scholarly journals The Impact of Wikis & Videos Integration Through Cooperative Writing Tasks Processes

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Lubin Fernando Franco-Camargo ◽  
Gonzalo Camacho-Vásquez

ICT role in education nowadays is not only important, but also effective; its advancement allows a vast opportunity to be explored by EFL teachers into the EFL classroom. This action-research study envisioned and carried out from our teaching practice basis with English language B1 level students at Weisheit institute. Observation and instruments Implementation stages determined the positive impact of the integration of Wikis in EFL classrooms and how cooperative writing processes eased and helped the students improve their writing performance. Indeed, taking into account as a main strategy the “ICT” as a tool to improve teaching practices. This research was conducted through mixed-method approach and included a methodical process through data collection of journals, pre and post writing tests, semi-structured interviews and aptitude test. Of course, by looking upon that the application of these instruments helped us identify certain points of particular interest providing self-reflection on our own teaching-learning processes regarding as main problems; lack of writing skills, lack of vocabulary, grammar mistakes and writing inaccuracy. The strategies implemented had to do mainly with the integration of Wiki websites as a pedagogical instrument to improve writing skills through pre-writing eye-catching elements such as videos implementation in order to trigger motivational writing processes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Hakan Korlu ◽  
Enisa Mede

<p>The primary aim of this study is to investigate the impact of a mobile flashcards application, Quizlet, on the students’ performance and autonomy in vocabulary learning. The study also attempts to explore the perceptions of students and their teacher about incorporating this application into the teaching, learning and practicing of target vocabulary in English language preparatory classes. To achieve these objectives, a nonrandomized quasi-experimental research design was adopted. The participants were selected from two intact classes of Turkish EFL students enrolled in a language preparatory program at a foundation (non-profit, private) university in Istanbul, Turkey. The data was collected through pre- and post- vocabulary tests, an online survey, student interviews and a teacher’s reflective journal. The findings revealed that Quizlet had a positive impact on students’ performance and their autonomy in vocabulary learning. The overall perceptions of participating students and their teacher about using Quizlet to teach and learn English vocabulary were also positive. Based on these findings, the study provides practical implications and offers suggestions for integrating mobile learning into English language preparatory classes.</p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 156
Author(s):  
Mayra Alexandra Cuenca Erazo ◽  
Stephanie Isabel Molina Ramírez ◽  
Maria Asuncion Rojas Encalada ◽  
Jhonny Villafuerte Holguin ◽  
Jia Hui Zou

the present study follows a qualitative research approach that analyzes the perceptions of people linked to the different fields in the tourism sector of the province of El Oro in Ecuador. Currently, this province has professionals who lack a good level of English proficiency to provide foreigners with the best service. The researchers applied semi-structured interviews, capitalization of testimony, and focus group discussions to 15 participants associated with the different activities in the tourism area. The present study aimed to explore the needs and uses of the English language in the tourism and Hostelry sectors of "El Oro," the implications of having staff with good English language knowledge, and the impact of knowing English in the tourism sector.  The results revealed that staff required having an appropriate level of English proficiency to make tourists feel comfortable during their stay.  For this reason, knowing English has a positive impact in all the areas of the tourism sector.  The researchers suggest further studies regarding the effectiveness of different strategies and techniques to develop English for Tourism Purposes (ETP) at the university level and examine the impact of knowing English in the different fields of the tourism sector.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Austad ◽  
Michel Juarez ◽  
Hannah Shryer ◽  
Patricia L. Hibberd ◽  
Mari-Lynn Drainoni ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Global disparities in maternal mortality could be reduced by universal facility delivery. Yet, deficiencies in the quality of care prevent some mothers from seeking facility-based obstetric care. Obstetric care navigators (OCNs) are a new form of lay health workers that combine elements of continuous labor support and care navigation to promote obstetric referrals. Here we report qualitative results from the pilot OCN project implemented in Indigenous villages in the Guatemalan central highlands. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 17 mothers who received OCN accompaniment and 13 staff—namely physicians, nurses, and social workers—of the main public hospital in the pilot’s catchment area (Chimaltenango). Interviews queried OCN’s impact on patient and hospital staff experience and understanding of intended OCN roles. Audiorecorded interviews were transcribed, coded, and underwent content analysis. Results Maternal fear of surgical intervention, disrespectful and abusive treatment, and linguistic barriers were principal deterrents of care seeking. Physicians and nurses reported cultural barriers, opposition from family, and inadequate hospital resources as challenges to providing care to Indigenous mothers. Patient and hospital staff identified four valuable services offered by OCNs: emotional support, patient advocacy, facilitation of patient-provider communication, and care coordination. While patients and most physicians felt that OCNs had an overwhelmingly positive impact, nurses felt their effort would be better directed toward traditional nursing tasks. Conclusions Many barriers to maternity care exist for Indigenous mothers in Guatemala. OCNs can improve mothers’ experiences in public hospitals and reduce limitations faced by providers. However, broader buy-in from hospital staff—especially nurses—appears critical to program success. Future research should focus on measuring the impact of obstetric care navigation on key clinical outcomes (cesarean delivery) and mothers’ future care seeking behavior.


RELC Journal ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 003368822095247
Author(s):  
Loc Tan Nguyen ◽  
Jonathan Newton

The role of teacher professional learning (TPL) in assisting teachers to teach pronunciation in English as a second/foreign language (ESL/EFL) contexts has received little attention. The study reported in this paper extends this line of research by investigating how six EFL teachers at a Vietnamese university transform and integrate the pronunciation pedagogical knowledge they received from a TPL workshop into teaching practice. It then examines the teachers’ perceptions of the impact of the workshop on their knowledge gains and pronunciation teaching skills. Data were collected from seven lesson plans designed by the teachers, video recordings of 24 subsequent classroom observations, and six individual semi-structured interviews. The study adopted a content-based approach to qualitative data analysis. The findings show that the teachers were all able to translate TPL into classroom practice of pronunciation teaching. The findings further show that workshops designed and implemented in accordance with research-based TPL principles can be effective for promoting teachers’ knowledge of pronunciation pedagogy and refining their pronunciation teaching skills. The study has implications for ESL/EFL teachers’ professional development in pronunciation teaching.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 254
Author(s):  
Roxana Acosta ◽  
Marina Tomás-Folch ◽  
Mónica Feixas

The Faculties of Engineering Sciences at Universidad Católica del Norte in Chile regard teacher training as a necessary tool for its academics’ professional development and as a fundamental way to improve their teaching quality. The Teaching Unit for Innovation in Engineering (UIDIN) has developed a new curriculum and training programme which seeks to support the faculty in its implementation. This article presents some of the outcomes of a study aimed at qualitatively examining the development of the faculty’s conceptions and philosophy of teaching and improvements in pedagogical competencies as a result of the implementation and transfer of the training programme. The teaching philosophy is described in different ways, but overall it considers teaching an act of disciplinary knowledge transfer based on students’ interests, skills and attitudes, and with a heavy emphasis on building students’ core values. Interviews reveal changes in the participants’ learning and competencies due to the training, along with a positive impact on the teachers’ lesson planning and assessment strategies and students’ feedback and the willingness to engage in more reflexive teaching practice.


2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 56-64
Author(s):  
Saifa Haque

Expectation influences motivation and performance in Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Students’ expectation also plays a significant role in curriculum development. This paper focuses on the expectations of the students in an English language classroom and how they want to be taught. From a study on 45 students of Stamford University Bangladesh, the researcher tried to find students’ expectations about content, factors behind the expectations and effects of expectations in a language classroom using semi-structured interviews. It was found that students have expectations regarding their course content, teaching-learning style and education management. Several factors such as professional need, education background, social beliefs, personal goals and personality of the students worked behind their expectations and their expectations played a significant role in their classroom behavior and performance. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nelta.v19i1-2.12080 Journal of NELTA, Vol 19 No. 1-2, December 2014: 56-64


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 208
Author(s):  
Tunku Mohani Tunku Mohtar ◽  
Charanjit Kaur Swaran Singh ◽  
Napisah Kepol ◽  
Ahmad Zainuri Loap Ahmad ◽  
Sasigaran Moneyam

The present study investigated the beliefs and efficacy of a teacher teaching English to students who were weak at the language. The objective of the study was mainly to investigate the beliefs and efficacy of the ESL teacher for teaching writing to weak learners. The research was a case study of the English Language teacher teaching Form Three class of students whose English proficiency was very low. An interview was conducted with the teacher to further probe the instructional strategies applied to enhance her beliefs and efficacy in her own capabilities to make learning happen in her classroom. Observations were made to investigate the teacher’s efficacy in teaching and the performance of the students specifically for writing. Results show the teacher’s beliefs of her students’ capabilities and their language needs helped shape the teacher’s instructional strategies. The teacher’s efficacy enabled her to decide to undertake the task of teaching writing to her students because she was confident in her ability. The teacher provided clues to the students to facilitate their learning. This kind of feedback from the teacher indirectly motivated them to learn. The teacher’s beliefs and efficacy contributed to her teaching practice and the instructional strategies that she used in turn enhanced her beliefs and efficacy. The study implicates that teacher’s beliefs and efficacy can assist the weak learners in improving their writing skills and also facilitate language learning.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishaq Salim Al-Naabi

In light of contemporary pedagogical methods, the flipped classroom has been recognised as an effective pedagogy in English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This study employed a quasi-experimental one-group research design to investigate the impact of flipped learning on Omani EFL learners&rsquo; grammar and to examine students&rsquo; perceptions on the flipped classroom. An intact group of students (n=28) enrolled at the foundation programme in Arab Open University-Oman was randomly selected. Seven videos on English grammar were developed and shared with the students prior to the class. A varaiety of activities were conducted in the class following task-based language teaching. Students met for 8 lessons over the period of 8 weeks. Pre-test, post-test and semi-structured interviews were used in the study. The findings indicated that flipped learning had a positive impact on students&rsquo; understanding and usage of English grammar. Students&rsquo; perceptions on the flipped approach were positive. The study also provided pedagogical insights for the flipped classroom and recommendations for future research.&nbsp;


2021 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 158-175
Author(s):  
Zahra Fathian ◽  
Majid Farahian

Technology can be integrated in teacher education and, hence, be used to empower teachers to extend learning beyond their classrooms. Therefore, the present study was an attempt to investigate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ perceptions of action research and explore the impact of their collaborative action research in an online discussion group on their reflective practice. In addition, we were interested to know how online collaborative research action research contributes to their promotion of reflective thinking.The participants of this study were 23 Iranian EFL teachers who were recruited based on convenience sampling. The design of the study was a pre-test post-test design. As such, two questionnaires were given to the participants at the beginning and end of the study. As the next step, the participants took part in online discussion groups for 10 sessions in which they read and watched some essays and videos, wrote about some topics, and shared their ideas and experiences. To consolidate the findings, semi-structured interviews were held with 12 participants. The result of the study indicated that most of the participants of the study had optimistic views regarding action research. In addition, participating in online discussion groups enabled them to think more about their teaching practice and gain higher levels of reflectivity. The results of the qualitative phase indicated that the online courses had effect on the teachers’ practice and reflectivity in different ways. Despite all studies conducted on action research in Iran, contradictory results have been found regarding teachers’ perception of action research. In addition, to the researchers’ knowledge, no study has investigated the use of online collaborative action research on teachers’ reflection. As such, it seemed necessary to conduct a study to explore the role of action research as a framework for improving reflective practice.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahya Ashour Mohammed Alkhoudary

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of utilizing weblog on facilitating teaching writing at Buraimi University College (BUC) and to explore the extent to which a blog as a computer-mediated tool enhances learners' writing skills in English as a foreign language e(EFL), English as a second language (ESL). Vygotsky's model will be adopted in this study. Furthermore, a process approach is employed to involve students in writing. A mixed-method of qualitative and quantitative was embraced. Three instruments were used to answer the research questions of the study. The participants consisting of 60 students, were placed into two groups: 30 students for experimental group (Ex.G.) and 30 for the controlled group (Cont. G.). Also, 30 EFL teachers (15 males and 15 females) were selected randomly. Pre-and post-tests were assigned to both groups before and after incorporating weblog as a teaching tool. Questionnaires were distributed to (Ex. G) to check the effect of using a weblog on students' writing quality. Interviews were also conducted with both teachers and students. The findings reveal that the students of weblog group significantly outperform their counterparts. This study concludes that integrating weblogs in teaching is of paramount importance to language learners and a promising tool in higher education.


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