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Internet-Mediated Visual Narrative Writing to Promote Learning Engagement among Secondary School Students
Get PDFThe use of visual media to facilitate the learning of English as a foreign language among secondary school students has been a subject of extensive prior research. However, little is known about how internet-based visual media is used to teach creative writing in the context of secondary education. To fill this gap, the present case study investigates how internet-mediated visual narrative writing is designed for secondary school students. Thirty-five students from the first-year class participated in the study and were divided into 10 groups. They were involved in a group project on writing visual narratives mediated by a website for eight meetings. The findings of the study showed that (a) group discussion is helpful in building students’ content knowledge of the writing, (b) visual media allows students to generate creative ideas in writing, (c) students have wider opportunity to develop their creativity through writing visual narratives, and (d) post-writing activities engage students in reflective practice as creative writers. The study suggests that internet-mediated visual narrative writing fosters students’ engagement in the writing of visual narratives and foster their creativity in writing
An Investigation on the Effectiveness of an English as Medium Instruction (EMI) Professional Development Programme
Get PDFFor purposes of accessibility and mobility in a globalised higher education context, the teaching of content subjects in English has gained traction in countries and universities where the first language is other than English. In the context of Taiwanese higher education where this study and paper is situated, the initial impetus to teach content subjects in English arose from the government’s strong encouragement to attract international students. The increased traction in the implementation of such programmes has motivated a greater demand for professional development programmes for faculty members involved in teaching content in a language different from the medium of instruction of the university. This article therefore seeks to report on a three-day intensive English as Medium of Instruction (EMI) professional development programme conducted synchronously via an online platform for 18 content instructors of a Taiwanese university. The study intended to ascertain participants’ concerns prior to the professional development programme and the extent to which the programme addressed their learning needs. A mixed method approach was used for the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data drawn from pre-workshop and post-workshop surveys and mentors’ observation notes on participants progress and learning gains through teaching demonstrations. On challenges, findings of this study are consistent with earlier studies in terms of instructors’ concern about their and their students’ linguistic competencies, dilution of content, student attitude and motivation. An emerging observation is reference to wellbeing. On programme effectiveness, both the participants and mentors found that the participants experienced a very positive trajectory of growth in demonstrating good practices in teaching strategies and delivery techniques. However, linguistic competency and engagement though show improvement yet remain key aspects of attention. We contend that for EMI course effectiveness, institutions and instructors need to commit to long(er) term professional development programmes
The Representation of Visual Language in Non-Verbal Communication: The case of Arab Spring Political Cartoons
No full textPolitical cartoons constitute a specific genre of visual images. They are pictorial representations or attitudes with different cartoon elements which depict political and social issues, and events of a country, an institution or a party (Sani, Abdullah & Ali, 2014). Visual language as non-verbal communication may or may not be supported by a verbal text (Peñamarin, 1998). This paper sheds light on the themes of 29 selected Arab political cartoons as a sample that is widely spread during the Arab Spring era and its aftermath (Wo?niak, 2014). It also looks to identify the cartoon elements used by the cartoonists and to highlight the use of these elements such as colours, symbol, signs and others that connote different meanings. The study revealed that the visual language of Arab Spring cartoons from 2011 to 2013 reflected some common themes that highlight issues such as the image of democracy, the involvement of interfering countries and powers in the events of the Arab Spring, government authorities, military-people relations, the role of media and social media, an account of the stages of the Arab revolutions and issues of women\u27s image in relation to socio-political change and ethical responsibilities for both the cartoonists and the Arab people. These are represented via visual messages that connote different meanings. It also revealed that the role of non-verbal visual language can be effectively realised and highlighted through the Arab cartoonists\u27 utilisation of the interaction between different signs of the cartoons’ elements such as symbolism, metaphor, labelling, irony, analogy and colour to convey certain intended messages
On Language Corpora In The Translation Classroom
Get PDFThe institutional training of translators is a relatively new phenomenon beginning in the mid-twentieth century in the institutional training of translators is a relatively new phenomenon beginning in the mid-twentieth century in the West and even later in countries like Iran. Despite the rapid development of Translation Studies in the late twentieth century, translator education did not receive the attention it deserved with trainee translators being trained unsystematically, basically through trial and error. It was only during the recent years that translation scholars and teachers gradually started to address the issue in a more efficient way. The present paper aims to elaborate on the potential of using language corpora in translation classrooms as a means to better help the trainee translators acquire the skills and competencies they need to enter the professional translation market. It further explains the potential of corpora as a resource for translation teachers. Finally, the article proposes a method to archive students’ translations in the form of a parallel corpus and further elaborates on the benefits of using the respective corpus
A Study on the Cross-Cultural Communication Attributes Of Translation
Get PDFHuman culture is rich and colorful, as well as its communication activities and contents. Especially after entering the human society into the information age, the field of human communication activities has been further expanded, revealing that the content of communication has different nature and characteristics. Communication theory has been widely used in social, cultural, economic, scientific and technological activities. It shows the application and promotion of modern communication research in various fields of social life. Cross-cultural communication is a phenomenon in which various cultural resources and cultural information in human societies of different cultures change, interact, and are shared in time and space. Based on the relationship between culture and communication, cross-cultural communication research mainly analyses the changes of heterogeneous culture in the process of communication and the impact of cultural changes on communication, discussing the impact and influence mode of communication on human cultural consciousness, cultural behaviour and cultural customs
A Look into the Linguistic Landscape of Kumasi: The Case of Shop Names
Get PDFThis study investigates the linguistic landscape of Kumasi Metropolis, the second largest city in Ghana, to determine the languages displayed in the ‘texts’ of shop names. A total of 285 signs were photographed and analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. According to the findings, a significant number of shops employed English other than Akan, either monolingual or in combination with Akan, resulting in a written bilingualism environment with English emerging as the strongest language player. The findings also showed that the bilingual character of business signs is more symbolic than being informative, implying a desire to project a global, sophisticated, and fashionable image. The study revealed that although Akan is a lingua franca and the main language used in transacting business in Kumasi, Akan monolingual text in shop names in the linguistic landscape is rare. This has dire consequences for the future of the indigenous languages in Ghana since Akan was the only indigenous language displayed in the business signage. This calls for proper language planning to consciously promote the indigenous languages as it is done for English
Identity construction and negotiation of a hijab-wearing Malay-Muslim Korean Pop Fan
Get PDFThe rise of Western and non-Western entertainment in Malaysia has faced resistance from Islamic conservatives who view foreign pop culture as a negative influence. Malay-Muslim fans of Korean pop, particularly women who wear hijabs, have been subject to extreme criticism, labelled as “cheap" or "obsessed," and shamed as idol-worshippers. While previous studies have explored the influences of K-pop, there is a gap in research concerning the experience of K-pop’s predominantly female fanbase, especially regarding their religious identity. Notably, there is a need to understand how young Malay-Muslim women who wear hijabs balance their religious beliefs with their love for Korean pop culture. In this paper, I share the preliminary findings from my pilot study, which seeks to address the research gap by exploring how these fans reconcile the conflict between their religious and fan identities. It includes examples from an in-depth interview I conducted with a fan, to demonstrate how two of the identity principles proposed by Bucholtz and Hall (2005) were employed in the analysis. These principles are in line with a social constructionist perspective on identity, which sees identities as co-constructed in interaction or to simply put as ‘talked into being’. The insights gained from this discourse analysis reflect the complex interplay of identity construction and negotiation involving self and other-positionings that include the rejection or validation of certain fan behaviours, as well as active engagement in balancing the fan identity and the religious identity. Additionally, the application of Bucholtz and Hall (2005) identity principles to the analysis of religious and fan discourses demonstrate the applicability and relevance of the principles in diverse contexts further enriching the broader scholarly discourse on identity and culture
Interaction and Integration: Economic Exchanges and Trade Networks in the Northern Borderlands of the Han Dynasty
Get PDFThis study examines the economic and trade dynamics of the Han Dynasty’s northern frontier, a region shaped by both conflict and exchange with nomadic groups such as the Xiongnu. It investigates how state economic policies influenced frontier society and its integration with the Han heartland. Drawing on historical records and archaeological evidence, the paper analyzes agricultural colonization, animal husbandry, garrison economies, and official trade markets (guanshi). The findings show that frontier development, though highly militarized, was economically indispensable. Tuntian farming and horse breeding supplied critical resources for defense, while border trade facilitated the exchange of silk, grain, and manufactured goods for steppe horses, furs, and livestock. Despite persistent warfare and economic vulnerability, sustained state investment and tribute–trade systems fostered a hybrid economy that linked agrarian and nomadic networks. The study concludes that the northern frontier was not a peripheral zone but a strategically vital corridor that ensured imperial security, promoted cross-cultural integration, and contributed to the rise of the Silk Road. These insights underscore the central role of economic governance in Han frontier policy and highlight its lasting significance for understanding early Chinese border management before 220 CE.
Keywords: Han Dynasty; Northern Frontier; Economy; Trade; Xiongn
Population Genetics of the Moon Crab Matuta victor (Fabricius 1781) on Java Island, Indonesia (Early view)
No full textGenetic diversity is crucial in assessing biodiversity and is increasingly being utilised in conservation and management. This study aimed to analyse the population genetics of Matuta victor on Java Island. A total of 91 specimens was collected from 10 localities: Ujung Kulon, Pangandaran, Carita, Tanjung Pasir, Subang, Bancar, Banyuates, Ambunten, Situbondo, and Banyuwangi. We obtained 801 bp fragments of COI mitochondrial DNA defining 38 different haplotypes, namely, 12 shared and 26 unique haplotypes. H1 was the most frequent, existing in eight localities. The haplotype diversity (Hd) and nucleotide diversity (?) ranged from 0.667 to 1 and 0.003 to 0.022, respectively. The overall haplotype diversity was high (Hd = 0.921), indicating the presence of many haplotypes across populations, while the overall nucleotide diversity was low (? = 0.018), suggesting only small genetic differences at the nucleotide level. AMOVA analysis showed a low level of genetic differentiation among the 10 locations (FST = 0.266). Neutrality tests indicated the potential population expansion of M. victor in several locations in Java. These findings are expected to constitute a significant first step in designing targeted and sustainable conservation strategies for this species in its diverse coastal habitats in Indonesia
Transforming the Process of Recognition of Medical Specialist in the Ministry of Health: A Shift from Specialist Gazettement to Supervised Work Experience
Get PDFThe supervised practice of newly credentialed medical practitioners within the public sector following completion of specialist training, referred to previously in Malaysia as specialist gazettement or post-qualification working experience (PQWE), is a unique regulatory mechanism aimed at safeguarding the quality and safety of specialist care. This probationary phase enables senior consultants or specialists to assess the competence and readiness of the practitioners for independent clinical practice. In response to evolving demands on healthcare delivery and workforce governance, the Ministry of Health has introduced a series of strategic reforms to strengthen its framework, especially within the public healthcare setting. These include legislative amendments to formalise and regularise the implementation of the probationary phase through supervised work experience or SWE (legal transformation), fiscal measures to support financing incentives (financial transformation), and digital innovations that enhance experience and administrative efficiency (digital transformation). This paper describes these transformative interventions, positioning the Ministry of Health’s approach within broader policy discourses on clinical governance and health system sustainability