Reframing the L2 learning experience as narrative reconstructions of classroom learning

In this study we investigate the situated and dynamic nature of the L2 learning experience through a newly-purposed instrument called the Language Learning Story Interview, adapted from McAdams’ life story interview (2007). Using critical case sampling, data were collected from an equal number of learners of various L2s (e.g., Arabic, English, Mandarin, Spanish) and analyzed using qualitative comparative analysis (Rihoux & Ragin, 2009). Through our data analysis, we demonstrate how language learners construct overarching narratives of the L2 learning experience and what the characteristic features and components that make up these narratives are. Our results provide evidence for prototypical nuclear scenes (McAdams et al., 2004) as well as core specifications and parameters of learners’ narrative accounts of the L2 learning experience. We discuss how these shape motivation and language learning behavior

Tracing the signature dynamics of language teacher immunity

The aim of this thesis is to explore the psychological qualities that set apart L2 teachers who are motivated and committed to the profession, innovative and productive in their practice, and emotionally well-adjusted from those who struggle to survive. To do this I carried out a sequence of four research phases, each building on the design and findings of previous phases. The first of these was a data-driven case study designed to investigate whether teachers who are engaged and motivated, well-adjusted and productive might provide insight into surviving as a teacher. Taking the language teacher as the complex system in which self-organized change occurs, the qualitative interview data suggested that these teachers (N = 4) had developed an emergent outcome in response to the accrued disturbances they encountered in their classroom experience. This emergent outcome—which I termed language teacher immunity—appeared to function as a defense mechanism against the material and emotional demands placed on L2 practitioners. To validate these findings, I adopted a retrodictive qualitative modeling research template for the remaining phases. The second phase used focus-group interview data from L2 professionals (N = 44) to investigate prototypes of language teacher immunity and the salient characteristics (i.e., system components) of each. These initial prototypes fit one of four global categories (i.e., productively immunized, maladaptively immunized, partially immunized, and immunocompromised). Additionally, seven components were found to be essential to the make-up of these outcomes: teaching self-efficacy; attitudes to teaching; coping; classroom affectivity; burnout; resilience; and, openness to change. Phase three triangulated the focus group phase with questionnaire data from a larger sample of L2 practitioners (N = 293). Cluster analysis of this data illustrated a core of six language teacher immunity archetypes distributed across the spectrum of global outcomes. Particular combinations of the seven components at varying levels were exhibited as specific profiles of language teacher immunity. The final phase used in-depth interview data collected from three teachers in each archetype to explore trajectories of development for each outcome, and investigate the manner in which the various archetypes manifested themselves in L2 teachers‘ sense of professional identity and motivated behavior. The data provided substantiating evidence for mapping these dynamic trajectories using a developmental blueprint (i.e., with triggering, linking, realignment, and stabilization stages) which captured the emerging pattern in these teachers‘ individual experiences and their pathways of growth. The combined evidence from this research indicates that language teacher immunity plays a significant role in L2 teachers‘ professional identity and affects how L2 practitioners position themselves in the profession through their accompanying mindsets. Furthermore, language teacher immunity outcomes are displayed in the real-time classroom choices of L2 practitioners, suggesting that language teachers‘ emotions, teaching motivation, and instructional effectiveness may hinge on the outcome of language teacher immunity that is developed

Complex Dynamic Systems and Language Education:A Sampling of Current Research – Editorial

It has been twenty-five years since second language acquisition/development researchers and practitioners were introduced to chaos/complexity theory and its systems (variously referred to in our field as “complex systems,” complex adaptive systems,” and “complex dynamic systems”) (Larsen-Freeman, 1997). Unsurprisingly, the uptake of the new ideas was nonlinear. When they did attract a growing number of scholars, almost all of the research reports were descriptive—pointing out how language—its evolution, its use, its learning, and its teaching—were all complex, dynamic, nonlinear, emergent, feedback-sensitive, self-organizing, initial condition-sensitive, open, adaptive systems. In addition to these characteristics, because language is comprised of many interacting components and can be characterized by a number of scale-free power laws, such as Zipfian distributions, it indeed qualifies as a complex system

Experimental and numerical characterization of anisotropic damage evolution of forged Al6061-T6 alloy

AbstractAluminum alloy 6061-T6 (Al-Mg-Si) has been selected as the material of the vessel for the construction of Jules-Horowitz material testing reactor. Fracture mechanism of this alloy has been investigated using mechanical testing of smooth and notched tensile specimens loaded in different directions. A strong anisotropic fracture behavior has been observed. Microstructural studies using tomography and image analysis have shown a presence of anisotropic distributed coarse precipitates which is the key microstructural feature affecting the damage evolution. These observations were complemented by investigations on fractured tensile samples. A damage scenario of anisotropic growth and coalescence of voids is proposed to explain the fracture behavior associated with the distribution of precipitates. A GTN (Gurson-Tvergaard-Needleman) damage model is used to simulate this scenario and to predict damage evolution

Etude de l'anisotropie d'endommagement de l'alliage d'aluminium 6061-T6

National audienceL'alliage d'aluminium 6061-T6 est retenu pour la fabrication du caisson-coeur du réacteur expérimental Jules Horowitz. Une étude de caractérisation des propriétés mécaniques en traction montre que le matériau présente une anisotropie marquée de l'allongement total liée à l'anisotropie d'endommagement. Afin d'expliquer ce phénomène, le lien entre la microstructure et le comportement mécanique est proposé dans ce travail. Une quantification des précipités grossiers qui sont à l'origine des mécanismes d'endommagement a été réalisée par analyse d'images. Une étude du comportement mécanique des précipités et de la matrice par micro-indentation montre une différence marquée de comportement entre les phases. Afin de confirmer le rôle des précipités grossiers dans les mécanismes d'endommagement, des essais de traction MEB in-situ ont été effectués. Les précipités Mg2Si et les intermétalliques s'endommagent progressivement durant tous ces essais. En outre, une analyse post mortem après déformation par tomographie X a montré une anisotropie de répartition de cavités. Un scénario d'endommagement de coalescence anisotrope intégrant l'alignement des précipités induit par le procédé de mise en forme semble expliquer l'anisotropie d'endommagement en traction

Etude du comportement rhéologique et mécanique de composites recyclés et pollués : recyclage iso fonction, rêve ou réalité ? = Study of rheological and mechanical behaviour of recycled and polluted composites : iso function recycling, dream or reality

National audienceNous étudions les effets de la pollution et du recyclage sur deux composites à matrice polypropylène. Ces effets ont été identifiés non seulement par la mesure du poids moléculaire et des propriétés rhéologiques mais aussi sur les caractéristiques mécaniques. Les polluants modèles choisis sont de l'éthylène glycol majoritairement présent dans le liquide de frein et de l'huile moteur. Ils ont été incorporés dans les composites en cours du process d'extrusion. Le recyclage a été simulé en effectuant plusieurs cycles d'extrusions successifs. Les échantillons ont été recyclés de 1 à 12 fois. Toutes ces nuances ont été testées. L'indice de fluidité, la viscosité, les propriétés en traction quasi statique ainsi que en compression dynamique ont été mesurés. Les polluants affectent davantage les propriétés rhéologiques par rapport aux propriétés mécaniques. Le recyclage thermomécanique, quant à lui, est principalement préjudiciable sur le comportement à rupture. Le résultat remarquable concerne l'effet modérateur des polluants sur la dégradation due au recyclage des propriétés des matériaux

Evaluación de la capacidad acumuladora de mercurio del ají (Capsicum annuum)

Objetivo Evaluar la capacidad acumuladora de mercurio por parte la planta de ají (Capsicum annuum), en suelos contaminados procedentes del corregimiento Mina Santa Cruz, Sur de Bolívar, Colombia, con el propósito de establecer el riesgo para la salud de la población consumidora.Materiales y Métodos Se tomaron muestras de tejidos (raíces, tallos y hojas) de plantas de C. annuum sembradas en dos suelos contaminados con mercurio y un suelo control, durante sus primeros cinco meses de crecimiento para determinar mercurio total mediante la técnica de espectrofotometría de absorción atómica por vapor frio. Se determinó mercurio total en muestras de frutos de ají consumido en Mina Santa Cruz.Resultados Las concentraciones medias de mercurio total en raíces fueron mayores en comparación con tallos y hojas. Los niveles de mercurio en suelos y el tiempo influyeron en la acumulación en tejidos. Las concentraciones de mercurio en frutos de C. annuum fueron bajas en relación a la ingesta tolerable semanal dispuesta por la OMS.Conclusión Los porcentajes de translocación de mercurio a las partes aéreas de la planta fueron bajos tanto en el suelo control como en los suelos contaminados. A pesar de los bajos niveles de mercurio en este alimento se debe disminuir al máximo el consumo de alimentos contaminados con dicho metal