Text reconstruction activities and teaching language forms

Even though there is a broad consensus that teaching language forms is facilitative or even necessary in some contexts, there are still disagreements concerning, among other things, how formal aspects of the target language should be taught. One important area of controversy is whether pedagogic intervention should be input-oriented, emphasizing comprehension of the form- meaning mappings represented by specific linguistic features or output-based, requiring learners to produce these features accurately in gradually more communicative activities. The present paper focuses on the latter of these two options and, basing on the claims of Swain‘s (1985, 1995) output hypothesis, it aims to demonstrates how text-reconstruction activities in which learners collaboratively produce written output trigger noticing, hypothesis-testing and metalinguistic reflection on language use. It presents a psycholinguistic and sociolinguistic rationale for the use of such tasks, discusses the types of such activities, provides an overview of research projects investigating their application and, finally, offers a set of implications for classroom use as well as suggestions for further research in this area

Pursuing an Export Culture Through the Teaching of Asian Languages in Australian Schools - the Gap between Theory, Practice and Policy Prescription

In February 1994, the Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) endorsed a report it commissioned in December 1992 on a policy prescription for the study of Asian Languages and Cultures in Australian schools. The acceptance of this report, Asian Languages and Australia's Economic Future (1994), referred to as the Rudd Report after the Chair of the Working Group, was significant. It offered a 15-year plan that aimed to produce an Asia-literate generation fluent and familiar with "export" Asian languages and cultures. In particular, students would have the opportunity to commence the study of one of four priority "export" Asian languages, namely, Korean, Japanese, Indonesian, and Chinese, in primary school. However, the Rudd Report’s emphasis on prioritising Asian languages for utilitarian reasons was opposed by those who advocated the study of European languages. This paper examines some of the assumptions about second language acquisition that the Rudd Report made and argues that greater emphasis should have been placed on addressing those theoretical and pedagogical issues significant to LOTE teaching in Australia

USE OF COHESIVE FEATURES IN ESL STUDENTS’ E-MAIL AND WORD-PROCESSED TEXTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

As the computer is rapidly finding its way into classrooms around the world at all levels of education,teachers are trying to find effective ways to integrate this technology into their curriculum. While the effectiveness of using word processing in the teaching of writing is acknowledged, there is still no general consensus on how to use, or even whether to use, asynchronous electronic mail, leaving a number of questions unanswered. For example, when given comparable academic tasks, do students produce similar texts in the two media or do they write differently according to the medium used? In order to determine whether the medium has an effect on the language that the students produce, a discourse analysis of comparable word processed and e-mail writing assignments was carried out, focusing on twelve cohesive features and on text length. The students involved in the study were enrolled in a higher-intermediate English as a Foreign Language course at a university in the United States. The results indicate that two of the cohesive features, as well as text length, differentiated e-mail and word-processed writing. It was also found that, while they tended to write shorter texts in both media, Arab students tended to use more of some of the cohesive features than Asian students

THE APPLICATION OF FUNCTIONAL APPROACH IN STANDAR KOMPETENSI LULUSAN (SKL) UJIAN NASIONAL SMP/MTs OF ENGLISH IN ACADEMIC YEAR 2011 – 2012

Ujian Nasional (UN) or national examination for the ninth grader of Junior High School has been conducted. Each subject tested has its own competency standard for the graduation or standar kompetensi lulusan (SKL). SKL is used as the assessment standard to determine the graduation of the students. The SKL for Ujian Nasional (UN) SMP/MTs of English in academic year 2011 - 2012 covers competency in reading and writing skill. This writing shows that competencies and the indicators of the SKL Ujian Nasional (UN) SMP/MTs of English in academic year 2011 - 2012 reflect functional approach in English Language Teaching

Content-Based Approaches and Second Language Instruction

Integration of content-based instruction into an English curriculum based on communicative goals is suggested to better solve the problems of materials and syllabus design in Taiwan. Historical antecedents and the rationales for content-based instruction are reviewed to illustrate a modern perspective on the interwoven relationship between language and content learning. The project proposes a three-year content-based English program for Taiwan\u27s elementary and preschool students. A first year curriculum and model lessons for mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts are presented

Academic abstracts: a genre analysis

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Inglês e Literatura CorrespondenteResumos ("abstracts") em artigos acadêmicos são importantes meios de disseminação do conhecimento científico. Contudo, existem pouquíssimos estudos relativos a organização discursiva de resumos. Além disso, as normas disponíveis sobre a caracterização de resumos pouco ajudam na produção desse tipo de texto. O presente trabalho investiga a organização discursiva real de 94 resumos em três periódicos de maior circulação entre pesquisadores de Lingüística Aplicada. Através da análise de movimentos ("moves"), o estudo revelou que resumos seguem um padrão de 5 movimentos, a saber: o Movimento 1 motiva o leitor à pesquisa, indicando não só a área ou assunto mas também brechas em pesquisas anteriores; o Movimento 2 apresenta a pesquisa per se, descrevendo características principais e/ou objetivos; o Movimento 3 dispõe a metodologia utilizada; o Movimento 4 revela os resultados mais importantes; e o Movimento 5 discute o significado do estudo, apontando conclusões e/ou recomendações. Evidências sugerem que há discrepância entre prática e norma. O padrão proposto serve enquanto recurso pedagógico que auxilia pesquisadores a escreverem resumos mais comunicativos e assim contribuirem para avanços em sua comunidade científica. Recomenda-se a análise de gênero como uma abordagem valiosa para a descrição e explicação do discurso

Helping NSU\u27s Multilingual and International Students Overcome Language Limitations: A Recommendation Report

For decades, scholars in Rhetoric and Composition, like Matsuda, Braine, Lieb, Ferris, and Hedgecock, among others, have argued the importance of second language learners in heterogeneous college writing classrooms. This thesis, in the form of a recommendation report, examines the best practices for multilingual international students in the college writing classroom and the current institutional efforts of Nova Southeastern University to help them. The study identifies the importance of multilingual learners in the international community of NSU, and looks at how the OIA (Office of International Affairs), QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan), the School of Communication, Media, and the Arts (SCMA) interact to aid international students. An analysis of the needs, curriculum, faculty development, and writing program administration surrounding multilingual international students works as the foundation for the recommendations in the report. Overall, the report offers NSU leadership opportunities of improvement in academic practices in order to provide multilingual international students stronger resources and institutional systems to support academic success, including: 1) a revision to the system of classification for multilingual international students; 2) a reexamination of learners\u27 academic writing needs; 3) a formalized collaborative relationship between academic departments and student affairs offices; and 4) an expansion of the college writing curriculum with professional development for those who teach multilingual international students

Seeking Effective Policies and Practices for English Language Learners

A study by the Rennie Center for Education Research and Policy finds that English language learners (ELLs), a rapidly growing percentage of the Commonwealth's student population, are qualifying for transition into mainstream classrooms at a much slower pace than originally expected. The report examines the evolution of policies and practices affecting ELLs since the passage of Question 2 in November 2002. Question 2 mandated English immersion as the primary means of instruction for most ELLs and compelled schools to expedite the transition of students to mainstream classes. While Question 2 sought to limit English learners' immersion experience to a "period not normally intended to exceed one school year," federal Civil Rights legislation trumped Question 2 and mandated that students could not be re-classified out of ELL status until they can "participate meaningfully" in English-only classes.The Rennie Center's report examines whether expectations for an expedited transition process have been met and explores the ways in which the state Department of Education and schools and districts have tried to make sense of the conflicting mandates on what constitutes an adequate amount of time for a student to become proficient in English.Data from the Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment (MEPA), a test designed to gauge the progress of English language learners, shows that after one year of English immersion only 17% of ELLs score at levels indicating they are ready to transition to mainstream classrooms. Among ELLs who have been in Massachusetts' schools for five or more years, only slightly more than half score at the transitioning level. The report also found that schools throughout Massachusetts have developed diverse ways of interpreting and implementing sheltered English immersion.At a time of national debate about the status of immigrants and sharp increases in the numbers of non-English speakers in cities and towns across the Commonwealth and nation, it is critical that public schools focus greater attention on the issue of how best to meet the needs of English language learners. The report cites that while ten years ago only slightly more than half the school districts in Massachusetts enrolled ELLs, today that proportion has soared to nearly three-quarters. The number of districts enrolling one hundred or more English language learners has risen 37% in the past decade.As the number of English language learners continues to rise, their performance persistently lags far behind that of native English speakers. According to the Rennie Center's report, ELLs scored below the median at every grade level in every subject on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Further, ELLs are 57% less likely than their native English-speaking peers to earn the competency determination needed to graduate from high school. Both the No Child Left Behind legislation and the Massachusetts Education Reform Act require schools to ensure that ELLs meet the same performance standards as their native English-speaking counterparts. According to report authors, "That we are so woefully far from that goal should be cause for alarm and action."The Rennie Center's study seeks to shed light on this issue by providing an analysis of policies and practices affecting ELLs in Massachusetts over the past five years and examining the state role in promoting improved practice. The report includes case studies of three schools that are making significant strides with large populations of English language learners and highlights common elements that the three schools have utilized to successfully meet the needs of English language learners. For example, each school studied offered multiple types of programs to accommodate the needs of students at varying levels of English proficiency, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Case study schools also developed a staged transition process that provided vital support as students moved into mainstream classes.Next Steps at the State and District LevelsIn a series of recommended next steps, the report urges state policymakers to encourage flexibility and experimentation with innovative approaches to meet the needs of English language learners;offer opportunities for schools to share practices;get specific about when students should transition out of ELL status and to provide clear guidance to schools and districts;ensure a pipeline of leaders for ELL programs;require sheltered English immersion training in teacher preparation programs.And schools and districts to:consider staged transition processes;set goals and create incentives to get teachers trained;pool resources among districts with small ELL populations; andfocus more attention on reaching out to communicate with and provide guidance for the families of ELLs.The report, Seeking Effective Policies and Practices for English Language Learners, was released at a public event on May 31, 2007 in Marlborough, MA

Leveraging Equity and Excellence for English Learners: An Annotated Bibliography

Leveraging Equity and Excellence for English Learners: An Annotated Bibliography is comprised of 100 annotations from both recent and seminal literature (released between 1994–2018) that have significant implications for policy and practice for English learner (EL) schooling and academic achievement. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to serve as a resource for educators and advocates who are working for equity and justice for ELs. The Center for Equity for English Learners conducted a review of empirical and theoretical articles from peer-reviewed journals, as well as books, book chapters, and reports from leading scholars in the field. This annotated bibliography is not meant to be an exhaustive list of research in the field and is intended to capture a wide breadth of topics. The annotations are organized into the following15 topics: academic achievement and assessment, biliteracy and bilingualism, course access, designated English language development (DELD), early childhood education and dual language learners, English language and literacy, identification and classification, integrated English language development (IELD), leadership, policy, program models, school-family-community engagement, students with disabilities, and teacher preparation & professional development. Each annotation includes: (1) the source description (e.g., book, journal article, report), (2) type of source (e.g., empirical, guidance, theoretical), and (3) keywords that provide additional information for readers.https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/ceel_annotatedbibliographies/1000/thumbnail.jp

The Alignment of ESL Materials to WIDA and State Standards

This project analyzed the various 2nd grade English language (EL) materials that were available in a rural elementary school to determine how those materials aligned to Minnesota (MN) state academic standards and the WIDA English Language Development standards. First, the various bodies of literature available on alignment and current recommendations for determining alignment between course content and state academic standards were reviewed. Then, the researcher developed and implemented a checklist-based process for determining alignment. This paper presents the literature review, the checklists, and the results of the analysis. The materials were found to be aligned to standards. The researcher made recommendations for future research or action. To conclude the paper, the researcher discussed the results of her alignment study and the efficacy of the process for determining alignment