Using QR codes to develop EFL learners’ pronunciation skills and expand vocabulary knowledge

Developments in technology have affected education in an unprecedented way. The affordability of mobile technologies has prompted educators to implement mobile enriched instructions in classes. In this regard, QR codes have received much attention at educational institutions for their advantages, such as being flexible, handy, and cost-free, particularly in the last two decades. For this purpose, the current study was carried out at TISHK International University in Erbil, Iraq, on fifty advanced English students during the 2022-2023 academic year, spanning 6 weeks. The participants were chosen via stratified random sampling method. Control group students received traditional education, while experimental group students were exposed to QR code-based instruction through recorded audio tracks, videos, presentations, and e-exams. The findings, collected through exams and analyzed using SPSS 25 in this quantitative study, revealed that QR code-based instruction significantly improved students' vocabulary knowledge and pronunciation accuracy, with p-values of .002 and .003, respectively. The findings of this study can have implications for education stakeholders who aim to devise novel ways to enhance students' levels with web-enhanced tools like QR codes

Students' perceptions of the general english proficiency test: A study on Tishk International University students in Erbil, Iraq

Language Proficiency exams are run globally in different formats to assess students` performance at all stages. Accordingly, standardized or institution-based proficiency exams are common at higher education institutions to determine students` level and overall ability. This study was conducted in 2022-2023 Academic Year over a span of 4 weeks to examine the perceptions of prospective students who want to study in different faculties and departments of Tishk International University in Iraq. One thousand students were chosen as the sample by adopting convenience sampling method. The purpose of this study was to figure out prospective students` genuine opinions on revised Tishk International University General English Proficiency Exam. The students took the exam run by Tishk International University, Language Preparatory School and expressed their opinions about the exam through the interview. The findings revealed that watching movies, reading books, joining some training programs, following the news and TV programs in English affected their performance positively, whereas setting other priorities, focusing on other subjects rather than English, not studying well in advance, unable to manage the time and stress affected their results adversely. Additionally, the students stated once more that incorporating some of the questions from their grade 12 English textbook with those from the Cambridge Proficiency Exam 1 boosted their motivation to achieve high marks on the test. The findings of this study may have some implications for future studies related to English language proficiency tests

Comparative analysis of short-term intensive and long-term adaptive language teaching curriculum

Teaching and learning a foreign language are challenging and time-consuming endeavors. Being proficient in a foreign language takes hard work for learners. This qualitative research was conducted at Language Preparatory School (LPS) in Tishk International University (TIU), a private university in Erbil in Iraq where teachers currently follow a short-term intensive teaching program for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. To collect data, a survey was created and sent to 15 teachers at Tishk International University Language Preparatory School (TIULPS) through Google form. Three open-ended questions and five Likert-scale items were used in the qualitative research and subsequently the data was analyzed. According to research findings, it is suggested that EFL students in TIULPS should be taught in a long-term adaptive language teaching schedule. Therefore, there is an emergency to set up a new curriculum for language learners at language preparatory schools due to the allocated duration for proficiency level.  These research findings can suggest a change in language teaching programs at education institutions at tertiary level in general

Challenges of International Career for Teachers

People for different reasons need to travel abroad. They even travel to another country to work. However, people might experience culture schock due to new values and opinions they encounter in the new culture. It is not always easy to adapt a new environment for some people. Teachers, similarly might have the same problems once they enter in a new culture. Although teachers work abroad to develop their teaching experiences, different cultural values and a new education system they are exposed to in the new country might cause them some social problems. This paper focuses on what kind of problems those teachers who would like to work abroad encounter

The Role of Extensive Reading in Fostering the Development of Grammar and Vocabulary Knowledge

Reading is a complex mental process that consists of different components such as seeing, attending, perceiving, recalling, attaching meaning, synthesizing, analyzing and interpreting. Reading is therefore one of the most important steps in understanding. Training reading is considered important because it includes other basic language skills. Intensive studies are carried out in the field about training reading, how it should be done and the methods to be applied during this education process. Extensive reading has a significant role in extending language proficiency. Extensive reading is effective, in that, it leads to sufficient knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. Learners encounter new words and sentence structures very often during extensive reading; thus, they build familiarity, and multiple exposures to them facilitates learning. Extensive reading will allow learners to engage in the target language constantly that will lead them to master the patterns of the language. This study emphasizes the significance of extensive reading, and focuses on its roles in the development of grammar and vocabulary knowledge

Method Selection, Basic Methods and Different Orientations in Foreign Language Teaching

The greatest feature that distinguishes a person living on Earth from other living things is undoubtedly the ability to communicate in very different ways. Human beings recognize and introduce themselves through language. According to (Aksan 2003) "language is a multi-faceted developed symbolic group that allows thoughts, feelings and aspirations to be transmitted to others by making use of items and rules common to voice and meaning in a society" (p. 11). People communicate in their own societies through their languages. When people living in different societies and when different settlements come together to communicate with each other, each community has become familiar and ordinary with a different language for another society. Thus, the need for people to learn a foreign language has emerged. The subject of this study is different orientations in foreign language teaching. The aim of the study is to explore the different language learning methods and method selection that need to be used in the target foreign language teaching of people who show differences even in their own common culture as well as the basic approaches used in foreign language education since the foreign language learning has become a necessity nowadays in the ever

The Effects of Working Abroad on the Development of Teaching Skills

Teaching overseas has always been a great opprotunity for academic and social development. Teachers who have international experiences stand a better chance of not only developing their teaching skills, communication skills and classroom management but also learning new languages and about other cultures. Teaching abroad can help teachers promote their skills for efficiency and effectiveness. It is important to stress that teachers with international experience can teach effectively and contribute to the achievement of their students more. This paper focuses on the effects of working abroad as a teacher on the development of teaching skills

An Evaluation of Positive and Negative Aspects of Educational Games: A Case Study in Erbil Brayaty Primary School

In the educational processes, games are generally handled with their positive aspects. Particular attention has been given to games in the literature, especially because of their motivating and instructive aspects to students. However, in this study, attention was drawn to some negative aspects of games along with their positive aspects. The positive and negative aspects of the games were discussed together with 2 games applied to primary school 5th grade students. The instructive aspect of the games has been revealed by the tests and evaluations. On the other hand, its negative aspects were determined by the observations made in the game and the thoughts of the teacher

Prospective Foreign Language Teacher Candidates’ Views on the Use of Communication Technologies in Foreign Language Education and Their Self-Efficacy Beliefs: Case of Erbil, Iraq

The aim of this study was to determine the factors affecting the self-efficacy beliefs of the candidates and the use of communication technologies in foreign language education. In the 2019 – 2020 academic year, 87 senior students of ELT Department of Tishk International University Faculty of Education participated in the study. The research data were analyzed and interpreted by using qualitative research method. The results of the research showed that most of the participants were positive about the use of communication technologies for teaching purposes, and that these technologies were both a resource and a tool for practicing foreign languages, and the biggest disadvantage was the lack of technological infrastructure and security. In addition, most of the prospective teachers who participated in the research showed that they found themselves sufficient in the use of communication technologies for teaching purposes. The most important factor that positively affected the students’ self-efficacy perceptions was stated as the use of information and communication technologies in the course activities. The lack of infrastructure and the technical problems encountered were put forward as factors affecting the self-efficacy perception negatively

EFL Learners’ Perceptions on QR Code Enriched Instruction in Developing Macro-skills

Recent developments in technology have prompted educators to integrate technology into their classes with the help of mobile devices. QR codes are one of the most popular tools to implement technology-enriched instruction (TEI) in classes with their various advantages. To this aim, present study was conducted at TISHK International University in Erbil, Iraq on seventy-five Advanced English students in the fall semester of 2021-2022 Academic Year spanning 10 weeks. The participants, who were 35 male and 40 female ones, were chosen via the snowball sampling method. Their lessons were enriched with e-quizzes, e-presentations, e-texts and supplementary videos in an embedded format via QR codes while they were having classes through Scope 2. Data collection was run by SPSS 25 and Nvivo through a survey, a questionnaire and a thorough interview by sticking to the procedures of a mixed method research design. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability test, Shapiro-Wilk Normality Test, Mann Whitney U-test and Thematic Analysis were used to fetch and analyse the findings, respectively. The revealed data showed that students’ macro-skills developed substantially. Additionally, their perspectives on QR enriched instruction have changed positively. The findings of this study can have some implications for educators who consider incorporating QR codes into EFL classes for the sake of increasing students’ enthusiasm