Authors:Clarena Larrotta, HeeJae Chung Pages: 1 - 9 Abstract: This article discusses the contributions of foreign-born TESOL instructors helping adult language learners develop literacy skills through a pen pal project, which lasted 10 weeks and consisted of writing letters back and forth weekly. The project provided adult immigrant learners with an opportunity to practice meaningful writing to support their English literacy development. The research questions include how do foreign-born TESOL instructors support adult immigrant learners develop literacy through a pen pal project' and what components of the pen pal project promote the development of civic literacy skills' Data for this article come from 159 letters product of the writing exchange between instructors and learners, and individual conversational interviews with the instructors. Study findings are presented through four themes: teachers as cultural informants, emotional connection, life and learning advice, and adult ESL learners’ linguistic competence. Study findings add to the body of literature focusing on the powerful contributions of foreign-born TESOL instructors to the education and language-culture acquisition of adult immigrant English learners. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.1 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Gaston Bacquet Pages: 10 - 15 Abstract: Much of social research in language learning in the past twenty years has been devoted to explore issues of identity construction and its sociological implications in terms of mobility and inclusiveness. There are a large number of studies on the areas of culture and identity, and how they relate to the investment and empowerment of language learners (Dörnyei, 2005; Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011; Norton, 1997, 2000, 2013, 2015; Norton & Davin, 2015; Ushioda, 2011). Some of these have been pivotal in the development of identity research for the past two decades and have laid the foundation upon which further research has been done: Norton (1995) proposed her Classroom-Based Social Research, in which learners become ethnographers of sorts under the encouragement of teachers; Brunton and Jeffrey (2014) examined some of the factors that might lead to empowerment with foreign students in New Zealand (2013), Diaz, Cochran, and Karlin (2016) conducted a study in American classrooms to investigate the impact of teachers’ behavior and communication strategies on students’ achievement and feeling of empowerment, and more recently Howard (2018) investigated the impact of teachers’ attitudes in the construction of socio-cultural identities in African-American students. Such research has provided a wealth of insight and suggested practices, but in this researcher’s opinion they have come short in providing any definite answers as to how to implement them or the outcomes they might yield. The purpose of this paper is to shed new light on how the aforementioned dimensions of identity construction, empowerment and investment can result in greater social inclusion for second-language learners. The paper analyzes each dimension separately, provides a theoretical background that links them to language learning, and then discusses some possible implications for teachers and researchers on how to further recruit students’ investment and enhance their sense of empowerment and inclusion. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.10 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Betül Alatlı Pages: 16 - 27 Abstract: This study aimed to investigate cross-cultural measurement invariance of the PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment, 2015) science literacy test and items and to carry out a bias study on the items which violate measurement invariance. The study used a descriptive review model. The sample of the study consisted of 2224 students taking the S12 test booklet from Australia, France, Singapore, and Turkey. Measurement invariance analyses for the test were done using Multi-Group Confirmatory Factor Analysis (MGCFA). Differential Item Functioning (DIF), in other words, measurement invariance of the test items, was analyzed using the item response theory log-likelihood ratio (IRTLR), Hierarchical Generalized Linear Model (HGLM), and the Simultaneous Item Bias Test (SIBTEST) methods.According to the findings, the test was determined to exhibit structural invariance across cultures. The highest number of items showing DIF was observed in the comparisons of Australia-Singapore and Australia-France with 35%. The number of items showing DIF, with 24%, determined in bilateral comparisons which included Turkey, the only country taking the translated form among other countries, did not show a significant difference compared to the other comparisons. While the lowest number of items showing DIF was obtained from Singapore-France samples with 12%, the rate of items indicating DIF in the France-Turkey samples was 18%. On the other hand, 35% of the items showed cross cultural measurement invariance. An item bias study was carried out based on expert opinions on items identified and released as showing DIF in the comparisons of Turkey with Australia and Singapore.According to the findings, translation-bound differentiation of the items, familiarity of a culture group with the contents of the items, polysemy in the expressions or words used in the items, the format, or the stylistic characteristics of the items were determined to be the cause of the bias in the skills measured with the items. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.16 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Jennifer Ngan Bacquet Pages: 28 - 35 Abstract: My personal experience as a teacher in Japan has raised questions about the usefulness of both summative and formative assessment, the possible benefits of non-traditional approaches to classroom instruction, and the influence of assessment measures in the success of Japanese students. For instance, the use of collaborative, inquiry, task or project-based learning in Japanese high schools is nearly non-existent because of the structure of government-led educational standards, which mostly focus on preparing students for university entrance examinations. By critically looking at the latest existing literature on the uses and impact of assessment in Japanese education, this paper aims to further contribute to the discussion on the topic by elucidating possible implications for teachers and researchers who are interested in the context of Japan or similar educational settings. This paper also attempts to look at Japan’s current educational practices and how cultural tradition is woven into the integration of teaching philosophy. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.28 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Ahmet Akçay, Muhammed Tunagür, Ahmet Karabulut Pages: 36 - 43 Abstract: This study aims to examine Turkish exam papers of the students, who study in the secondary school of 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th classes. The exam papers have been examined from various aspects, including the number and type of questions, the language expression and distribution of the questions, the cognitive level (according to the Bloom’s taxonomy), the type of texts used, and the visuals use. The samples of the study were selected using convenience sampling method from 17 secondary schools located in the center of Ağrı Province in Turkey and the exam papers prepared by 36 Turkish teachers who worked at these schools. The tests which were examined included 2633 questions in 161 exam papers. We also developed “the Exam Paper Examination Form” for collecting more data which we analyzed and interpreted by using the document analysis model. According to the results obtained, it has been found that the teachers mostly prefer to use the multiple-choice question type in the Turkish exam papers; the questions are mostly related to grammar and reading; the teachers do not prefer to ask questions on speaking and listening; and except for spelling errors no deficiency is detected in the language of the exam papers. In addition, according to Bloom’s taxonomy, the questions are mostly at the comprehension level whereas questions related to the analyzing, evaluating and creating levels that require high level thinking skills are rarely used. Based on the results, suggestions have been presented for Turkish teachers to prepare exams. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.36 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Hamadah Alsadoon Pages: 44 - 53 Abstract: Electronic books provide learners, lecturers and universities with an extra tool of instructions that can encourage or improve the learning process. The purpose of the current paper is to investigate obstacles students face in using e-books at the Saudi Electronic University. A mixed-method research design was used. Thirty students participated in two focus group sessions and 215 students participated in a self-developed survey designed to confirm the existence of obstacles revealed from qualitiave data. Results suggest that cost, eye-strain, and distractions were regarded as obstacles. Practices such as highlighting and taking notes were found to be limited. With the trend toward implementation of e-books in learning, e-book developers should consider factors that help students enjoy using the devices in education. Integrating multimedia, hyperlinks and other features of using technology in reading should be considered. Recommendations have been included in this study. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.44 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Kamal J I Badrasawi, Abdulateef Solihu, Tunku Badariah Tunku Ahmad Pages: 54 - 61 Abstract: This study examined the level of L2 speaking anxiety among school teachers undertaking a master’s degree at the International Islamic University Malaysia and sought to determine if the anxiety level would differ by gender, school location and teaching subject. A convenience sample of 290 teachers completed a 12-item survey on L2 speaking anxiety adapted from Nazir et al. (2014). The survey data were analyzed using the Rasch measurement modeling for polytomous data, independent samples t-test and one-way ANOVA. Overall, the respondents did not show high levels of speaking anxiety, [Mean -.89 logits]. Most were largely worried about being able to express themselves effectively in English [-.66 logits], making mistakes in speaking [-.31 logits], and how lecturers would react to their mistakes [-.38 logits]. The sample’s speaking anxiety scores were found to differ significantly by teaching subject, while no statistically significant differences were observed in regard to gender and school location. The results imply that the teachers need to be helped in terms of confronting the factors that cause them to be anxious about speaking in English. In terms of research, in-depth qualitative studies need to be undertaken to further understand the nature of L2 speaking anxiety among schoolteachers, while quantitative studies with larger samples are recommended to uncover underlying factors of speaking anxiety. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.54 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Belinda S. Zimmerman, Sharon D. Kruse, Tricia Niesz, William Kist, Melanie K. Kidder-Brown, Elham Nikbakht Pages: 62 - 70 Abstract: This study examined the ways in which early childhood pre-service student teachers (PSTs) used an online community for discussions related to teaching. Using the lenses of communities of practice, our goal was to understand what happens when the PSTs begin to share new learnings about teaching through ongoing practice in online communities. We investigated characteristics of the conversations of PSTs and their professors when using Facebook. This study was based on the postings of seven early childhood PSTs and five university faculty members. PSTs were interviewed at the conclusion of the semester to share their experiences from posting on Facebook. Two categories from the data include PSTs’ views of the viability of Facebook and the kinds of talk that surfaced within the Facebook group conversations. Findings suggested that Facebook has the potential to sustain informal dialogues. However, PSTs require strong faculty support to solve issues related to complexities of practice. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.62 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
Authors:Mustafa Kaya Pages: 71 - 80 Abstract: The most important source for the acquisition of the skills targeted in Turkish language course is the texts included in the textbooks. However, recent advances in computers have allowed the visual elements to be included in the education system in addition to textual elements. Visual elements are used in several media, especially in television and the Internet as well as books, magazines, newspapers, etc. For the acquisition of visual reading and visual reading skills, visual reading education is of great importance. In the present study that investigated the effect of visual reading education and visual elements on writing and verbal skills of middle school students, pretest-posttest random sampling design with control group, an experimental design was used. The study researcher randomly assigned 17 students in the study group and 18 students in the control group who were attending the 5th grade in Ahmet Yesevi ISE Middle School during the 2018-2019 academic year. The Written Expression Evaluation Scale (WEES) and Effective Speech Skills in Turkish Language Scale (VRSTLS) were used as data collection instruments. The study data were analyzed with parametric independent and paired samples t-tests. SPSS-PASW Statistics (Version 22) was used in analyses. The study findings demonstrated that visual reading awareness education had a significant impact on the development of writing and verbal skills of the students. PubDate: 2020-05-06 DOI: 10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.8n.2p.71 Issue No:Vol. 8, No. 2 (2020)
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