Form-Focused Instruction on Non-English-Majored Undergraduates’ Foreign Language Writing

This paper reviewed a one-term experiment on form-focused instruction (FFI) in teaching foreign (English) writing to 162 first-year non-English-majored undergraduate students majored history, economics, computer, agriculture, plant protection, floriculture and veterinary from Yangtze University as participants. Participants in this study consisted of 81 non-English-majored undergraduate students in the control group (CG) and 81 non-English-majored undergraduate students in the treatment group (TG). The participants in CG were taught by the traditional method: grammar-translation teaching method and the participants in TG were taught by the new teaching method of FFI. The results showed that 1) compared with a teacher-dominated approach for CG, FFI in teaching English writing for TG did a better job inenhancing students’ English writing ability; 2) there were significant differences between males in CG and TG, and females in CG and TG; 3) participates in TG hold positive opinions towards FFI in English writing

Improving Non-English-Majored College Students' Writing Skills: Combining a Know-Want-Learn Plus Model of Meta-Cognitive Writing Strategy Instruction and Internet-Based Language Laboratory Support

Abstract This paper reviewed a one-term experiment on integrating internet-based language laboratory (IBLL) in teaching writings kills with the know-want-learn (KWL) plus model to second-year nonEnglish-majored college students from Yangtze University. Subjects in this study consisted of 92 non-English-majored college students in the control group (CG) and 91 non-English-majored college students in the experimental group (EG). The results showed that 1) compared with a teacher-dominated approach for CG, internet-based language laboratory with KWL plus model of meta-cognitive writing strategy instruction for EG did a better job in enhancing students' writing skills; 2) there were significant differences between males in CG and EG, and females in CG and EG; 3) students in EG held the positive response for the combined instruction

Form-Focused Instruction on Non-English-Majored Undergraduates’ Foreign Language Writing

This paper reviewed a one-term experiment on form-focused instruction (FFI) in teaching foreign (English) writing to 162 first-year non-English-majored undergraduate students majored history, economics, computer, agriculture, plant protection, floriculture and veterinary from Yangtze University as participants. Participants in this study consisted of 81 non-English-majored undergraduate students in the control group (CG) and 81 non-English-majored undergraduate students in the treatment group (TG). The participants in CG were taught by the traditional method: grammar-translation teaching method and the participants in TG were taught by the new teaching method of FFI. The results showed that 1) compared with a teacher-dominated approach for CG, FFI in teaching English writing for TG did a better job inenhancing students’ English writing ability; 2) there were significant differences between males in CG and TG, and females in CG and TG; 3) participates in TG hold positive opinions towards FFI in English writing

Inhibitory Effect of Polypeptides Produced by <em>Brevibacillus brevis</em> on Ochratoxigenic Fungi in the Process of Pile-Fermentation of Post-Fermented Tea

Contamination by ochratoxigenic fungi and its prevention during the pile-fermentation of post-fermented tea have always been a concern. The present study aimed to elucidate the anti-fungal effect and mechanism of polypeptides produced by B. brevis DTM05 (isolated from post-fermented tea) on ochratoxigenic fungi, and to to evaluate their use in the pile-fermentation process of post-fermented tea. The results showed that polypeptides (produced by B. brevis DTM05) with a strong antifungal effect against A. carbonarius H9 mainly had a molecular weight between 3 and 5 kDa. The Fourier-transform infrared spectra of this polypeptide extract showed that it was a mixture consisting mainly of polypeptides and small amounts of lipids and other carbohydrates. The polypeptide extracts significantly inhibited the growth of A. carbonarius H9, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 1.6 mg/L, which significantly reduced the survival rate of spores. The polypeptides also effectively controlled the occurrence and ochratoxin A (OTA) production of A. carbonarius H9 on the tea matrix. The lowest concentration of polypeptides that significantly inhibited the growth of A. carbonarius H9 on the tea matrix was 3.2 mg/L. The enhancement of the fluorescence staining signal in the mycelium and conidiospore showed that the polypeptides with a concentration of more than 1.6 mg/L increased the permeability of the mycelium membrane and conidial membrane of A. carbonarius H9. The significant increase in the extracellular conductivity of mycelia suggested the outward leakage of intracellular active substances, and also further indicated an increase in cell membrane permeability. Polypeptides with a concentration of 6.4 mg/L significantly down-regulated the expression level of the polyketide synthase gene related to OTA production (acpks) in A. carbonarius H9, which may be the fundamental reason why polypeptides affect OTA production. In conclusion, reasonable use of the polypeptides produced by B. brevis can destroy the structural integrity of the cell membrane, make the intracellular active substances leak outward, accelerate the death of fungal cells and down-regulate the expression level of the polyketide synthase gene in A. carbonarius; thus, they can effectively control the contamination of ochratoxigenic fungi and OTA production during the pile-fermentation of the post-fermented tea