward and recognition system, first devised
by TEFL teachers in Japan, to encourage higher levels of student participation
in two 'Intermediate English Conversation Skills' classes at Dhurakijpundit
University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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The
fifth article is presented by Kota
Ohata from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. In light of the
fact that L2 pronunciation errors are often caused by the transfer
of well-established L1 sound systems, this paper examines some of
the characteristic phonological differences between Japanese and English.
Comparing segmental and suprasegmental aspects of both languages,
this study also discusses several problematic areas of pronunciation
for Japanese learners of English.
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The
sixth article is by Dr. Yanpu Zhang.
This article presents a study of English academic writing by native
Chinese speakers. It explores the interactive relationship of topic
influence, individual (cultural) stance and text types in different
cultural contexts.
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The
seventh article is presented by Pedro Luchini. This paper
reports an evaluative case study in which the researcher working as
facilitator, assessor and evaluator critically analyzed the value
of his contribution to a Spoken English program offered at Shanghai
Normal University in China.
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The
eighth article is presented by Huw
Jarvis and Sirin Atsilarat. The authors present a critical examination
of the communicative approach (CA) with specific reference to a study
of the teaching and learning experiences of a group of Thai university
practitioners and students. It is argued that although the fundamental
tenets of the approach have served the profession well, it is now
time to consider an emerging alternative paradigm in the form of a
context-based approach (C-bA).
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The
ninth article is presented by Mr. Guoxing Yu of the Graduate
School of Education,
University of Bristol. Vygotskian approaches to second or foreign
language (L2) learning and teaching have been gaining momentum in
the field of L2 studies. This paper examines the significance of these
approaches, especially scaffolding and the zone of proximal development
(ZPD), in the perception, practice and progress of L2 learning and
teaching.
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The
tenth article is presented by Annie Hong Qin Zhao and Carol
Morgan. The authors consider the existence of a "Critical Period"
for L2A, and arguing the value of early exposure to the second language.
From the point of view of educational practice, allocating second
or foreign language resources to younger learners has pedagogical
credibility and cost-effectiveness.
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eleventh article is presented by
Dr. Roger Nunn from Japan. The "plain" English of
modern news media has a worrying capacity for keeping us in the dark;
which brings us back to Orwell, for whom the natural partner of Newspeak
was Doublethink. The Orwellian example of Doublethink best suited
to this paper is perhaps, "Ignorance is strength", although
some might prefer "War is peace". The
political speak of U.S. Defense Secretary, Mr. Donald Rumsfeld, is
considered. |
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