Digital Commons Network^™

Pre-Service Teacher Perceptions Of Pronunciation Teaching: A Qualitative Investigation, Madelyn Diller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Pronunciation teaching has long been overlooked in areas of research, especially those of language teacher cognition (Couper, 2017; Macdonald, 2002). In language teacher education, narrative inquiry provides a basis for expert mediation and growth in perceived areas of challenge (Johnson, 2009; Johnson & Golombek, 2002) through the lens of language teacher cognition (Baker & Murphy, 2011). Through tracking reflections of pre-service teachers who observed a pronunciation course led by an experienced English teacher, this study examines a secondary data set of narrative reflections in correspondence with an observed pronunciation course. The results are organized into themes and subthemes which highlight …

Transforming English As A Second Language Story Readers Into Storytellers: Examining Learners' Experiences In A Video Book Trailer Project, Shizhong Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Reading is a challenging task for English as a Second Language (ESL) students (Pang, 2008; Nassaji, 2011). Instructors and researchers have explored various ways to promote ESL students' reading development. Since research on story-based pedagogy has shown benefits in the area of language development, stories can be used to promote ESL reading development. Furthermore, research on Digital Booktalk shows that when students engaged in after-reading video production activities they found a new purpose in reading (Gunter & Kenny, 2012). Additionally, digital storytelling (DST) research has revealed that DST can foster learner motivation and autonomy (Hafner & Miller, 2011; Kim, 2014). …

Multicultural Literature In The Elementary Classroom: A Comparison Of Traditional And Dual Language Classroom Teachers, Virginia Massaro

Theses and Dissertations

The number of English learners in the United States continues to increase and these students’ literacy scores are dramatically lower than their native English-speaking peers. White, female teachers dominate the teaching workforce, creating a cultural mismatch between teachers and students. Culturally relevant education can benefit student outcomes and incorporating multicultural literature is one way to do so. This non-experimental quantitative study examined the relationships between teachers’ multicultural characteristics, teachers’ use of multicultural literature, classroom level factors, and teacher demographics. A total of 35 teachers participated in an online survey and completed a book log, indicating texts used in their instruction. …

Using The Enneagram As A Lens For Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy In The Ninth Grade English Language Arts Classroom, Catherine Caudle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This study explores the relationship between student personality, student choice in novel selection in the high school language arts classroom, and student reading self-efficacy and enjoyment. Throughout a student's educational journey, from elementary school to high school, it is typical to see a decrease in student choice regarding the literature they read. In elementary grades, students learn about the parts of a book, are frequently read to with animated voices, and look forward to shelves of choice on library trips. Yet as students move into their middle and high school years, the excitement often dwindles. Choice is removed, for a …

Morphological Awareness Skills Of Second And Third Grade Students With And Without Speech Sound Disorders, Kenn Apel, Victoria Henbest

Victoria S. Henbest Publications

Purpose: Morphological awareness is the ability to consciously manipulate the smallest units of meaning in language. Morphological awareness contributes to success with literacy skills for children with typical language and those with language impairment. However, little research has focused on the morphological awareness skills of children with speech sound disorders (SSD), who may be at risk for literacy impairments. No researcher has examined the morphological awareness skills of children with SSD and compared their skills to children with typical speech using tasks representing a comprehensive definition of morphological awareness, which was the main purpose of this study.

Method: Thirty 2nd …

A Longitudinal Corpus Investigation Of Grammatical Stance Markers In The English Argumentative Writing Of Chinese Students, Man Deliang

Student Works (2020-2029)

Evaluation is considered crucial for successful academic writing (Hunston, 1989, 1994; Hyland & Jiang, 2016; G. Thompson, 2001). It conveys the values and judgement of the writer, maintains the relations between the writer and reader and organizes the discourse (G. Thompson & Hunston, 2000). Despite the importance of evaluation, the use of evaluative language in academic writing has shown to be difficult for both L1 and L2 users of English. One active strand of research in English for academic purposes gives considerable attention to the use of linguistic markers of stance. While there has been growing research interest in stance …

Virtual Learning Prototype In Flipped Classroom For Developing English Listening And Reading Skills Of Undergraduates In Thai Higher Education Institutions, Hambalee Jehma

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The purpose of this research and development study was (1) to explore and analyze the level of English receptive skills of undergraduates studying in Thai higher education institutions, (2) to develop the prototype of virtual learning as implemented in flipped classrooms in improving Thai undergraduates' English receptive skills, and (3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed prototype of virtual learning as a tool implemented in flipped classrooms in developing Thai undergraduates' English receptive skills. The research methodology was explained as follows: the samples of this study were 160 undergraduate students, and 40 students from four regions of Thailand, namely …

Examining Diversity In The Monarch Award, Michele Mcdaniel

Masters Theses

This study explores the 2016 Monarch Award Master List as an educational resource for kindergarten through grade three teachers and librarians. It focuses this exploration by examining how diversity was represented in the text and illustrations of the books in the sample. The Monarch Award is Illinois’ K-3 Kids’ Choice award. Illinois’ children are increasingly diverse, and it is important that they have access to literature that reflects their diversity. The study revealed that diverse characters were portrayed with nuance and respect, but they were still underrepresented on the list. Additionally, diverse characters often had to display extraordinary characteristics to …

Preservice Teachers As Document Detectives, Lorna Quinnell, Radha Iyer, Bronwyn Ewing

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Literacy today relies on a readers’ ability to analyse text critically. This case study investigated preservice teachers’ critical analysis of media text containing visuals and representations. In particular, the analysis focused on mathematical factors that impact on readers’ interpretation of diverse visuals.

Data was gathered from the 23 preservice teachers, enrolled in the Graduate Diploma program at one Australian university. They participated in a series of mathematics learning sessions focused on the critical analysis of a selection of media items.

The paper argues that the ability to critically analyse graphs and visuals relies on mathematical knowledge and that the ability …

Teachers And Research Practices: Perspectives From English Language Educators In A Philippine University, Veronico N. Tarrayo, Philippe Jose S. Hernandez, Judith Ma. Angelica S. Claustro

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Given the paucity of studies regarding research practices of teachers, particularly English language teaching (ELT) practitioners in the ASEAN region and in the Philippines, this study explores the research practices of English language teachers in the Philippines. Using purposive-convenience sampling, a total of 49 teachers of English from a Philippine university were asked to answer a survey. To validate the data, pertinent public university documents were examined, and interviews with the university research heads were conducted. Findings suggest that the teachers were cognizant of the link between teaching and their own and their schools’ research practices. This research also reports …

Development Of Out-Of-Class Extensive Reading To Enhance Perceived English Reading Self-Efficacy Of Underserved Students, Chanisara Tangkijmongkol

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Perceived English reading self-efficacy is one of the essential factors that facilitate development of English language ability as it motivates learners to read and learn. The present study aimed to investigate the outcomes of out-of-class extensive reading to enhance perceived reading self-efficacy of underserved student and to explore underserved students' attitudes towards out-of-class extensive reading. In this study, a mixed-method research design, with a particular focus on the use of narrative inquiry, was employed, and the study participants consisted of five lower secondary students in a slum community in Bangkok, Thailand. The purposively selected participants were between 14 and 15 …

A Model Of Willingness To Communicate In English In Iranian Efl Classroom Context, Azadeh Amirzadi

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between WTC in English in classroom context and four trait-like variables: L2 confidence, L2 motivation, L2 anxiety and grit, to propose a WTC model in EFL classroom setting in Iran, and to identify the best predicting variable of WTC in English. The participants were 488 non-English majored university students in two public and two private universities in Iran. The research instrument used in this study was an online questionnaire. The structural equation modeling (SEM) using Amos was conducted to analyze the data. The key findings are as follows. First, positive relationships were …

Teachers' Beliefs And Practices Towards Teaching English Pronunciation Among Efl Senior High School Teachers In Yunnan Province, China, Hua Liu

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objectives of this study were 1) to examine EFL senior high school teachers' beliefs towards teaching English pronunciation in Yunnan province and 2) to investigate the English pronunciation practices used by Yunnan EFL teachers. The participants were 59 EFL senior high school teachers in Yunnan province who were purposively sampled. There were 3 research instruments which were 1) online questionnaire; 2) semi-structured interview and 3) classroom observation. Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, which were the means and standard deviation, and qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis. The findings revealed that 1) Yunnan EFL teachers' beliefs towards …

Creative Drama English Pronunciation Program For Bhutanese Primary Learners, Melam Zangmo

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The aims of the study were to (1) to develop a Creative Drama English Pronunciation Program to enhance primary learners' pronunciation ability, and (2) to compare learners' English pronunciation ability before and after learning with the Creative Drama English Pronunciation Program. The study process was segmented into two phases; (1) Creative Drama English Pronunciation Program development, and (2) Implementation and Evaluation of the Creative Drama English Pronunciation Program. The participant consisted of 25 primary learners of Bhutan selected through cluster sampling. The study period was 12 weeks. Quantitative data from pre- and posttest was analyzed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test and …

Effects Of Interleaved Form-Focused English Instruction On Thai Lower Secondary School Students' Grammatical Knowledge And Perception Towards The Instruction, Narongchai Rungwichitsin

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study investigated the effects of interleaved form-focused instruction (FFI) on Thai lower secondary students' grammatical knowledge, long-term retention, and their perception towards the instruction. Students took a pre-test, an immediate post-test, and a one-week delayed post-test, and were also interviewed at the end of the implementation. The test scores were to investigate the improvement of grammatical knowledge as well as the long-term retention, and the data from the semi-structured interview were analyzed to figure out the perceptions towards the overall instruction. The results showed significant improvement of grammatical knowledge in all areas of form, meaning, and use and also …

Development Of Infographic Material To Enhance Young English As Foreign Language Learners' Reading Comprehension Through Close Reading Instruction, Nattawan Suksanguan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objectives of this study were to: 1) develop infographic materials to help teach young English as foreign language learners' reading comprehension skills and 2) examine how effective the developed materials were in increasing young English as foreign language learners' reading comprehension skills focusing upon non-fiction text and 3) examine the effectiveness of close reading instruction in using infographics as reading materials. The participants included 20 year-four students and five foreign teachers who were purposefully selected from an international programme in one of the demonstration schools in Thailand. The instruments used were: 1) semi-structured interviews for teachers, 2) need analysis …

Effects Of Digital Literacies On English Reading Fluency For Undergraduate Students, Pimpanitt Chottsawhas

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This mixed-methods study aimed to 1) examine the effects of Digital Literacies on reading fluency in terms of reading rate and reading comprehension, 2) investigate the uses of Digital Literacies. Participants comprised 60 third-year undergraduate students from a public university in Thailand (N = 60), the Faculty of Architecture, during a 10-week intervention. The independent variable was Digital Literacies, while the dependent variable was reading fluency. The instruments used to collect data were the Online English Reading Fluency Test, Reading Fluency Practice: Reading Rate Chart, and Learning Logs. Quantitative data were analyzed through students' Online English Reading Fluency Test using …

Effects Of Reading Instruction Using Backward Design Framework And Citizenship Theme To Enhance English Reading Comprehension And Social Responsibility Of Tenth Grade Thai Efl Students, Patamaporn Chaisa

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This study aimed to 1) investigate the effects of reading instruction using Backward Design framework and citizenship theme (BD&CT) to enhance English reading comprehension of tenth grade Thai EFL students, 2) investigate the effects of reading instruction using BD&CT to enhance social responsibility (SR) of the students, 3) explore the opinions of students towards the reading instruction using BD&CT. The participants included 36 tenth grade students who took course in English reading and writing as an additional course in the second semester of the academic year 2019. The research instruments were English reading comprehension test and social responsibility questionnaire, which …

Development Of An Online Course Using Situated Learning And Esa Method To Enhance English Oral Communication Ability Of University Administrative Staff, Tatchakrit Matyakhan

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Since English is the primary mode of communication at institutions of higher education that offer international programs, university administrative staff must be able to communicate in English with academic staff, international students, and partner universities. The purpose of this research is (1) to investigate the effectiveness of an online course that combines situated learning and ESA to improve oral communication skills and (2) to capture the perceptions of university administrative staff towards such a course. The participants were 20 university administrative staff, aged from 22 to 40 years old, 14 females and 6 males, at a public university in Thailand, …

Digital Storytelling For Cambodian Undergraduate Students' Efl Reading And Digital Literacy, Vychan Otdom Hon

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

The objectives of the study were threefold: (1) to investigate the effect of Digital Storytelling on Cambodian Undergraduate Students' English reading ability, (2) to explore Cambodian Undergraduate Students' perception on their digital literacy after participating in Digital Storytelling, (3) to explore Cambodian Undergraduate Students' perceptions on Digital Storytelling,. The participants of the study were English-majored students (n = 18) in the foundation year from the School of Foreign languages (SFL) at the University of Cambodia (UC). Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. For the first research objective, a Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was implemented to determine the difference between …

The Spelling Detective Project: A Year 2 Explicit Instruction Spelling Intervention, Sally Robinson-Kooi, Lorraine Hammond

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teaching spelling is controversial because teaching approaches vary considerably in the contemporary classroom. Teachers may privilege visual over linguistic strategies, select words based around themes or let students choose spelling words, rather than focus on the explicit teaching of phono-morphological structures of words. A nine-week intervention spelling project that included the phono-morphological structure of words and contextualised sentence dictation was designed to support Year 2 students in a NSW school and is described here. The intervention aimed to support all students including those with learning difficulties and an English as an Additional Language (EALD) background, within a mainstream setting. The …

Assessment Of Literacy Pedagogy Using Gratitude, Glenn Auld, Andrew Eyers, Joanne O'Mara

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper considers aspects of a course redesign that focuses on motivating Pre-service Teachers to engage in negotiating relevant literacy teaching pedagogies in their discipline. The purpose of this article is to describe how we approached the teaching of literacy with Pre-service Teachers, in ways that valued the Pre-service Teachers’ relationships with secondary students using notes of gratitude. These notes provided the Pre-service Teachers with an opportunity to communicate in plain language to the students what they learnt from them about literacy pedagogy. The shift from the focus on the subject matter of literacy to the enactment of literacy teaching …

The Efficacy Of A Computer Program For Increasing Phonemic Awareness And Decoding Skills In A Primary School Setting For Children With Reading Difficulties, Tiffany Winn, Julia Miller, Willem Van Steenbrugge

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This paper addresses a gap in research regarding the efficacy of software programs to help children with reading difficulties. Forty-two children aged 5-13 years identified as poor readers participated in a study over twelve weeks using ReadingDoctor, a software program targeting phonemic awareness, orthographic-phonemic mappings, decoding ability and sight word recognition. Measures were taken using the Sutherland Phonological Awareness Test - Revised (SPAT-R), the Test of Word Reading Efficiency (TOWRE), and the graphemes and decoding subtests of the Phonological Awareness Test 2 (PAT-2). A quasi-experimental one group study with three multiple baseline measures was used. The dependent variables/measures were assessed …

Examining The Longer-Term Impact Of A Home-Visiting Intervention Program On The School Readiness Skills Of English Language Learners In Kindergarten, Michelle Mccann

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Young English Language Learners (ELL) present with varied profiles in their language and literacy development with parental involvement promoting development. The Home Instruction for Parents and Preschool Youngsters Program (HIPPY) is a free home-visiting intervention designed to empower parents to be their child’s first teacher. The current study examined the effectiveness of the HIPPY program on language, reading, and social/emotional skills of kindergarten aged ELLs. The HIPPY group was compared to an English as a first language group (EL1) and a control group of ELL students who did not participate in HIPPY (ESL). Participants were assessed at two time points, …

Technology Based Grammar Instruction, Erin Mary Summerhays

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

There are a wide variety of technology-based grammar instruction resources available for educators, and it is important for them to select the best tool for their school district’s and individual students’ needs. It is also important for educators to know whether the technology they have chosen is better than the traditional way of grammar instruction using paper and pencil. This paper studied the free grammar tool Noredink and looked specifically at the concept of active and passive voice. 22 10th -grade students were participants, with 11 receiving grammar instruction using traditional methods, and the other 11 receiving grammar instruction using …

A Convergence Of Conceptual Frameworks: Neurocognitive, Metacognitive And Social Cultural Techniques In Vocabulary Teaching And Learning, Malihe Eshghavi

Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods study investigated the effectiveness of neurocognitive, metacognitive and sociocultural techniques in vocabulary instruction at the high-intermediate level of English as a second language learners’ vocabulary learning and recall at a community college in Northern California. While previous studies offered and demonstrated different methods, those studies emphasized only one particular vocabulary learning modality. As a result, most ESL learners learn vocabulary passively but not actively. No study has proposed to explore the inclusion of the neurocognitive, metacognitive and sociocultural techniques on vocabulary learning and recall, in order to analyze the resulting effects of these proposed instruction techniques among …

Sowing The Seeds Of Love: Dialogic And Collaborative Literacies For Social Change, Liz Murray

Doctoral Dissertations

This ethnographic case study explored the impact of community organizing on the literacy practices of elementary and middle school aged children and youth in a Bay Area intergenerational non-profit centered on education justice and equity. The participants in the study were part of a program that addressed the needs of children and youth aged four to fourteen. This study foregrounded collaborative critical literacy practices that promoted engagement with topics relevant to their lives. This study is informed by a belief in critical literacy and community organizing as tools to change the world. The children and the youth drew on a …

Child Naming Practice And Changing Trends In Modern Japan, Noriko Mori-Kolbe

The Coastal Review

Given name is a cultural component that reflects family life. The present study is a literature-based research on newborn baby naming practice in Japan from 1912-2018. Based on existing literatures on naming, examples and surveys on given names, an overview of a naming pattern in Japan is presented and discussed within a sociocultural framework. Historical observations of baby names include popular female and male names and their recent trends. The study also shows that in Japan computerization has changed learning method, information transmission method and communication modes, and that digital natives name their children in different ways than older generations.

Examining Three Approaches To Supporting English Learners By Leveraging Technology, Jillian Conry

Teaching and Learning Theses and Dissertations

This three-article dissertation examines three distinct approaches to supporting English learners (ELs) by leveraging technology. Framed by the third generation of cultural-historical activity theory (Engeström, 1987; 2001), this research illuminates ways different stakeholder groups within varying activity systems support ELs, by examining technology as 1) an instructional tool in the classroom, 2) a mechanism for family engagement, and 3) a means for preparing teachers to serve ELs. Types of technologies implemented in these studies include various online multimodal tools (e.g., VoiceThread, Zaption), learning management systems (e.g., EdModo, Canvas), social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and mixed-reality simulation (MRS; e.g., Mursion). …

Teaching The Sun As Simile: Bringing Nature Into Language Arts Middle School Classrooms, Stormy Kage

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Teaching the Sun as Simile is an essay that explores an interdisciplinary approach to teaching middle school English Language Arts (ELA) by infusing nature and environmental studies. This essay defines emerging concepts of new literacy studies and eco-criticism, literacy, and composition as it relates to ELA pedagogy. Also, it provides an explanation for the importance and relevance of using nature to develop an ecosystem of better readers, writers and communicators in middle school general ed and special ed classrooms.