scholarly journals Anxiety in Spanish EFL University Lessons: Causes, Responsibility Attribution and Coping

2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Arnaiz ◽  
Jessica Pérez-Luzardo
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Responsibility Attribution ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Quantitative Analyses ◽  
Quantitative Design ◽  
Spanish Universities ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Practical Implications

ABSTRACT Few studies have focused on the anxiety experienced by learners of English as a foreign language in the context of Spanish universities. This study reports on the findings of an investigation into the sources of 216 Spanish university students’ anxiety and incorporates two underexplored aspects in this area, namely, the responsibility students attribute to different agents and the perception students have of their own ability to cope during an anxiety episode. A qualitative/quantitative design was used. Results indicated that the primary source of anxiety related to the speaking skill. Quantitative analyses revealed that learners place the main responsibility for their anxiety on themselves and that women hold themselves responsible for their anxiety to a greater degree than men. The perceived coping ability of men and women was ranked below ‘fair’. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Grammatical Competence within L2 Communication: Language Production, Monitor Hypothesis, and Focus on Forms Instruction

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moh. Rofid Fikroni
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Language Production ◽  
Communicative Competence ◽  
Focus On Form ◽  
Grammatical Competence ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Focus On Forms ◽  
Learning Language

Bearing in mind that the learners’ speaking skill had become the main goal in learning language, grammatical competence is believed to have a big role within foreign language learners’ language production, especially in spoken form. Moreover, the learners’ grammatical competence is also closely related to the Monitor Hypothesis proposed by Krashen (1982) in which it says that the acquired system will function as monitor or editor to the language production. The students’ monitor performance will vary based on how they make use of their acquired system. They may use it optimally (monitor optimal user), overly (monitor over-user), or they may not use it at all (monitor under-user). Therefore, learners’ grammatical competence has its own role, which is very crucial, within learners’ language production, which is not only to produce the language, but also to monitor the language production itself. Because of this reason, focus on form instruction will give a great impact for students’ grammatical competence within their communicative competence. This paper aims to present ideas about the how crucial the role grammatical competence within learners’ L2 communication.

scholarly journals Organizational Silence: A Barrier to Job Engagement in Successful Organizations

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wageeh A. Nafei
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Job Engagement ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Five Dimensions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Organizational Engagement ◽  
Organizational Silence ◽  
And Coping ◽  
Practical Implications

<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Although the phenomenon of Organizational Silence (OS) is widely seen in organizations, there is little empirical evidence regarding its nature and components. The purpose of this research is to identify the types of OS and its effects on JE at Menoufia University Hospitals in Egypt.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach</strong>: To assess OS, refer to (OS questionnaire, Schechtman, 2008; Brinsfield, 2009) and JE (JE questionnaire, Rich et al., 2010). Five dimensions of OS are constructed and measured in order to examine their effects on JE at Menoufia University Hospitals in Egypt. Out of the 338 questionnaires that were distributed to employees, 300 usable questionnaires were returned, a response rate of 88%. Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA) was used to confirm the research hypotheses.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Results indicate that supervisors’ attitudes to silence, top management attitudes to silence and communication opportunities are associated and predict ES behaviour. The research has found that there is significant relationship between OS and JE. Also, the research has found that OS directly affects JE. In other words, OS is one of the biggest barriers to organizational engagement of the employees at Menoufia University Hospitals in Egypt.</p><p><strong>Practical implications:</strong> This research contributes to stimulate scientific research, particularly in terms of testing the model content, as well as studying the research variables and the factors affecting them. In addition, this research pointed to the need for organizations to adopt a culture which encourages and urges employees to speak in the labor issues and the non-silence in order for the administration to be able to realize these issues and try to solve them first hand in order to prevent their aggravation.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>Although the phenomenon of silence is expected in organizations, there is little empirical evidence in the literature aimed at defining, analyzing, and coping with it. Silence climate has an impact on the ability of organizations to detect errors and learn. Therefore, organizational effectiveness is negatively affected. This research aims to measure the effect of OS on JE. Based on the findings of this research, some important implications are discussed.</p>

scholarly journals Adiposity, education and weight loss effort are independently associated with energy reporting quality in the Ontario Food Survey

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 803-809 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Ward ◽  
Valerie Tarasuk ◽  
Rena Mendelson
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Multivariate Regression ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Total Energy Expenditure ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Men And Women

AbstractObjectivesTo examine the associations of adiposity, dietary restraint and other personal characteristics with energy reporting quality.Design/subjectsSecondary analysis of 230 women and 158 men from the 1997/98 Ontario Food Survey.MethodsEnergy reporting quality was estimated by ratios of energy intake (EI) to both basal metabolic rate (BMR) and total energy expenditure (TEE). Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to examine energy reporting quality between two dietary recalls and in relation to body mass index (BMI) with adjustment for potential confounders. Energy reporting quality was explored across categories of age, BMI, income, education, dieting status and food insecurity through analysis of variance (ANOVA).ResultsFrom the ANOVA, energy reporting quality was associated with BMI group, age category and weight loss for men and women, as well as with education among women (P < 0.05). The multivariate regression analyses indicated that energy reporting quality was positively associated with education and inversely associated with obesity and dieting. No associations were observed in relation to food insecurity or income (P>0.05). EI:BMR and EI:TEE on the first and second 24-hour recalls were positively related (P < 0.0001 for men and women). A higher proportion of variance in energy reporting quality was explained for women than for men (R2 = 0.19 and 0.14, respectively).ConclusionsStudies of diet and adiposity are probably hindered to some extent by BMI-related variation in energy reporting quality. Methods to address this issue are urgently needed if population surveys will continue to serve as the primary source of dietary intake data.

scholarly journals The Influence of Educational Programme on Teachers’ Error Correction Preferences in the Speaking Skill: Insights from English as a Foreign Language Context

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Emre Debreli ◽  
Nazife Onuk
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Error Correction ◽  
Corrective Feedback ◽  
Educational Programme ◽  
Classroom Observations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Language Context

<p class="apa">In the area of language teaching, corrective feedback is one of the popular and hotly debated topics that have been widely explored to date. A considerable number of studies on students’ preferences of error correction and the effects of error correction approaches on student achievement do exist. Moreover, much on teachers’ preferences of error correction approaches has also been explored. However, less seems to be done with regard to teachers’ practices of error correction approaches, especially in the area of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The present study explored EFL teacher’s preferences of error correction approaches in the speaking skill, and further focused on whether the teachers were able to employ the approaches they preferred in their classrooms. Data were collected from a group of 17 EFL teachers, through semi-structured interviews and classroom observations. The findings revealed that although the teachers had clear preferences for error correction approaches, they could not employ them in their classrooms owing to the educational programme constraints. Furthermore, it was observed that they often had to adopt approaches that they were not actually in favour of. Implications for programme and curriculum designers are further discussed.</p>

Halal tourism: conceptual and practical challenges

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erhan Boğan ◽  
Mehmet Sarıışık
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Critical Assessment ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Literature ◽  
Global Tourism ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeMuslim tourists participating in halal tourism activities represent a valuable niche market for global tourism industry. The purpose of this study is to clarify the concepts of halal tourism and Islamic tourism and to draw attention to some conceptual and practical challenges in the halal tourism industry.Design/methodology/approachThe paper is based on a critical assessment of the literature in this field. To differentiate the concepts and to discuss practical and conceptual challenges, the authors found some references by reviewing the existing definitions in related literature and the primary source of the concepts which is Holy Book of Islam, Quran.FindingsThe terms “intention” and “Islamic motivation” can be used to differentiate Islamic tourism and halal tourism. The authors suggest calling hotels that provide good and services in halal tourism industry as “halal hotels” and tourists as “Muslim tourists”. One of the leading practical challenges in halal tourism is having lack of halal standards, especially for hotels. As the way Muslims understand and adapt their lives to Islam is quite different, which means this market is not homogenous, the authors suggest that halal hotels should be scaled through different qualifications in different countries.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is based on literature review, and it lacks primary research.Practical implicationsCurrent paper stresses the need for consistent use of Islamic-related tourism terms in industry. Hotel companies should have halal certifications that will provide assurance to customers. It is highly important for hotel companies to inform their target guests about the location of hotel before arriving at hotel. This is because halal hotels and other hotels are usually located in resort destination, especially in Turkey.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the leading papers that differentiates Islamic tourism and halal tourism concepts. It also provides several conceptual and practical issues in halal tourism industry.

scholarly journals Diskursus Gender Dalam Hukum Islam

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mesraini Mesraini
Keyword(s):  
Islamic Law ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Western World ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Islamic Studies ◽  
Gender Discourse ◽  
Islamic Jurisprudence

Abstract:Gender discourse is an issue that has its distinct challenges in Islamic studies. This is due to the notion that gender discourse emerged from the western world and is also considered less linear with Islamic studies. The main cause of this impression is due to a lack of proportional understanding. Gender does not actually treat a person on the basis of sex, but on one's competence. If the gender approach is biological-natural and irreversible, then the gender approach is constructive-social, not natural, and thus can be altered. This paper argued that Qur'an Hadith as the primary source of Islam ensures that in the issues of position, worship, and law, men and women have equal position. Nonetheless, some aspects of fiqhiyah (Islamic jurisprudence) as an implementation of the primary source's understanding are still considered biased. The differences of thinking, the culture of society, and the challenges faced by imam fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence leaders) contribute to gender biasKeywords: Gender, Islamic Law, Fiqh Abstrak: Wacana gender merupakan isu yang memiliki tantangan tersendiri dalam kajian keislaman. Di samping lahir dari dunia Barat, wacana ini dipandang kurang linier dengan kajian keislaman. Kesan ini cenderung didasarkan atas pemahaman yang kurang proporsional. Gender bukanlah memperlakukan seseorang atas dasar jenis kelamin, tetapi atas kompetensi seseorang. Jika pendekatan jenis kelamin itu bersifat biologis-kodrati dan tidak dapat diubah, maka pendekatan gender bersifat konstruk-sosial, bukan kodrati, dan dapat diubah. Sumber primer Islam, seperti Alquran Hadits, memastikan dalam persoalan kedudukan, ibadah, dan hukum antara laki-laki dan perempuan memiliki posisi yang sama. Namun, sebagian dari aspek fiqhiyah sebagai implementasi atas pemahaman sumber primer itu dipandang masih bias. Perbedaan pemikiran, budaya masyarakat, dan tantangan yang dihadapi oleh para imam fiqh berkontribusi atas bias gender.Kata Kunci: Gender, Hukum Islam, Fiqh

scholarly journals The Role of English Songs in Saudi Students’ Self-Learning of English

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1405-1415
Author(s):  
Omar Jabak
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
King Saud University ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Self Study ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Self Learning ◽  
Academic Year

The present study aimed to explore the role of English songs in Saudi students’ self-learning of English as a foreign language. The study employed one data collection tool which was an online questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed by 38 Saudi students at the Community College of King Saud University in the second semester of the academic year 2020. The examination and analysis of the data showed that listening to English songs motivated the Saudi students to learn English in a self-study mode, augmented their English vocabulary, improved their speaking skill and developed their spelling or writing skill to a considerable extent. It is, therefore, recommended that more large-scale quantitative or qualitative studies on the role of English songs in Saudi students’ self-learning of English as a foreign language be conducted to confirm the findings of the present study, challenge them or yield new ones.

scholarly journals Depiction of Gender in American Headway Series

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Mozaheb
Keyword(s):  
Gender Roles ◽  
Gender Identity ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Gender Representations ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Oxford University ◽  
Gender Biases ◽  
The Common

A great number of researchers interested in designing and producing EFL/ESL materials believe that gender roles and representations can motivate students while learning a foreign language such as English. This comes while some scholars believe that gender representations can hinder the learning process. Ever since the day EFL/ESL experts have determined the significance of gender in EFL/ESL textbooks, a number of studies have been conducted to uncover the prejudices and biases inserted in EFL materials. Linked to previous research articles and studies, the present study aims to investigate how social gender identity is defined through adjectives and photos used in American Headway 5 published by Oxford University Press in 2016. To obtain the objective of the study, the common adjectives used in the conversation section of the American Headway 5 have been detected and counted. Then they were presented in related tables utilizing frequencies. Additionally, the photos all extracted from the book have been tested against gender biases and prejudices. The findings of the study reveal that American Headway 5attempts to demonstrate both men and women equally, albeit some instances of biases have been detected in the pictures. The findings of the current research can be used by materials developers, syllabus designers as well as EFL/ESL practitioners.

scholarly journals Work-nonwork conflict: an urgent situation for Brazilian women

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Érica Custódia de Oliveira ◽  
Tania Casado
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aging Society ◽  
New Family ◽  
Individual Choices ◽  
Probabilistic Sample ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Broad Understanding

Purpose Going further on a broad understanding of nonwork besides family, this study aims to analyze differences between women and men considering work-nonwork conflict (WNWC) in the Brazilian context, investigating time spent in eight nonwork dimensions and the dimensions more affected. Design/methodology/approach The study was quantitative and descriptive. A survey was conducted, based on a validated WNWC scale. The sample consisted of 338 professionals working in Brazil. Data analysis was conducted through descriptive statistics and analysis of variance. Findings Compared to men, women declare higher levels of WNWC considering the eight nonwork dimensions, present greater differences in stress-based conflicts and in more collective dimensions and have marriage or no children associated with more WNWC. Research limitations/implications The study highlights the need to include more nonwork aspects into career and management studies to influence organizational practices and individual choices. The main limitation is the non-probabilistic sample (results not generalizable). Practical implications Know more about WNWC will help organizations to improve lives by creating practices and a cultural environment to preserve women’s and men’s nonwork times. It may also help people to choose places to work for, matching their nonwork needs. Social implications The study reinforces demands from new family arrangements, more couples in dual-career and an aging society: organizations must prepare to have workers that want or need to dedicate time to other interests besides family or children. Originality/value It goes further on a broad understanding of nonwork besides family to understand WNWC and how it may affect differently men and women.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document