Al-Kindi Center for Research and Development (KCRD) (E-Journals)
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Stylometric Analysis of AI Chatbot-Generated Emails: Are Students Losing Their Linguistic Fingerprint?
No full textThe integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, particularly through AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, and Bing, has revolutionized second language teaching and learning. These chatbots, which utilize advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, hold great potential. They can operate complex cognitive tasks, provide immediate feedback, enhance motivation and self-confidence, reduce anxiety and improve language skills. Despite these advantages, concerns about academic integrity, loss of unique voice, and lack of emotional depth have emerged. This research aims at conducting a stylometric analysis on 25 AI chatbot-generated emails produced by undergraduate English language learners at Sultan Qaboos University. By examining stylistic features like tone, lexical density, lexical diversity, choice of words, repetition, formality level and emotional depth, the study will provide insights into the strengths and limitations of AI chatbots in enhancing email writing skills while preserving the unique voice of student writing. Findings reveal that AI-generated emails are characterized by a repetitive structure, a high level of formality and politeness, a high lexical diversity and a lack of emotional depth and personal anecdotes. The outcomes of this research will shed light on the awareness and skills students need to acquire to optimize the use of AI chatbots without losing their linguistic fingerprint
Bridging Cultures: The Significance of English and Turkish Attitudes in Modern Türkiye
No full textThis paper provides insights into the challenges faced in English language education in Türkiye and discusses the developments in the field. In a rapidly globalizing world, the English language has emerged as a vital tool for communication, business, and cultural exchange. In Türkiye, the significance of English has grown substantially over recent decades, reflecting broader trends in education, economic development, and international relations. This article explores the value of the English language in Türkiye and examines the attitudes of the Turkish people towards it
Teaching English for Students of Special Needs in Jordan
No full textThis paper explores the challenges related to teaching English to students with special needs in Jordan. Despite Jordan\u27s significant progress in policy development, the practical implementation of these policies lags, resulting in suboptimal educational outcomes for students with disabilities. The research highlights the gap between the Jordanian educational system\u27s philosophical commitment to equality and the reality of educational provision for special needs students. Key challenges identified include limited access to specialized educational centers, insufficient teacher training, inadequate infrastructure, and negative social impacts, such as bullying. Furthermore, Addressing these challenges is essential for building an equitable education system that benefits all students, regardless of their abilities or geographical location
The Impacts of Explicit Strategy Instruction on Reading Performance from Students Perspective: A Case Study
No full textThis paper reported on part of a larger study to explore how Vietnamese non-English major students perceived the impacts of explicit strategy instruction (ESI) on reading comprehension. Instruction on reading strategies was conducted for 6 weeks in which students were taught explicitly previewing and predicting, skimming, scanning, guessing the meaning of the unknown words from the context and summarizing strategies. Data were collected from forty-five non-English major students at a university in Vietnam through group interviews and learning reflections. Three semi-structured interviews were conducted in groups of three to four students, and thirty-nine learning reflections were collected to obtain in-depth information about the impact of the ESI. The findings revealed that, after the instruction, the students reported using various reading strategies in four strategy categories, namely problem-solving, global, support and local strategies. In addition, the ESI was perceived to be cognitively beneficial, as students reported heightened awareness of using reading strategies in reading comprehension, expanded reading strategy repertoire, greater reading fluency, and higher reading scores. From a non-cognitive affective perspective, students reported that the ESI motivated them to read with a higher level of confidence and become more autonomous in reading in English. The study offers implications for teachers, students and materials writers in teaching and learning English reading skills in non-English major learning contexts and perhaps in other settings
Investigating the Writing Skills Alternative Assessment Strategies used in Moroccan ESP Classrooms: Teachers’ Perceptions and Prevailing Practices
No full textAssessment is the backbone of the learning-teaching process. Several studies have proven that assessment goes hand in hand with learning. Classroom assessment can be either traditionally of learning or formatively an ongoing process for learning. The current study explores the writing skills alternative assessment strategies used by Moroccan English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teachers in their classrooms. To reach this, the study seeks to explore Moroccan ESP practitioners’ perceptions and prevailing practices of writing skills alternative assessment strategies. Similarly, the study tries to identify possible challenges that impede the proper implementation of alternative assessment pedagogy in the Moroccan ESP context. Following a qualitative research design, the current paper deploys semi-structured interviews to collect data from 10 ESP instructors working in different higher institutes and universities in Morocco. The findings reveal that the participants possess favorable opinions regarding alternative assessment methods of writing skills. Nevertheless, these optimistic viewpoints are not clearly reflected in their assessment practices. The research paper can benefit both practitioners and policymakers in the field of education
Enhancing IELTS Speaking Skills through Blended Learning: A Pedagogical Action Research
No full textTo assess how a blended learning approach might improve students\u27 IELTS speaking competency, this study used pedagogical action research. Traditional teaching methods in IELTS classes often ran into problems with little practice chances, inadequate feedback, and a lack of group and interaction experiences for students. The individuals\u27 speaking skills showed a significant increase, as seen by the pre- and post-test findings. Most participants had positive things to say about the integration of blended learning into the environment, which raised satisfaction, engagement, and interaction levels. However, problems with asynchronous online feedback surfaced, suggesting that there is a need for improvement. This study emphasizes how crucial blended learning is for solving the shortcomings of traditional teaching strategies. It offers insightful details on how blended learning may encourage participation and provide comprehensive feedback systems, which would eventually improve IELTS speaking skills
A Case Study of Pre-Service English Teachers in Reviewing an SFL-Oriented Academic Source Text
No full textCulturally Sustaining Systemic Functional Linguistics (henceforth CSSFL) embodied inquiry with multilingual youth is an analytical exploration. This CSSFL provides practical contributions in terms of the issues of young participatory learning, such as youth learning, power of performance, spatial learning, and student agency. The CSFL emerges from the three important tenets of the CS curriculum: a) culturally sustaining practices, b) the design and re-design of SFL-informed multimodal, and c) the literacy of reflection. In particular, the present study provides how pre-service teachers obtained inspiration for a pedagogical implication where readers can engage in research-driven, multimodal resources, as well as how teachers enable meaning-making activities for their students. In addition, the present study explores the role of multimodal activities such as theatre groups, hip-hop music, and performative arts in contributing to the engagement of physical and linguistic
The Role of Pairwork in Enhancing Speaking Skills and Learner Autonomy among Bangladeshi Tertiary Level Students
No full textThe study aims to explore pair work activities in EFL-speaking classrooms at tertiary level education in Bangladesh. Pairwork has been an issue of interest among English language researchers and learners of English as a second language. In recent years, learner autonomy in language learning has added new dimensions. As pair work can relate to learner autonomy in speaking, everyone can look into the phenomenon. Through a mixed-method approach, the investigation was conducted at a university in Chittagong, Bangladesh, with a survey through a questionnaire, semi-structured interviews of teachers, and classroom observation. The findings show that pair work has been proven to be a significantly useful strategy to improve learners’ speaking skills. Moreover, teachers can utilize different strategies in pairing learners to create a positive learning atmosphere. Through pair work, learners can work independently, and they turn into autonomous users of the English language in both academic and real-life situations. The study throws light on some issues of providing more speaking opportunities to students at the secondary level. It ends with recommendations for both teachers and policymakers in tertiary-level ESL classrooms
Writing based on the Bible: Rereading García Márquez\u27s Eréndira
No full textLa increíble y triste historia de la Cándida Eréndira y de su abuela desalmada (1972) is an important middle grade novel by Marquez, and the biblical metaphors contained in the text have been neglected by critics. By employing Frye’s biblical archetypal criticism, a comparative analysis of the novel and the Bible reveals that Márquez’s text is imbued with central imagery from the metaphorical paradise of the Garden of Eden and the demonic imagery of Sodom and Gomorrah that adheres to the biblical framework of sin-punishment-redemption, which is fundamental to its structure. From the perspectives of imagery, characterization, narrative structure, and theme, the Bible emerges as the primary symbolic source and foundation of the text. Thus, Eréndira can be viewed as an allegory that employs the Bible as a metaphorical model. This analysis reveals the deeper thematic concerns and narrative artistry in Márquez’s work, highlighting the complex interplay between sin and redemption
Reconstructing the Past in 1920s Cinematic Representations
No full textThis study situates itself within the field of Cultural Studies, exploring the interplay of nostalgia and authenticity in cinematic representations of the 1920s, with a specific focus on Damien Chazelle\u27s films Babylon (2022) and La La Land (2016). Drawing on Gilles Deleuze\u27s concept of difference and Suzana Tosca\u27s exploration of originality, this research investigates how Chazelle integrates inspiration from classic films, iconic figures, and historical events to create original works that evoke nostalgia without mere replication. This study analyzes how these inspirations are transformed into cinematic representations that blend historical accuracy with creative variation. While Chazelle\u27s films authentically echo past styles, they simultaneously construct cultural narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences. The study employs a gender lens and a comparative approach that juxtaposes and contrasts Babylon with Baz Luhrmann\u27s adaptation of The Great Gatsby (2013). It concludes that both films offer viewers a composite experience of nostalgia and innovation. This dual perspective enriches both historical and cinematic discourses, thereby deepening our understanding of the complexities of human nature and societal evolution