Digital Commons Network^™

Making Music Speak: The Role Of The “Tuning In” Music Program In Developing Preschool Children’S Oral Language Skills, Allison Cameron

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Evidence shows oral language development in early childhood plays a critical role in social, behavioural and academic development and Australian research indicates that speech development difficulties are relatively common. Research suggests that participating in high quality music education from early childhood not only helps develop musical skills but also induces benefits in aspects of oral language skills, including phonological abilities. Researchers have suggested that music might be a useful and engaging form of intervention for preschool-aged children with oral language delays or disorders, however, to date little research has been conducted to test this. Underpinned by Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, a …

Hybrid Translation And Language Model For Micro Learning Material Recommendation, Jiayin Lin

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

As an emerging pedagogy, micro learning aims to make use of people’s fragmented spare time and provide personalized online learning service, for example, by pushing fragmented knowledge to specific learners. In the context of big data, the recommender system is the key factor for realizing the online personalization service, which significantly determines what information will be fmally accessed by the target learners. In the education discipline, due to the pedagogical requirements and the domain characteristics, ranking recommended learning materials is essential for maintaining the outcome of the massive learning scenario. However, many widely used recommendation strategies in other domains showed …

The Tasks Of Translatability, Peter Thomas

International Gramsci Journal

While Walter Benjamin’s essay “The Task of the Translator” has long been considered one of the fundamental texts of translation theory, Gramsci’s important remarks on the question of translatability were not noted in the canonical studies of the history of translation theory nor, for a long time, in Gramscian studies themselves. Nevertheless, the notion of translatability plays a crucial role in the general economy of the Prison Notebooks. This paper proposes a dialogical reading ‘against the grain’ of three constellations of some of Gramsci and Benjamin’s key concepts regarding the nature of translation and its philosophical presuppositions and implications. These …

Dizionario Gramsciano / Gramsci Dictionary: Translatability, Derek Boothman

International Gramsci Journal

This is an English translation of the Gramsci Dictionary contribution “Translatability”. The entry outlines how Gramsci approaches the question of the extent to which natural languages as expressions of national cultures are translatable. In the Notebooks he starts from and elaborated on Marx’s position in the Holy Family, namely that specific discourses (e. g. French political literature and German classical philosophy to which Gramsci adds English classical political economy) that characterize the national culture of each of these peoples – all having, it should be noted, a similar degree of social development – reflect their social base. From the historical …

Teaching Young Second Language Learners In Lote Contexts, Honglin Chen, Janica Nordstrom

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

The study of languages has long been considered to have important social, cognitive and economic benefits for individuals and the nation. In Australia, however, despite its growing strength in linguistic resources and the various Government initiatives, there has been a disturbing decline in languages study by school-aged children in Australia. For example, in the 1940s and 50s, over 40 percent of students graduated with a language (Teese & Polesol, 2003) which had declined to only 12 percent in 2012. In primary schools, aggregated cross-sectoral data from government, private and catholic systems in Sydney and Wollongong indicate that 30-40 percent of …

The Role Of Input And Interaction In The Acquisition Of Chinese As A Second Language, Xiaoping Gao

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

Input and interaction have received great attention in second language research due to their dominant role in second language teaching and learning. However, empirical studies that have examined their effects on the acquisition of Chinese as a second language remain scarce. This study fills this gap by comparing the effects of teacher-student interaction and student-student interaction on vocabulary acquisition in Chinese as a second language. Thirty-six adult beginners of Chinese completed ten weeks' study in Australia, in addition to pre- and post- tests and a background questionnaire. Selected participants attended a focus group interview. Statistical analyses show that both types …

Language Use And Language Attitudes In New Caledonia With Particular Reference To French Creole Tayo, Anu Bissoonauth-Bedford

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

New Caledonia has an unusual language dynamic in comparison to other French overseas territories. In most of these islands, a French Creole is usually the lingua franca and has a lower status than French. In contrast, in New Caledonia the French Creole, called Tayo, is a minority language and comes in contact with French, English and 28 Indigenous languages (also called Kanak languages). The 2014 census population revealed a multi-ethnic and multicultural NewCaledonian population. It did not, however, record the rate of multilingualism in speakers. Results from a recent sociolinguistic study on patterns of language use and language attitudes revealed …

The Influence Of Personal, Situational And Sociocultural Factors On Vietnamese Efl Novice Teachers’ Cognitions And Practices, Nguyen Tien Ngo

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Over the past several decades, English has become a compulsory subject in primary, secondary, high school, and tertiary education in Vietnam. Despite its inclusion across multiple tiers of the Vietnamese education system, many Vietnamese learners of English have not acquired adequate language skills to become competent communicators of English (Nunan, 2003; Tien, 2013; Van, 2009). This may be attributed to teachers’ cognitions and practices, as what teachers believe and do in their classrooms ultimately impacts students’ learning (Helen, 2003). An increasing number of studies of teacher cognition in Vietnam have been conducted (Canh, 2011; Canh & Barnard, 2009; Hiep, 2007; …

An Early Years Toolbox For Assessing Early Executive Function, Language, Self-Regulation, And Social Development: Validity, Reliability, And Preliminary Norms, Steven J. Howard, Edward Melhuish

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Several methods of assessing executive function (EF), self-regulation, language development, and social development in young children have been developed over previous decades. Yet new technologies make available methods of assessment not previously considered. In resolving conceptual and pragmatic limitations of existing tools, the Early Years Toolbox (EYT) offers substantial advantages for early assessment of language, EF, self-regulation, and social development. In the current study, results of our large-scale administration of this toolbox to 1,764 preschool and early primary school students indicated very good reliability, convergent validity with existing measures, and developmental sensitivity. Results were also suggestive of better capture of …

Employment Of Graduates Of Japanese Language, Rowena G. Ward

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

An underlying assumption behind the former Australian Federal Labor Government's 2012 Asian Century White Paper was that language skills were not only important for Australia's future engagement with its regional neighbours but would also lead to employment opportunities. Yet, little research has been undertaken into the employment of graduates with majors in languages, irrespective of the language. This paper discusses the results of an online survey on the use of their Japanese language in employment by graduates who undertook a major or a minor in Japanese language between 2008 and 2012. The results discussed here focus on the questions which …

Feedback On Second Language Pronunciation: A Case Study Of Eap Teachers' Beliefs And Practices, Amanda Ann Baker, Michael Burri

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In the modern English language classroom, teachers are often faced with the challenging task of supporting students to achieve comprehensible pronunciation, but many teachers limit or neglect giving students feedback on their pronunciation for a variety of reasons. This paper examines the case of five experienced English for Academic Purposes (EAP) instructors who strive to provide feedback on specific features of pronunciation that negatively affect students' comprehensibility. Results derived from semi-structured interviews, classroom observations and stimulated recall interviews reveal that the teachers use similar approaches to select and provide feedback on problematic features of pronunciation. Naturally, these approaches sometimes differed …

Exploring Engagement In Tasks In The Language Classroom, Jenefer Philp, Susan Duchesne

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This article explores how learners engage in tasks in the context of language classrooms. We describe engagement as a multidimensional construct that includes cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional dimensions of engagement among second and foreign language learners in the classroom. We discuss key concepts and indicators of engagement in current research on task-based interaction and outline some of the issues in researching engagement in this context.

Playing With Grammar: A Pedagogical Heuristic For Orientating To The Language Content Of The Australian Curriculum: English, Beryl Exley, Lisa K. Kervin, Jessica Mantei

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

In this article we introduce a heuristic for orientating to the language content of the Australian Curriculum: English. Our pedagogical heuristic, called 'Playing with Grammar', moves through three separate but interwoven stages: (i) an introduction to the learning experience, (ii) a focus on learning, and (iii) an application of new knowledge where students read and/or write with grammar in mind. We draw on aspects of Bernstein's sociological theories to consider the implications of keeping the content of the Language, Literature and Literacy strands together or apart. We also theorise different pedagogical approaches where teachers or learners control the sequence and …

The Struggle For Legitimacy: Language Provision In Two 'Residual' Comprehensive High Schools In Australia, Stephen Black, Jan Wright, Kenneth E. Cruickshank

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Despite the contemporary policy rhetoric of global citizenry and the importance of languages and intercultural capabilities, language learning in Australian schools struggles for recognition and support. The curriculum marginalisation of languages, however, is uneven, affecting some school sectors more than others. In this article, we examine the provision of languages in two government comprehensive high schools, both low socio-economic status, located in urban areas in New South Wales, Australia's largest state. They are termed 'residual' high schools because they cater for the students remaining in the local schools while others attend either private or selective government high schools. We provide …

Transforming Practice: Designing Rubrics For Cumulative And Integrative Assessment Of Disciplinary Learning And Development Of Students' Language Communication, Honglin Chen, Emily Rose Purser, Alisa J. Percy

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

While it is widely recognised that university graduates should be good communicators, and that close attention be paid to the development of students' communication skills within their disciplinary learning contexts (Arkoudis, 2014; Johnson, Veitch, & Dewiyanti, 2015), it remains open to debate how an effective and sustained focus on language communication can be achieved within disciplinary curricula. The past few years have seen major efforts to identify good practices in teaching language communication, yet as Arkoudis (2014) notes, these are often fragmented and not explicitly linked to disciplinary assessment. The existing literature on language communication consistently points out that designing …

Policy Into Practice: Using Practice Theory To Implement An English Language Policy, Alisa J. Percy, Leonie G. Watson, Catriona A. Taylor

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

National studies concerned with the assurance of students' language communication within higher education courses have identified several principles for leveraging change, which include an institutional wide strategy, the articulation of clear language communication outcomes at the course and subject level, the identification of subjects within courses from first year to the capstone that have a particular focus on teaching and assessing communication skills, the incorporation of English language and literacy into assessment criteria, and collaboration between discipline staff and academic language and learning staff (Arkoudis, 2012, 2014). These principles have been incorporated into an English Language Policy at one university; …

Lingua/Linguaggio, Senso Comune E Gruppi Sociali Subalterni, Natalìa Gaboardi

International Gramsci Journal

Durante la detenzione Gramsci ha manifestato in più occasioni la volontà di approfondire le questioni linguistiche. Le testimonianze più note sono la lettera a Tania del 19 marzo 1927, il punto 12 dell’elenco degli Argomenti principali dell’8 febbraio 1929, La quistione della lingua in Italia: Manzoni e Ascoli, e il Quaderno 29, l’ultimo dei quaderni monografici avviati presso la clinica di Formia e intitolato Note per una introduzione allo studio della grammatica, le cui riflessioni traggono spunto dalla lettura della Guida alla grammatica italiana di Alfredo Panzini. La riflessione a proposito della polemica tra Ascoli e Manzoni era …

Effects Of Integrated Physical Exercises And Gestures On Preschool Children's Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning, Myrto F. Mavilidi, Anthony D. Okely, Paul A. Chandler, Dylan P. Cliff, Fred Paas

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Research suggests that integrating human movement into a cognitive learning task can be effective for learning due to its cognitive and physiological effects. In this study, the learning effects of enacting words through whole-body movements (i.e., physical exercise) and part-body movements (i.e., gestures) were investigated in a foreign language vocabulary task. Participants were 111 preschool children of 15 childcare centers, who were randomly assigned to one of four conditions. Participants had to learn 14 Italian words in a 4-week teaching program. They were tested on their memory for the words during, directly after, and 6 weeks after the program. In …

Sticks And Stones: How Words And Language Impact Upon Social Inclusion, Kathy Mckay, Stuart Wark, Virginia Mapedzahama, Tinashe Dune, Saifur Rahman, Catherine L. Mac Phail

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Language framed as derogatory names and symbols can have implications for people and their life experiences. Within a Saussurian-inspired frame, and looking at ideas of stigma and social inclusion, this paper examines the use of language as a weapon within a social context of (changing) intent and meaning. Three examples of language use in mainstream society are analysed: 'retarded' which evolved from scientific diagnosis to insult; 'gay' as a derogatory adjective within popular culture; and, the way language around suicide is used to both trivialise and stigmatise those who are suicidal, as well as those who are bereaved.

Preschool Children's Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning By Embodying Words Through Physical Activity And Gesturing, Konstantina Toumpaniari, Sofie M. M Loyens, Myrto F. Mavilidi, Fred Paas

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Research has demonstrated that physical activity involving gross motor activities can lead to better cognitive functioning and higher academic achievement scores. In addition, research within the theoretical framework of embodied cognition has shown that embodying knowledge through the use of more subtle motor activities, such as task-relevant gestures, has a positive effect on learning. In this study, we investigated whether combining both physical activities and gestures could improve learning even more in a 4-week intervention program on foreign language vocabulary learning in preschool children. The main hypothesis that learning by embodying words through task-relevant enactment gestures and physical activities would …

"Teachers Are Not Empty Vessels": A Reception Study Of Freeman And Johnson's (1998) Reconceptualization Of The Knowledge Base Of Second Language Teacher Education, Joseph J. Lee, John Murphy, Amanda Ann Baker

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This study traces the reception history of Freeman and Johnson's (1998) widely cited article dedicated to theory and practices of second language teacher education (SLTE). It illuminates the degree to which that article has impacted SLTE theory, research, and potentially instructional practices. The reception study analysis is based on a data set of 413 journal articles, books, book chapters, master's theses, and doctoral dissertations that cited Freeman and Johnson (F&J) between 1999 and 2014. Using an innovative analytical approach combining both Hyland's (1999, 2004) citation categories and Coffin's (2009) stance framework, we investigate the citation analytics of F&J within this …

Reflections On The Positioning, Politics, And Pedagogy Of A Language Education/Research Writing Subject For International Hdr Students, Alisa J. Percy, Emily Rose Purser

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Papers

This presentation reflects on the positioning, politics, and pedagogy of a centrally delivered language education/research writing subject for international HDR students at the University of Wollongong,

Resource Development And Teacher Training: A Model Of Interactive Whiteboard (Wb) Integration In Language Labs, Lidia Bilbatua, Laetitia Vedrenne

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

Pedagogical research often focuses on learners’ experience of technologyenhanced learning environments. It is widely accepted that effective use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in learning requires the learner to be already fluent in them (Lai and Morrison 2013: 154). If this is the case, then practitioners also need to be competent, yet the digital literacy of today’s learners often appears greater than that of practitioners. This translates into a big gap between learners and practitioners in ability and confidence in the use of ICTs.

In this paper, we present the outcomes of a research project funded by the University …

Back To The Classroom: Language Educators Learning A Language, Lidia Bilbatua, Laetitia Vedrenne, Rowena G. Ward

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

As part of our preparation for this presentation, we undertook research into the field of teachers as students etc but there is virtually none irrespective of language or other. Research on the motivation of students and teachers and the differences between teachers’ beliefs and their actual classroom practice is ample but there is virtually nothing on teachers as students and the impact that being a student had on their teaching practise etc. In some ways, it seems that once you are a language teacher, you are expected to remember what it is like to study a language – from our …

Anomalous Data About Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Language Ecologies, Denise Angelo, Sophie Mcintosh

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

This chapter presents in-depth case studies that reveal the skewed nature of Census data collected or reported about the vernaculars of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote Queensland communities. It is argued that issues relating to inconsistent and inaccurate data have arisen largely due to complexities surrounding widespread language shift towards contact languages. In such contexts, collected language data can be misunderstood and miscoded, because naming and classifying a "language spoken at home" is predicated on (preexisting) language awareness and recognition, as well as standardized- or at least well-recognized- nomenclature. The chapter also shows that Census categories …

The Effects Of Fathers' And Mothers' Reading To Their Children On Language Outcomes Of Children Participating In Early Head Start In The United States, Anna E. Duursma

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

It is well known that reading aloud affects children 's language and literacy development. Little is known though, about fathers reading to their children. This study examined paternal and maternal bookreading frequency among 430 low-income families and investigated whether paternal bookreading and maternal bookreading predicted children 's early language and cognitive development and emergent literacy skills. Results demonstrated that mothers read more frequently to their toddlers than fathers but approximately 55% of fathers reported reading at least weekly to their children. Paternal bookreading at 24 and 36 months significantly predicted children's language and cognitive skills at age 36 months as …

Investigation Of Chinese University Students' Attributions Of English Language Learning, Jinjin Lu, Stuart Woodcock, Han Jiang

Faculty of Social Sciences - Papers (Archive)

Despite the importance of developing students' learning autonomy in Chinese schools similar to Western cultured schools, many concerns are raised regarding the influence and effectiveness that learner autonomy has on students' academic achievements. The aim of this study was to identify the attribution patterns of Chinese university students for success and failure toward students who learnt through autonomy learning (student-centered approaches) compared with students who learnt through teacher-centered approaches. Within this study, mixed research methods were adopted, and students used a reflective method to distinguish whether they were taught English through a traditional or student-centered method. The findings of the …

Estimating The Magnitude Of Method Bias On Account Of Text Similarity Using A Natural Language Processing-Based Technique, Rajeev Sharma, Murad Safadi, Megan Andrews, Philip O. Ogunbona, Jeff Crawford

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

A number of potential biases have been identified that may contribute a spurious component to the observed correlation between variables. One such potential bias is the manner in which items are worded. This paper presents a technique and a program of research to estimate the magnitude of method bias arising from item wording. We hypothesize that the greater the level of text similarity between items employed to capture predictor and criterion variables, the greater the magnitude of the observed effect size between them. Two samples will be employed; one investigating the perceived usefulness-use correlations reported in the TAM literature and …

Speech Analysis For Alphabets In Bangla Language: Automatic Speech Recognition, Asm Sayem

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences - Papers: Part A

This paper presents a technique for recognizing spoken letter in Bengali Language. We first derive feature from spoken letter. Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) has been used to characterize a feature. Dynamic time warping (DTW) employed to calculate the distance of an unknown letter with the stored ones. K-nearest neighbors (KNN) algorithm is used to improve accuracy in noisy environment.

“How Do You ... Use Film Viewing To Enhance Language Comprehension?", Alfredo Herrero De Haro

Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers (Archive)

In this article I will be looking at ways of using films to enhance students’ language comprehension, following on from the How do you…? section in the previous issue of Vida Hispánica, -henceforth Herrero de Haro (2013)-.