scholarly journals EFL Students’ Reluctance in Participating in English Speaking Activities at University College of Applied Sciences: Challenges and Solutions

2019 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. 28-51
Author(s):  
Alaa I. Murad ◽  
Mahmoud O. Jalambo
Keyword(s):  
Applied Sciences ◽  
University College ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking

Developing Intercultural Awareness and Language Speaking Proficiency for Foreign Language Learners through Cross–Cultural Voicemail Exchange

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amber Yayin Wang ◽  
Wan-Jeng Chang
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Intercultural Awareness ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking

To expand global and intercultural communication, the effectiveness of asynchronous online communication devices, especially email, have been discussed in the area of foreign language teaching. A lack of specific research exists that addresses the application of online voicemail. This paper reports on a five month period of voicemail exchanges between 53 EFL learners in Taiwan and 56 CFL learners in the United States. The authors examine the responses of EFL students to this cross–cultural voicemail project and assess their progress in intercultural awareness and English speaking proficiency before and after the project. This study concludes that the use of voicemail creates an impact on the English speaking performance and intercultural awareness of EFL students and increases the motivation of EFL students in using English to express ideas. Further implications for teaching are discussed.

The afterlives of Shakespeare and Milton on the streets of the English-speaking world

English Today ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 68-70
Author(s):  
Udo O. H. Jung
Keyword(s):  
Ben Jonson ◽  
British History ◽  
Modern Language Association ◽  
Isaac Newton ◽  
Modern Language ◽  
Winston Churchill ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
English Speaking World

From Ben Jonson to Thomas Carlyle, from the Modern Language Association of America to the British Tourist Authority, there were and there are enthusiastic testimonies to Shakespeare's greatness, to what his oeuvre means to the inhabitants of the ‘precious stone set in the silver sea’ and the world at large. Only recently, at the turn of the century, listeners of BBC's Radio 4 voted him Man of the Millennium. On that occasion, Shakespeare ousted dignitaries like Winston Churchill and Isaac Newton, who all play leading roles in British history, from their position of power. The playwright is dearest to the memory of his countrymen. He occupies the most prominent place in the national portrait gallery, if the witnesses cited above are accepted. There are some, however, who apparently beg to differ. Their dissenting voices were discovered in the context of cultural memory studies and a concomitant attempt to introduce EFL students to some of the core elements of British collective memory.

scholarly journals Technology Integration to English Speaking for Beginner Classroom Through Vlogs: A Bridge of EFL Students’ Hesitancy to Speak

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syifa’ Khuriyatuz Zahro .
Keyword(s):  
Technology Integration ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Speaking Proficiency ◽  
Generation Z ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
English Speaking

The current advancement of video-blogs (vlogs) in YouTube channel among students of generation z has challenged teachers to make use of its potential for students’ speaking enhancement. The present research aimed at elaborating the implementation of educational vlogs as well as lecturers’ and students’ perceptions in response to the use and the creation of educational vlogs to enhance their speaking proficiency and reduce their speaking hesitancy. The research piloted to university students who attended speaking for beginner course in Lamongan. This is mixed-method research employed 27 students who were purposefully selected as the sample based on their speaking proficiency level (good, average and less than average). The instruments obtained in data collection were notes of observation, students speaking scores, questionnaires, and interview guidance that were analyzed descriptively. The results of the study indicated that integrating vlogs to speaking classroom has positive feedback from both lecturers and students. Therefore, it is suggested to make use of the vlogs toward another classroom in different circumstances and skills.   Keywords: Technology integration, vlogs, speaking for beginner, speaking skill

scholarly journals A Qualitative Study: Investigating EFL Learners’ Self- Confidence To Decrease The Reticence In Speaking Ability

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ikrar Genidal Riadil
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Research Result ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Learning Language ◽  
Speaking Skills

Language is a pivotal aspect of human being. By learning, language people can communicate with each other, get information from one to another and interact. Unfortunately, in the real condition, it is still difficult for Indonesian students to practice their English ability in daily conversation. This study deals to increase the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' confidence in English speaking. This research used qualitative analysis by distributing questioner. This study suggest that EFL teachers should seek ways to increase students' collaboration in the classroom to help them gain confidence in speaking. The study involved the students in the fifth semester in the English Department at Tidar University. The researcher compared the gathered data with other relevant researches and theories involved in the study. Based on the research questions, the research result shows that students’ perceptions of self-confidence have a significant to decrease reticence in speaking skills. However, lecturers need to push the students in practice speaking English in front of a class, especially to improve the self-confidence when the students are communicating in English. Two research questions were formulated in this study. There are: (1) what are the factors of the EFL students’ reticence in speaking? (2) Do the students have high self-confidence in speaking skills? In conclusion, this article showed the results that EFL Learners’ self-confidence can be decreased the reticence in speaking ability or not. keywords: Self-confidence, speaking ability, EFL students, qualitative study

Discourse Features of Argumentative Essays Written by Chinese EFL Students

2008 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 179-200
Author(s):  
Ruiqin Miao ◽  
Xiuyun Lei
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Written Discourse ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Rhetorical Features ◽  
Argumentative Essays ◽  
Textual Organization ◽  
L1 And L2 Writing ◽  
L1 And L2

Studies on both second language discourse in general and Chinese EFL/ESL discourse in particular have reported mixed findings about the relationship between L1 and L2 writing. This study investigates the rhetorical features of argumentative essays written by Chinese college EFL students by analyzing paragraph and overall textual organization and development in 69 sample essays. The results show that the majority of the participants compose in a deductive pattern similar to what is typically employed by native English speaking writers. However, the way in which the Chinese EFL students develop their L2 written discourse lacks effectiveness and adequacy, in terms of the following features: the quality of the topic sentence (of paragraphs) and the introduction paragraph (of essays), the adequacy of supporting details, transitions between sentences and paragraphs, and the effectiveness of the ending (of essays). Furthermore, we explore the factors that may underlie the observed patterns. We conclude the paper by discussing the pedagogical implications of the findings and suggesting directions for future research.

Language Abilities and Culture Clashes in Cyberspace

2012 ◽  
pp. 414-428
Author(s):  
Anna M. Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Teaching Strategies ◽  
Online Communication ◽  
Cultural Norms ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Communication Problems ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Computer Based Education

An increasing number of ESL/EFL students are expected to enroll in hybrid (i.e., mixed on-site and online) mainstream courses populated by a majority of native-English-speaking students. However, due to varying language abilities and cultural clashes, the TESOL community has not yet explored the potential online communication problems for ESL/EFL students. This chapter examines issues of differences in language proficiency and cultural norms, identity, community, and muting that can affect computer-based education. The chapter also provides readers with teaching strategies that can be applied in hybrid mainstream courses that include ESL/EFL students.

Racial, linguistic and professional discrimination towards teachers of English as a foreign language

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-57
Author(s):  
Gerrard Mugford ◽  
Citlali Rubio Michel
Keyword(s):  
Working Conditions ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Employment Practices ◽  
Employment Benefits ◽  
Teachers Experiences ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Native Teachers ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Trained Teachers

English Language Teaching is a globalised industry which attempts to standardise the use of textbooks and teaching materials (Gray 2002), implement universally accepted teaching methodologies (Canagarajah 2002) and promote internationally recognised examinations (Littlejohn 2013). This one-size-fits-all objective not only ignores local contexts and specific learners’ needs, but also promotes the concept of the idealised ‘native’ English language teacher who adheres to teaching tenets and precepts emanating from English-speaking countries. In this paper, we argue that discrimination against Mexican teachers is not so much carried out through paying lower wages but perpetrated through job discrimination, unequal working conditions and fewer opportunities for career advancement. Deference to the idealised teacher increases racial, linguistic and professional tensions and discrimination in countries such as Mexico where local teachers’ knowledge, experience, insights and practices are often disregarded if not disparaged. The investment that Mexican ‘non-native’ teachers make in time, money and effort in certifying themselves as professionals is often thwarted, as ‘native-speaking’ and ‘native-trained’ teachers frequently receive privileged working conditions and employment benefits. By conducting semi-structured informal interviews and written questionnaires, we narrate and analyse seventeen Mexican teachers’ experiences of racism, professional belittlement and discriminatory employment practices, along with the experiences of Mexican EFL students. Therefore, the article helps raise non-native teacher awareness covering a range of discriminatory and inequitable employment practices.

Iraqi EFL University Students’ Use of Communication Strategies in Written Performance

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Raed Latif Ugla
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Basic Education ◽  
Communication Strategies ◽  
College Of Basic Education ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
University College ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Written Performance

The aim of this study is to discover the kinds of communication strategies (CSs) used by high, intermediate, and low proficient Iraqi EFL students in written performance. For the purpose of this study, 47 Iraqi EFL students who are studying English at Al-Yarmouk University College and College of Basic Education/ University of Diyala. Those students have divided into three groups (high, intermediate, low) based on their language proficiency level. To collect the data from participants, they have been asked to write a 100-word argumentative essay. The essay topic is: The influence of Facebook on Iraqi younger generation. The data have been analyzed qualitatively using Rabab’ah’s taxonomy of CSs (2001). The results of this study have revealed that the participants have used some of the CSs which have existed in the taxonomy of Rabab’ah. Additionally, they have used 3 other strategies which have not existed in this taxonomy. The results have showed that the language proficiency has direct effect on the use and choice of CSs in the written performance. Based on the results of this study and the researcher experience in the field of CSs, he has proposed taxonomy of written CSs to be used by learners and other researchers.

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