scholarly journals ITALIAN THROUGH HISTORY OF ART: DELIVERING INTERDISCIPLINARY CONTENT-BASED LANGUAGE MODULES IN HIGHER EDUCATION CONTEXT

Author(s):  
Cinzia Bacilieri

The paper will describe the challenges of creating and delivering Italian for Art Historians, a bespoke content-integrated language course created for ab-initio Italian language students in History of Art (the majority of whom first-time language learners), and The Role of Art in Italian Society, a second-year language module part of the Italian degree programme at the University of York. Main topic will be the illustration of experimental initiatives aimed to facilitate the acquisition of bespoke specialist language skills essential to the History of Art discipline (beginner level students), and the use of Italian Art as a tool to develop critical thinking skills in a much broader language learning context (advanced level students). The first part will illustrate the challenges faced by the language teacher when planning and delivering an interdisciplinary content-based language module that has to be fully integrated into an undergraduate degree programme. Particular focus will be given to the collaboration between an art historian and a language teacher and its vital role in the creation of bespoke Art-related language teaching material and how this plays a pivoting role in the module planning. A number of case-studies will illustrate the impact that the interdisciplinary nature of these courses had in the applied teaching practice, students’ engagement and classroom activities. In particular, how the integration between the module syllabus and other components of the respective undergraduate degree programmes has led students to experience a deeper engagement in the learning process. The paper will also present examples of technology-enhanced teaching (e.g. online personal portfolios, audio and video material) and data analysis on how these were deployed to enhance the quality of the student engagement with pertinent art-related assessment activities, student-teacher interaction and monitoring of student progress.

Linguaculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-112
Author(s):  
Alyona Shyba

The objective of the article is to further study the concept “teacher’s professional competence” as well the ways of its formation. The research was conducted among the students as prospective teachers, and teaching staff of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. The analysis of the research helped prove the essential role of some factors in the professional development of future teachers. In particular, such factors as knowledge of the teaching subject, knowledge of effective teaching methods and skills to implement them, the importance of teaching practice, the personality factor, teacher’s self-education were singled out. Therefore, the paper aims to outline a few ideas on how to ensure the implementation of the above-mentioned considerations. We also dwell upon the impact of the human behavior on the process of foreign language learning and teaching. That is why knowledge about affective factors is consequential in the academic process and using some interactive methods can also help lower the affective filter. Types of motivation and ways to enhance it are described in the paper too.


2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Dilek Cakici

The primary aim of current study was to investigate the possible relationship between Metacognitive Awareness (MA) and Critical Thinking Skills (CTS) in a foreign language learning context. In addition, this research aimed to probe the effect of gender and years of pre-service English language teachers on the relation between metacognitive awareness and critical thinking abilities. 218 pre-service EFL (English as a Foreign Language) teachers participated in the study. Metacognitive Awareness Inventory and Critical Thinking Questionnaire were employed to gather necessary data. Obtained results confirmed that there existed a highly significant positive correlation between MA and CTS. Besides, the results indicated that there was a strong relation between the years of pre-service EFL teachers and their MA and CTS. Seniors were found to be more metacognitively aware and critical thinkers than their counterparts. Conversely, it was revealed that there was no gender effect on both MA and CTS. Finally, certain suggestions were set for tertiary institutions to develop metacognition and critical thinking skills in foreign language classroom settings.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 393
Author(s):  
Hayley Anne Cannizzo

Feminist pedagogy is a teaching practice, philosophy and process that seeks to confront and deconstruct oppressive power structures both within and outside of the classroom using a gendered lens. As Women’s Studies departments continue to grow in many universities, feminist pedagogy seems to be gaining popularity as an approach to engaging students in liberatory classroom practices. However, feminist language pedagogy (feminist pedagogy in the second language learning context) appears to have stagnated. This paper investigates the implementation of feminist language pedagogy in an EAP writing classroom for first-year students at a public university in the Southwest of the United States. Using action research, the teacher, who is the author of this paper, examined how feminist language pedagogy aids the development of her students’ critical consciousness and serves as a motivational tool for L2 writing development. The author finds that even in a short, sixteen-week semester, it is possible for students to foster critical consciousness without sacrificing linguistic development.


Author(s):  
Esra Siagian ◽  
Ifan Iskandar

Changes in time that cannot be undone require changes in society and the system. The change in curriculum is also carried out because of an increasingly competitive future. Students of genertion Z who are born spoiled will be increasingly difficult to live, difficult, resolved, find alternatives, and compete in the global world if not prepared from the bench of education. This paper explains how students are prepared not only able to think alone, but are able to develop critical thinking skills through language improvement so that they are ready to face the world of work. Project-based learning stages with a focus on 21st century competency training. Through Indonesian language learning students can become students who have learning and innovation skills, career, and digital literacy. In addition, 21st century learning trains communicative, collaborative abilities, and the use of cellular technology. Students are also taught to be able to apply the knowledge gained, be able to do what can be used in their lives, and be able to find solutions not only for academic needs but also useful in their lives. Through language learning students are prepared to become individuals who not only have knowledge, but also skills that can be utilized in future life and careers. Besides being a person who has the traits that can be used to survive in the industrial era 4.0.


ReCALL ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda Dooly ◽  
Randall Sadler

AbstractThis article presents a pedagogical design for teacher education that combines flipped materials, in-class instruction, and telecollaboration (also known as virtual exchange) for foreign language teacher education. The context of this study is a course on technology and language learning for future teachers in which the flipped classroom concept was applied to technology-infused collaborative teacher training between future ESL/EFL instructors located at two partner universities (one in the USA, one in Europe). The three main teaching approaches (flipped materials, in class, and telecollaborative, or “FIT”) were symbiotic in that each structure reinforced the other through reception, discussion, and reflection as a means to help the student teachers bridge the gap between theory and practice. We apply classroom ethnographic discourse analysis to data sources (face-to-face and online discussion groups, student e-portfolios) to look at uptake of ideas, conceptual understanding, and successful transfer of new knowledge, and thereby identify whether the design provides significant learning opportunities for the future teachers. Although most studies of telecollaboration in language teacher education look principally at output, this approach allows an in-depth look at the learning process as knowledge is developed collaboratively between the participants.


Author(s):  
Stephen Bax

This article revisits the issue of the normalisation of technology in language education, defined as the stage at which a technology is used in language education without our being consciously aware of its role as a technology, as an effective element in the language learning process (Bax, 2003). It draws on the literature relating to the history of sociotechnical innovation (Bijker, 1997) to develop the theoretical basis of the concept and examines normalisation in the light of a neo-Vygotskian conceptual framework, in order to establish a set of central principles by which to understand and interpret the normalisation process. It then considers the implications for the language teacher and other change agents, with proposals for how to introduce new technologies into language education settings with maximum impact.


ReCALL ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Robert O’Dowd ◽  
Melinda Dooly

Abstract Virtual exchange (VE) is an umbrella term used to refer to the engagement of groups of students in sustained online intercultural interaction and collaboration with international partners under the guidance of their teachers. In the computer-assisted language learning literature, telecollaboration and eTandem approaches to VE have been researched extensively. However, this research has principally focused to date on learner gains and the impact on teachers has been much less explored. This paper identifies the impact of VE on foreign language teachers’ practices and their professional development by examining the results of a qualitative study of 31 teacher trainers who engaged their classes in VE projects as part of a large-scale European project. The findings of the study suggest that participation in VE projects provides teachers with valuable experience in continued professional development and methodological innovation. In particular, VE was seen to open up opportunities for teachers to develop new professional partnerships, collaborative academic initiatives, to develop their own online collaboration skills, and also to introduce more innovative approaches in their current teaching practice.


AILA Review ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 112-137
Author(s):  
Pádraig Ó Duibhir ◽  
Laoise Ní Thuairisg

Abstract There has been a long history of early Irish language learning in Ireland as a result of Government policy to promote greater use of Irish. All children learn Irish in school from age 4–18 years. The majority learn Irish as a subject, typically for 30–40 minutes per day, and the levels of competence achieved are mostly disappointing. Approximately 6.7% of primary school children learn Irish in an immersion context, however, and these children achieve a high standard of communicative competence. In this paper we examine the impact of Government policy on the transfer of linguistic competence from the classroom to wider society in the context of a minority language that is becoming increasingly marginalised. We draw on data from three studies to explore the relationship between Irish-medium school attendance and the desire and opportunity to use Irish outside of school while attending school, and later as an adult. The first study also investigated students’ attitudes towards learning and using Irish. All three studies examined parents use of Irish in the home and the influence that the language spoken in their home during childhood and the language of their schooling had on their current language practices. Overall, Irish-medium schools are very successful in educating proficient speakers of Irish who have very positive attitudes towards Irish. These positive attitudes and proficiency do not necessarily transfer to use of Irish in the home. While attendance at an Irish-medium school as a child has a positive effect on later use of Irish, when former students become parents, the effect is quite small. The perennial challenge persists in transferring competence in a minority language acquired in school to the home and community.


Author(s):  
Aleksei Yur'evich Lysenkov ◽  
Liliya Faatovna Lysenkova

The subject of this research is the graphic heritage of the prominent Venetian master of the XVIII century Giovanni Battista Piranesi. The goal consists in examination of the role of Piranesi’s heritage in history of art and architecture. The author demonstrates the key milestones of his creative path, reveals the fundamental conceptual questions and themes of his graphic compositions. The defining influence of the depicted architectural compositions of Piranesi on the formation of one or another architectural object is viewed on the particular historical examples. The main research method consists in drawing parallels and designation of continuity of architectural ideas between the works of Giovanni Battista Piranesi and such architects successors as Joseph Paxton, Antonio Sant'Elia, Tony Garnier, Pietro di Gottardo Gonzaga, Ivan Leonidov, etc. The scientific novelty and practical importance of the article lies in tracing the trajectory of influence of the ideas, themes and architectural-spatial solutions of the great aquafortist upon his contemporaries and all following generations of architects. Particular historical examples demonstrate the defining influence of the depicted architectural compositions of Piranesi on the formation of one or another architectural object, as well as the emergence of famous conceptual architectural projects (including projects-utopias) in historical retrospective until the present time.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoise Collins ◽  
Brian Vaughan ◽  
Charlie Cullen ◽  
Keith Gardner

This study investigates how a design-based research methodology is best suited to measuring the impact of a designed virtual reality experience to improve situated identity in Irish learners focusing on their attitudes, motivation, and confidence as Irish language learners. This paper describes the design of GaeltechVR: an immersive Irish language VR experience designed for the VIVE Pro. It also gives the results of a mixed-methods study to measure the impact in a local adult Irish language learner context. A questionnaire on situated attitudes and motivation to language learning (Ushioda & Dörnyei, 2009) was adapted for the Irish context to investigate a small scale sample of the local context’s attitudes to Irish language learning. The participant’s gameplay was recorded for analysis along with questionnaires on presence (Witmer & Singer, 1998), simulator sickness and an adapted questionnaire on their attitudes after the intervention.Using best practice in design-based research experiments (Nelson, Ketelhut, Clarke, Bowman, & Dede, 2013) the study had two main goals: To investigate the usability of the design of GaeltechVR and to measure the impact of the intervention on attitudes, identity and motivation in the local Irish language learning context.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document