scholarly journals Using design thinking as an appr Using design thinking as an approach to creative and communicativ e and communicative engagement in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 63-81
Author(s):  
Tim Cleminson ◽  
◽  
Neil Cowie ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Student Work ◽  
Language Play ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Japanese University ◽  
Collaborative Engagement ◽  
Viable Method

Design thinking (DT) could provide a viable method to develop 21st-century skills in English as Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms; however, its potential is not clearly understood. To explore this potential, two Japanese university teachers developed a DT course in which students built a creativity measure and wrote academic reflections. Student work displayed creative thinking, insight, and language play. Survey data revealed correlations between DT, student enjoyment, confidence communicating, and thinking flexibly. In conclusion, DT can facilitate collaborative engagement and creative thinking, however, time to develop on-task communication and a focused approach to report writing may be necessary to support understanding and communicative competence.

scholarly journals Correlation of Creativity and Academic Performance in English in STEM and Humanities Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-482
Author(s):  
Irina E. Beliakova ◽  
Marina A. Kecherukova ◽  
Julia S. Murzina
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Microsoft Office

Introduction. Developing students’ creative thinking is one of the current global trends in higher education. Despite the existence of a number of studies focusing on creativity enhancement, including its development by means of foreign language learning, the problem of the correlation of students’ creativity levels, academic profile (track) (STEM and humanities) and academic progress in mastering a foreign language remains open. The purpose of this study was to identify possible correlations: between the creativity of university students and their academic performance in a foreign language and between their creativity and specialization areas. Materials and Methods. The sample consisted of 300 students (150 majoring in humanities and 150 in engineering) from two Tyumen universities. The study used an abridged version of the Torrance test of creative thinking, the second subtest “Incomplete Figures Task”. The collected data were processed using mathematical statistics methods in Microsoft Office Excel and Statistica 10.0. Results. According to the results of the study, a low level of students’ creativity was discovered in terms of originality and flexibility of thinking. These indicators were lower than those of the high school students in 1994. At the same time, two other indicators, fluency and elaboration, were higher than statistical norms. A positive correlation was found between academic performance in English as Foreign Language and elaboration. No relationship between academic performance in EFL and other indicators has been registered. There were no statistically significant differences in the level of creativity between students majoring in engineering and humanities. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study point to the need to find new ways to foster students’ creativity in the classroom, including creation of a creativity stimulating environment, pedagogical monitoring of students’ creativity, and measures to encourage creative teaching.

scholarly journals DESIGN THINKING DEVELOPINGMETHODSIN FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES

PRIMO ASPECTU ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 86-92
Author(s):  
Natalia A. FROLOVA ◽  
Irena V. ALESHCHANOVA
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Scientific Activity ◽  
Educational Process ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Language Classes

The article considers the issue of design thinking developing methods in foreign language classes. The study materials are presented by educational and methodological courses for teaching foreign languages, methodical developments for professionally oriented teaching, checklists of students’ educational and scientific activity, the final rating of the educational process of the academic groups participating in the experiment. The methods of observation, questioning and interviewing were used. The experimental results were statistically processed. The authors differentiate between the concepts of "design thinking" and "creative thinking" which are often confused. In this case design thinking is viewed as a higher level of thought process. It was found that the most effective basis for developing students' design thinking skills is the OIW (organized independent work), in particular, project activities. The effectiveness of the methodology for the formation and development of students’ design thinking competence core has been proven experimentally in 2018-2020 academic semesters in the process of full-time and remote working modeat at the Foreign Languages and Humanities Department of the Kamyshin Technological Institute (branch) of the Volgograd State Technical University. The conducted study showed that students participation in the experiment significantly influenced their outlook, quality of intellectual modeling, research activities, subject communication both in their native and foreign languages.

scholarly journals Enhancing EFL learning in college through performance festivals – a holistic approach

2016 ◽  
Vol X (2) ◽  
pp. 49-64
Author(s):  
Yasuko Shiozawa ◽  
Miho Moody
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Leadership Skills ◽  
Educational Experience ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Current Status ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
University Teachers ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Japanese Student

A group of university teachers have worked to organize and host an annual performance festival for 20 years. About a hundred students from several universities gather and perform a variety of oral activities every year. Students engage with everything from everyday events to long-standing global issues through drama, and thus this festival is a unique educational experience. Touching on the current status of EFL (English as Foreign Language) within Japanese Universities, this paper aims to discuss the significance of the festival through briefly describing some sample performances and their process of preparation. While the festival is not in any way competitive, both students and teachers attending are expected to provide some form of feedback to every performance viewed. Expressing themselves at the festival is especially meaningful in the context of EFL, where no immediate need to use the language in their daily life exists for the typical Japanese student. Additionally, participants are likely to gain a sense of achievement and confidence through the process and encouraging response at the festival. Finally, students learn to collaborate efficiently and build leadership skills. Challenges in terms of preparation and management of the festival are also discussed in this paper.

Case method in the students’ university foreign language education

2021 ◽  
pp. 95-106
Author(s):  
Roman A. Danilin
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Creative Thinking ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Foreign Language Education ◽  
Case Method ◽  
Dominant Type ◽  
Speech Activity ◽  
Analytical Skills ◽  
History Of

The case method is one of the methods of problem learning, which allows, based on the description of the problem, to organize the learning process in order to develop a number of universal skills and foreign language speech skills of students. The history of the case method, the typology of cases, the didactic and linguodidactic potential of the case method are described. Based on the analysis of scientific literature, we distinguish the following typological features: a) the complexity of the case; b) the purpose and objectives of the case; c) the degree of structuredness; d) the volume of the case; e) the presence of the plot; f) temporary space; g) subjectivity; h) dominant type of activity; i) subject-content area; j) the number of participants; k) language of the project. The work describes in detail the types of cases for each type. The case method has a didactic potential, allowing to develop analytical skills, critical thinking, professional creative thinking, practical skills, communication skills, social and reflexive skills. When teaching a foreign language on the basis of foreign language cases of a general cultural or professionally oriented direction, students will be able to develop productive (speaking and writing) and receptive (listening and reading) types of speech activity. A nomenclature of speech skills developed in the process of using the case method for each type of speech activity is presented.

Foreign Language Writing Anxiety: The Perceptions and Experiences of Freshmen Lebanese University Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 483-492
Author(s):  
ROLA LABABIDI
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Numerical Data ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Writing Anxiety ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Language Writing ◽  
Language Writing ◽  
Shed Light

Writing is an essential skill for language production. However, many English as Foreign language learners (EFL) face many difficulties in writing. This study aims to shed light on the psychological aspect of writing; more specifically writing anxiety. Consequently, the main purpose of this exploratory mixed-method study is to explore and investigate the sources and manifestations of foreign language writing anxiety among Lebanese university students. The participants were Lebanese EFL university students (N=87). Data for this study was gathered from the use of the Second Language Writing anxiety scale(SLWAI), Sources of Writing Anxiety Inventory(SWAI), and semi-structured Focus group interviews (FG). Focus interviews with students were used to triangulate the derived data from the inventories. This study provides numerical data regarding the level of writing anxiety among students. The data from the FG interviews were transcribed and uploaded for thematic coding and further analysis. The results from this study shed light on the sources and manifestation of the writing anxiety among students. It also helps to disseminate several practical recommendations for the alleviation of writing anxiety among students. It is assumed that the findings will address the perceived psychological needs of Lebanese EFL learners and provide grounds for further research.

Improving Communicative Competence Levels of Pre-Service Teachers Through Spoken-Based Reflection Instruction

2021 ◽  
pp. 002205742110445
Author(s):  
Chinaza Solomon Ironsi
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Teaching Method ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
English As Foreign Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Listening And Speaking ◽  
Speaking Skills

This study investigated the use of spoken-reflection instruction to improve the communicative competence level of English as Foreign Language learners in a second language acquisition classroom. A listening and speaking test was administered before and after the study to determine the participants’ level of speaking competence. A quantitative research design was adopted for the study. A 3-credit unit language course was designed and implemented for the study. The course was built on the core principles of reflective practice. Participants were taught using the normal language teaching method and spoken-based reflection instruction. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 65 English as Foreign Language learners who willingly participated in the study. At the end of the course, a questionnaire was used to obtain information from the participants about their perceptions of using spoken-based reflection instruction to improve their speaking skills. In addition, participants were administered a Reflection-Listening, and Speaking Skills Test before and after each experimental phase to determine whether their listening and speaking skills had improved. Most learners found the use of spoken reflections to be a fun way to learn. However, they expressed anxiety about doing teacher-student reflection because they felt intimidated by the presence of their language teacher, although sending recordings of their reflections to their teachers was more convenient than interacting with them on a one-to-one basis.

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