RSSThesis

The Usefulness of Decision-Forcing Case Studies in Helping to Prepare New and Experienced English as Foreign Language Teachers

The Usefulness of Decision-Forcing Case Studies in Helping to Prepare New and Experienced English as Foreign Language Teachers

| July 2, 2012

The objective of this action research project was to find the usefulness of decision-forcing case studies in helping to prepare new and experienced English as foreign language teachers (EFL) taking place in Western Chungnam province of South Korea. Nine decision-forcing cases were written for two Korean English Teachers (KETs) and two Native English Speakers (NESs) with one of each experienced or new to EFL teaching.

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An Evaluative Study of English Communication Skills Textbooks at the University of Jordan from a Functional Perspective

An Evaluative Study of English Communication Skills Textbooks at the University of Jordan from a Functional Perspective

| June 18, 2012

The present study is an attempt to investigate the functionality of the ECS textbooks within the framework of SFL. Hence, it consists of two parts: the first part was concerned with finding out the degree of this functionality as perceived by the ECS instructors in the UJLC and the UJ undergraduate students, while the second part was concerned with exploring how the aspects of functionality were distributed in the ECS textbooks.

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The impact of ‘phonological characteristics of Pashto’ and ‘native English environment’ on the pronunciation of English consonants

The impact of ‘phonological characteristics of Pashto’ and ‘native English environment’ on the pronunciation of English consonants

| June 12, 2012

There is a profound relationship between phonological characteristics of a language and the intelligibility of the speakers of that language. Pashtun speakers or learners of English, whether in Pakistan or in UK, consider their pronunciation to be a hindrance in smooth communication during their interaction with foreigners or among themselves.

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The Relationship between Perceptual Learning Style Preferences and Skill-based Learning Strategies

The Relationship between Perceptual Learning Style Preferences and Skill-based Learning Strategies

| June 12, 2012

During the last three decades, there has been a shift of paradigm from teaching methodologies to learning processes and learner characteristics. Research suggested that a host of cognitive, affective, and perceptual variables are at work when individuals go about the task of second or foreign language learning. Among these variables are learning styles and strategies.

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USING CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS TO RAISE CRITICAL LANGUAGE AWARENESS IN JAPANESE MEDICAL STUDENTS: AN EXPLORATORY ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

USING CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS TO RAISE CRITICAL LANGUAGE AWARENESS IN JAPANESE MEDICAL STUDENTS: AN EXPLORATORY ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT

| May 23, 2012

Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is a tool for textual analysis commonly used in the social sciences for uncovering hidden ideologies within discourses. It has been proposed (Cots, 2006; Wharton, 2011) that CDA might also be used as the basis for ESL/EFL classroom activities in order to raise Critical Language Awareness (CLA).

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Understanding the Current Stages of Three English Morphemes between two Groups of Chinese Learners

Understanding the Current Stages of Three English Morphemes between two Groups of Chinese Learners

| April 26, 2012

A few researchers have conducted studies on how a second language has been developed by learners in different contexts (Rivers, 1998; Talburt and Stewart, 1999; Yoshino, 1992 and McMeeKin, 2003). However, not enough research has been conducted on learners developing a second language in a homestay context.

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Crossing the Frontier: An Investigation Into the Effects of Explicit Cross-Linguistic Awareness-Raising on the Subsequent L2 Written Performance of Japanese Learners

Crossing the Frontier: An Investigation Into the Effects of Explicit Cross-Linguistic Awareness-Raising on the Subsequent L2 Written Performance of Japanese Learners

| January 29, 2012

Several decades of research have indicated that the relationship between a learner‟s mother tongue (L1) and second language (L2) is a significant one. This study examined the effects of cross-linguistic comparisons and contrasts between learners‟ L1 (Japanese) and L2 (English) on subsequent L2 written performance. Two linguistic features thought to be problematic for Japanese learners were the focus of these comparisons and contrasts: articles and plural suffixes.

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An examination into the extent that cultural factors cause role confusion between ALTs and JTEs in the Japanese English classroom

An examination into the extent that cultural factors cause role confusion between ALTs and JTEs in the Japanese English classroom

| December 5, 2011

This dissertation examines the extent to which cultural/societal factors contribute to role confusion between Assistant language teachers (ALTs) and Japanese English teachers (JTE) in team taught English lessons. ALTs have been a part of the Japanese English classroom since the establishment of the JET programme in 1987. However, there is still very little consensus amongst ALTs and JTEs as to what their role is and no clearly defined job description.

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Textbook Evaluation : A Framework for Evaluating the Fitness of the Hong Kong New Secondary School (NSS) Curriculum

Textbook Evaluation : A Framework for Evaluating the Fitness of the Hong Kong New Secondary School (NSS) Curriculum

| November 21, 2011

It has been widely accepted that a textbook is an essential component of the EFL classroom. Evaluation of textbooks, therefore, is of utmost importance so that its pedagogical contribution to the teaching and learning process can be assured. In the context of ELT in Hong Kong, textbook evaluation is even more of an important issue given the recent implementation of the New Senior Secondary Curriculum (NSS). Can the newly written NSS textbooks help teachers deliver the new curriculum objectives?

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An Evaluation of the Teaching of Reading Skills of English in Bangladesh

An Evaluation of the Teaching of Reading Skills of English in Bangladesh

| October 21, 2011

This study investigates an important area of English language teaching and learning. It examines the present situation of teaching reading skills of English, the problems students encounter during reading an English text and the learners’ proficiency level of reading skills when they are at the H.S.C level in Bangladesh. It also examines the reading syllabus and reading materials used at the intermediate level.

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