Students’ Perceptions towards Online Education during COVID-19 Pandemic: An Empirical Study

The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a critical impact on the educational system around the world. Unwillingly, all educational institutions transited to online teaching. This study endeavoured to address the perceptions of Kurdish EFL university students of online education compared to on-campus education in terms of domains of preference, effectiveness, learning satisfaction, and challenges. To do so, data were collected quantitively as well as qualitatively. A sample of 200 university Kurdish EFL university students (112 female & 88 male) from private and public universities of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region-Erbil participated. The results showed that the overwhelming majority of the students have a negative attitude toward online education. Similarly, they preferred and considered on-campus education more effective. The findings also revealed that the overwhelming majority of the students stated online education do not suffice their learning satisfaction. Finally, the challenges articulated by the students during online education included external factors, such as unstable internet connection, electricity besides internal ones, like time management, concentration difficulties, and opening cameras due to social issues

English Writing Errors of Kurdish EFL Undergraduates: An Error Analysis

The purpose of this study was to identify, characterize, and evaluate writing errors made by Kurdish EFL students at Cihan University in Duhok, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the study, 37 third-year students from the English language department participated. The primary data collection instrument was the students’ response sheets for the poetry midterm exam. The errors were first diagnosed and classified into several categories. According to the findings of this study, eight types of writing errors were committed by the participants which were spelling, punctuation, grammar, capitalization, prepositions, verb misuse, and pronoun misuse. The findings of this study also revealed that the most common errors committed by the Kurdish learners were punctuation and capitalization. Such results are important for EFL teachers because they encourage them to pay careful attention to their students’ writing errors and utilize them as pedagogical guidelines while designing activities

The Role of Technology in ELL Classes in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

In the contemporary English language classroom, technology keeps an important role to support language learning. The present research focuses only on the tools, i.e., Smart Boards, tablets/laptops, and LMS (online learning management system), which English language teachers utilize in their class at the level of English Preparatory School, BS and Master in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Moreover, the present qualitative and observational research examines the role of technology, which is utilized at the English Preparatory School in Cyprus International University to teach English to the learners who learn English as a Second Language. For the present research, the researchers collect the data through 2 interviews of the teachers who teach at Cyprus International University (CIU) and from an in-depth literature review. Through the findings of the present research, the researchers observe that: a) all the teachers in TRNC utilize technology, i.e., Smart Boards, tablets and LMS during the teaching of English language and English subjects, i.e., Multimedia (only for PowerPoint presentations); b) in TRNC, the technology helps the English Language Learners (ELLs) to enhance their language skills and make them independent language learners; c) in TRNC, teachers, and students who utilize technology in language learning process face technical challenges due to lack of knowledge or less familiarity with the technology. Hence, the present research would explore the pros and cons of technology and intends the knowledge of a teacher who would take an interest in teaching language through technology

The Effects of Online Supervisory Feedback on Student-Supervisor Communications during the COVID-19

This study focuses on online supervisory written feedback on PhD supervisees’ performance, given explicitly through online communication, particularly during the first wave of COVID-19. This unusual situation has brought many different effects on students’ academic lives. This scenario has influenced both students’ and teachers’ mutual communication. A directed qualitative content analysis (DQCA) approach was adapted from previous research and modified for the present context. The current study planned to bring forth the supervisee and supervisors’ perception of the communication and feedback process, considering that online feedback and communication has been a new experience for most students. According to the findings, teachers/supervisors give feedback on students’ production, whereas teacher-student communication also seemed crucial for the performance improvising of learners. The result brought forth a wide range of social, educational, and surprisingly psychological issues both supervisees and supervisors faced during online communication during COVID-19

Kurdish Efl Students’ Attitudes and Preferences Toward Extensive Reading

This study meant to investigate the attitudes and preferences of Kurdish EFL students toward Extensive Reading. To this end, data were collected via a 12 items attitudinal questionnaire. The participants comprised of 110 Kurdish EFL students (48 male & 62 female), majoring in ELT at Tishik International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq; ranging from freshmen to seniors. A convenience sampling was used to access the participants. The collected data were analyzed in percentage using Microsoft Excel according to the theory of attitude proposed by Mathewson (1994). The findings showed that the devastating majority of the students held positive attitudes toward extensive reading. Similarly, it is uncovered that students find extensive reading as an important and effective means for developing different areas of language skills. Additionally, according to the findings, it could be interpreted that these positive attitudes mostly are due the kind of materials and topics extensive reading presents which best fits students interests and gives them more autonomy. Finally, based on the findings, some recommendations are offered

Investigating Kurdish EFL Students’ Attitudes towards the Use of Authentic Materials in Learning English

A bulk of research and numerous experts in the field of language pedagogy endorse the idea of utilization of the authentic materials in second language teaching. Authentic resources offer several benefits to the learners, including motivation and interest in language learning, as well as the improvement of communicative competence. This study meant to explore the attitudes of Kurdish EFL university students about the use of authentic materials in learning English. To address its aim, the study used a quantitative research design in which data were collected using a questionnaire.150 learners (68 males & 82 females) comprised the study participants and the collected data were analyzed using SPSS. The results showed that the overwhelming majority of the respondents have a positive attitude towards authentic materials. The findings further uncovered that most of the participants are of the idea that authentic materials assist them to learn the language better and faster especially the communicative aspects of the language

Integration of Literature in English Language Teaching: Learners’ Attitudes and Opinions

Speaking of the role and position of literature in language teaching platforms, generally, two opposite views are in action, namely essentialist and non-essentialist. However, numerous studies have stressed the influential role of literature. This study investigated the opinions and preferences of EFL university students on the integration of Literature in English language learning. To do so, a mixed-method research design was utilized in which data were collected quantitively through a 12 items questionnaire and qualitatively using five open-ended questions. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, whereas descriptions were used to analyse the qualitative data. For the quantitative part, 30 EFL students and for the qualitative phase, 10 EFL students participated. The findings indicated that students consider literature as a significant tool for learning the English language and enhancing the four main language skills. It is also discovered that students find literary texts to develop and awareness of cultural knowledge, which is inseparable in learning a second language. In a nutshell, the findings discovered that students showed positive attitudes toward using literature in learning English as a foreign language

The Effect of Spell-Checker Features on Spelling Competence among EFL Learners: An Empirical Study

Writing is an essential skill in any languages. There are several sub-skills involved in writing, the most important one is spelling. Spelling is regarded as one of the most challenging aspects of writing as it requires learners to acquire a range of detailed knowledge including writing system, orthography, and punctuation. With the wide spread of technology use in almost all aspects of our lives, learning and teaching processes are not exceptional from this storm that ultimately affects the way language learning and teaching are maintained. In this line, the current study intended to examine the effects of using technological tools that are featured with auto-spell checker on the spelling abilities of learners. To do so, a quasi-experimental method was carried out to address the issue under investigation. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and GraphPad Prism. The findings exhibited the influence of such technological tools on spelling competence of the learners in which those who heavily depend on such technological tools face more challenges pertaining spelling in their writing tasks

Common Problems in Translation of Political Texts: The Case of English and Kurdish Languages

This study investigated and examined the problems pertaining to the translation of political texts. It intends to deal with the main translation difficulties and problems emerging in the process of translation of political texts. Concerning theoretical background, the study reviews the relevant literature to address certain issues such as the definitions of translation, approaches to translation, specialized translation, translation problems, features of political language, and translation and political language. This is followed by a brief presentation of the methodology of this research. The study concludes that there are no specific methods in translating political texts due to the fact that translation is not only a practical process that employs translation techniques, but also an issue of comprehending cultural, historical and political situations and overtones