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Articles 31 - 60 of 71
Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
Using Language Corpora To Enhance Grammatical Proficiency In Chinese, Hsiao-Chien Chen
Using Language Corpora To Enhance Grammatical Proficiency In Chinese, Hsiao-Chien Chen
Theses and Dissertations
School curriculum and pedagogy change over time and are affected by changes in technology. One little used technology in foreign language classrooms is the electronic language corpus. In corpus-based linguistics, language corpora are often used as tools to analyze and observe various language features, including discourse, pragmatics, and syntax. However, language corpora can also act as a tool to assist language teachers by providing greater exposure to features of the language. Using language corpora is especially helpful in exposing learners to so-called authentic language used in a target language culture. Moreover, students can gradually enhance their language proficiency by using …
The Effect Of Repeated Reading Aloud On The Speaking Fluency Of Russian Language Learners, Evgenia Nikolayevna Stroh
The Effect Of Repeated Reading Aloud On The Speaking Fluency Of Russian Language Learners, Evgenia Nikolayevna Stroh
Theses and Dissertations
The current study examines the effect of repeated reading aloud upon speaking fluency. Because there is little evidence in the literature that the practice of repeated reading aloud can have a positive effect upon speaking fluency, the primary goal of this study was to investigate this relationship further. For the purposes of the study, speaking fluency was defined as fluidity and smoothness of speech with little pausing and hesitation. It is measured by evaluating the following fluency features: speech rate, number of pauses, length of pauses, phonation/time ratio, and articulation rate. The repeated measures experimental design of the study involved …
The Effect Of Furigana On Lexical Inferencing Of Unknown Kanji Words, Joy A. Palmer
The Effect Of Furigana On Lexical Inferencing Of Unknown Kanji Words, Joy A. Palmer
Theses and Dissertations
The present study investigates the effect of furigana on lexical inferencing. After completing a pretest to determine their knowledge of the target words, participants read a passage and completed a think-aloud protocol and questionnaire. The experimental group read a passage with furigana over all kanji words while the control group read a passage without furigana. The protocols were evaluated to determine the rate and quality of lexical inferences of 16 target kanji words. The results of the questionnaire were evaluated to determine participant perception of passage and kanji difficulty, self-assessed percentage of the story that was understood, and the degree …
The Effect Of Stress Presentation Mode On Stress Acquisition Among Advanced Learners Of Russian, Alexandra Brattos
The Effect Of Stress Presentation Mode On Stress Acquisition Among Advanced Learners Of Russian, Alexandra Brattos
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this research was to test the effect of stress presentation mode on stress acquisition of advanced learners of Russian. The study attempted to determine if advanced learners of Russian are able to place stress more correctly on words in specific texts after receiving various treatments or receiving no treatment. Participants were Brigham Young University students studying Russian as a second language at the third-year level or higher. They were randomly assigned into three groups: a group that received no treatment, a treatment group that read words with graphically marked stress, and a treatment group that heard texts …
The Female Experience: Study Abroad Students In Egypt, Heather Raquael Walsh
The Female Experience: Study Abroad Students In Egypt, Heather Raquael Walsh
Theses and Dissertations
This qualitative study explores the experiences of female students on study abroad programs, with the aim of answering the following questions: do they face unique challenges as female students (including harassment or assault), how do they avoid or cope with any negative experiences, and can we as language departments better prepare our students to have the best experiences possible? The participants for the study were primarily 12 of 50 students involved in the Brigham Young University Study Abroad to Cairo, Egypt during Spring and Summer terms 2010. Data include participant observation, student journals, and ethnographic interviews conducted during the last …
Gains In Fluency Measures During Study Abroad In China, Jeongwoon Kim
Gains In Fluency Measures During Study Abroad In China, Jeongwoon Kim
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis study investigates gains in the speaking of China study abroad (SA) students from Brigham Young University. Pre-and post-program Simulated Oral Proficiency Interview (SOPI) tasks were used to generate multiple fluency measures, such as native judges' subjective fluency ratings, word count, number of unique words, number of filler words, mean pause length, tonal accuracy, etc. The study results display significant differences between pre- and post-tests for all fluency measures. In other words, China SA students were perceived to be more fluent in their speech by native judges after SA; their speech samples show more word (token and type) production, …
An Evaluation Of The Implementation Of A Call Program In A Pilot Curriculum At The Provo Lds Missionary Training Center, Amberly Patch Betteridge
An Evaluation Of The Implementation Of A Call Program In A Pilot Curriculum At The Provo Lds Missionary Training Center, Amberly Patch Betteridge
Theses and Dissertations
The current study examines the implementation of one computer-assisted language learning program (CALL) called Technology Assisted Language Learning (TALL) in a pilot language curriculum at the LDS Missionary Training Center. Because CALL implementation is determined in large part by how successfully users are able to use the computer program to learn language, a primary purpose of this study was to investigate which implementation issues affected the language learning success of the missionaries that used TALL in the pilot curriculum. A survey was, therefore, designed and administered to 86 missionaries from French, Spanish, German, and Mandarin language areas in order to …
Identifying How Successful Vocabulary-Learning Strategies Affect Reading Comprehension Among Intermediate Learners Of Mandarin Chinese, Hongyi Jia
Theses and Dissertations
The Chinese language has become an increasingly important Asian language for American students and more and more of them have a desire to learn it. The problems and the difficulties that Chinese foreign language (CFL) learners have when they try to use their knowledge of new vocabulary in reading comprehension are apparent. Previous studies have described some aspects that may influence reading comprehension and have indicated that Chinese is a relatively difficult language for native speakers of American English, but there are few studies that have focused on improving CFL learners' Chinese reading comprehension. This study investigates the effect of …
Identifying The Effectiveness Of Pre-Listening Activities For Students Of Chinese Mandarin, Brandon Allen
Identifying The Effectiveness Of Pre-Listening Activities For Students Of Chinese Mandarin, Brandon Allen
Theses and Dissertations
Listening has proved to be a difficult skill to teach in the language classroom. Research has shown that pre-listening activities, or those activities done with students prior to listening, can have an effect on listening comprehension outcomes. This research addressed the effectiveness of two types of pre-listening activities: top-down and bottom-up. Volunteers from intermediate level courses taught at Brigham Young University were divided into two treatment groups and a control group. The treatment groups followed a mixed models design by each going through a top-down and bottom-up pre-listening activity, followed by listening to a passage in Mandarin Chinese and taking …
Elicited Imitation And Automated Speech Recognition: Evaluating Differences Among Learners Of Japanese, Shinsuke Tsuchiya
Elicited Imitation And Automated Speech Recognition: Evaluating Differences Among Learners Of Japanese, Shinsuke Tsuchiya
Theses and Dissertations
This study addresses the usefulness of elicited imitation (EI) and automated speech recognition (ASR) as a tool for second language acquisition (SLA) research by evaluating differences among learners of Japanese. The findings indicate that the EI and ASR grading system used in this study was able to differentiate between beginning- and advanced-level learners as well as instructed and self-instructed learners. No significant difference was found between self-instructed learners with and without post-mission instruction. The procedure, reliability and validity of the ASR-based computerized EI are discussed. Results and discussion will provide insights regarding different types of second language (L2) development, the …
Social Networks, Language Acquisition, And Time On Task While Studying Abroad, Rebecca Ann Hillstrom
Social Networks, Language Acquisition, And Time On Task While Studying Abroad, Rebecca Ann Hillstrom
Theses and Dissertations
This study was designed to collect and evaluate the social networks of 32 study abroad students participating in the 2009 BYU study abroad program in Amman, Jordan. Survey data, language journals, and test scores were analyzed to determine how they successfully built social networks with native speakers, the relationship between students' social networks and time spent using Arabic outside of class, and the relationship between students' social networks and their acquisition of Arabic. The experiment provided a number of insights into how study abroad students meet potential conversation partners, select which relationships to pursue, and develop relationships in order to …
Tolerance Of Ambiguity And Inductive Vs. Deductive Preference Across Languages And Proficiency Levels At Byu: A Correlational Study, Jordan Ray Bledsoe
Tolerance Of Ambiguity And Inductive Vs. Deductive Preference Across Languages And Proficiency Levels At Byu: A Correlational Study, Jordan Ray Bledsoe
Theses and Dissertations
This study explored the relationships between roughly 330 participants' tolerance of ambiguity and their preference for either an inductive or deductive presentation of grammar by means of an online survey. Most participants were college students. Other variables examined included years of study, in-country experience, proficiency, age, year in school, and language of choice. A new instrument for measuring inductive vs. deductive preference was also created based on Cohen, Oxford, and Chi's (2001) Learning Style Survey (LSS). Results showed weak correlations between: tolerance of ambiguity and inductive preference (.25), tolerance of ambiguity and proficiency (.25), and inductive preference and proficiency (.20). …
Examining The Effects Of Pronunciation Strategy Usage On Pronunciation Gains By L2 Japanese Learners, Seth L. Robins
Examining The Effects Of Pronunciation Strategy Usage On Pronunciation Gains By L2 Japanese Learners, Seth L. Robins
Theses and Dissertations
Language learning strategies have become an important element of second language acquisition research over the course of the last few decades. Much research on these strategies has been dedicated to speaking, reading, and other language skill sets. However, one essential skill needed for communication is pronunciation. No matter how proficient other areas of linguistic ability may be, it can be difficult to interact effectively with native speakers if one's pronunciation is poor. Yet research dedicated to pronunciation and language learning strategies is in surprisingly short supply. Of those studies that have researched pronunciation strategies, some have been dedicated to discovering …
The Effect Of First Language Dialect Vowel Mergers On Second Language Perception And Production, Christine Elaine Gardner
The Effect Of First Language Dialect Vowel Mergers On Second Language Perception And Production, Christine Elaine Gardner
Theses and Dissertations
Previous second language (L2) acquisition research has assumed that L2 learners from a common first language (L1) have the same problems in an L2, ignoring the potential impact of a speaker's L1 dialect on L2 acquisition. This study examines the effects of L1 dialect on the acquisition of L2 German vowels. In particular, this thesis investigates two questions: 1) Do speakers from L1 dialects with vowel mergers perceive or produce vowel contrasts in the L1 and/or L2 differently than speakers from dialect areas without the same mergers? and 2) Are subjects' patterns of L1 perception or production paralleled in the …
Effects Of Multimedia Glossary Annotations On Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition In L2 Learners Of Japanese, Brian Gleason James
Effects Of Multimedia Glossary Annotations On Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition In L2 Learners Of Japanese, Brian Gleason James
Theses and Dissertations
In recent years, advances in computer technology have allowed increasingly rich multimedia content to be incorporated into educational materials in many fields, including the field of language teaching. Yet as visually appealing as such products may be, we must ask whether multimedia-enriched materials actually improve learning in a measurable way. If so, individual curriculum makers can then decide whether the benefits of the multimedia materials justify the cost of purchasing and implementing them. This study attempted to examine the effects of multimedia glossary aids on incidental vocabulary acquisition rates of L2 learners of Japanese. Subjects included 35 third- and fourth-year …
The Effects Of Second Language Experience On Typologically Similar And Dissimilar Third Language, Erin Elizabeth Gibbons
The Effects Of Second Language Experience On Typologically Similar And Dissimilar Third Language, Erin Elizabeth Gibbons
Theses and Dissertations
Studies in third language acquisition (L3) add an exciting dimension to the field of language acquisition and present many interesting lines of research. One issue unique to L3 acquisition is the effect of second language (L2) experience on L3 acquisition. Because L3 learners have already experienced the process of language acquisition, it seems likely that the experiences, knowledge, and skills they may have gained while learning an L2 would transfer to, and even enhance, their ability to acquire an L3. It also seems reasonable to believe that the type of language previously studied would have an effect on learners' abilities …
Motivation In Learners Of Japanese As A Foreign Language: An Analysis Of Profiles And Behaviors, Britainy Dawn Sorenson
Motivation In Learners Of Japanese As A Foreign Language: An Analysis Of Profiles And Behaviors, Britainy Dawn Sorenson
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis examines motivation in English L1 learners of Japanese as a Foreign Language (JFL) by analyzing the students' responses to a questionnaire modeled after Dörnyei's research and an observational instrument called the Motivation Behaviors of Language Learning (MBLL) modeled after Guilloteaux and Dörnyei's (2008) research on motivational teaching strategies on behaviors. The data from the questionnaires were subjected to a discriminative analysis of students answers in relation to a high grade (receiving a B- or higher) or lower (C+ or lower) in their Japanese classes. A Factor Analysis of the data was also carried out. The discriminative results could …
Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Motivational Strategies In The Foreign Language Classroom, Ashley Ruesch
Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Motivational Strategies In The Foreign Language Classroom, Ashley Ruesch
Theses and Dissertations
Motivational research has recently shifted focus to include what role teachers, and the motivational strategies they use, play in the language learning classroom (Cheng & Dörnyei, 2007; Dörnyei & Csizer, 1998). Motivational research has traditionally gathered data from either teachers or students. However, researchers have recently been calling for a shift in focus from this individualistic perspective to evaluating motivation more holistically (Dörnyei, 2001a; Oxford, 2003; Ushioda, 2006). Nevertheless, few studies have included the opinions of both the students and teachers. This study has elicited the opinions of both students and teachers to find out which teaching practices both groups …
Female Cfl (Chinese As Foreign Language) Learners' Acquisition Of Native-Like Features Of Feminine Chinese Speech, Shu-Ling Ko
Female Cfl (Chinese As Foreign Language) Learners' Acquisition Of Native-Like Features Of Feminine Chinese Speech, Shu-Ling Ko
Theses and Dissertations
This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between participants' acquisition of feminine Chinese speech patterns and time lived in Chinese speaking areas. These patterns include final particles, key words, request words, sentence patterns, and intonation. Data collection was administered through an on-line survey. Participants in this study included twenty female native Mandarin Chinese speakers and 39 female CFL learners. The data collected revealed the correlation between the participants' acquisition of feminine Chinese speech patterns and time spent abroad in a Chinese language environment. Part one of the survey targeted the demographics of the participants. The second part of the …
Teaching Vocabulary Meaningfully With Language, Image, And Sound., Doraina D. Pyle
Teaching Vocabulary Meaningfully With Language, Image, And Sound., Doraina D. Pyle
Theses and Dissertations
This study was an exploration of how an instructional technique that uses language, image, and sound—that of a meaningful presentation of language with image by gradual, step-by-step sequencing—affects vocabulary acquisition. Research was carried out with volunteers from the BYU language community, who were randomly assigned to one of two testing groups. The two groups viewed Arabic language presentations wherein the presentation for the experimental group received line drawings to indicate vocabulary meanings, and the other group received English translations. Following the treatment, learners completed an online vocabulary test, and one week later, the same online vocabulary test. Statistical analyses indicated …
The Effects Of Experience On The Perception Of German Rounded Vowels By Native Speakers Of American English, Bradley J. York
The Effects Of Experience On The Perception Of German Rounded Vowels By Native Speakers Of American English, Bradley J. York
Theses and Dissertations
This study examines the effects of experience in German on the categorical perception of German rounded vowels, namely /uː/, /ʊ/, /oː/, /ɔ/, /yː/, /ʏ/, /øː/, and /œ/, by native speakers of American English (AE). Of special interest is whether more experience in German leads to more accurate perception of German front rounded vowels, namely /yː/, /ʏ/, /øː/, and /œ/, which do not have correlates in American English and are well known to cause perceptual problems for native AE speakers (Strange, Bohn, Trent, & Nishi, 2004). Subjects in this study were students at Brigham Young University that were divided into 4 …
The Effect Of Teacher-Fronted And Group Work Techniques On Beginning Chinese As A Foreign Language Learners' Acquisition Of Grammar In A Performed Culture Classroom, Chieh-Ting Lin
Theses and Dissertations
This study focuses on the effect of teacher-fronted and group work instruction on beginning Chinese as a Foreign Language learners' understanding and ability to use grammar principles correctly in a Performed Culture class setting. Three sections of beginning Chinese classes at Brigham Young University were selected to participate in the study. Each section instructor was assigned one of the following teaching techniques: teacher-fronted, group work, or a combination of both teacher-fronted and group work. Quizzes focusing on grammar were given before and after instruction to all students as pre-tests and post-tests. The results showed that students being taught with the …
Factors Affecting The Implementation Of Instructional Technology In The Second Language Classroom, Veronica Naimova
Factors Affecting The Implementation Of Instructional Technology In The Second Language Classroom, Veronica Naimova
Theses and Dissertations
Various studies show that the use of instructional technology in university-level second language courses can improve and enrich students' L2 acquisition and greatly motivate students to continue learning their target language. In spite of such advantages, few instructors are integrating instructional technology into their lessons. This research investigates the main issues that affect the use of instructional technology among L2 instructors at Brigham Young University. An online survey was administered to 98 instructors, examining the following factors: time, factors concerning software and availability, teacher training, and the attitudes of administrators. Results showed that the three most significant factors that impede …
Language Gain During Arabic Study Abroad: A Case Study Of A Semester Abroad In Amman, Jordan, Laila Lamani
Language Gain During Arabic Study Abroad: A Case Study Of A Semester Abroad In Amman, Jordan, Laila Lamani
Theses and Dissertations
This thesis presents a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the 2006 Arabic study abroad in Amman, Jordan. This analysis aims to help organizers and participants of similar future programs to maximize language gain. The students' pre- and post-program language competencies in reading, speaking, listening, and writing are measured and compared. The students' daily journals during the period of the program are also analyzed. The quantitative analysis shows that statistically significant improvement has occurred in all four language skills. The qualitative analysis suggests that keeping a steady journal, setting daily or weekly language goals, doing volunteer work, having clear and reasonable …
The Relationship Between Vocabulary Knowledge And Reading Comprehension Of Authentic Arabic Texts, Shereen Maher Salah
The Relationship Between Vocabulary Knowledge And Reading Comprehension Of Authentic Arabic Texts, Shereen Maher Salah
Theses and Dissertations
This study investigates the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension of authentic Arabic texts; in particular, it attempts to investigate the percentage of vocabulary coverage (known words) readers need to ensure reading comprehension of two reading passages from online Arabic news source. Data was collected from twenty-three Arabic as-foreign language (AFL) learners at Brigham Young University, who ranged from Intermediate Low to Intermediate Mid in both productive and receptive skills. Two reading comprehension tests, circling the unknown words in texts and a lexical coverage test for each passage texts were given to the subjects. A linear regression analysis of …
The German Proficiency Exam At Brigham Young University: A Validation Study, Tina Grahovac Starr
The German Proficiency Exam At Brigham Young University: A Validation Study, Tina Grahovac Starr
Theses and Dissertations
In order to continuously improve teaching and learning of a language program, it is a crucial part of program evaluation to assure that its assessment instruments have a beneficial influence on the teaching and learning procedures. For that reason, evidence was gathered to investigate the validity of test scores of the German Proficiency Exam (GPE) used by the German Section of the Germanic and Slavic Languages Department at Brigham Young University. The GPE consists of seven exam components: Listening comprehension, reading, writing, speaking, grammar, vocabulary, and strong verbs. The GPE component scores of 179 students were used to conduct the …
Cross-Language Perception Of German Vowels By Speakers Of American English, Lore Katharina Gerti Schultheiss
Cross-Language Perception Of German Vowels By Speakers Of American English, Lore Katharina Gerti Schultheiss
Theses and Dissertations
This study focuses on how the cross-language perception of German vowels by native speakers of North American English differs based on various levels of classroom instruction and experience in a German-speaking country. Of special interest is whether more advanced students and those with target country experience have a different cross-language perception of German vowels from naive or less-experienced listeners. It further examines how English-speaking learners perceive German sounds that are not found in English, namely the front-rounded vowels. Study participants were students at Brigham Young University, divided into four groups: those 1) without knowledge of German; 2) in their 3rd …
A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Annotations In Improving The Listening Comprehension Of Intermediate Esl Learners, Ryan K. Rocque
A Study Of The Effectiveness Of Annotations In Improving The Listening Comprehension Of Intermediate Esl Learners, Ryan K. Rocque
Theses and Dissertations
This study seeks to answer the age old question of what kind of input is best for ESL learners, but it approaches the question with a new perspective. There are many options when it comes to a choice of curriculum, both in terms of the method that is used and the materials that are available. Feature film is one important resource that has received increased attention in recent years. Curriculum specialists and teachers are incorporating various film clips into instruction to enhance a grammar point, to teach culture, or as a way to motivate learners. Yet adequate research does not …
A Process-Based Call Assessment: A Comparison Of Input Processing And Program Use Behavior By Activity Type, Kathryn Rimmasch
A Process-Based Call Assessment: A Comparison Of Input Processing And Program Use Behavior By Activity Type, Kathryn Rimmasch
Theses and Dissertations
In an effort to better understand the mental processing connected to different kinds of CALL activities, this study collected data on time subjects spent, as well as buttons subjects clicked while doing 10 different CALL activities accompanying a beginning French text book. In addition, a group of subjects thought out loud as they completed the same activities. These subjects were recorded on video, their thinking out loud was transcribed and the transcriptions were coded according to how they indicated they were dealing with the language input. The frequencies of coded categories were compared to see if there were connections between …
Byu Students' Beliefs About Language Learning And Communicative Language Teaching Activities, Sarah C. Bakker
Byu Students' Beliefs About Language Learning And Communicative Language Teaching Activities, Sarah C. Bakker
Theses and Dissertations
Learner beliefs, which contribute to attitude and motivation, may affect language learning. It is therefore valuable to investigate the malleability of learner beliefs, and to determine whether potentially detrimental beliefs can be ameliorated. This study examines how instruction of the principles of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) affects students' beliefs about classroom activities and their beliefs about language learning in general. The 68 first-year German students at Brigham Young University who participated in this study were asked to rate the effectiveness of three activities typical of communicative language teaching: Dialogue activities, Peer Interview activities, and Information-gap activities. They were also asked …