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TASK BASED LEARNING:A COMMUNICATIVE ALTERNATIVE FOR EFL TEACHERS AND LEARNERS
Get PDFTBL is an approach that makes the task the basic unit for planning and teaching. It contrasts with approaches that are centred around grammar because it involves the specification not of a sequence of language items, but of a sequence of communicative tasks to be carried out in the target language. TBL aims to engage learners in real language use. This can be done by designing tasks which require learners to use the language for themselves. Tasks hold a central place both in current SLA research and in language pedagogy. Tasks serve to provide learners with a natural context for language use. As learners work to complete a task, they have opportunities to interact, which are thought to facilitate language acquisition. The difference between traditional approaches to teaching English, such as PPP, and TBL is that in TBL, the focus on language form comes at the end as the communication task is the central point to the framework. Therefore, a typical TBL lesson consists of ‘pre-task’, ‘task cycle’ and ‘language focus’ stages. This paper aims to explain the content of the stages, giving English language teachers some ideas about the kind of activities for each of them
Procedure for Determining Abuse of Dominant Position in the Competition Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Get PDFThe paper procedure for determining abuse of dominant position in the competition law of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Competition laws is very important for the functioning of the market, and is in line with the European Union. It is interesting that during the decision-making Competition Council, the purpose of assessment of the case, can be used the practice of the European Court of Justice and the decisions of the European Commission. The main role of the Competition Council is to determine the violation of competition laws, while in the European Union's role entrusted to the Commission. Following the example of the Commission should be strengthened and the capacity of the Competition Council in order to prevent more harm to competition regarding abuse of dominant position. Competition Council decided to initiate the procedure, but it can be at the request of a party or ex officio. When making decisions, we find that the mischaracterization of constituent status, which creates space obstruction, thus the possible ineffectiveness of the Council. Judicial protection provided Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, because it are against the decisions of the Competition Council may declare claim. The specificity of the existence of the extraordinary remedy to review the decision of the Competition Council. The jurisdiction of the Competition Council and the forced execution of decisions
Fighting Poverty from the Street: Perspectives of Some Female Informal Sector Workers on Gendered Poverty and Livelihood Portfolios in Southern Ghana
Get PDFOver the last three decades or so, complex factors including the implementation of neoliberal economic reforms has led to a decline in formal sector employment in the Ghanaian economy. This together with increasing feminization of poverty has driven many, especially young women, to seek livelihoods in the informal sector mainly as hawkers and head porters. Drawing on qualitative interviews with approximately 40 urban poor women (aged 6-25 years), this paper reports the gendered aspects of poverty and the surviving strategies of young women on urban streets. The cameos presented herein highlight the experiences of poverty among street workers and how their livelihood portfolios contribute to overcoming the poor socio-economic conditions facing them. The paper shows that hawking and head portering significantly provides income for upkeep of young women and their families through meeting consumption and other needs. However, vulnerabilities manifested in unfavourable weather conditions, vehicular dangers, exploitation from employers and customers often due to lack of written work contracts are the major risks sturdily connected with these surviving strategies. The paper concludes by arguing for policy interventions such as subsidized credit schemes and organization of formal and informal forms of capacity building for the urban street workers to enhance their livelihoods
A Contrastive Study of some Lakoff and Johnson's Metaphorical Expressions from LOVE IS A JOURNEY Metaphor and their Croatian Equivalents
Get PDFMany people would argue that metaphor is a characteristic of extraordinary rather than ordinary speech. However, Lakoff and Johnson (2003: 8) strongly disagree, claiming that our conceptual system is fundamentally metaphorical in its nature. Moreover, metaphors do not only shape our communication but the way we think or act. Occurring primarily in thought, metaphors are grounded in culture; hence they serve as a valuable resource for cross-cultural linguistic research. This paper aims to study similarities and differences of the English and Croatian perspectives on love in terms of a journey. For the purpose of this research, Lakoff and Johnson’s eight metaphorical linguistic expressions of the LOVE IS A JOURNEY conceptual metaphor from Metaphors We Live By (2003) were used in a survey and offered to 28 native Croatian speakers and former English language and literature students majoring in the field of translation studies who were asked to provide their Croatian equivalents. After the survey was conducted, the research has shown the great similarity of metaphorical linguistic expressions in English and Croatian language. However, it has shown that, in order to maintain the same effect, sometimes different tenses or voice perspectives have to be used. Furthermore, it has shown the existence of the same metaphorical expression in the respective languages, yet used within different conceptual metaphors. Moreover, the research has shown not only interliguistic but also intralinguistic differences, i.e. synonimical options that the Croatian language has due to close geographical, historical, cultural and linguistic contact with Serbian language. In conclusion, it has been proved that even though two languages might share the same conceptual metaphor, the actual linguistic expressions underlying the conceptual metaphor may be coined on the basis of cultural-ideological differences, thus referring to metaphors being both cognitive as well as cultural entities.
Key words: metaphorical expressions, love, journey, cross-cultural linguistic compariso
The Use of Contrastive Analysis in Teaching English as a Foreign Language at Tertiary Level
Get PDFTeaching English as a foreign language at university level is quite a different challenge compared to teaching high school or young non-native learners. This is due to the fact that university students are expected to acquire specific grammar terminology in order to master the grammar system of the target language. At the English Department of the Faculty of Philosophy in Sarajevo, during the first three (undergraduate) years of study the students are introduced to several grammar courses, focusing on the analysis of English grammar through descriptive explanations given in English. The courses serve as a basis that is expected to improve both the grammar and translation competence of the students. This paper examines to what extent the acquired descriptive knowledge of morphosyntactic properties of English is helpful in terms of translation of those Bosnian sentences whose proper translation into English requires the knowledge of contrastive rules. The research has been designed as a combination of action research and a quasi-experimental pre-test (delayed) post-test control-treatment group. As the research findings have revealed, teaching grammar to non-native learners of English without input as to the contrastive differences between the source and the target language results in erroneous translation, which is a consequence of negative transfer from the source into the target language. On the other hand, grammar teaching supported by the presentation of relevant contrastive rules has proved to be an efficient learning technique in terms of reducing errors and improving both grammar and translation competence of non-native learners.
Key words: verb phrase, erroneous translation, transfer, contrastive analysis, pre-testing, post-testing, treatmen
The importance of value attitudes in solving intercultural conflicts
Get PDFThe contemporary world is complicated and we face many difficult problems that sometimes can turn into conflicts that have to be resolved. As S. L. Dolan (2011) claims, these problems are: environmental pollution, human alienation, unemployment, crimes, drug addiction, disintegration of the family, mistreatment of the elderly, unequal distribution of wealth, food, educational opportunities, and many more. These challenges cause chaos and disturb the established sense of values across cultures. Some Lithuanian researchers (Aramavičiūtė, 2005) also maintain a view that such chaos has a major influence on people’s psychological condition as they lose the sense and meaning of life, which has a negative impact on their intra- and inter-relations.Documents from the EU also highlight the need for educational institutions to promote social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, diversity and equality. The development of personal and social skills and respect for human dignity and shared values are considered to be essential forthe resolution of intercultural problems.
The article is based on the research into the cognitive-notional component of value attitudes among students of management and foreign languages. The criteria were the acknowledgement of the importance of values and the depth of understanding of the meaning of values. The conclusion is that students have to be prepared to understand the world, its cultural variety and values, think critically, andmake a stand against injustice.Only then can there be hope for life without prejudice, violence and contempt. Educational institutions have a huge and indispensible responsibility in this respect (Popovici, 2006).
Key words: value attitudes, acknowledgment of the importance, depth of understanding, moral values, intercultural competenc
Forging Synergy between a Foreign Language and Intercultural Education
Get PDFThe expansion of the borders of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) provides members of academic communities with a challenging opportunity to participate in various exchange programmes. The phenomenon of mobility tests the proficiency level of the participants’ Intercultural Communicative Competence, whichenables them not only to speak a common language but also interact effectively and appropriately in the context of a hosting country.
The paper focuses on the case study of internationalisation process implemented by eight European Teacher Training institutions – CáFoscari University (Italy), thePedagogical University of Tirol (Austria), the University of Cyprus (Cyprus), the School of Education of Aarhus University (Denmark), theUniversity of Nantes (France), EötvösLoránd University in Budapest (Hungary), Jagiellonian University, Krakow (Poland), and the Institute of Foreign Languages, Vilnius University (Lithuania) –via the designed educational project carried out within the framework of an Intensive Programme in the socio-cultural context of the Republic of Lithuania. The data of the study based on the participants’ reflections reveals that no matter how positive the respondents’ attitudes towards mobility are, and how willing they are to participate in various exchange programmes, the level of their ICC does not always meet the desired internal and external outcomes. This proves the necessity of Intercultural education to be integrated into the content of many subjects, foreign languages, above all.
Keywords: teachers' Intercultural Communicative Competence, Intercultural education, educational project, diary, reflectio
An Overview of Small and Medium-Sized Banking Development in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Get PDFAbstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of SME banking development in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH). By using a structured questionnaire, the authors discuss perceptions of the banking sector representatives in BH regarding SME banking and their future plans for the management of credit risk associated with financing the SME sector. One of the main findings of this research is that the SME sector is becoming a strategic sector for BH banks and banks are willing to increase their involvement with SME clients. Authors also present results on current level of banks’ exposure to SMEs, types of financial services offered to SME’s clients by BH banks, drivers of banks’ involvement with SMEs, obstacles to further development of banks’ involvement with SMEs. Based on the banks’ responses and results of research conducted, suggestions to policy makers are given, such as tax reforms, interest rate subventions to SMEs, improvement of judiciary, simplifying administrative procedures. Also, some recommendations are given to banks, such as the need for better understanding the requirements of SME clients providing them more personal approach and creating a partnership, as well as lobbying the government bodies to change regulations governing SME sector.
Keywords: Financial system; Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); SME banking; Comparative experiences; Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH
SOCIAL CAPITAL INCREASE OF CONDUCT FOR SCHOOL HEAD TEACHER PERCEPTIONS
Get PDFIn a society, group or institution in other words, all that is needed
the cooperation of the people in the social structure and social
capital important have a decisive impact. Especially intense social
relationships and interactions are deemed important in schools.
To reveal teachers' perception regarding the objective increase
social capital they exhibit behaviors of school principals is aimed
in this study. This study in our schools of social capital
headmaster of investment in the school all aspects successful
interaction, school culture to the development, school goals and
objectives easier realization will pave the environment permits the
formation of providing crucial to be seen. This research is a
qualitative study. In the study science subjects design was used.
Qualitative research in the tradition of the maximum variation
sampling method for sampling in accordance with the working
group composed of 12 teachers were selected. Data collection
methods have been used as a semi-structured interview technique.
In the study, "content analysis" was performed. According to the
results of the study of the behavior of school principals to increase
social capital, increase engagement among teachers in schools,
providing collaboration, and improve communication in school
will contribute to establish confidence as shown. School
principals, school owners understand the social capital to protect,
not to harm the accumulated capital, social capital will work to
develop and manage effectively providing behaviours are
required
Prison Violence Prevention: a Restorative Approach
Get PDFAbstract: “Getting tough on crime” policies often result in increased number of inmates, which, in the situation of insufficient prison capacity leads to the problem of overcrowding. Overcrowding is considered one of the risk factors for the development of conflict and violent behavior as a way of resolving these conflicts. Due to the overcrowding that exists in the Croatian penal system, a survey was conducted to determine the incidence and structure of violent behavior, determining the predictive characteristics, analyzes the existing mechanisms of prevention of violence and proposing improvements for prevention of violence in the penal system. Included are various forms and directions of violence: “prisoner to prisoner” violence (experience of victimization and victimizing other prisoners), “prisoner to staff” violence and use of force against prisoners. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied. Sample comprised of 353 prisoners, 154 of warders and 193 employees of other departments. After getting results of quantitative research, focus groups or structured interviews (on the results) were conducted with prisoners and prison staff. This paper brings general descriptive data and discuss the possibilities of preventing violence in the penal system using programs based on the principles of restorative justice