Language activities as a platform for second/foreign language learning : its relevance and challenges

2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Ying Soon Goh ◽  
Nasirin Abdillah ◽  
Noor Aileen Ibrahim ◽  
Raja Mariam Raja Baniamin
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Stratified Sampling ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Quantitative Methodology ◽  
Preliminary Attempt

This study seeks to identify the relevance and challenges faced in conducting language activities to help foster second/foreign language learning at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Terengganu. This is also aimed at assisting the organization to review practices of having language activities, hoping this may further cultivate and generate enthusiasm among students to learn second/foreign languages. This research also offers some possible ways to improve students' activities so as to help enhance their second/foreign language learning. In other words, this research may serve as a preliminary attempt aiming at providing reflections and insights on how students' participation in language activities conductedmay be usefulfor them in learning second/foreign languages. The research employs quantitative methodology in which random stratified sampling technique is used Samples consist of Bumiputera students taking English (as a second language) and Mandarin, French, and Arabic classes (as foreign languages). Generally, students are ofthe opinion that language activities can become a significant platform to project andshow their language skills and competency during presentations/performances. Nevertheless, as one ofmany recommendations suggested in the findings of this research, wefound that there is still a needfor evaluation andfo//ow-up work after having participated in the language activities.

scholarly journals Wirklichkeitsnah oder stereotyp? Das Bild von Dänemark und den Dänen in ausgewählten deutschen Lehrbüchern für Dänisch als Fremdsprache

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-104
Author(s):  
Józef Jarosz
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Intercultural Competence ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Language Competence ◽  
Communication Situations ◽  
Successful Transfer

Abstract The contemporary teaching of foreign languages assumes the development of the ability to use a foreign language in different communication situations. Apart from language competence, also the cultural competence is developed as it is a necessary component of communication. A successful transfer of knowledge and language skills in the process of foreign language learning is determined by a textbook (in addition to other factors). The goal of this article is to analyze the content and assess three Danish textbooks, which were published in Germany in the years 2008-2010. The textbooks are examined in terms of knowledge about Danish life and institutions, the transfer of intercultural competence and the presence of stereotypes. The textbooks were studied based on the list of criteria and it resulted in stating that the textbooks fulfill the objective of providing the knowledge about the country to a great degree. The intercultural component and the issue of stereotypes are dealt with in a different manner.

scholarly journals Why Can’t We Learn Foreign Languages in Turkey? Some Psychological Reasons Behind It

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ecenaz Yiğit ◽  
Ömer Faruk Keser ◽  
Levent Uzun
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learned Helplessness ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Courses ◽  
Foreign Language Courses

Foreign language learning is one of the most significant endeavours for people in all countries in the world. Turkey has given importance to foreign language learning for years. Nevertheless, it has been an unresolved problem for Turkish people. The purpose of the present study is to determine why people fail to learn foreign languages in Turkey and the psychological reasons behind it by focussing on perception, foreign language anxiety and learned helplessness. The participants were 100 volunteer students (56 female, 44 male) who were selected randomly from different faculties and departments at Bursa Uludag University. The data were collected from a questionnaire, which consisted of five main sections to identify participants’ background, perception of foreign language learning, level of foreign language anxiety, and level of learned helplessness. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The data were analysed in relation to the research questions that guided the study. The results indicated that the participants’ perceptions of foreign language learning were positive owing to past positive experiences, but their level of foreign language anxiety was high due to lack of practice in language skills in the past; and their level of learned helplessness was low because of the positive perceptions they possessed. In addition, the findings suggested that the four language skills should be taken into consideration when the contents of foreign language lessons at schools and foreign language courses at universities are prepared and determined.

scholarly journals Crossing the bridge to literacy in foreign languages: C-test as a measure of language development

Multilingua ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Gogolin ◽  
Birger Schnoor ◽  
Irina Usanova
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Panel Study ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
School Students

Abstract Throughout an educational career, literacy skills become more elaborated. However, little is known about the development of reading and writing skills in foreign languages in adolescents. In this contribution, we focused on the development of language skills in the foreign languages English and French in Germany as measured by a C-Test. Hereby, we aimed to explore the potential of C-tests to provide a differentiated approach to the assessment of foreign language development in secondary school students. We draw on the data from the German panel study “Multilingual Development: a Longitudinal Perspective” (MEZ) on students’ language skills in the foreign languages English (n = 1987) and French (n = 662). We investigated the differences in the means of “classical” and “word recognition” scores in English and French C-tests and the development of these differences. The application of both scores in our study provided differentiated information on students’ receptive and productive aspects of literacy in adolescents and showed that students in secondary school are still on their way of developing spelling skills in both foreign languages. Furthermore, our results reveal that the receptive and productive components of language proficiency show different developmental patterns at various stages of foreign language learning.

Tourism and Hospitality's Young Workforce

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-62
Author(s):  
Andreea Fortuna Şchiopu
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
World Language ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Methods ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality

This chapter aims to study the perspectives on the foreign language skills based on the Romanian tourism and hospitality young workforce views. Qualitative and quantitative methods help collect data to identify the main barriers to foreign language learning, the fluency in English and a second language and the willingness to learn a second language when necessary, and the young workforce's openness and readiness for exotic foreign languages. The results show that English is a requirement within the labor market in the tourism and hospitality sector that the young workforce knows about and that knowing a second foreign language may act as a differentiator within the labor market. China is gaining ground as a tourism market with many Chinese tourists traveling the world. This brings about a new challenge for the tourism staff: that of acquiring new exotic foreign languages. It is well understood that tourists prefer to use their native tongue or a world language such as English.

scholarly journals THE USED OF A MEDIUM OF LEARNING SONG FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN LEARNING SPEAK STRANGER IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
pp. 904
Author(s):  
Amanda Nabila Yusuf
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
The Public ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Efficient Learning ◽  
Listening And Speaking

In support of an effective and efficient learning process, teachers need to determine how to strategize in appropriate learning. One of the strategies used in foreign language learning is to use learning media, but most teachers do conventional learning without using any learning media. Song is one of the appropriate learning media in language learning especially foreign languages. The purpose of this paper is to show the benefits of using learning media for foreign language songs in foreign language learning at elementary school  so the teacher can switch to using effective learning media. The results obtained from the study of this article is that the use of songs on strengthening foreign language skills is recommended because it can help students master 2 of 4 skills, namely listening and speaking. Learners are also more motivated by the use of Song Media in learning because songs create a learning environment that is not boring. Although search websites about songs in learning are declining, but until now it is still sought and quite attractive to the public.

TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES AT THIRD-YEAR STUDENTS IN POLAND

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olena Ivashko
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Strategies ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Educational Needs ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Language Learning Strategies ◽  
Third Age ◽  
The Third

The article tackles the problem of teaching foreign languages to seniors. The general trends in FL education for the third-age learners are outlined. The institutions in which seniors can study foreign languages in Poland are enumerated. The psychological, physiological, methodological and social peculiarities of teaching a foreign language to the third agers are analyzed. Special emphasis is laid upon educational needs of the Third Age learners. Some language learning strategies which help seniors’ foreign language learning are suggested.

Towards a Model of Learner Variation in Autonomous Foreign Language Learning

1979 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. Rodgers
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning Systems ◽  
Design Model ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
The Third ◽  
Short Piece ◽  
Language Needs

My intent in this short piece is to provide a context for consideration of learner variables in foreign language learning. I first propose a question set outlining the major issues, as I see them, arising in the design of learner-based foreign language learning systems. I then present a simplified three-part design model comprising knowledge considerations (language needs assessment), instructional considerations (learning access alternatives) and learner considerations (characteristics of learners). A review of some recent work in the first two of these prefaces the discussion of the third, learner considerations. A brief state of the art report on research in learner variables is followed by some speculation on next directions in the determination and description of learner variables within a general design model for learning foreign languages.

scholarly journals Christopher Brumfit Award 2014

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 433-433
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Quality Of Presentation

The Editor and Board of Language Teaching are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2014 Christopher Brumfit thesis award is Dr Hilde van Zeeland. The thesis was selected by an external panel of judges based on its significance to the field of second language acquisition, second or foreign language learning and teaching, originality and creativity and quality of presentation.

scholarly journals NATIONALLY ORIENTED FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE LINGUO-DIDACTIC PARADIGM OF THE 21ST CENTURY

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-48
Author(s):  
N. Zaichenko
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Education ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Languages ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Subject Matter Content

The article deals with modern views on the concept of “nationally oriented foreign language teaching”, presented in the linguo-didactic discourse of domestic and foreign scholars of the last decades. The author reveals and characterizes its evolution as one of the basic concepts of Russian and Ukrainian language education as foreign languages. It is found that they relate to the subject matter, content, and operational components of this phenomenon. There are significant changes in the views of scholars on taking into account students’ native language in teaching these languages by speakers of languages with different systems. There is a growing interest in didactic and linguistic data processing of the analysis of Chinese and Russian (Ukrainian) languages and their practical implementation. In terms of content, priority is given to culturally oriented and ethno-psychological aspects of mastering foreign language in a monocultural and multicultural educational environment. The innovative approach to this issue is also manifested in the increasing attention of researchers to the peculiarities of cognitive, mental and educational activities of Chinese-speaking students, formed by the national linguistic and methodological tradition, which is radically different from the national communicative and active lingvodidactic paradigm and needs appropriate methodological correction. Prospects for further study of the issues raised in our investigation are related to the research of a number of “new” terms in the terminological field of the basic concept of “nationally oriented foreign language learning”, as well as from the normative and codification side.

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