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Trends in Attention to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
Get PDFIn 2015 the United Nations put forth 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These are intended to be largely achieved by 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals are a larger follow-up to the United Nations’ Millennial Development Goals (MDGs), agreed to 2000, which were the first attempt by the UN to create metrics for improving societies that were to be used across the world (From MDGs to SDGs, n.d.). This study is on trends in attention to the SDGs, as indicated by trends in the production of academic articles on the topical areas of each of the 17 SDGs. Research related to the Sustainable Development Goals is important to see what is being prioritized and what needs to get more focus (Fayomi, 2018). The sub-goals of the SDGs are called “indicators.” Key topics and terms of the SDGs and their indicators can be used in searching Google Scholar year by year to ascertain cardinal and ordinal measures of trends in article publication related to the SDGs. This is based on the premise that attention to a particular SDG in academic literature is a valid indicator related to action by nations, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations on the SDGs. This research aims to investigate changes in the relative attention paid to SDGs by academics as indicated in the absolute and relative numbers of articles produced over the period 2010-2020 as indicated by their listing, year by year, in the Google Scholar database. Key terms were extracted from the sub-goals of the SDGs and utilized as search terms. Two search terms were used for each SDG, ad based on the data, we then focused in on the most relevant one for each SDG to examine in comparison with the others. We compare the located continuities, changes in a relative number of items produced (change in ranking) over this time frame. Theories that might be tested in future research on the source of change in the relative ranking of the SDGs are put forth
From Observation of Teaching Practices to Mentoring and Teacher Development in a Multicultural Setting: A Case Study
Get PDFThis article examines whether teacher mentoring can be achieved in the Greek EFL multicultural teaching context, within the private sector, mainly through observation and if this could contribute to the teacher (observer) or even mentor (observer) development. Observation explores everyday multicultural classroom situations and results in a trustworthy interaction between the observer and the teacher about how these could be handled. Mentoring is provided by means of feedback and discussion in an attempt to educate the teacher, offer corrective options and promote reflection. Ideally, development is produced either via the mentor’s suggested alternatives or by the teacher’s own introspection. The article concludes with findings that suggest the suitability of the direct observation form for observing teaching practices in a multicultural setting and the effectiveness of the face-to-face provision of feedback. Furthermore, evidence is provided regarding achievement of mentoring in the private sector, within a working environment of professionalism, respect and trust. Finally, it is shown that teacher development is an issue relying mainly on the personal approach, with innovation and change being its fundamental characteristics. 
The Effects of Odor on Vocabulary Learning
Get PDFExplicit vocabulary learning is a burden for most of the students. But vocabulary is the basis of each language, and not all words can be acquired incidentally through context or reading. Especially for content and language integrated learning in L2 it is important to offer lots of support for learning a large number of terms in order to avoid frustration and negative impact on motivation for the subject. This classroom study investigated the effects of odor on L2 vocabulary learning. The olfactory sense is connected with the limbic system and therefore associated with emotions and motivation. Young EFL Learners (n=158) were randomized to 7 different groups to compare the effects on retention of vocabulary, on motivation and concentration. A mix of essential oils that is proven to enhance concentration and vigilance was given as support. Major finding found as a result of the testing was the positive correlation with the time during a school day the odor was offered as support
The Role of Mobile-assisted Language Learning (MALL) in Enhancing the Writing Skills of Intermediate IEP Students: Expectations vs Reality
Get PDFDespite extensive research into the effectiveness of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in ESL/EFL language learning, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that supplementing conventional teaching methods of the writing process approach with MALL significantly improves the English writing performance of native Arabic speakers. This study investigates the role of mobile-assisted language learning in enhancing the writing skills of forty female intermediate-level Intensive English Program (IEP) students at an intermediate level at Kuwait University. Participants were tested using a variety of mobile applications and websites (i.e. the Microsoft Word application, an English dictionary application, and internet search engines). The researcher utilized questionnaires, observation notes, and other qualitative methods from student assignments for data collection. Results of the data analysis indicate that smartphones are indeed an effective teaching tool, with multiple positive effects on student agency. However, due to its nature and complexity, a cautious approach was used to interpret the findings of this study. The ultimate goal of the research was to compare the traditional approach to the teaching of process writing to a mobile-assisted approach. Study findings are discussed in details and options for future research are explored. Overall, results suggest that learner autonomy is improved by engaging in the writing process both inside and outside of the classroom. The results also suggest implications for increasing motivation and peer collaboration via the use of mobile technology
Exploring the Effects of Mediation in Group-Dynamic Assessment (G-DA) Approach for an Iranian Undergraduate EFL Writing Course
Get PDFThe present study employed a cumulative format of Group Dynamic Assessment (G-DA), an assessment approach that integrates instruction into assessment, and adopted an interactionist approach to DA to conduct a semester-long mediation program in a writing course, which aimed at improving the writing ability of 15 (8 males and seven females) intermediate proficiency level sophomore students of English Language and Literature, in a State University in Iran. The students’ performances on non-dynamic writing pre- and post-tests and nine in-class dynamic writing tasks, completed during the DA sessions, were compared using independent samples t-test and mixed between-within subjects analysis variance (ANOVA), respectively. More specifically, the participants were divided into the two groups of more-skilled and less-skilled student writers, and then their performance was compared. The results indicated that the mediation offered had been highly effective in improving the writing competence of both groups of more- and less-skilled writers. They have been equally able to benefit from the mediation received and resolve their problems in writing. In addition, the dominant patterns of tutor mediational and learner reciprocity moves from a recorded DA intervention session were identified to see how they can lead to the learners’ writing development
Specification a Model for Study of Intellectual Capital
Get PDFOften, the total quality has been instrumented before being weighted. The strategies even precede a diagnosis in Mexican organizations, but in an opposite sense, the present work set out to establish the reliability and validity of an instrument to measure the perception of total quality based on three indicators related to management, production and transfer of knowledge. A non-experimental study was carried out with a non-probabilistic selection of 124 administrative staff and employees from an organization in central Mexico. From a structural model, it was found that management affects production and this about the total perceived quality, although there are lines of research concerning empathy, commitment, entrepreneurship, satisfaction and happiness in relation to the implementation of continuous improvements to the quality of processes and products.
 
Do the Manager's Personal Features Influence the Verbal Tone Used in Conference Calls?
Get PDFThe objective of this study is to evaluate whether managers’ tone of voice of Brazilian companies that publish the results in the presentation phase of the conference call is influenced by the personal characteristics of these agents. A total of 10 Brazilian companies were traded on the New York Stock Exchange (ADR) between 2002 and 2016, which made voluntary disclosure. The sample was limited to the companies with negotiations in North American market, that make the voluntary disclosure of the results by the necessity of the availability of the conference calls in English. To calculate the tone of voice, the dictionary developed by Loughran and McDonald (2011) was used. The tone was calculated based on the conference calls of quarterly disclosure of the results of the companies and related to the characteristics of the managers like gender, position and academic formation. The results verified in the Brazilian companies confirm the same ones found in international surveys, which find evidences that the personal characteristics influence the tone of voice used in the phase of presentation of the conference calls, controlling other factors like the performance of the company
The Study of Tax Aggressiveness and Earnings Persistence and its Components
Get PDFThis research aimed to analyze whether companies that present greater tax aggressiveness have different levels of persistence of earnings components. We measured tax aggressiveness by two proxies: i) book-tax differences and ii) effective tax rates. The study period was between 2010 and 2016, involving Brazilian companies listed on B3. The Effective Tax Rate metric classified the most tax aggressive companies. The results showed that companies, when segregated by levels of tax aggressiveness, present differentiated earnings persistence in its components. It is noted that, in most tax-aggressive companies, tax profit becomes a determining factor for book income in the future period. This work contributes to the accounting literature by identifying the impact of taxation on the earnings quality, particularly in the earnings persistence, a fundamental requirement for greater managerial and tax predictability and a greater direction of value for companies
A Career Impacted
Get PDFWhen I was first contacted to contribute to this book, my first reaction was one of honour that the editors had thought of asking me to recognise the work of one of the most influential professionals in our English Language Teaching profession, as well as a feeling of excitement that I could pay tribute to a man who has deeply impacted my career although I have seldom managed to acknowledge that influence directly. We all know the facts behind Dr. Brian Tomlinson’s distinguished career and his standing as one of the world’s leading experts on materials development in English language teaching and learning. However, it has been his ability to touch the professional lives of so many of us which is truly impressive, and I hope that this journey through my career and how it has been impacted by his work will not only resonate with you as readers but also introduce you to some of his work that you may not have been familiar with
The Effect of Peer Feedback on EFL Learners’ Classroom Anxiety
Get PDFEnglish is learned as a foreign language (EFL) in Iran, but because of the limited opportunities to practice or use it in an everyday life environment, it is not easy to make any distinguishable improvement unless the learners are very interested and active ones. When learning in this kind of EFL environment, students are very likely to experience a certain level of language anxiety, which have some damaging effect on language learning acquisition (Chen& Chang, 2004). As such studies about learners’ language anxiety are very important not only in improving learners’ language proficiency, but also in achieving a targeted syllabus objective or a particular teaching goal. This study aimed to explore the effect of peer feedback on the learners’ classroom anxiety specifically focused on speaking ability. To this end, having administered a test of homogeneity among 70 upper-intermediate EFL male students, the researchers finally selected 50 students who were at the same level of English proficiency and were assigned to two groups- the experimental and the control group- each consisting of 25 participants. For collecting the required data, one homogenizing test, one questionnaire, a semi-structured interview and an opinion test were employed in the study. Having done analysis, the results revealed that peer feedback as a technique, has a significant effect on reducing students’ anxiety. The qualitative data from the interview also revealed that the students took benefits from the peer feedback process and enjoyed the course.