OER “produsage” as a model to support language teaching and learning

Language education faculty face myriad challenges in finding teaching resources that are suitable, of high quality, and allow for the modifications needed to meet the requirements of their course contexts and their learners. The article elaborates the grassroots model of “produsage” (a portmanteau of “production” and “usage”) as a way of imagining a movement toward the use and creation of open educational resources (OER) for language learning. Through a set of examples of video resources that fill a need for authentically compelling language learning materials, the authors demonstrate the potential of produsage to engage teachers and learners around digital resources, to the benefit of language teaching and learning. In support of this grassroots model, the authors propose practices and policies to address challenges involved in engaging teachers and learners around OER in higher education

The gender differential use of minimal responses in daytime TV interviews: a preliminary investigation

It is argued that females use more minimal responses such as mhm as a form of conversational support than men (Maltz & Borker 1982; Cameron 1989; Coates 1993; Tannen 1990; Graddol & Swann 1989). Past research has shown a large stratification between the frequency and type of male and female usage of minimal responses (Fishman 1983; Woods 1989; Zimmerman & West 1975; Maltz & Borker 1982). However, many studies neglect their usage in the media. The aim of this comparative study is to investigate the gender differential use of minimal responses in television interviews, hence the interview segments of two daytime television programs were analysed and compared. Key areas examined were the frequency of minimal responses according to gender of interviewer and interviewee, per second and per adjacency pair. Although in general the results loosely support those of Coates and Cameron (1989) and Zimmerman and West (1975), findings also indicate that the framework of an interview greatly influences minimal response usage, suggesting that status may also play a large role in the use of minimal responses

The gender differential use of minimal responses in daytime TV interviews: a preliminary investigation

It is argued that females use more minimal responses such as mhm as a form of conversational support than men (Maltz & Borker 1982; Cameron 1989; Coates 1993; Tannen 1990; Graddol & Swann 1989). Past research has shown a large stratification between the frequency and type of male and female usage of minimal responses (Fishman 1983; Woods 1989; Zimmerman & West 1975; Maltz & Borker 1982). However, many studies neglect their usage in the media. The aim of this comparative study is to investigate the gender differential use of minimal responses in television interviews, hence the interview segments of two daytime television programs were analysed and compared. Key areas examined were the frequency of minimal responses according to gender of interviewer and interviewee, per second and per adjacency pair. Although in general the results loosely support those of Coates and Cameron (1989) and Zimmerman and West (1975), findings also indicate that the framework of an interview greatly influences minimal response usage, suggesting that status may also play a large role in the use of minimal responses