Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Unraveling Arabic Learning Challenges: A Case Study At Soas, Jehad Faraj, Abdalkarim Zawawi

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This paper investigates the linguistic struggles of a learner of Arabic as a foreign language at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). It is intended to offer a thorough assessment of the linguistic challenges faced by the learner and to develop strategies to overcome them. Methodology: Through a variety of methods, including a deep analysis of a writing sample, a case-study questionnaire, a recorded interview, classroom observations, and a self-assessment form, the study pinpoints the learner’s weaknesses in speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Results: The findings reveal that the learner has problems in the construct phrase idhafah …

Prioritizing Learners’ Cultural Assets And Multimodal Literacies During Preservice Teachers’ Community Literacy Experience, Janine Bixler, Rebecca Norman

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

As teacher educators, we believe it is critical for preservice teachers (PSTs) to recognize the many cultural assets that learners bring to today’s diverse classrooms and to use these assets in their instruction. It is key to the literacy success of all students, particularly children of low socioeconomic status, multilingual learners, children of color, and children who continue to have limited literacy success in school. Our teacher preparation program in childhood includes out-of-school community literacy experiences for teaching diverse Grade 1–6 learners because these hybrid spaces provide rich opportunities for our candidates to learn about and with children and their …

Editorial Review Board Vol. 63 Issue 2

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

No abstract provided.

Examining Complexity In Middle School Students’ Evaluation Of Books Introduced By Teachers, Lauren Capotosto

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

To promote independent reading in middle school, teachers must understand why adolescents choose to read or not read a specific book. Yet, there is limited research on the factors that students consider when evaluating books that teachers have introduced them to in class. This study aimed to describe factors that 43 Grade 7 and 8 students noted as important to their evaluation of 14 books that teachers introduced in class through brief read alouds and short videos. Furthermore, it explored complexity in evaluations of texts when students appreciated some but not all aspects of a book. After each book introduction, …

Unpacking East And Southeast Asian Immigrants Portrayed In Children’S Picturebooks: Centering On Immigration In Contemporary Times, Su Jeong Wee, Jinhee Kim, Vivian Yang

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This article describes a study that examined the portrayal of East and Southeast Asian immigrant children and their families in children’s picturebooks, focusing on their racialized and minoritized experiences. The authors’ analysis included a sample of 39 picturebooks written in English and published in the United States between 1993 and 2022. The findings reveal that these immigrant children and families are depicted as facing racism, stereotypes, financial difficulties, cultural differences, and language barriers. The Asian protagonists respond to their challenges in various ways, often employing multiple coping strategies. Additionally, they frequently find support through their social relationships when dealing with …

Learning To Facilitate English Language Discussion With Newcomers Using Visual Narratives, Laura B. Kelly

Reading Horizons: A Journal of Literacy and Language Arts

This self-study reports a teacher educator’s efforts to support college student tutors in facilitating English language discussions about a wordless picturebook with immigrant and refugee youth at a newcomer high school. Drawing on critical sociocultural theory and practice-based teacher education, the study reports how tutors adopted a new and unfamiliar pedagogical repertoire as they became more skilled discussion facilitators. The study documents support needed (and missing) for the college tutors to take up this skill. Additionally, the study reports the affordances of a particular wordless book, The Arrival, as a tool that college student tutors used in the process of …

Picturing The Teaching Of The Holocaust: A Narrative Case Study Of Four English Language Arts Teachers Who Teach The Holocaust, Shelley L. Esman

Dissertations

This qualitative narrative case study was designed to examine the pedagogical choices of four English Language Arts teachers who teach the Holocaust. This study shares the “picture” of the four English language arts teachers from Michigan, Indiana, and Florida. Data collected through interviews and curricular documents were analyzed in connection to each of the teacher’s identities and rationales for teaching the Holocaust. This study highlights each teacher’s process of becoming a Holocaust teacher and describes how each teaches the content of the Holocaust in grades fifth to tenth. It uncovers the common dispositions of these four teachers. It shares the …

Insights From Father-Toddler Communication Via Tiktok, Joy Lee Hernandez, Abha Gupta

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This qualitative study investigates the characteristics of interactions between fathers and toddlers, as well as their influence on language development. By utilizing video clips from the social media platform TikTok, this research observes and analyses fathers' responses and interactions with their toddlers. The findings indicate that fathers play a crucial role in supporting language development by engaging in conversations, expanding vocabulary, and providing emotional support. The study underscores the significance of fathers' involvement in nurturing language skills during early childhood. However, further longitudinal research is necessary to establish a definitive link between fathers' language input and toddlers' language development. Overall, …

Development Of Qr Code-Based Arabic Teaching Materials For Oral Skills: A Case Study On Hobby Topics For Grade 1 Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, Dina Mutiatunnisa, Zulfa Azalia Mujahidah, Imam Asrori

Al-Arabi: Journal of Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language

The development of Science and Technology (IPTEK) demands learning activities that also involve technology. Especially now that the world of education has been filled by the Alpha generation who are very close to digital skills, so the teaching materials used must also support students to collaborate with technology. This study aims to develop teaching materials for Arabic oral proficiency grade 1 elementary school using QR Code and describe the characteristics of the product developed. This research uses a Research and Development (R&D) approach with Thiagarajan's 4D development model which has four stages, namely define, design, development, and disseminate. The results …

Leveraging Ai Tools In University Writing Instruction: Enhancing Student Success While Upholding Academic Integrity, Daisuke Akiba, Rebecca Garte

Publications and Research

The emergence of AI-powered Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini, presents both opportunities and challenges for higher education, particularly regarding academic integrity in writing instruction. This exploratory study examines a novel pedagogical approach that integrates LLMs as required feedback tools in a university-level psychology writing assignment. The exclusive online approach emphasizes improvement through revision, requiring students to obtain AI-generated feedback on ungraded initial drafts based on an instructor-provided rubric, with final assessment focused on the quality of subsequent revisions. Analysis of survey data from 39 undergraduate students, incorporating both quantitative measures and qualitative responses, revealed several …

Examining Primary Teachers' Concerns, Self-Efficacy, Attitudes, Intentions, And Challenges Of Implementing Inclusive Pedagogy In English Literacy Classrooms For Bilingual Dyslexic Students In The Uae, Robin Ogdol, Jose Roan Adorna, Romee Capate, Aisha Alteneiji

All Works

The United Arab Emirates has embraced inclusive education across all academic levels since 2006. However, the degree of teacher acceptance of inclusive practice varies. This mixed-methods case study investigated 48 primary school teachers’ concerns, self-efficacy, attitudes, and intentions regarding inclusive pedagogy in English literacy for bilingual dyslexic students aged 5-11. It also identified challenges faced by teachers in mainstream classes. Using correlation analysis, results showed negative associations between teachers’ concerns and efficacy, attitudes, and intentions for inclusive practices. On the other hand, positive associations were found between teacher efficacy, attitude, and intentions for inclusive practices. Challenges included reconciling the bilingual …

The Role Of Task-Based Language Assessment In English Language Learning And Learner Autonomy Enhancement In An Efl High School Context In The Uae, Eman Yousef Mahmoud

Dissertations

Assessment plays an integral role in education, incorporating various types that serve multiple purposes. In language education, the proper integration of formative assessment practices, such as Task-Based Language Assessment (TBLA), is crucial to improve students’ language learning. This study explores the impact of implementing TBLA in an English as a foreign language (EFL) high school context on language learning. It also investigates whether and to what extent TBLA application promotes Learner Autonomy (LA). Furthermore, this study examines the teacher’s and students’ perceptions of the intervention and its impact on linguistic and non-linguistic skills. The study used an experimental mixed methods …

Language Tutors And Building Connections With Peer Students, Malia Balas

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

To fulfill general education requirements, many college students must study a language other than English for academic and professional development. However, at California State University–Monterey Bay, language tutors stated that students often feel overwhelmed and struggle to stay motivated while studying their target language. Based on Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory, a workshop was conducted to explore common challenges students face and how tutors can address these issues. Findings show the importance of recognizing and managing emotional states and establishing SMART goals during tutoring sessions. An individualized approach based on the Zone of Proximal Development proved essential for fostering peer-student motivation and …

Oral Language In A Literacy-Based Intervention, Rachel Chappell

Dissertations

The problem of practice I studied in this investigation was how to effectively and intentionally merge oral language support with a comprehensive literacy-based intervention (Reading Recovery®) for a student population exhibiting oral language concerns. This mixed-methods study focused on dual and monolingual students with limited language development, which resulted from various root causes. Through my investigation, I sought to evaluate the impact of additional language-related strategies within the literacy-based intervention with the primary purpose of learning advancement and student reading proficiency improvement. I found that explicit instruction in language-related errors and complex book language in comprehensive literacy-related interventions demonstrates a …

Exploring The Teaching Of Reading In Lower Primary Classes: A Case Study Of One Government Primary School In Kocheka Sub County, Uganda, Nipael Mrutu, Kulwenza Rachael

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Purpose: The purposeof this study was to investigates the methods teachers use to teach reading in lower primary classes at a government primary school in Kocheka Sub County, Uganda, focusing particularly on how these methods impact learners' reading competences.

Methodology: Aqualitative case study approach was utilized, employing interviews and document analysis to gather data from six teachers, one head teacher, and one District Inspector of Schools (DIS).

Findings: The findingshighlight the use of phonics, whole language, and balanced methods. Further, they reveal that teachers are conversant with these methods and understand how they affect learners’ reading skills. The DIS noted …

Generating A Reflexive Ai-Assisted Workflow For Academic Writing, Corey W. Johnson, Trena M. Paulus

The Qualitative Report

Digital research workflows are study designs that intentionally consider the use of technology in meaningful and reflexive ways. While most scholars use digital tools and spaces in their research process, doing so has consequences that are infrequently considered in an intentional way. Especially in this age of generative AI, technology integration into research studies will have an even greater impact and consequences on study outcomes. This paper documents one digital research workflow, the academic writing process, to demonstrate how inviting generative AI to be a writing partner can be done in a reflexive manner. Drawing on Paulus and Lester’s (2023) …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

The Pedagogy Of Play In Teaching Of Reading: Low-Tech And High-Tech Play-Based Interactive Reading Methods, Elizabeth Klein Ms.

The Language and Literacy Spectrum

Do the current trends in teaching reading adequately incorporate principles of motivation, cooperation, and joy? Also, are students taught skills to connect to the text and understand the material? In what ways can teachers use play-based instruction to deepen connections in Reading?

With a renewed emphasis on teaching skill-building, there also must be an assurance that students make connections to text to deepen their learning. In the quest for teaching reading as a science, educators must preserve reading enjoyment and understanding of text. This article examines integrating play-based pedagogies into teaching Reading to deepen motivation and support reading comprehension.

Principles …

Paghalungkat Ng Mga Ugat: Ang Paggalugad At Pagsipat Sa Pagpili Ng Mga Artikulong Nailathala Sa Dalumat E-Journal Mula 2010 Hanggang 2022, Jessica May S. Reyes, Vasil A. Victoria

Social Sciences and Development Review

This study is focused on exploring the process of how the articles in the Dalumat E-Journal (DEJ) of Networked Learning PH from 2010 to 2022 were published. This was inspired by Eilene Narvaez’s exploration of the entire process of choosing the winner for the “Salita ng Taon,” by the Filipinas Institute of Translation (FIT). Furthermore, this research used the Mixed Method design which aided the researcher in analyzing all articles that are available from the official website of Philippine E-Journals. By using Critical Discourse Analysis, the researcher had the chance to look into all the factors that influenced the selection …

Using Practitioner Research To Improve An Instructor’S Practice In An Accelerated Developmental Reading And Writing Course, Pamela Herrington-Moriarty

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This dissertation study utilized practitioner research to analyze a developmental reading and writing course focused on an accelerated curriculum, problem-based learning, and a sociocultural perspective on academic literacy, which I taught at a community college. The study collected information-rich data from three students who participated in semi-structured interviews. This study applied the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing to analyze the course curriculum and resulted in recommended changes to three assignments based on the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing: (1) The Educational Autobiography, (2) the Summary Assignment, and (3) Letter Assignment, and four themes based on the student …