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On the Use of Video Description in an Online Collaborative Writing Project with ESP Learners of Tourism Studies
Get PDFThis paper shows the results of a teaching innovation project, which consisted in providing students with a video description task, by which they could practise their written skills in a collaborative fashion in their English for Tourism university studies ― which enables them to obtain a B2 level. A total of 35 adult volunteers participated in this two-month project. Following a task-based approach, and by taking techniques from of audio description, students had to write, in pairs, the script of a touristic promotion clip of Iceland, providing an attractive and accurate description of the images that appeared on the screen, that is, situations proper of the tourism industry. In the second phase of peer review, students had to assess the other pairs’ descriptions, and, finally, once revised by themselves and by the teachers, they had to vote for the best ones, with the aid of a rubric that helped them identify the main landmarks to take into account (lexicon, accuracy, etc.). The results show that the students not only enjoyed the task, which increased their motivation for writing in English, but they also obtained better results in the final exam tests than those who did not participate in this collaborative task
LSP in European Projects: Recent Developments and Challenges in Language Policy and Practice
Get PDFThis article examines the relationship between European language policy and funded language learning projects in the field of LSP. We look at why and how the objectives were expressed, how the overall directions have evolved over the past decade, and how the LSP landscape has been redefined through research and implementation. Our discursive and ethnographic analysis is based on the framework texts published by Europe in the Lifelong Learning Programme and then in the Erasmus+ Programme. These institutional texts are put into perspective with the documents produced in the framework of three European projects in which we have participated: LILAMA (employability), INCLUDE (social inclusion), TRAILs (teacher training). Our analysis seeks to identify and explain the reasons that led to the shift from working on the needs of companies and employees to focusing on the needs necessary for implementation, which implies that interest is now focused on the training needs of the teachers involved in this context (Basturkmen, 2019) and on the challenges that remain to be met.
Concurrent Validity of LLAMA_F: Measure of Language Analytic Ability as a Predictor of Morphosyntax Knowledge
Get PDFForeign language aptitude is defined as one’s potential to learn a second language. A language learner with higher aptitude is predicted to learn more, faster, and reach a higher level of proficiency. If this is the case, one way to validate the construct of aptitude and its measure is to conduct a validation study in which measures of aptitude is correlated with a learning outcome. This study aimed to conduct a concurrent validity of LLAMA_F, a foreign language aptitude test using grammaticality judgement test (GJT) as its concurrent criterion. This was done through dis-ttenuated correlation, using reliability values obtained using classic test theory (CTT) and item analysis. The results show barely adequate reliability for LLAMA_F, high reliabilty values for GJT and a weak linear relationship between the two constructs. The findings of this study demonstrated that LLAMA_F might suffer from a lack of strong internal consistency. While the 200-item GJT was shown to be reliable, a few of its subcomponents were less than adequate. A further in-depth item analysis of GJT is needed in order to pare down the test and make it shorter for easier application and data collection. Finally, a nonlinear relationship between aptitude and measures of achievement is suggested for future research on language aptitude
Executive Compensation and Relative Performance Evaluation Relationship Analysis
Get PDFThe research objective is to verify if the variable compensation of executives is established based on the relative performance evaluation, based on their abilities, or if there is the so-called "lucky payment", in which they are benefited or harmed by oscillations that affect the entire market. The literature shows that variable remuneration is characterized as one of the main mechanisms to align interests between investors and executives. In Brazil, there is evidence of a relationship between variable remuneration and managers' performance, but a gap to be filled consists of identifying whether or not such remuneration disregards the systematic component of performance, linked to movements and shocks that affect the entire sector. The sample comprises the listed companies listed in B3, except those operating in regulated segments, such as financial institutions and public utilities. The period of analysis comprises the years 2010 to 2015, where the information on remuneration is now disclosed through the Reference Form. After self-selection control, because of companies that filed injunctions to avoid disclosure of executive compensation, evidence indicates that executives are usually paid "by luck." Only when the market performs negatively and the executive performs above it is that relative performance employed. The research assists in a better understanding of the remuneration policy of Brazilian organizations, complementing other research on the temporal aspect and the comparison of the peers' performances in the sectors
Cultural Factors that Positively and Negatively Impact Corporate Governance: Cases of Family-Controlled Firms in Brazil
Get PDFThis exploratory study evaluated the relationship between Human Resources (HR) practices, organizational climate, and employee well-being from the lens of the Social Exchange Theory. Therefore, data were analyzed using linear regression and structural equations. The results indicated that there is a positive impact of HR practices on both the organizational climate and employee well-being, as well as the organizational climate on well-being. However, the explanatory power of well-being was low, indicating the need for more customized human resources management. Additionally, HR practices and organizational climate sensitize well-being to a greater extent among women than men, suggesting that women may be able to absorb better the benefits of a friendly and contributory work environment. The study contributes to knowledge in people management oriented towards the well-being of employees
How to Prepare Students for the 4th Industrial Revolution Society
Get PDFThis paper aims to examine how universities prepare students for meeting the job needs in the 4th industrial revolution society and suggest a curriculum to meet the students’ needs. In order to achieve the research goal, a survey method was used. According to Wikipedia, the 4th industrial revolution consists of various technological components such as mobile devices, Internet of things Platforms, big data, and augmented reality. This study attempted to determine whether the university’s curriculum is designed to prepare students for obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary in society. It also examined how students perceive their abilities to handle technologies and get jobs in the changing society. Based on the data analysis, suggestions were made to adjust a curriculum design for future changes
The Role of Parents during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Croatia
Get PDFLike many other areas, the educational system is challenging during the time of pandemic of the coronavirus. In the first half of the 2020 year, many schools had online lessons. The same situation was in Croatia, where we had online teaching from March to May in all elementary schools. Thus, the educational system started with fast-changing in terms of online teaching and learning methods. Distance learning has brought many families into specific situations because the help is normally provided to students by the teacher; in this situation, the parent had to do it. Because of that, parents were in a situation where they had to work online or “in vivo” and help their children learn new content. This was especially difficult for parents with a slightly lower level of education, parents who spent much time away from home at work, and especially for parents whose livelihoods called into question their lives, so in addition to organisational, some other socio-economic and emotional difficulties. Thus, this paper aims to research parents’ attitudes about distance learning and their role in these situations during the school year 2020/2021. As we expected, teachers wanted more cooperation with parents and parents wanted more understanding from teachers and not so many exercises in a short time. 
Contribution to the Assessment of the Quality of Life at Work: a Case Study
Get PDFFollowing a steady increase in the frequency and intensity of stress factors, caused by specific management practices that affect both workers’ health and the company’s efficiency, the notion of quality of life at work (QWL) has emerged. Thus, the need to reduce risk and provide a safe working environment is a fundamental business management principle. Henceforth, the meaning of work plays a crucial role in building a sense of doing the job well. However, to create a healthy, attractive and productive workplace, it is not enough to avoid creating suffering conditions at work. However, it is also necessary to develop the quality of working life by increasing workers’ well-being and productivity. Consequently, quality of work-life (QWL) within the company plays a vital role in maximizing production, employee’s well-being and motivation, a good brand image in the national and international market, and even improving the economic performance of the company. This work studied the quality of life at the company “Danone” taken as our study case. In this work, we try to understand the link between a good quality of working life and the company’s performance
Financial Condition and Government Accounts: An Analysis in the Municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro (2009 to 2015)
Get PDFThis research sought to analyze whether the opinion of government accountability of the municipalities of Rio de Janeiro by the Court of Accounts of the State of Rio de Janeiro (TCE-RJ), in the period from 2009 to 2015, considers the financial condition of these municipalities. The financial condition was measured based on the methodology created by the Canadian Institute Chartered Accountants and adapted to the reality of the Brazilian institutional and regulatory environment. Factor analysis was used to select and group the determinants of municipal financial health and the logistic regression analysis to assess whether the result of the opinion of the municipal accounts by the TCE-RJ considered the municipal financial condition. The results were conclusive in relation to the analysis of the accountability of municipal government accounts considering the financial condition factor that deals with the collection, as well as the opinion of the TCE-RJ indicated that it is related to the technical analysis of external control. It was not possible to conclude whether there is political influence from the governor in issuing the prior opinion of the plenary. 
The Impact of Human Resource Practices on Organizational Climate and Employee Well-Being
Get PDFThis exploratory study evaluated the relationship between Human Resources (HR) practices, organizational climate, and employee well-being from the lens of the Social Exchange Theory. Therefore, data were analyzed using linear regression and structural equations. The results indicated that there is a positive impact of HR practices on both the organizational climate and employee well-being, as well as the organizational climate on well-being. However, the explanatory power of well-being was low, indicating the need for more customized human resources management. Additionally, HR practices and organizational climate sensitize well-being to a greater extent among women than men, suggesting that women may be able to absorb better the benefits of a friendly and contributory work environment. The study contributes to knowledge in people management oriented towards the well-being of employees