The Effect of Using Simulation Strategy in Developing English as a Foreign Language Speaking Skill

Speaking skill acquisition is a necessity for communication. However, speaking English as a foreign language is not as easy as speaking English as a first language since practice opportunities are limited. This study tried to find out a technique of reinforcement that can help students; who study English as a foreign language; develop their speaking skills. This study investigated the effect of using simulation strategy in developing EFL speaking skills, with the assistance of using a telegram channel "Oxford Bookworms Collection" for PDF books with an audio version, to stimulate pronunciation, intonation and enrich vocabulary. The researchers used a quantitative approach with an experimental design to conduct this study by involving 50 students divided into two groups. 25 students as a control group and 25 students as an experimental group; both groups were from level 3 who were learning Listening and Speaking-3 course, major English, at College of Science and Arts (Muhayil), King Khalid University. Pretest and posttest were used to collect data, results of the tests were analyzed using SPSS, Pearson correlation coefficient. The results revealed that using the simulation strategy helped the students of the experimental group to develop speaking skills and affected speaking micro-skills in terms of body language, fluency, pronunciation, intonation, grammar, and vocabulary usage positively. Moreover, students became motivated to speak spontaneously.

Why Some Young CHamorus Actively Learn the CHamoru Language While Others Do Not

For the generation of CHamorus who grew up without CHamoru language fluency, what the language means for their CHamoru identity is not entirely clear as there has not been a comprehensive study of their ethnolinguistic identity. This chapter explores how young CHamorus articulate their CHamoru identity in relation to the CHamoru language based on interviews with fourteen young CHamorus. The study provides a theoretical model, the CHamoru Identity Language Articulation Model (CHILAM), which identifies decision pathways and processes to explain why some young CHamorus actively learn the language while others do not. The model maps out the various motivating and inhibiting factors that influence participants' learning of the CHamoru language, which provides relevant information for CHamoru language advocates, policymakers, and teachers.

Cognitive Changes in Older Adults Following a Stepped Care Intervention for Late-life Depression

Older adults with depression may manifest cognitive decline and treating depression may maintain or improve cognition. However, cognitive outcomes could be overlooked in non-pharmacological interventions for depression. This analysis investigated cognitive changes in a stepped-care intervention (Clinical Trial ID: NCT03593889) and the potential association with individual depressive symptom change. The community-dwelling older adults at risk of or with depressive symptoms without significant cognitive impairment (n=802) were assigned to intervention group (n=644) and control group (n=138). Depressive symptoms and cognitive functions were measured using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Cognitive Montreal Assessment-5 minutes protocol, respectively. Paired-t-Test showed significant improvements in overall cognition and attention in both intervention and control groups, but the improvements of language fluency (Intervention: MD=-0.51 p<0.01; control: MD=0.14, p=0.500) and orientation (Intervention: MD=-0.22 p<0.05; control: MD=-0.11, p=0.229) only displayed in intervention group. As control group had better cognition at baseline, linear mixed-effects model analysis was used to compare between-group difference. Intervention group had no significant cognitive improvement after adjusting the covariates but a potential improvement in language fluency (Coef. =0.442, SE=0.247, p=0.074). A linear regression analysis in intervention group indicated that reduction of concentration problem (β=0.106, p<0.05) and retardedness (β=0.117, p<0.01) under the symptomatology of depression were associated with the improvement of language fluency. In this group of older persons without significant cognitive impairment, there is no clear evidence of global cognitive benefits in a stepped care depression intervention, although there may be improvements in certain cognitive domains, which may be related to improvements in cognitive aspects of depression.

Developing and testing a framework for understanding refugees' job search processes

PurposeThis article outlines the development of the Refugee Job Search Process Framework (RJSPF), which was created to help identify barriers that refugees face when trying to find employment. The framework incorporates an interdisciplinary, multi-level approach to the job search, delving into research from migration studies and Industrial/Organizational psychology to outline factors that exist on both the side of the refugee applicant and the organization at each stage of the RJSPF. The authors also tested the RJSPF with Syrian refugees and service providers in Canada to examine the validity of each component of the model.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used a semi-structured format to interview refugees and service providers on their experiences in either trying to find employment or helping their refugee clients with the job search process. After transcribing the interviews, the data were independently coded, quantified, and analysed using Nvivo software to validate the RJSPF.FindingsThe majority of the RJSPF either had high or moderate support from the interviews. The authors also identified 6 broader themes using thematic analysis, which include language fluency, credential recognition, Canadian experience “catch 22”, cultural incongruencies, employer exploitation, and mental health for successful employment.Originality/valueThe RJSPF is a new integration of disparate theories of job search experiences in a literature that lacks an organizing framework and perspective on the unique challenges refugees face in this area compared to other newcomers. In doing so, the authors use an interdisciplinary, multi-level approach that extends the nomological network of barriers facing refugees, therefore informing future research and practice.

Challenges of Writing Dissertation among University Students: Based on South Eastern University of Sri Lanka

The undergraduates of Bachelor of Arts Honours degree have to write a dissertation in their fields. When they write it, they have been facing challenges. Therefore, this research sought to investigate the challenges of writing a dissertation as a requirement of the specialisation Bachelor Degree in the Arabic Language among those who are speaking Tamil as a mother tongue and who learning Arabic as a foreign language. This research is a qualitative study through the descriptive methodology. The researchers selected 30 dissertations randomly from the Faculty of Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka and analysed them. The review of the documents focuses on students’ abilities to write dissertations. Also, 25 students who submitted their dissertations were selected randomly to fill the questionnaire to reveal the challenges they faced. Writing a dissertation in a foreign or second language is difficult than writing in a native language. As pointed out in the previous sections, there are challenges in writing dissertations such as the influence of the Tamil language, Lack of knowledge in research writing, Selecting a new topic, Lack of reading, Experience of using the software. At the same time, findings of the review of the dissertations reveal that language fluency and data analysis are the common errors observed in the dissertations.

Clinical study of central cholinergic pathway damage in two mild cognitive impairment patients

Objectives To explore the role of the central cholinergic system in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and mild vascular cognitive impairment (vMCI). Methods Twenty-five aMCI patients and 25 vMCI patients were enrolled in this study, and 25 healthy people were chosen as a control group. All participants performed a set of cognitive function scales and were subjected to a brain MRI. We analyzed differences in neuropsychological damage between groups, as well as the degree of brain atrophy and changes in the microstructure of central cholinergic pathways (CCP) in relation to effects on neuropsychological scores. Results (1) Regarding neuropsychological characteristics of the three groups, scores on the MoCA scale, immediate memory, delayed recall, cued recall, long time prolonged recognition, and CDR-SB of the control group were significantly better than those of the aMCI and vMCI groups. Scores on immediate memory, delayed memory, cued recall, long time delayed recognition, and Forward of Digital Span Test (FDST) in the aMCI group were lower than those in the vMCI group. Compared with the aMCI group, the vMCI group was significantly delayed in Trail Making Test (TMA)-A, TMT-B, and TMT B-A. There were no significant differences in HAMA, HAMD, MMSE, MoCA, the Boston Naming Test (BNT), language fluency or visual scale of posterior atrophy (Koedam score) between the vMCI and aMCI groups. (2) As for microstructure changes in the central cholinergic pathway, vMCI group had a decreased FA value in the cingulum (Cing) of the medial pathway, but an increased MD value in the external capsule (Excap) of the lateral pathway when compared to other two groups. Furthermore, the CingMD value of the vMCI group was higher than that of the control group, but the difference was not obvious when compared to the aMCI group. (3) Last, we researched microstructural changes to CCP, degree of brain atrophy, and neuropsychological scores by using partial correlation analysis for all participants. CingFA was negatively correlated with TMT-B, B-A, and FDST. CingMD was negatively correlated with FDST. ExcapFA was positively correlated with MMSE and Backward of BDST, while ExcapMD was negatively correlated with MMSE and MoCA. Claustrum (Claus)FA was positively related to MoCA and FDST, but was negatively related to TMT-A. ClausMD was negatively correlated with MoCA and language fluency. Koedam score was positively correlated with CDR-SB, ExcapMD, and ClausMD, but negatively correlated with MMSE score and inverse BDST. Conclusion The central cholinergic system is involved in the cognitive impairment of both aMCI and vMCI, and their mechanisms may be distinct. aMCI patients may present with primary CCP impairment while vMCI patients probably exhibit impairment secondary to vasogenic damage to the cholinergic system projection network. The lateral cholinergic pathway was more severely impaired than the medial pathway in vMCI patients, in addition to being associated with decreased executive and general cognitive functions. The damage to CCP was related to the degree of brain atrophy, and both may be involved in the development and progression of cognitive dysfunction.

The Comparison of Lexical Collocations in English Textbooks Used in Indonesia

Teaching collocations becomes very important for ESL/EFL students to achieve language fluency since the students spend a great amount of time interacting with their textbooks. This study aims to investigate the comparison of lexical collocations used in two textbooks used regularly in senior high school level in Semarang namely Aim High Student’s Book 1 and Bahasa Inggris Kelas X. This study applied descriptive qualitative method. The documentary method was used in collecting the data. The data were analyzed based on collocation theories proposed by Benson, et al. (1997) and Lea (2002). The result showed that there were three similarities found regarding the lexical collocation occurrence in all parts of the textbooks, the highest frequency of the lexical collocations occurrence in the exercise part of the textbooks, and the highest frequency of the types of lexical collocations in the textbooks. Meanwhile, there are three differences found regarding the number of lexical collocation frequency in each textbook, the order in using lexical collocations from the highest to the lowest frequency, and the way the authors of the textbooks in introducing and teaching lexical collocations to the students. Furthermore, it was also found that Bahasa Inggris Kelas X produced some inaccurate lexical collocations.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation Process of Japanese Expatriates in Indonesia

Cross-cultural adaptation process is an ongoing issue for expatriates while working abroad, including Japanese expatriates working in Indonesian companies. This research aims to know the critical point and adaptation process of Japanese expatriates. The research method used was ethnography. Primary data collection techniques were in-depth interviews and observations. This research also included secondary data. Findings revealed that the adaptation process had an important role as it could lead to a comfortable interaction and reduce miscommunication at work. Important factors in the adaptation process were language fluency, work culture adjustment, media uses, daily interaction with Indonesians, interaction among Japanese in Indonesia, and real assistance for expatriates. There were three stages that expatriates had to go through, i.e., preparation, active, and final stage. The critical points in the adaptation process were language skills and willingness to accept changes.