Teachers' Perceptions on Authentic Materials in Language Teaching in Kuwait

This research paper was conducted to find out the effects of authentic materials on students learning at elementary level. This study provides basic and comprehensive information to assist teachers in developing effective communication among teachers and students. It was carried out during fall semester 2013. The researcher used qualitative method approach in which simultaneously collected data using a non- participant observation, artifacts, and face-to face interview. The objectives of the study were to determine the teachers perceptions towards the use of one or many types of authentic materials in teaching English as a foreign language, their effective way in integrating the English language skills, and to determine whether the use of authentic materials is more effective than traditional methods of teaching. The results of data shows that the authentic materials are a good and useful tool for learning a second language toward examination purposes because they lead the learner into drawing out language from their own knowledge and personal experiences through exposure to, immersion to the stimuli presented before them. Keywords: Authentic material, ESL/ EFL, teacher preparation, Listening/Viewing Materials, Visual Materials, Printed Materials, Realia, elementary stage.

EFL Reading Motivations: Evidence from Kuwait

This study examines here the aims to deepen our understanding of what English language teacher trainees think about their own reading, their responsibility as teachers of EFL towards reading skill, and about the effectiveness of the education they have been receiving. The participants for this study are 171 female EFL teacher trainees who were enrolled in different courses in the English Department at the College of Basic Education. The participants were asked to answer a questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire show that the English language teacher trainees did not describe themselves as very competent readers. The findings suggest that even though the English Department courses require reading text books, the teacher trainees read less frequently since they have been admitted to the Department. Teacher trainees didn't show their reading interest in L2.They were not very enthusiastic about reading, even though they were expected by their English language teachers to read more L2 books as they proceed from first year in college to senior year. Key Words: Teacher trainee, reading skill, EFL teachers, Motivation

Efficacy of essential oils as antiseptics on the productive characteristics of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L.

The study aimed to test the efficacy of three essential oils (basil Ocimum basilicum L., lemon Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck, and thyme Thymus vulgaris L.) as disinfectants, including their positive and negative effects, on the biological and productive parameters of the silkworm Bombyx mori. Biological parameters: basil oil treatment at 2000 ppm the highest significant 5th instar larval weight and pupal weight were 2.226 g and 0.787 g. In addition, at the same concentration, recorded the lowest significant mortality percentage and 5th instar larval duration, were 0.787 g and 5.09% respectively. On the other hand, lemon and thyme oils at 4000 ppm come in the second place the same parameters, compared to the control and the chemical disinfectant. While it is equal to the concentration of 8000 ppm for the oils tested in all biological parameters with the control and chemical disinfectant. Economical parameters: basil oil at 2000 ppm and lemon and thyme oils at 4000 ppm had the highest significance for cocoon weights, cocoon shell weight, and silk productivity, which were 1.203 g, 0.220 g, 2.34 cg for basil oil, 1.139 g, 0.210 g, 2.367 cg for lemon oil and 1.265 g, 0.216 g, 2.397 cg for thyme oil, compared with control and disinfectant chemical groups (0.993 g, 0.157 g, 1.49 cg and 0.991 g, 0.160 g, 1.68 cg, respectively). The highest significant difference of cocoon percentages was seen with basil oil at 2000 ppm, compared to the other treatments. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.590659

Teaching English at Elementary Level: Quality Differences between Theory and Practice

This study examines the perceptions of the Kuwaiti elementary school teacher trainees of EFL (English as a Foreign Language) and an attempt to identify areas that need to be improved in the elementary English teachers’ program at the CBE (College of Basic Education). The participants in this paper are one hundred and twenty six Kuwaiti teacher trainees of English who currently teach EFL through a practicum course in elementary public schools located in six school districts in the State of Kuwait. The data was collected through out the school year 2010/2012 by using a questionnaire which was filled out by the main classroom teachers as they were observing the EFL teachers' trainees in their classrooms. Based on the findings, the study has reported that teacher trainees with delight had the opportunity to work alongside a true mentor (classroom teacher), and most teacher trainees were satisfied with their performance. Key Words: Teacher trainee, Elementary stage, Practice, EFL Teachers, Curriculu

Pengaruh Penggunaan Tipe Talking Stick terhadap Hasil Belajar Matematika Siswa SD

The purpose of this research is to know the influence of cooperative learning model type talking stick to the result of learning of Math class V student. This research type is experiment research. The design used in this research is quasi experimental design. The population in this study is all students of class V with the number of 48 students. Determination of sample research using purposive sample. Data collection tools use cognitive tests and questionnaires. Analysis of statistical test data using t-test pooled variance formula. The results showed that tcount = 2,414 ttable = 1,679 means Ha is accepted. This means that there is a significant influence on the application of cooperative learning model type of talking stick to the students' mathematics learning outcomes. Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe talking stick terhadap hasil belajar Matematika siswa kelas V. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian eksperimen. Desain yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah quasi experimental design. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas V dengan jumlah 48 siswa. Penentuan sampel penelitian menggunakan purposive sample. Alat pengumpul data menggunakan tes kognitif dan angket. Analisis data uji statistik menggunakan rumus t-test pooled varians. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa thitung = 2,414 ttabel = 1,679 berarti Ha diterima. Artinya terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan pada penerapan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe talking stick terhadap hasil belajar matematika siswa.Kata kunci: hasil belajar, matematika , taking stick

E-Assessments Systems: A Comparison of the Views of Samples of Students and Professors

The research has two folds; firstly, it aims to compare the different views of trends between two sample groups of professors and students who used assessments system at the University, and secondly it aims to investigate the uses of e-assessments systems in other universities in the region. The Personal trends are about the relationship between the availability of supplies needed to carry out or take e-assessments and to what extent it has been implemented successfully. In previous research, descriptive analytical methods have been used on two samples that consisted of (44) professors and (246) students from (5) colleges. The research tool was composed of many variables for measuring the relationship influenced among them. The research concluded that there is a relationship effect between the availability of supplies and the success of the implementation process of the electronic examinations system. In addition, there is a difference in the perspectives of members of the research sample on any of the variables. The researchers observed that the variation in personal trends differed for the research variables where the results indicated that there is variation in personal trends about one variable, when there is no variation on other variables. In previous study done on students, there was a variation in the attitudes about all the variables. Results indicated that there is a difference in professors’ attitudes about the problems facing the implementation process and the variations on indicators of the success of the implementation process

Removal of Zinc ions from industrial wastewater with wool fibers

In this research, the efficiency of low-cost unmodified wool fibers were used to remove zinc ion from industrial wastewater. Removal of zinc ion was achieved at 99.52% by using simple wool column. The experiment was carried out under varying conditions of (2h) contact time, metal ion concentration (50mg/l), wool fibers quantity to treated water (70g/l), pH(7) & acid concentration (0.05M). The aim of this method is to use a high sensitive, available & cheep natural material which applied successfully for industrial wastewater& synthetic water, where zinc ion concentration was reduced from (14.6mg/l) to (0.07mg/l) & consequently the hazardous effect of contamination was minimized

EVIDENCE FOR NATUROPATHIC AND YOGIC INTERVENTIONS TO AUGMENT THE EFFECTS OF ART CARE AS AN ADJUVANT THERAPY- A PARALLEL MATCHED CONTROL STUDY

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming a pillar in the rehabilitative efforts for many people living with HIV AIDS (PLWHA). The efficacy of naturopathic and yoga intervention, a CAM therapy is an area to be explored in rehabilitation of PLWHA. Aim: The present study, a parallel matched control study to was designed to compare the efficacy of naturopathic and yogic interventions as an adjuvant therapy with standard Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to PLWHA. Methods: Twenty matched subjects were screened for the study based on the criteria: HIV positive subjects aged between 25 to 55 years, both sexes, no secondary infections, under ART care, last CD4 estimate done on June 2014. The intervention group (IG) underwent Naturopathic and yogic intervention along with ART in a HIV sanatorium for a month followed by periodical follow up and control group (CG) received only ART. The outcome measure was a change in CD4 count. Results: After the end of 6 month, the IG showed significant changes CD4 cell count (p=3.96E-05). The CG also showed a significant improvement in CD4 cell counts (p= 0.024) but not of the same magnitude as of IG. An independent t-test between the groups has shown that the IG was more significant (p=0.047). Conclusion: The improved levels of CD4 cells in the intervention group suggests that naturopathy and yoga can augment the efficiency of ART care and can be safely prescribed to PLWHA and prescribed as a adjuvant therapy. KEYWORDS: HIV care; Naturopathy; Yoga; ART; CD4 count

EVIDENCE FOR NATUROPATHIC AND YOGIC INTERVENTIONS TO AUGMENT THE EFFECTS OF ART CARE AS AN ADJUVANT THERAPY- A PARALLEL MATCHED CONTROL STUDY

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming a pillar in the rehabilitative efforts for many people living with HIV AIDS (PLWHA). The efficacy of naturopathic and yoga intervention, a CAM therapy is an area to be explored in rehabilitation of PLWHA. Aim: The present study, a parallel matched control study to was designed to compare the efficacy of naturopathic and yogic interventions as an adjuvant therapy with standard Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) to PLWHA. Methods: Twenty matched subjects were screened for the study based on the criteria: HIV positive subjects aged between 25 to 55 years, both sexes, no secondary infections, under ART care, last CD4 estimate done on June 2014. The intervention group (IG) underwent Naturopathic and yogic intervention along with ART in a HIV sanatorium for a month followed by periodical follow up and control group (CG) received only ART. The outcome measure was a change in CD4 count. Results: After the end of 6 month, the IG showed significant changes CD4 cell count (p=3.96E-05). The CG also showed a significant improvement in CD4 cell counts (p= 0.024) but not of the same magnitude as of IG. An independent t-test between the groups has shown that the IG was more significant (p=0.047). Conclusion: The improved levels of CD4 cells in the intervention group suggests that naturopathy and yoga can augment the efficiency of ART care and can be safely prescribed to PLWHA and prescribed as a adjuvant therapy. KEYWORDS: HIV care; Naturopathy; Yoga; ART; CD4 count

Studying HLA class I polymorphism in brain tumour patients

The present study aimed at shed light on the association between HLA-class I antigens (A, B and Cw) and brain tumours (meningioma and glioma) in the basis of their individual frequencies or two-locus association A total of 52 brain tumour patients were enrolled in this study, with an age range of 7-68 years. The patients were divided into two clinical groups; meningioma (20 cases) and glioma (22 cases), while the remaining 10 cases represented other types of brain tumour. Control samples included 47 Iraqi Arab apparently healthy blood volunteers, with an age range of 15-50 year. Three HLA antigens showed a significant increased frequency in total patients as compared to controls. They were B13 (34.6 vs. 6.5%), B40 (15.4 vs. 2.2%) and Cw3 (15.4 vs. 2.2%). In contrast, B5 was significantly decreased (15.4 vs. 34.8%). In meningioma patients, only B13 was significantly increased (35.0 vs. 6.5%), while in glioma patients, B13 (36.4 vs. 6.5%) and Cw5 (36.4 vs. 2.2%) were significantly increased. Variations between patients and controls have been also encountered for the observed and expected HLA-two locus associations (B13-Cw3, B13-Cw5 and B40-Cw5)