Language and Literacy Education Commons^™

Helping Freshmen Revise:Collaborative Peer Review Through The Eyes Of Students, Jean S. Filetti

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

The Sublime Utility Of Poetry, Louis Gallo

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

Introduction From The Editor And Vate President-Elect, Jenny M. Martin

Virginia English Journal

No abstract provided.

What Are The Challenges And Opportunities Of Online Teaching In The Republic Of Moldova, Marciuc Ala

International Programs

The project represents an overview of the current situation in online education in the Republic of Moldova. The data was collected based on the literature analysis and short empirical research performed on 25 English language instructors, employed by the American Language Center, who have been directly affected by the pandemic starting March 2020.

Dawn Of The Undead Classroom: Pop-Culture In The First-Year Composition Classroom, Sierra A. Ellison

English (MA) Theses

Supplemented by the findings of her IRB certified research project, Sierra A. Ellison delves into the positive effects pop culture and genre have on the first-year composition classroom, exploring how engaging students through a common discourse that is relatable and comfortable can aid in their writing and composition progression. She explains how teaching under a framework such as the undead and examining these types of thematic material can engage students in the material and give students the space to open up about key issues like race, sex, politics, morality, and consumerism that they might be reluctant to discuss otherwise.

Do The Verb. Become The Noun: Writing Towards A New Identity, Mary K. Tedrow

Inquiry: The Journal of the Virginia Community Colleges

Abstract

The initial composition course in the community college has the potential to be a transformative space for the identity formation of adult learners towards the linguistic signifier of scholar. Freshman students of variable ages enter a new culture which demands the negotiation of an alternative academic language, an adaptation to the post-secondary culture, and the development of the critical thinking required for academic work. All of these factors can destabilize identity as students confront long-held beliefs and biases in their studies (Bartholomae, 1985; Tingle, 2004; Bracher, 2006). Students who are unable to adapt to the new environment are …

Exploring The Influence Of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (Pals) In Increasing Reading Comprehension Of Grade-Level Biology Text And Biology Self-Efficacy In Students With Learning Disabilities: A Formative Experiment, K. Lea Priestley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The present study used a formative design experiment framework which does not answer a research question but addresses a pedagogical goal. The goal of this study was to determine the influence of Peer-Assisted Learning Strategies (PALS) on the reading comprehension of grade-level biology text and biology self-efficacy with students diagnosed with learning disabilities. As a result of this intervention, it was expected that students would better understand biology text and feel better about themselves as a biology student.

Students were separated into pairs, or dyads, with each pair having a stronger reader and a weaker reader. These dyads participated in …

Developing And Validating Stealth Assessments For An Educational Game To Assess Young Dual Language Immersion Learners' Reading Comprehension, Frederick J. Poole

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this multiple-paper dissertation is to design a digital game and stealth assessments within the game to assess young second language learners' Chinese reading proficiency. In Chapter 2 (Paper 1), I describe the game designed for this dissertation and how it was implemented in a dual language immersion classroom. This study found that the digital game and in-class implementation led to significant vocabulary and reading comprehension gains. Further, seven types of support that students needed while playing the game were identified. In Chapter 3 (Paper 2), I describe how educational data mining approaches, and more specifically, how data-driven …

Reading Instruction Evidence Guide, Prue Anderson, Dan Cloney, Greta Rollo, Kellie Picker, Pru Mitchell

Initial Teacher education

A set of criteria and a glossary designed for use by Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers to identify well-designed studies, trustworthy research, and meaningful evidence to inform decisions relating to the teaching of reading instruction. The purpose of these criteria is to scope and define levels or gradations of evidence-based practice and illustrate the strength, validity, and reliability of different types of evidence to support critical consumption of evidence.

Reading Instruction Evidence Guide Map, Prue Anderson, Dan Cloney, Greta Rollo, Kellie Picker, Pru Mitchell, Jenny Trevitt

Initial Teacher education

The evidence map of literature is provided to illustrate some of the different kinds of evidence that can be used to inform early reading instruction: systematic review; literature review; meta-analysis; original research; and professional opinion. The citations given here are examples only. They are not definitive, prescriptive, or ordered in any kind of hierarchy but provided to support the AITSL Reading Instruction Evidence Guide.

Student Interaction, Attitudes And Perceptions In Online Collaborative Writing, Mohd Ghazali Husna Fatimah

Student Works (2020-2029)

Students’ perceptions towards online learning are significant as today’s students have high expectations in their learning environment, which initially brings forth their willingness to cooperate during the engagement process. The study focuses mainly on students’ attitude and perceptions towards online collaborative writing tasks, which indicate their preference in learning. Students’ online interactions play an important role to determine if online community is able to achieve its goal. The objectives of this study are to determine students’ attitudes towards online collaborative writing, analyse students’ attitudes while interacting in online collaborative writing, and identify students’ perceptions towards online collaborative writing. The findings …

Differentiating Literacy Instruction Through Guided Reading, Emily Clare Ringquist

Masters Projects

Research reiterates how instilling a strong reading foundation in young students is vital to their growth in the future. Today, students need more support and individualized education to meet the diverse needs students enter school with. Whole group reading instruction does not benefit students in comparison to differentiated instruction. In order to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of the students as well as provide scaffolds to enhance literacy, teachers must incorporate small group instruction such as guided reading groups.

Guided reading are groups of students around the same developmental level that showcase similar learning needs exploring books. Teachers work …

The Role Of Student Engagement In The Relationship Between Classroom Motivation And Academic Achievement, Damodaran Shailaja

Student Works (2020-2029)

The aim of this study was to investigate undergraduate students’ perceived classroom motivation and perceived engagement in learning English course. It also examined the extent to which student engagement plays a mediating role in the relationship between classroom motivation and academic achievement. Using the Basic Needs Satisfaction at College Scale (Jenkins-Guarnieri et al., 2015) and Student Course Engagement Questionnaire (Handelsman et al., 2005), cross sectional surveys were conducted to collect data on classroom motivation and student engagement, respectively. Academic achievement was measured based on students’ course examination results. The sample comprised 137 undergraduate students from a public university in Malaysia. …

A Needs Analysis Of Oral Communication For Business Students, Raminderjeet Singh Savina Kaur

Student Works (2020-2029)

English is a universal language of communication in many industries such as Education, Business, Medical, Finance, Hospitality and Digital World. The present study focuses on the oral communicative needs analysis for business students in one of the private universities in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was reported that many employers were reluctant to employ fresh graduates due to poor communication in English (Sani, R. The NST, 2019). Therefore, the objectives of this study is to identify three things which are, the English language needs of the Business students and challenges of the business students in English language as well as to …

Oral Presentation Skills Among Low Proficiency Esl Undergaduates, Majamin Zeuricca Johnny

Student Works (2020-2029)

This research study seeks to examine the issues that are related to ‘Oral Presentation Skills among Low Proficiency ESL Undergraduates’. The two research questions that have been constructed in this study focuses on eliciting the perspective of low proficiency undergraduates on the types of oral presentation difficulties that are faced by them and the types of communicative strategies that are used by this group in coping with their oral presentation difficulties. A total of fifty one low proficiency undergraduates from 3 local private universities with a MUET score of Band 1 and Band 2 have participated as respondents for the …

The Influence Of Psychological Captial And Classroom Management On Teachers Well-Being: A Case Study Among English University Teacher In Zhejiang Province, China, Yong Wu

Student Works (2020-2029)

This study aims to investigate the associations among EFL teachers’ psychological capital, well-being (PERMA), and their College English classroom management in Chinese universities of Zhejiang province. This study is a non-experimental quantitative research which used a questionnaire to collect data. comprised four sections: teachers’ demographics, psychological capital, well-being (PERMA) and EFL classroom management. A total of 486 EFL teachers from 19 universities in Zhejiang province, China, were randomly selected. Following the filtering of data which involved the missing data, normality, outliers and multicollinearity issues, only 478 samples were found suitable for analysis. The descriptive statistics analysis derived from this study …

Development Of Collaborative Flipped Instruction For Form One Malay Language Writing, Mazlan Nurul Hijja

Student Works (2020-2029)

The aim of this study is to develop a Collaborative Flipped Instruction for Form One Malay Language Writing through Design and Development Research. Declared a national language in Malaysia, Malay language is a compulsory subject in the national education system. Although many students in Malaysia have passed their Malay language papers on national examinations, their language skills, including writing, are evidences of conflict. Backlog issues related to Malay language writing are not limited to the writing skills themselves, but are also demonstrated by the low rate of technology integration in its writing instruction. Comprised of three phases – Needs Analysis, …

English Academic Vocabulary Of Dual Language Programme And Non-Dual Language Programme Secondary School Pupils In Selangor, Ek Ying Wong

Student Works (2020-2029)

Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) is regarded as a fertile ground for target language acquisition. However, there is a growing skepticism towards the novelty of CLIL due to various methodological flaws in the past studies. The purpose of this study is to investigate if CLIL approach truly contributes to English academic vocabulary learning when three confounding factors: selection effect, total English instruction hours and extramural English exposure are controlled. This study employs cross-sectional research design using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods by comparing the academic vocabulary performance between secondary students in two different learning environments — regular …

Teachers’ Beliefs And Use Of Frog Vle In Rural Secondary English Language Education, Muthukumaran Nanthini Kumari

Student Works (2020-2029)

Frog Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is an online learning platform which has been introduced in Malaysian government-aided schools in 2012. Despite prominent calls for implementing Frog VLE and the efforts of the Ministry of Education (MOE), the application of this technology has yet to meet the expectations of MOE. This study aimed to investigate the rural secondary English language teachers’ beliefs and their use of Frog VLE. Implementing an explanatory sequential mixed method design, data have been collected through survey questionnaires and interview. The survey involved 84 English language teachers, who are teaching in several districts in Negeri Sembilan, namely …

Effects Of Using Picture Books On Reading Self Perception Among Year Two National- Type Chinese School Pupils, Jia Min Chin

Student Works (2020-2029)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of picture books in enhancing the reading self-perception among the Year Two National Type Chinese Primary School Pupils in Hulu Selangor. This study employed a quasi-experimental research with pre-test and post-test design which involving 75 year two pupils. The control group did not receive any intervention whereas the experimental group received the implemented of picture books in classroom in order to enhance their reading self-efficacy. Data was collected using Reader Self-Perception Scales (RSPS) and were analysed using SPSS. Descriptive data revealed a significant increase in the mean and standard deviation …

Espoused And Enacted Beliefs Of High School English Language Arts Teachers In Writing Instruction, Sydnie Schoepf

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the current study is to explore the espoused beliefs and enacted practices of secondary English Language Arts teachers with regards to writing instruction and how these beliefs correlate with teacher self-efficacy beliefs. The study worked to build upon the literature mainly in the fields of mathematics and science in order to explore what the perceived and enacted beliefs are and how they affect the self-efficacy belief of teachers within the field of writing instruction in the high school classroom. The study used a collective case study design in order to better understand what espoused and enacted pedagogical …

Writing Through The Senses In The Basic Writing Classroom, Danielle M. Schull

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

This study attempts to determine the impact and effectiveness of sensory writing strategies in the initial drafting stages of narrative writing when used in the Basic Writing classroom. Inspired originally by my work with English As a Second Language (ESL) students at a middle eastern international school and the works of feminist theorists, such as Hélène Cixous and Gloria Anzaldua, students use sensory experiences as the foundation for the generation of narrative content. This early draft is then quantitatively and qualitatively compared to previous work completed by the student. I found that certain populations of students, based on gender, classroom …

Pencil Or Keyboard? Boys’ Preferences In Writing, Jennifer L. Sze, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

Handwriting is an important subject in primary schools, especially in the Early Years. The importance of writing skill is now seen as a debate with the increasing demand on children to learn technology skills to help them with 21^st Century learning—how to write on the keyboard effectively. The topic is important because handwriting is an essential life skill to have with or without technology. In this study, I looked at the importance of both in the context of the qualitative case studies in three schools in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of the research is to explore how do students …

Within, Without, And Amidst: A Review Of Literacy Educators’ Perceptions Of Participatory Media Technologies, William T. Wright

Journal of Media Literacy Education

With strict no-cell phone policies in classrooms becoming commonplace, national and international electioneering campaigns eroding trust in social media platforms, and content posted years prior affecting students’ acceptance into the colleges of their choice, it is little wonder that educators often think twice about bringing participatory technologies into their instruction. This literature review seeks to address how literacy educators reckon with the risks and potentials of these participatory technologies in the midst of our current sociopolitical climate, through an examination of an array of factors and influences that shape and give rise to educators’ understandings of participatory technologies’ place in …

Engaging Middle School Emergent Bilinguals In Language Awareness: A Practitioner Researcher Study, Carol Lickenbrock

Dissertations

This practitioner research study (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 2009) traced the journey toward critical literacy of a group of seven emergent bilinguals and me, their teacher, over the course of a four-month unit on argument as part of our English for Speakers of Other Languages 3 (ESOL3) class. Many of these students, like many emergent bilinguals in the United States, had been disempowered because they had not had access to the academic texts of school. As part of this research, students worked with tools of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) to analyze the interpersonal, ideational and textual metafunctions of argumentation in lessons …

Analysis Of Linguistic Inclusion In Tesol Courses For Teacher Candidates, Dylan Thibaut, Irina Mclaughlin

Journal of English Learner Education

According to TESOL standard 1, teacher candidates are required to have knowledge about language including: having knowledge in foreign language grammar and how English develops in ELLs (standard 1a), comprehension of language acquisition and how L1 influences learning (standard 1b), and understanding of the language process where an interlanguage develops as ELLs become comfortable using English (standard 1c) (TESOL International Association, 2018). To identify whether teacher candidates in TESOL courses are prepared to meet TESOL standards 1a, 1b, and 1c, a study was conducted to test one hundred teacher candidates’ knowledge of basic linguistic features of English and the five …

Supporting Social And Emotional Learning In The Efl/Esl Classroom: How The New Science Of Child Development Can Inform Second Language Acquisition Theory And Practice, Matthew Nall

Journal of English Learner Education

Research in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) generally falls within two categories: the cognitive/psycholinguistic camp, and the sociocultural camp (Fazel, 2014). These distinct approaches to empirical research in SLA have diverse epistemologies, methods, and implications for the second language classroom. Scholars within the sociocultural camp have made significant contributions to the field concerning social and emotional learning in the second language classroom. Concerning this, the current paper reviews recent developments in the field of developmental psychology and examines ways in which the new science of child development can inform SLA theory and practice in regard to social and …

Sel For Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Sophie Cuocci, Rebeca Arndt

Journal of English Learner Education

There is abundant research about the benefits of SEL programs on social and emotional core competencies (e.g., increase in self-esteem, improvement of academic performance); however, general SEL programs are not necessarily designed with the English learners’ (ELs) needs in mind. Aiming at exploring valid and reliable SEL programs that meet the needs of the ELs, the article first examines the theoretical groundwork on which SEL is built upon. Next, this paper will first discuss Piaget’s, Vygotsky’s, and Dörnyei’s theories surrounding the cognitive, emotional, and sociocultural aspects involved in the learning process and language learning. It will then consider the needs …

Social Emotional Learning Practices In Learning English As A Second Language, Boniesta Zulandha Melani, Shayla Roberts, Jasmine Taylor

Journal of English Learner Education

Social and emotional factors are two main aspects of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), which are also crucial in the development of L2 competence. Drawing examples from English as a second language (ESL) classrooms, this paper discusses how learners’ affective factors such as motivation, attitude, and anxiety (Henter, 2014) contribute to the L2 learning process through a social learning experience when learners engage in social interaction. Further examination of research findings from SEL classroom provides a thorough analysis of the lack of discussion on SEL in second language learning (SLL).

Social Emotional Learning And Hope Theory Connections: Perceptions Of Teachers And School Counselors In Training, Donita Grissom Ph.D., Viki Kelchner

Journal of English Learner Education

This qualitative survey study explored the interrelationship between hope as defined by Hope Theory (HT) and social emotional learning (SEL). Participants (N=161) were teachers and counselors in training (TCT) learning to work with English learners (ELs) in K-12 settings. Participants' perspectives of hope, strategies and future plans to integrate hope into the classroom were explored. Findings indicated that TCT in training have some knowledge of hope. Participants’ knowledge was limited in applications of hope in the classroom. There is a need for increased training of SEL and HT to prepare TCT to work with ELs and all students …