Changes in beliefs about language learning among Chinese EAP learners in an EMI context in Mainland China: A socio-cultural perspective

While the commodification of English as a global language may give rise to varying degrees of political and economic benefits for language learners, a simultaneous “cost” of this return may be a continued perpetuation of various forms of hegemony. In this vein, this one-year case study investigated a Canadian post-secondary English as a Second Language (ESL) program that analyzed the interconnections between language and culture through a critical dialogic approach. Classroom observations, however, revealed that disjunctions existed between the pedagogy as it was conceptualized and the practices of the instructors teaching there and suggested that the “critical” discourses mediated within the language classrooms essentialized culture and, subsequently, the identities of the students. This paper presents the voices of students from Mainland China as they attempted to negotiate their local and global identities within the larger sociopolitical contexts of the English language, generally, and English language education, in particular. I argue that classroom discourses can (re)create subordinate student identities, thereby limiting their access not only to language-learning opportunities, but to other more powerful identities. This paper thus highlights how ESL pedagogies and practices might address and contest hegemonic discourses and concomitantly reimagine student identities in more emancipatory ways.

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The Relationship between Socio-Economic Status, General Language Learning Outcome, and Beliefs about Language Learning

International Education Studies ◽

10.5539/ies.v9n2p89 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 89

Author(s):

Mohsen Ghasemi Ariani ◽

Narjes Ghafournia

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Language Learning ◽

Language Proficiency ◽

Measurement Errors ◽

Economic Status ◽

Learning Outcome ◽

Practice Test ◽

Postgraduate Students ◽

Beliefs About Language Learning ◽

Iranian Students

<p class="apa">The objective of this study is to explore the probable relationship between Iranian students’ socioeconomic status, general language learning outcome, and their beliefs about language learning. To this end, 350 postgraduate students, doing English for specific courses at Islamic Azad University of Neyshabur participated in this study. They were grouped in terms of their socioeconomic status. They answered a questionnaire in which they indicated their beliefs about language learning in different contexts of language use. Besides, a general language test of proficiency (a Practice test of a TOEFL Test) was administered to all the participants to homogenize them in terms of general language proficiency or general language learning outcome. The quantitative data were subjected to a set of parametric statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The findings manifested a positive relationship between the students’ economic status and general language learning outcome. Besides, the findings manifested a significant relationship between the participants’ language learning outcome and their beliefs about language learning. The findings suggest if language instructors are equipped with the necessary information to assist language learners in coping with their negative beliefs, the process of language learning is not only accelerated, but also probable measurement errors may decrease.</p>

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Indonesian JSL Students Beliefs and Learning Strategies in Kanji Learning

JAPANEDU Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pengajaran Bahasa Jepang ◽

10.17509/japanedu.v2i2.8818 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 132

Author(s):

Aep Saeful Bachri ◽

Dian Bayu Firmansyah ◽

Sudjianto Sudjianto

Keyword(s):

Second Language ◽

Language Learning ◽

Learning Strategies ◽

Self Report ◽

Survey Questionnaire ◽

Learning Beliefs ◽

Major Purpose ◽

Japanese Character ◽

Questionnaire Result ◽

Beliefs About Language Learning

AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui beliefs serta strategi belajar yang digunakan oleh pembelajar bahasa Jepang sebagai bahasa kedua (JSL Indonesia) dalam mempelajari huruf kanji. Penelitian ini juga bertujuan untuk meneliti tentang hubungan antara beliefs yang dimiliki oleh JSL Indonesia terhadap pembelajaran kanji dan strategi belajar kanji yang digunakan oleh pembelajar JSL Indonesia. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode deskriptif statistik. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan untuk pengumpulan data berupa angket dan interview. Ada dua jenis angket yang digunakan pada penelitian ini yaitu angket Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) dan angket Strategy of Inventory Language Learning (SILL). Sampel dalam penelitian ini yaitu mahasiswa/i Departemen Pendidikan Bahasa Jepang, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Dari hasil penelitian di lapangan, diketahui bahwa pembelajar JSL memiliki beliefs yang positif terhadap proses penguasaan kanji serta menganggap kesulitan-kesulitan yang dihadapi dalam proses pembelajaran kanji, dapat diatasi dengan pemilihan strategi belajar kanji yang tepat. Pengampu mata kuliah kanji juga dianggap memiliki peranan yang sangat penting untuk membantu pembelajar JSL Indonesia, terutama dalam memperkenalkan strategi-strategi belajar kanji yang efektif dalam proses penguasaan kanji. Terdapat korelasi positif yang signifikan antara Metacognitive-Compensation strategies dengan. Dari temuan penelitian di atas, disarankan agar pengampu mata kuliah kanji selalu mengevaluasi keefektifan metode ajar yang digunakan untuk membantu pembelajar dalam mengembangkan strategi belajar kanji mereka, serta membimbing pembelajar agar menghindari strategi belajar kanji yang tidak efektif seperti penggunaan kartu kanji untuk mengingat kanji. The major purpose of this study were to find out about which kind of beliefs and learning strategies are used by Japanese as second language (JSL) students in studying Japanese character (kanji). In addition, this study also aims to examine how kanji learning beliefs relate to the use of kanji learning strategies by Indonesian university JSL students. This study was conducted with descriptive statistic method, using Lickert scale type survey questionnaire and short interviews. The self report survey questionnaire Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) and Strategy of Inventory Language Learning (SILL), was used to examine learners' beliefs in kanji learning and to determine about learning kanji strategies used by Indonesian JSL students. The subject in this current research were the Indonesia University of Education students who are majoring Japanese language as their second language. Survey questionnaire result showed that overall learners have a positive beliefs on the process of acquiring kanji and also consider that the difficulties experienced in kanji learning process, can be solve by employ appropriate kanji learning strategies. They also believe that teachers have an important role in providing them a wider range of appropriate kanji learning strategies, that help them to acquire kanji in more effective ways. The significant correlation found between Metacognitive-Compensation strategies and kanji learning beliefs. While negative correlation found between Association strategies and students beliefs. Based on these findings, it is highly recommends that teachers need to consider the effectiveness of teaching methods used, in order to help student develop their learning strategies and to aware them about the ineffective kanji learning strategies found in this study such as using kanji card to memorize a new kanji, etc.

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