Public notices are always very important in all parts of the world. But there are many different kinds of notices in different countries of the world. They differ according the cultures and the societies in that city, in the town, or in the village. This study deals with the public notices, the definitions, and the explanations of these notices. The definitions of the public notices will be given. Sample classroom activities about the public notices will be shared. The role of the public notices and signs in our lives will be highlighted. Books and websites about the public signs will also be shared.  Article visualizations

Yagcioglu, Ozlem

European Journal of Education Studies

English

European Journals of Education Studies

  European Journal of Education Studies ISSN: 2501 - 1111 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1111 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu  Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved.                                                                                                                  © 2015 – 2018 Open Access Publishing Group                                                                                                                         272 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.2538306 Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS  IN ESL CLASSES  Ozlem Yagcioglui Full-time Instructor,  Dokuz Eylul University,  School of Foreign Languages,  Foreign Languages Department,  Izmir, Turkey  Abstract: Public notices are always very important in all parts of the world. But there are many different kinds of notices in different countries of the world. They differ according the cultures and the societies in that city, in the town, or in the village. This study deals with the public notices, the definitions, and the explanations of these notices. The definitions of the public notices will be given. Sample classroom activities about the public notices will be shared. The role of the public notices and signs in our lives will be highlighted. Books and websites about the public signs will also be shared.   Keywords: public notices; signs; ESL classes; sample classroom activities  1. Introduction  There are many public notices and signs in the world. These signs have different cultural backgrounds. The role of the public notices and signs are inevitable. Teaching the meanings of the public notices and signs will always activate the cultural awareness and the communication competence in our classes. Students who learn the definitions of the public notices and signs will be aware the importance of the rules and the announcements in their societies day by day.   In this study, classroom activities which can help to teach public notices and signs in ESL classes will be shared. The definitions and the meanings of these notices and signs will also be shared. The role of the importance of these notices and signs are very essential as they help to understand the conditions of the locations or the important rules in their societies and the urgent situations for people or for the animals or plants or for the whole world.                                                              Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  273 2. Theoretical Background  2.1 What is Public Notice? According to the Law Dictionary, public notice is defined as:     ‚A notice providing information for the public that is widespread throughout all types  of media. It will be in newspapers, on radio broadcasts and television broadcasts. It  includes items such as Lottery results and Development applications.”   (https://thelawdictionary.org/public-notice/)     Public notice has been defined on the Business Dictionary as:     ‚Notice widely disseminated through broadcast media such as newspapers, radio,  television.” (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/public-notice.html)   2.2 Definitions of Public Signs Sign is defined on the Cambridge Dictionary as:    ‚A notice giving information, directions, a warning, etc.: A road sign/ A shop sign (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sign)    The definitions of sign are also given on the Collins Cobuild Dictionary. They are as follows:   A. Countable noun  “A sign is a mark or shape that always has a particular meaning, for example in  mathematics or music.  Equations are generally written with a two-bar equals sign.  Synonyms: symbol, mark, character, figure.  B. Countable noun   A sign is a movement of your arms, hands, or head which is intended to have a  particular meaning.  They gave Lavalle the thumbs-up sign.  He made a sign of assent. [+ of]   Synonyms: gesture, signal, motion, indication  C. Verb  If you sign, you communicate with someone using sign language. If a programme or  performance is signed, someone uses sign language so that deaf people can understand it.  All programmes will be either 'signed' or subtitled. [be VERB-ed]  D. Countable noun  A sign is a piece of wood, metal, or plastic with words or pictures on it. Signs give you  information about something, or give you a warning or an instruction.  ...a sign saying that the highway was closed because of snow. Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  274  Over his head, he held a cardboard sign saying 'Free Hugs' in big, black letters.  As  soon as the seat belt sign had been switched off, we rushed out.  Synonyms: notice, board, warning, signpost   E. Variable noun  If there is a sign of something, there is something which shows that it exists or is  happening.  They are prepared to hand back a hundred prisoners of war a day as a sign of good will. [+  of]  His face and movements rarely betrayed a sign of nerves.   Your blood would have been checked for any sign of kidney failure. [+ of]  Synonyms: indication, evidence, trace, mark.”  (Cambridge Dictionary)   2.3 Categories of Public Signs Bi (2017: 703) states that;    ‚Lv Hefa divides it into four categories according to its practical usage in life as  expressions with instructive and guiding information, expressions with function of  restricting; expressions with prohibitive and impelling tone; expressions with remindful  information. Based on the previous studies, this paper puts forward three types of public  signs.”    In this paragraph, it is understood that there were four different categories of signs according to their usages in life and they give information to the people in their societies.  2.3.1. Instructive Public Signs Public signs like this have simple words and various sentence structures. They are not compulsive. For example: Beware of pickpocket, Shark sighted, (Bi, 2017: 703)  2.3.2. Indicative Public Signs There are powerful and obvious negative words like, NO and FORBIDDEN in these signs. For instance, Please don't pick flower, No smoking! , No stopping, No driving against traffic rules. (Bi, 2017: 703)  2.3.3. Consultative Public Signs These public signs are mostly used in the service places and they give information about the purposes of the places and the locations. After reading these signs, people can act according to their needs and requirements, because they do not include direct rules or compulsive information. For example, Customer service center, Ticket office, Cashier, Parking lot, Public toilet (either men / women; male / female), Baggage claim, Fresh produce, etc. (Bi, 2017: 703)  Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  275 2.4 Characteristics of Public Signs  The most well-known characteristics of public signs is their simplicity and they are completely easy to understand. If people cannot understand the notices, they read or see, they cannot get any benefits or they cannot obey the rules.   Bi (2017: 704) denotes;    ‚Public signs are concise, simple, eye-catching, understandable words or phrases. And  the main characteristics are simplicity, regularity and intertextuality.”  3. Method  3.1 Participants The participants consisted of 40 (forty) university students at Dokuz Eylul University in the city of Izmir in Turkey. They were first class and second class students in the Department of Museum Studies in the Faculty of Letters at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir in Turkey. Their ages ranged from 18-23.   3.2. Teaching Procedure The participants were asked to say the public sings or notices they have seen or known. After getting replies from them, different kinds of public notices and signs were introduced to them in their class hours.  3.3 Sample Classroom Activities  Picture-Talk Activities;  Pair Work and Group Work Activities.  A. Sample Classroom Activity I The following notices were given to students and they were asked to write sentences using modals in grammar:   Parking Notice (Johnson and Rinvolucri, 2010: 77)  o Free at Any Tıme. o No Return within 40 Mınutes.    In A University College (Johnson and Rinvolucri, 2010: 77) o Please Do Not Put Your Cıgarettes Out on the Carpet o Pease Use The Bıns Provıded Thank You o Look! Please Put Your Paper ın the Toılet   On A Stile Leading To a Foot Path (Johnson and Rinvolucri, 2010: 77) o Public Right Of Way Closed     Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  276  In A Petrol Station (Johnson and Rinvolucri, 2010: 77) o Petroleum Spirit Highly Inflammable o Switch Off Engine o No Naked Lights     On A Grass (Johnson and Rinvolucri, 2010: 77) o No Parking on the Grass PENALTY £40   B. Sample Classroom Activity II Traffic problems, environmental problems and car parking problems can be prevented with the help of public notices or signs. Students were asked to find public notices and signs about the following topics: 1. Car parking;  2. Smoking; 3. Environmental problems; 4. Departing flights; 5. WiFi Zones; 6. Recycling; 7. First aid; 8. Toilets; 9. Pools; 10. Beaches; 11. Hospitals; 12. Libraries; 13. Museums; 14. Schools; 15. Restaurants; 16. Stairs; 17. Telephones; 18. Waiting Rooms; 19. Bus-stops; 20. Shops and markets.    C. Sample Classroom Activity III Students were asked to and this classroom activity and they were asked to reply the following questions: a) Please write 4 school rules using public signs or notices; b) Please write 3 rules which are necessary in the libraries; c) Please write 5 rules which are necessary in the museums; d) Please write 4 rules which are necessary in the hospitals; e) Please write 4 rules which are necessary in the universities.    Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  277 4. Findings  4.1. Students’ Feedback Classroom activities in this study were used in two different classes in the Faculty of Letters at Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir in Turkey. Students in these classes were Turkish students who come from different cities in Turkey and most of them were staying in the dormitories in Izmir. Students informed that learning the meanings of these signs were useful in their lives.  5. Objectives of This Study  Objectives of this study are as follows: 1. To help students to learn new words in English;  2. To help students to learn the new words efficiently and accurately;  3. To help students to learn how to use ‘must’, ‘mustn’t, ‘have to/has to’, ‘don’t have to/doesn’t have to’, ‘can’, ‘cannot’ in English effectively.  6. Conclusion  Up to here, the definitions of the public notices and signs have been given. The categories and the characteristics of the public signs have been told and listed. Sample classroom activities for learning and teaching public notices and signs have been shared.    Learning a foreign language means learning a different culture. While learning the definitions of the public signs students also learn the values in that society or in that country. They learn why some rules are important in that country or in that society.   In conclusion, it can be said that learning and understanding the meanings of the public notices and signs are very important in all parts of the world and in all the moments of our lives. Therefore, teaching public notices and signs are important topics in foreign language education and in the classes where English is taught as a second or a third language.    It is hoped that this study will help all colleagues to teach public notices and sings in their classes. It is also hoped that this study will help colleagues to find new materials in their classes which cultural topic are taught.  7. Discussion Questions for the Instructors  1. Do you think learning and teaching public notices and signs is an important topic in education? 2. Do you think your students will be interested in learning public notices and signs? 3. What is the most unusual public sign you have seen? 4. Do you think public notices and signs are different in different countries? Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  278 5. What is your favourite public sign? Why do you think it is very important or necessary?  Acknowledgments I would like to thank all of my students who attended my classes regularly and full-heartedly. I would like to thank all of my colleagues who have given me positive energy and encouraged me to write this paper. Special thanks go to the readers and to the editors of this book.   References   Bi, W. (2017). Categories of Public Signs. On Chinese-English Translation of Public  Signs with the Theory of Adaptation—With the City of Leshan as an Example.  3rd International Conference on Social Science, Management and Economics (SSME  2017).p. 703. ISBN: 978-1-60595-462-2. Retrieved 1 October 2018 from:  http://dpi-proceedings.com/index.php/dtssehs/article/viewFile/13048/12578 Bi, W. (2017).  Characteristics of Public Signs. On Chinese-English Translation of  Public Signs with the Theory of Adaptation—With the City of Leshan as an Example. 3rd International Conference on Social Science, Management and Economics  (SSME 2017). p. 704. ISBN: 978-1-60595-462-2. Retrieved 1 October 2018 from: http://dpi-proceedings.com/index.php/dtssehs/article/viewFile/13048/12578  Johnson, G. and Rinvolucri, M. (2010). Public Notices. In: Burghall, M. (Edt.).(2010).  Culture in Our Classrooms: Teaching Language through Cultural Content. p. 77. Hoe  Lane Peaslake, Surrey GU5 95W: England. Delta Publishing. Public Notice. Business Dictionary. Retrieved 1 October 2018 from:  http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/public-notice.html  Public Notice. Law Dictionary. Retrieved 1 October 2018 from:  https://thelawdictionary.org/public-notice/ Sign. Definition. Cambridge Dictionary. Retrieved 1 October 2018 from:  https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/sign                    Ozlem Yagcioglu  TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 5 │ Issue 6 │ 2018                                                                                  279                                                                          Creative Commons licensing terms Author(s) will retain the copyright of their published articles agreeing that a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) terms will be applied to their work. 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TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS  IN ESL CLASSES

Public notices are always very important in all parts of the world. But there are many
different kinds of notices in different countries of the world. They differ according the
cultures and the societies in that city, in the town, or in the village. This study deals
with the public notices, the definitions, and the explanations of these notices. The
definitions of the public notices will be given. Sample classroom activities about the
public notices will be shared. The role of the public notices and signs in our lives will be
highlighted. Books and websites about the public signs will also be shared

DSpace at Dokuz Eylul University

TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES

Public notices are always very important in all parts of the world. But there are many different kinds of notices in different countries of the world. They differ according the cultures and the societies in that city, in the town, or in the village. This study deals with the public notices, the definitions, and the explanations of these notices. The definitions of the public notices will be given. Sample classroom activities about the public notices will be shared. The role of the public notices and signs in our lives will be highlighted. Books and websites about the public signs will also be shared

Ozlem Yagcioglu

NEUROSURGERY ENTHUSIASTIC WOMEN SOCIETY

https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejes/article/download/2199/4836

TEACHING PUBLIC NOTICES AND SIGNS IN ESL CLASSES

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DSpace at Dokuz Eylul University

NEUROSURGERY ENTHUSIASTIC WOMEN SOCIETY