Digital Commons Network^™

Fostering Foreign Language Learning Through Game Design, Brooke Elyse Tybush

Masters Theses

This paper explores the effect of game design on foreign language acquisition through a French language game design project. The approach to language learning that this project explored touched on various L2 theories including the CLT approach, the multilingual approach, and the multiliteracies approach. The design aspect of the project served to create an interest-driven learning environment in which students could combine their academic and professional interests with language. This combination led to the development of a French language-learning game titled Bonne Chance, which is now a working product played by students at the University of Tennessee. The purpose …

Facilitating Lexical Acquisition In Beginner Learners Of Italian Through Task-Induced Involvement Load, Vanessa J. Natale Rukholm

The Coastal Review: An Online Peer-reviewed Journal

This empirical study explores the facilitation of lexical acquisition and retention through an incidental experiment examining the effect of Involvement Load on Italian vocabulary growth among beginner learners. The experiment, with a pre-test/post-test design investigates the facilitative effects of elaborate processing on L2 lexical acquisition and retention. Participants in sections of the same first-year Italian course were divided into one of five groups consisting of a Control Group and four Treatment groups. Treatment groups were divided based on level of Involvement (Laufer & Hulstijn, 2001) such that some groups processed target words elaborately (Craik, 2002; Lockhart, 2002) through vocabulary exercises …

Digital Lessons For Enhancing Communicative Skills: A Handbook For Turkish Efl Teachers, Hale H. Demirel

Master's Projects and Capstones

It is necessary for English teachers who are interested in exposing their students to the authentic and communicative use of English to have access to model instructional materials. This project sought to develop a handbook and an accompanying website for teachers of English working with intermediate ESL/EFL students at university level. The handbook includes two theme-based lessons that emphasize the development of communicative competence with the help of engaging free digital tools. The content of the handbook can be improvised or modified and adapted to meet the needs of unique teaching-learning situations in case of need.

Order Of Acquisition: A Comparison Of L1 And L2 English And Spanish Morpheme Acquisition, Kyle A. Mcferren

Senior Honors Theses

This paper examines the order of acquisition for grammatical morphemes in Spanish and English first and second language learners. Brown’s first morpheme order study, conducted in 1973, laid the foundation for what would become one of the most common types of study conducted within the field of second language acquisition. The four orders of acquisition relevant here are examined and compared in order to support the roles of salience, morphophonological regularity, complexity, input frequency, and native language transfer in first and/or second language acquisition. The conclusion is that these five determinants work interdependently in determining the difficulty of acquiring a …

"Don't Wake Me, My Desk Is Far Too Comfortable": An Autoethnography Of A Novice Esl Teacher's First Year Of Teaching In Japan, Delaney Holland

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"This thesis explores and analyzes a first year ESL teacher's experience teaching at an all-girl's private school in Nishinomiya, Japan. Chapter 3 is divided into 15 sections that tell the teacher's story of living and teaching in Japan. This chapter includes description, dialogue, concurrent diary excerpts, photos, and theory. Chapter 4 analyzes these experiences and discusses the lessons the author learned while reflecting on her teaching in Japan. The main lesson learned was the importance of practicing cultural relativity--that is, opening one's mind and realizing that there is more than one way to live, teach, and see the world. Chapter …

Second-Language English Fluency Change In Native-Speaker Context, John Zehnder

Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

This study examines the influence of social context on oral proficiency change among English language learners on the campus of an American university. Speech samples were taken from 2 rounds of interviews with 9 East Asian women. These were analyzed using the phonetic analysis program Praat in order to determine each speaker’s rate of stressed syllables at the beginning and end of the study. The change in these rates was used as a proxy for fluency change. This was then compared with each speaker’s social context. The results suggested that English language learners improve their fluency when they have at …

Success With Ell's: Writing In The Esl Classroom: Confessions Of A Guilty Teacher, Susan R. Adams

Susan Adams

"Success with ELLs" suggests effective approaches to teaching English language learners in ways that can be of benefit to all students in mainstream middle and high school English classes.

Some Complexities In English Article Use And Acquisition, Victoria Somogyi

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Along with preposition use, native-like article use is one of the greatest difficulties for learners of English, particularly for those learners whose first languages do not have articles. And unlike many other areas involved in the mastery of the language, articles continue to present a challenge for advanced learners. A significant number of article usages are complex in that they are neither simple to explain (in that the does not encode definiteness or contextual uniqueness) nor strictly idiomatic. This paper a) provides an overview and critique of the scholarship on articles and their acquisition, b) takes a detailed look at …

The Language Learning Of Refugee Students In Canadian Public Elementary And Secondary Schools, Hongfang Yu

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

This dissertation investigated the role that funds of knowledge play in refugee students’ language acquisition and acculturation to the new school, and the support schools provided for their language learning.

This study explores theoretical frameworks related to student ecological environments, second language acquisition, and funds of knowledge that refugee students bring with them to the classroom. This qualitative research study presents a case study of four refugee students in both ESL classrooms and mainstream classrooms at an elementary school and a secondary school. Refugee students’ English language learning was scrutinized through research techniques which include participant observation, interviews, and documents. …

Sentence Recall In Monolingual And Ell With And Without Parental Concerns About Language Development, Areej Mazin Balilah

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Sentence recall has been identified as a potential clinical marker of Specific Language Impairment (SLI). The extent to which sentence recall may be useful in distinguishing children with SLI from English Language Learners (ELL) has not been examined. Despite tapping existing language knowledge, sentence recall may be sufficiently sensitive to reveal differences between these groups. In the present study, 1253 school age children completed a sentence recall task and their parents declared whether their first language was English and whether there were any concerns about language development. Given the lack of a gold standard in identifying language impairment in bilingual …

The Importance Of Feedback And Reinforcement In Computer Assisted Language Learning, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

A major focus of research in Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) has been the identification and implementation of Feedback Strategies that facilitate student learning. Much of this research has been carried out on procedural skills teaching systems in areas such as algebra, physics or computer programming. Nonetheless, very little emphasis has been placed on studies and research on these types of strategies for language learning (Intelligent Tutoring Systems for Foreign Language). This article is an attempt to clearly establish the importance and necessity of feedback and reinforcement in Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL). A brief description will be given about CALL, …

The Implementation And Modification Of Three 4th Grade Social Studies Content Lessons For English Language Learners And Students With Disabilities, Benelly Peralta

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The focus of this investigation was to take three general social studies content lessons created for a general education classroom and modify them for the particular needs of students with disabilities and English language learners.

Child Language In The Early Years, Maire Mhic Mhathuna

Books/Book chapters

This chapter describes how children acquire their first language in the early years. Some children also acquire a second language in early years setting and the processes and adult supports that assist them are described. These include dynamic scaffolding and environmental supports. The main theories of first and second language acquisition are reviewed and the importance of supportive facilitation by nurturing adults is emphasised.

The Benefits Of Intercultural Interactions: A Position Paper On The Effects Of Study Abroad And Intercultural Competence On Pre-Service And Active Teachers Of Esl, Bergen Lorraine Mccurdy

EWU Masters Thesis Collection

"This thesis discusses a potential connection between immersion programs, second language acquisition, intercultural awareness, and the pre-service English as a Second Language instructors' ability to provide interculturally aware TESL education to their language learners. A review of the literature connected to intercultural awareness and second language acquisition contributes to the discussion of how the two topics are connected and how they combine to inform current United States' TESL programs and education"--Document.

Korean Esl Students’ Use Of English Definite Articles, Hannah R. Morrett

Senior Honors Theses

Misuse of English articles is a very common error among ESL students. If a student’s first language does not contain an article, learning a second language that has an article system will prove to be very difficult. Korean is an example of a language that does not contain articles, but instead relies heavily on the context of the sentence, as well as determiners to indicate definiteness and specificity. In order to understand how students learn and acquire English articles, a basic understanding is needed of Language Acquisition and theories of Second Language Acquisition. These explanations are continued through various literature …

There’S An App For That: Foreign Language Learning Through Mobile- And Social Media-Based Video Games, Trenton Edward Hoy

Masters Theses

There is no doubt that the video game industry is undergoing a major upheaval, yet in spite of the recent reconceptualization of video games, educational games as a whole remain the pariah of the industry. Very little has been done in the wake of recent social and industry trends to adapt instruction of academic subjects, especially foreign language, for delivery through video games. Prior studies discussing the potential of games developed specifically for language learning have focused primarily on general principles and have offered no recommendations for platform, genre, or other aspects of design. Through an online survey as well …

Recuerda Que Yo Estoy Aqui Tambien : A Bilingual Picture Book, Liliana Ivette Funes

Graduate Student Independent Studies

My independent study for my Integrative Masters consists of a bilingual (Spanish/English) picture book that is based on personal experience, and endeavors to describe the emotional distress and anxiety children can experience as second language learners entering a monolingual classroom for the first time. The book addresses not only the emotional and academic struggles of the child, but also the ways in which peers and teachers can intervene to ease the child's transition into English. Thus the book can serve as a resource to support monolingual classrooms. The study also includes a personal reflection of the process and journey, I …

Assessing English Learners: Authentic Evaluation At The Elementary Level, Marco Antonio Mendoza

Theses Digitization Project

This project explores various forms of assessing English learners within the language domains of reading, writing, and oral language. The project also looks ath the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) as part of its study.

Whole Language Curriculum For English Learners In Elementary Schools, Norma Alicia Alvarado

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to propose a pedagogy that adds, builds, and uses the student's language and culture to speak, read and write English. This project establishes the need for a comprehensive model of instruction for English learners in elementary schools.

Success With Ell's: Writing In The Esl Classroom: Confessions Of A Guilty Teacher, Susan R. Adams

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

"Success with ELLs" suggests effective approaches to teaching English language learners in ways that can be of benefit to all students in mainstream middle and high school English classes.

La Clase De Español Como L2: Una Comunidad De Práctica Donde Se Puede Promover El Diálogo Colaborativo Sobre Temas Interculturales, Maria Eugenia De Luna Villalón

Maria Eugenia De Luna Villalón

La clase de español como L2: Una comunidad de práctica donde se puede promover el diálogo colaborativo sobre temas interculturales El diálogo colaborativo es una actividad que promueve la producción oral a través del compromiso activo y la participación constructiva. A partir del modelo World Café (2008), que tiene como objetivo promover el diálogo colaborativo, se pretende crear una atmósfera acogedora donde los estudiantes se puedan sentir cómodos para poder escuchar, comprender, pensar y hablar en español creativamente. Para poder realizar este tipo de actividad de manera exitosa, se recomienda que la clase de español como L2 sea ya una …

Bilingual Kindergarteners' Emergent Views About The Functions Of Writing In The School Context, Trinidad Pendleton

Theses Digitization Project

The goal of this project was to explore bilingual kindergartener's emergent views about writing and their concepts of the functions of writing in a school setting context. This study focuses on the importance of not underestimating literacy knowledge or the intellect of English language learners. In this descriptive study, six bilingual kindergarten students, instructed in their primary language, Spanish, were asked to respond to several guided questions while and after viewing four videotaped sequences.

Supporting Children's Participation In Second Language Stories In An Irish Language Preschool, Maire Mhic Mhathuna

Articles

This paper considers how children learning a second language were supported as active participants during storytelling sessions in an Irish-language immersion preschool in Dublin. Audio-recordings and observations were made of the story sessions once a fortnight over a period of six months. The resulting transcripts were analysed from an interactionist perspective, recognising both the cognitive and social aspects of the process. The staff were also interviewed and a questionnaire was completed by the parents. The analysis showed that the practitioners provided support for the children through dynamic repeated readings of target books, scaffolded interactions, sufficient experience of storybook reading and …

Interaction In Languages Other Than English Classes In Western Australian Primary And Secondary Schools: Theory, Practice And Perceptions, Rita Tognini

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This descriptive study investigated the interaction of teachers and learners in ten primary and secondary school languages other than English (LOTE) classes in Western Australia, with the aim of providing a detailed picture of its nature and patterns. Teachers' and learners' perceptions of this interaction were also examined as part of the study, through interviews conducted with them.

Beyond The Classroom Walls: A Study Of Out-Of-Class English Use By Adult Community College Esl Students, Tracey Louise Knight

Dissertations and Theses

Research in Second Language Acquisition indicates that using English outside of the classroom is an important part of the language learning process. However, studies done on university level ESL and EFL students indicate that students use English minimally when outside of the classroom. This thesis furthers the research on English use outside of the classroom in order to more fully understand all types of language learners and the link between language proficiency and out-of-class English use.

Co-Teaching And Reciprocal Teaching For English-As-A-Foreign-Language Reading, Pei-Ying Chou

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to help promote elementary English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) students' reading comprehension. The project investigates the co-teaching model and its implementation in the Taiwanese English class. Curriculum and lesson plans are included.

Innovative Literacy Content, Methods, And Assessment In English-As-A-Foreign Language Primary Instruction, Tzu-Ru Tsai

Theses Digitization Project

The primary goal of this project is to offer Taiwanese teachers diverse innovative literacy instruction and assessments to motivate students' reading processes. Sample curriculum/lesson plans are included.

The Personal Experiences Of Language Teachers Using Computers As An Instructional Tool, Mario Santos

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Developing Oral Proficiency Through Poem Recitation In Elementary English As A Second Language, Anne Picpican-Bell

Theses Digitization Project

This project addresses the need for a performance-based language-development curriculum to serve the growing number of non-English-speaker immigrants in California's public schools.

The Intelligences Of Creative English-As-A-Foreign-Language Learning, Alvin Charles Yen

Theses Digitization Project

This project provides a model for incorporating creativity in teaching English as a foreign language (EFL). It includes an instructional unit comprised of six lessons followed by accompanying assessments. Culture and language cannot be separated as students learn a foreign language.