Digital Commons Network^™

Preparing Low-Income Middle And Secondary Students To Participate Effectively In Academic Discourse Through Writing, Franc Lacinski

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Students from low-income families often perform poorly on formal assessments in language arts. Examining data using the 2008-2009 State of New Jersey Department of Education School Report Cards, a comparison was made between low-income districts and affluent districts in three areas: High School Proficiency Assessment Language Arts Literacy Scores, SAT Verbal Scores and SAT Essay Scores. Students from low-income districts performed significantly lower in these areas than students from the higher income districts and from the average performance rates for the State of New Jersey. This lag in performance affects students’ choices for higher education, for job opportunities, as well …

Politeness In Malaysian Esl Classroom Directives., Khaw Aun Nee

Student Works (2010-2019)

The present study investigates teachers’ and students’ use of directives and politeness strategies in realising directives in Malaysian ESL classrooms. Using Bach and Harnish’s (1979) classification of directives and Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness strategies as a theoretical framework, audio recordings of three ESL lessons were analysed to examine the types of directives used by teachers and students in Malaysian ESL classrooms and the types of politeness strategies used to realise these directives. Audio recordings of interviews with participants of the current study were then examined to discover the factors that affect teachers’ and students’ use of directives and politeness …

The Use Of Past Tense In French By Arab Students : An Error Analysis., Rasha B. Y. Hamarsha

Student Works (2010-2019)

The objectives of this study are: (a) to analyse and categorise the errors made by Arab students of French when using four French past tenses: the imparfait, passé composé, plus-que-parfait, and passé simple; (b) to compare the French past tenses with Arabic past tenses; and (c) to suggest some pedagogical strategies. The subjects of this study are Arab undergraduates from the Bachelor of Arts programme, majoring in French language and literature at An-najah National University in Nablus, Palestine. The instrument used is a test consisting of four passages. The respondents have to use the correct past tense of the 108 …

Second Language Learning Anxiety Among Malay Learners Of English / Razlina Muhammad Sabri, Razlina Muhammad Sabri

Student Works (2010-2019)

This is a study of second language speaking anxiety among Malay ESL learners at an institution of higher learning. The objectives of this study are to determine whether learners experience test anxiety during public speaking, to discover if there is a difference in the anxiety level of high and low proficiency learners, to ascertain whether there are any differences between the high and low anxiety learners in their speaking test assessment, and to identify the factors leading to speaking language anxiety. This study has taken both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data is mainly obtained from questionnaires and interviews with …

Penguasaan Al-`Adad Wa Al-Ma'dud Dalam Kalangan Pelajar., Mohamad Hussin

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study is done to identify the mastery level of al-‘adad wa al-ma‘du:d in the Arabic Language among students, together with the types of al-‘adad and its regulations related to it. This study also aims specifically to identify students’ weaknesses in learning and understanding the al-‘adad wa al-ma‘du:d concept besides identifying the most difficult aspect and detecting the most difficult source. A few effective steps in understanding and mastering the topic of study were suggested in the final chapter of this research. Samples were taken from 100 form five students of al-Madrasat al-Idri:siyyat and Ma‘had Al-Mi:zan, both in Kuala Kangsar, …

Penukaran Kod Di Kalangan Guru-Guru Sains Di Sekolah Tamil., Marimuthu Punniaseelan

Student Works (2010-2019)

This research discusses the code switching phenomena among science teachers in Tamil Schools, especially in SJK (T) Vivekananda, Brickfields Kuala Lumpur. The objective of this research is to analyze and draw possible conclusions on the absorption level of the nature of this type of code switching. The notion of polarity and the factors that influence the execution of this code switching is also defined. The researcher selected six teachers for the present study (2 males and 4 females subjects). This selection also takes into consideration the minimum academic achievement that is Diploma in teaching. Another pre- requirement being teaching experience …

Hispanic Students' Voices In Writing, Regine Pellicer

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This study focuses on the voices expressed by Hispanic students enrolled in first-year composition classes at a Hispanic Serving Institution in South Texas. The present research highlights similarities with a study conducted in Tucson, Arizona among Hispanic households. Both studies emphasize the importance of women as active agents in the transmission of literacy practices and language ideologies, which also reflect the dilemma of families caught between tradition and modernity. Moreover, this study reveals that Hispanics tend to look for new frameworks for their lives in evangelical Christianity. This work also focuses on students' dissonances regarding the use of oral code-switching …

Strategies To Support Children's Reading Progress At Home: Tools For Parents Of Bilingual Children, Esperanza Gomez-Gribben

Graduate Student Independent Studies

The idea of gathering tools for parents of bilingual children to utilize at home to support their children's reading progress emerged from the combination of different factors. My placements during my studies at Bank Street College of Education provided me with the opportunity to learn reading strategies and utilize them with young children in the classroom.

As a parent of bilingual children, these strategies had been valuable in furthering my children's reading skills in both English and Spanish. While talking to other parents of bilingual children, I have learned about their frustrations of not knowing how to support their children's …

Gjr Volume 33 Number 1 Spring 2010, Elizabeth Pendergraft, Sheryl Dasinger

The Georgia Journal of Reading Archive

The Georgia Journal of Reading's Spring 2010 issue includes:

Message From the Editors by Elizabeth Pendergraft (pg.5)

President’s Page by Sallie Averitt Miller (pg. 6)

Using Children’s Literature as a Resource Within Middle Grades Social Studies Curriculum by Christine A. Draper (pg. 7)

Critical Literacy: From Theory to Practice by Katie Simon Kurumada (pg. 12)

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!: Tapping Students’ Popular Culture Interest Through An Elementary School Newspaper by Andrew Huddleston (pg. 16)

Can Digital Storytelling Improve Literacy Outcomes for Students with Autism? by Brent Daigle and Margaret-Mary Sulentic Dowell (pg. 25)

Project Pen Pal: A Win-Win …

The Effectiveness Of Content-Based Instruction In Literature-Based Esl Reading Classes., Uma Rani A Rethina Velu

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study investigates the effectiveness of CBI in Literature-based ESL Reading Classes in an urban Primary School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The researcher used quantitative method to collect the data, which were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Packages for Social Sciences), version 16. Sixty students were the subjects for this study. The data for this study was gathered via three questionnaires and 3 tests. Findings revealed that the students, who had medium and low proficiency levels in English, had a positive attitude towards the use of CBI in the teaching and learning process in the reading classes. The CBI approach was …

Abu Hayyan : Peranan Dan Kesannya Terhadap Nahu Arab., Abdul Hamid Sulaiman

Student Works (2010-2019)

This research is aimed to analyse the role of Abu Hayyan, a well-known scholar and expert of Arabic Grammar. He was a neutral mujtahid, capable of solving the intricacies of Arabic Grammar through the processes of tarjih, dissection, summarisation, rearrangement, composition, tafsir and ijtihad. Although he lived in an era of thousands of scholars and experts, his teachings was accepted by the community. Andalusia, the cradle of knowledge of the Islamic civilization at the time contributed immensely to Abu Hayyan’s development. His journeys throughout Northern Africa reinforced his knowledge gained in Andalusia, his wisdom attracted scholars and students alike at …

Lexical Errors In The Written Compositions Of Thai Efl Students., Jehsuhana Suetae

Student Works (2010-2019)

This research examines the lexical errors in the written work of fifty forthyear students at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Pattani campus, majoring in English from both the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The aim of this study is to investigate the types of lexical errors produced by Thai EFL students. This study also attempts to explain the possible causes of lexical errors in terms of interlingual and intralingual errors. Procedures for an error analysis study are adapted from Corder (1974). The lexical errors classified in this study are based on lexical classifications proposed …

Elementary Principals' Literacy Practices And Their Relationship To Student Achievement In Reading, Sandra Carper Cox

Teaching & Learning Theses & Dissertations

Principal behavior is under intense scrutiny, particularly in light of increased demands for higher and higher levels of student achievement. Reading achievement is the measure by which schools as well as principal leadership are judged. This study examined principals' literacy practices and their relationship to student achievement in reading. Measures used for analyses included a researcher-developed survey instrument, the Principal Quality Literacy Practices Survey, and results from the grade five Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) English: Reading test.

Survey data from 109 principals and 160 reading specialists from Southeastern Virginia were utilized. Principals and reading specialists reported that overall principals' …

Scolt Through The Ages: 1990 To 2010, Lynne Mcclendon, Lee Bradley

Dimensions

The previous history of the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) from its origins through 1989 was undertaken by Herman F. Bostick, SCOLT founder and first co-editor of the conference proceedings; James S. Gates, past SCOLT Secretary-Treasurer; and Robert Terry, past SCOLT Chair and co-editor of Dimension. The history was published in the Silver Anniversary edition, Perspectives and Horizons Dimension: Languages ’89. The SCOLT Board recommended that a two-decade summary of SCOLT’s history be included in this current volume as illumination for the Index, which also appears. The authors of this current two-decade history are Lee Bradley, Executive Director from …

A Thematic Index Of Dimension : 1980-2009, C. Maurice Cherry

Dimensions

SCOLT Dimensions Volume 45 Article 5

Communication Beyond The Classroom

Dimensions

SCOLT Dimensions Volume 45

Unifying Our Profession Through Standards: Writing The Actfl/Ncate Report, Judith L. Shrum, Rebecca Fox

Dimensions

Accreditation and accountability recently have been prominent in national conversations about the preparation of teachers. Members of our profession have developed standards to which we will hold ourselves as we prepare foreign language and world language (F/WL) teachers for the 21st century. As a participating Specialized Professional Association (SPA), ACTFL has joined the conversation with the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). In this article, we describe the standards that are most applicable to our field and provide suggestions for those who are compiling their ACTFL/ NCATE reports seeking national program recognition. We offer comments and suggestions based …

Academic Achievement And Course Taking Among Language Minority Youth In U.S. Schools: Effects Of Esl Placement, Rebecca Callahan, Lindsey Wilkinson, Chandra Muller

Sociology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The 1974 Lau decision requires that U.S. public schools ensure a meaningful education for students learning English. English as a Second Language (ESL) placement is an institutional response to the linguistic needs of these students; however, its academic implications remain largely unexplored. Using nationally representative data from the Educational Longitudinal Study (ELS), the effects of ESL placement on college preparatory course enrollment and academic achievement of language minority students are estimated, first with fixed effects regression models and then with multi-level propensity score matching techniques. While numerous school and individual level factors beyond language proficiency predict ESL placement, a significant …

The Cognitive Processes Of Japanese As A Foreign Language Learners In Understanding Videos., Yoshida Masahiro

Student Works (2010-2019)

The aim of this study is to explore the differences between the thinking processes of proficient learners and less proficient learners of Japanese language while watching Japanese videos.  This study examines facilitating and distracting factors which impact the learners’ understanding of the video content. Data of think aloud protocols, verbal summaries and semi-structured interviews were collected from four proficient learners and four less proficient learners while watching two kinds of videos; i.e., a Japanese animation “Doraemon” and a Japanese drama “Nodame Cantabile”. Analyses of listening strategies revealed that both proficient and less proficient learners used a lot of visual elements …

Factors Which Influence The Learning Strategies Of Efl Learners., Persis Dineen Rodrigues

Student Works (2010-2019)

Research studies on language learning strategies have been carried out by researchers in their quest to locate factors that influence the proficiency of language learners. Language learning strategies are found to be one of the key factors that contribute to successful language learning. This paper presents the findings of factors that influence the choice of learning strategies of proficient and less proficient EFL learners in a four-week English Intensive Programme. A total of 30 participants took part in this study, and collection of data was carried out via the use of the SILL questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results indicate …

Interactive Post-Reading Activities That Work, Arwijati Wahjudi

Bahasa dan Seni: Jurnal Bahasa, Sastra, Seni, dan Pengajarannya

The post-reading stage of a reading lesson is often confused with the clos- ing of a lesson. However, having new information from the whilst-reading stage should bring about a change such as the students would know more, or think or feel differently from before. Teachers should help students connect the new information they are now familiar with and their lives. This article re-introduces the importance of the post-reading stage and some workable, meaningful activities. Interactive ac- tivities are chosen so that students not only process their knowledge obtained from the text but also communicate this new knowledge to peers.

Class Blogs As New-Age Assessment And Feedback Tools., Norazrin Zamri

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study investigated the perceptions of Malaysian university students and educators regarding the use of class blogs as an assessment tool in ESL courses. The objective is to provide evidence for the feasibility of this issue. The participants’ perceptions, obtained from questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, were analyzed based on Carl Rogers’ Humanistic approach to language learning. The findings showed that there is a parallel relationship between the aspects of Humanistic approach and the perceptions of the participants in this study. The aspects analyzed were: motivation; active interactive learning; non-threatening environments; feedback; wholesome collaborative relationships; autonomous learning; assessment for life-long learning; …

Pragmatic Language Skills Underlying Social Competence Of Reading Disability In Middle School Students, Ali Adibi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this investigation was to examine pragmatic language engagement and social competence in middle school children with and without reading disability during dyadic interaction. Engagement was defined in terms of degree of information and responsiveness provided by each partner. Analyses indicated reading disabled students differ from non-reading disabled students in terms of pragmatic language engagement. However, this was true only in terms of degree of responsiveness. Students with reading disability employed similar degrees of pragmatic language engagement in terms of information to those of their nondisabled peers. Further, no relationships were found between social competence and either type …

The Master's Written Thesis, Anne West, Graduate Studies, Center For Arts & Language

Thesis Writing

91 pages : illus. ; 26 cm; 2nd Edition. "This guide to thesis development is best used in discussion and negotiation with your Graduate Program Director and other thesis advisors. It may also be used as part of a workshop structure to explore in conversation with others the ideas and possibilities most appropriate to your own work." – Anne West, from the Introduction. "This remarkable handbook is a navigational instrument offered to assist each graduate student through the development of an independent, distinctive process of writing about—and with—one’s work." – Patricia C. Phillips, from the introduction. "The first edition of …

Planteamientos Colaborativos En La Didáctica De La Composición Desde Modelos Procesuales, David Sánchez-Jiménez

Publications and Research

El presente artículo parte de una revisión del modelo tradicional de la enseñanza de la escritura en la clase de LE entendida como producto. Desde este punto de partida, se evidencian las ventajas de adoptar una escritura colaborativa basada en la consideración del texto como un proceso en construcción que pasa por diferentes fases creativas y en un modelo pedagógico que centra su atención en el alumno dentro de la práctica escrita.

SUMMARY: In the initial part of this article, we begin with a review of the traditional model of teaching composition in a foreign language class in which writing …

L2 Anxiety In Spanish-Speaking Adult Esl Populations: Possible Causes And Cultural Influences, Scott Freiberger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anxiety has been identified as a plausible factor affecting second language (L2) acquisition. However, more research is needed on how anxiety may influence Spanish-speaking adult English as a Second Language (ESL) populations. Determining precisely what causes anxiety in Spanish-speaking adult ESL populations should be of interest not only to L2 researchers but also to ESL instructors who may have adult Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs) in their classes. This study researched L2 anxiety in Spanish-speaking adult ESL learners. Specifically, it considered possible causes and cultural influences of L2 anxiety in 10 Spanish-speaking adult ESL students at a university English language …

Correct Me If I Am Wrong: Investigating The Preferences In Error Correction Among Adult English Language Learners, Hillary Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the existence the educational backgrounds of adult English Language Learners and their preferences in error correction. Fifty participants completed surveys of their educational and demographic backgrounds and beliefs about error correction, and then ranked video clips of different types of error correction in terms of perceived usefulness. The survey examined the affective impact of oral error correction and students' preferences regarding which errors merited correction and when and how these errors should be corrected. Participants with differing educational backgrounds expressed similar beliefs concerning the error correction and similar perceptions of the affective …

The Role Of Motivation In The Learning Of English As A Second Language, Nadzrah Ahmad Bustami

Student Works (2010-2019)

Motivation is important in language learning. This present study aims to investigate learners’ motivation in the learning of English as a second language at university level and the factors that affect their motivation. The study particularly focuses on six motivation components: integrative motivation, instrumental motivation, effort, valence, expectancy and ability. The present study also aims to explore the differences in motivation level between female and male participants. 189 students participated in this quantitative study. The survey method used was the administration of the Motivation Scale (Wen, 1996 and modified by Shaaban and Ghaith, 2000). The results of this study revealed …

Strategies Used In Summary Writing By Malaysian Students., Vasanthi Ramadass

Student Works (2010-2019)

Strategy use is a highly researched area, more so in the L1 context than the L2 context. On the other hand, summary writing has been rarely studied in the L2 context despite its importance to reading comprehension. This study has tried to investigate and evaluate the strategies used by Malaysian sixth formers in summary writing. The study adopted a mixed research design that used both quantitative (SILL Questionnaire) and qualitative (Modified Think-Aloud Protocol and document analysis of written summaries) research approaches. Strategies are normally used to overcome problems. Therefore, firstly the study explored the problems faced by both high and …

An Examination Of Instructional Interactions Between Volunteer-Tutors And Students Who Show Differential Gains In Reading Comprehension, Laurie J. Newcomer

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

It is essential to provide high quality interventions designed to improve struggling readers' reading comprehension while making use of limited resources. This study explored, through an holistic, multiple-case study design, volunteer-student interactions and activities in an after school reading program utilizing minimally-trained volunteers. The purpose of this research was to explore and describe factors that differentiated the volunteers working with students who made larger or smaller gains in reading comprehension