USM Journal Management System (Univ. Sains Malaysia)
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A Combined Approach to Developing EFL University Students’ Academic Essay Writing Skills: An Intervention Study
Get PDFMany researchers have acknowledged the tangible benefits of a combined approach to teaching second-language (L2) writing in multiple genres. However, little empirical evidence was available in the literature. Therefore, we initiated a quasi-experimental study to examine the impact of a combined approach on teaching essay writing. Eventually, an experimental group of 100 randomly selected university students received instruction in L2 writing through the combined approach. Measurements were taken to evaluate the progress of learners through essay-writing activities in different genres for a semester. All essays were evaluated against a rubric for criteria covering organisation, content, vocabulary, cohesion, structure, and mechanics. Results indicate immediate and significant improvements in students’ performance from their first essay, with positive outcomes maintained through the final essays. However, some factors demonstrated a bigger change than others. The areas where the students’ improvements were mostly identified included content, organisation and cohesion, vocabulary, and structure. In contrast, the development of using mechanics in their writing was relatively low. The study has pedagogical implications for the researchers and practitioners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English as a Second Language (ESL) contexts. The way to apply a combined approach in writing classes and the method of researching the outcome of such a teaching strategy, as briefly presented in this study, could be exercised in EFL or ESL writing classes through adoption or adaptation processes. Introducing the approach in essay writing classes could be especially effective
Code Switching in Thai Society: Four Decades of Research
Get PDFIn this paper, the historical developments of different research paradigms and approaches adopted in the studies of Thai English Code Switching (TECS) are critically reviewed. It also critically reflects on future developments of the field deriving from the three positions of TECS in Thai contexts defined as the Emergence, Exploration and Extension periods, along with their major contributions which have been investigated for nearly four decades. Presently, Thai society has inevitably been involved in bilingual and multilingual activities and communities because of the globalisation, internationalisation, and mobilisation, particularly, in the educational systems. Thus,translanguaging such as TECS performed by bilinguals, multilinguals or even monolinguals, has always appeared in different modes of communication. Therefore, there is now a need to underpin the studies of TECS by investigating the Thai variety of English (TE) through TECS features by means of applying the World Englishes Approach propagated by Kachru (1983). This is because the seven paradigms classified in this approach are found to lead to a practical and comprehensible explanation of the TE which exists in Thailand for a long period of time. However, it is still claimed to be in the period of development. Therefore, Kachru’s seven paradigms of World Englishes towards the present or future research of TECS are highlighted in this paper
Theory to Practice: What Teacher Trainees Did Not Expect From Their Practicum Experience
Get PDFThe teaching practicum plays an important role in the process of introducing pre-service teachers to the teaching profession which ultimately guides their professional growth. This paper explores and articulates anunderstanding of the experiences trainees go through during the short 12-week placement in schools. A study was carried out to get insights into the experiences and challenges they go through via the reflections written starting from week 1 until week 10. The trainees were asked to reflect on their experiences based on four categories: 1) teaching and learning, 2) relationship with the school administrator, 3) relationship with the mentor, and 4) relationship with the supervisor. A total of 25 teacher trainees’ reflections were analysed and key terms were coded and grouped according to the categories identified. The findings revealed that the teacher trainees’ experiences with regard to their teaching practicum were generally positive. However, there were also some inconsistencies found from their writings particularly with their expectations concerning their role in the school and their relationship with their mentors as well as supervisors. The kinds of challenges and unexpected experiences faced ranged from interpersonal to pedagogical issues. Some suggestions on improving the quality of the teaching practicum process within the program are discussed
Pictures Revisited: A Traditional Vehicle in Enhancing Young Learners’ Vocabulary
Get PDFThe dire state of high illiteracy rate in the English language among Malaysian students speaks for the need for efficacious language learning approaches, expressly to augment learners\u27 vocabulary knowledge which is deemed the foundation of language development. This paper overviews the various measures pictures have been traditionally utilised for successful vocabulary learning and it surmises that pictures have been gainfully employed in picture storybooks and flashcards, as well as enlarged posters and imagery creation for effective vocabulary acquisition. As aptly put by Ryan (1993, p.1), “Carefully selected pictures can be a catalyst giving rise to the production of thousands of words.” Therefore, this paper aspires to firstly, appraise the diverse ways pictures havebeen tapped for language development and secondly, to examine the effectiveness of the methods and pose recommendations. Leveraging on the resources and previous research findings of researchers renowned in this field as a reference, this paper focuses largely on related studies by Malaysian researchers to render it relevant to Malaysian learners. It is hoped that this review does not only furnish one with consequential insights into vocabulary development for young learners that can be applied in our Malaysian classrooms for effective teaching and learning but serves to rejuvenate interests in pictures as a means to an end where vocabulary learning is concerned. The prevailing perspective is to acknowledge the richness and scope of pictures, as well as its versatility and to capitalize on them advantageously for utmost benefits in Malaysian classrooms
The Receptions of Premakhyan In Alaol’s Padmavati
Get PDFThe fifteenth and the sixteenth centuries mark a major drift in the literary productions of Bengal. The literary scenario of Bengal was previously dominated by Mangalkavyas which would not allow the formation of romance as a literary genre. In this case the formation of the genre in Medieval Bengal was the credit of the Islamic conquerors. They drifted apart from the traditional notions of literary productions in order to give birth to this new genre, however, its audience did not go beyond the Islamic sects. The subject matters were complex for a good portion of the mass to perceive. It was principally due to the advent of Daulat Kazi and Alaol’s translation of Jaishee’s Padmavat that a bigger section of the audience could connect with Bengali romance. The literary elements nurtured by Alaol in his Padmavati were more acceptable by the local audience. This paper aims at finding how Alaol’s Padmavati as an intercultural text, in the construction of romance utilizes the local literary elements which were more acceptable by the masses of Bengal. Secondly, this paper also aims at finding the ruptures and re-innovations in which romance passes through in the text
Exploring the Impacts of Peer Interaction in ESL University Students’ Argumentative Writing Activities via WhatsApp
Get PDFThis study explores whether peer interaction in WhatsApp discussion affect participants\u27 writing achievement. The initial phase of this study is to improve the participants’ ability to share ideas and discussions on the eight argumentative topics in the WhatsApp group through peer interaction. Eight undergraduate students from University Sains Malaysia were chosen purposely based on their low proficiency in MUET results of Band 2. In this qualitative study, twenty open-ended interview questions were added to understand the participants’ views and experiences on peer interaction in WhatsApp. The open-ended interview questions were validated by three language experts from three local universities in Malaysia. The participants’ writing scores were also recorded to measure their writing achievement in order to answer the research questions. The writing achievement was on the argumentative writing essays that the participants sent every week for eight weeks after three days of peer interaction in WhatsApp. The study showed significant improvement that the participants’ perceived a strong peer interaction in their discussion via WhatsApp. The participants were able to interact with their peers and used the ideas shared in supporting their arguments in the essay writing. Relatedly, these promising improvements in the students’ participation and the findings found that the participants’ peer interaction had created a positive community environment and increased their writing achievement
Themes in Motion: Exploring the Linguistic Landscape of Kumasi with Cultural Spectacles
Get PDFInscriptions on vehicles are common in Ghana. However, the themes dominating these inscriptions have received less attention in Ghana’s linguistics literature. The present study explores the linguistic landscape of Ghana to elucidate how the Akan culture is reflected in the various themes that dominate in Akan monolingual signages on commercial vehicles. Photographic images of the texts were taken at different research locations within the Kumasi Metropolis. A total of 114 photos were taken, categorized, and qualitatively analysed. Drawing on Ethnolinguistic Vitality Theory, the study demonstrates that there are a lot of Akan-only texts on commercial vehicles in the city, and the factors such as status, demography, and institutional support account for their presence. The inscriptions convey messages and themes that reflect the Akan people’s culture. The themes highlighted include those connoting; religious belief, good morals/advice, innuendo, poverty, love, regret, and death. Inscriptions on religious belief constitute the highest with 19 percent. The study has implications for language maintenance
Unsur Perlambangan Perkakas Usungan Kedatuan Bangso Sama di Kota Belud: Pertimbangan di Sebalik Estetika Transendental
Get PDFArtikel ini mendokumentasikan komponen perkakas Usungan Kedatuan Bangso Sama di Kota Belud yang digambarkan secara visual melalui aspek estetika transendental. Estetika transendental merangkumi komponen yang memiliki makna dan fungsi di sebalik konsep keindahan yang dipamerkan. Usungan Kedatuan dilengkapi lima jenis perkakas budaya, antaranya sempangan, sumbulayang, payung pejuntai, bendira/kipas pacak dan kerusi yang menjadi simbol perlambangan khususnya bagi adat kedatuan dalam komuniti bangso sama atau dikenali sebagai masyarakat Bajau Sama di Kota Belud. Unsur perlambangan di sebalik komponen perkakas usungan adalah berpandukan aspek estetik yang bersifat transendental dan memenuhi keperluan aktiviti harian masyarakat. Penilaian di sebalik estetika bersifat transenden menyenaraikan sebanyak tiga peringkat penilaian, antaranya pengalaman, dasar pemikiran dan etika yang berlaku dalam masyarakat Bajau Sama sekali gusenepati peringkat pertimbangan yang berlaku dalam komponen daya fikir. Justeru, unsur perlambangan ialah ambaran sebuah keperluan yang dikembangkan melalui daya pemikiran bersifat transenden
Comparing Reading Performance Between Xitsonga as The Language of Instruction and as the Second Language
Get PDFBackground: As shown by the Progress in International Reading Study (PIRLS) findings over four successive cycles (2006, 2011, 2016, and 2021), South African Grade 4 learners’ performance in reading literacy is low, irrespective of the language in which reading is assessed. Xitsonga home language (HL) learners are assessed in Grade 4, but very little research on early reading development in this language has been undertaken.
Objectives: This article aims to examine whether Xitsonga HL reading develops differently when it is used as the language of instruction compared to being used as the second language (L2).
Method: The quantitative case study was conducted in five schools in the Mopani district of Limpopo Province. The early grade reading assessment (EGRA) instrument was adapted to Xitsonga, and 75 Grade 1s were selected in this study simply because Grade 1 is an important reading milestone children have to go through to help them cope with more advanced reading skills in higher grades.
Results: The findings showed significant differences between Xitsonga HL and L2 in favour of L2. It was unexpected for Xitsonga HL learners to be outscored by learners who were taught Xitsonga as an L2, given that HL learners often use the language at home.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it is evident that teachers need to consider the orthographic nature of African languages when teaching reading in the Foundation Phase (Grades 1-3) classroom. Moreover, teaching reading requires an expert reading teacher who is familiar with the cultural, linguistic, and educational backgrounds of their learners. Thus, this requires teachers to be constantly professionally developed through suitable, accurate, and updated materials to help them improve their teaching of reading
Comparative Study on the Mythological Archetypes of the Forest in The Scarlet Letter and The Wilderness
Get PDFMyths reflect the wisdom of ancient people. In the mid-20th century, Northrop Frye proposed archetypal criticism (myth criticism) and claimed that literature is displaced mythology; in other words, literary works are imitations of myths. The forest plays a significant role in mythology and is an essential imagery for archetypal criticism. As the primitive home of humankind, the forest is more than a vegetation world in literature; it is endowed with profound cultural implications, providing the motifs for literature. The forest imagery in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a well-known American Romantic novelist, and The Wilderness (Yüan-yeh) by Cao Yu (Ts’ao Yü), a prominent Chinese playwright, displaces mythological archetypes. However, due to the diverse cultures of the authors and the different themes they intended to convey, the mythological archetypes of the forest in the two works have similarities and differences. According to the holy scriptures and tales from Greek mythology, by using myth and archetypal criticism and qualitative research methods such as comparative method, biographical approach, and textual analysis, this paper attempts to analyze the similarities and differences between the mythological archetypes of the forest in The Scarlet Letter and The Wilderness to reveal the resemblance and diversity of human culture, psychology, and literary creation, as well as the significance of myth to literature. Findings show that the forest imagery in both works primarily displaces the archetypes of the Bible and Greek mythology and that the displacement focuses on the themes of atonement and redemption, expressing both authors’ ideals of goodness and self-redemption