Journal of English Language Teaching and Linguistics
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Second Language Learner Perceptions on Web-Based Language Learning
Get PDFThe focus of the current study was to investigate the perceptions of English as a second language learners on using computer assisted language learning (CALL) for improving academic writing skills. The study was conducted for thirteen weeks with 82 second year undergraduates from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Sri Lanka. Switching Replication was used for the research design. The data were analyzed using mix method approach. The findings indicate that the participants preferred the in-class environment more than the CALL environment for academic writing skills. Participants’ lack of experience in CALL, poor writing and vocabulary skills and the negative interference from the technical issues were some of the issues that had a negative effect on the participants in the CALL environment. Yet the success of the intervention both in the first and second phases indicates the effectiveness of CALL for developing academic writing skill
Attitudes of Young Moroccans towards the Use of Code-switching in their Facebook Interactions
Get PDFCode-switching is part of the daily speech of a huge number of Moroccans. The insertion of French words and expressions in the Moroccan individuals’ verbal interactions gives the impression that they are modern, educated and belonging to a higher social class. This kind of language is very common among young Moroccans, and considered as a sophisticated way of communicating, especially in social networking sites, mainly Facebook. However, there is a controversy over the use of code-switching all over the world, as some consider it a sign of first language attrition and others, on the other side, perceive it as a conscious act performed by bilingual speakers to serve different communication intents. The main purpose behind this research is to holistically investigate, through survey questionnaire, the phenomenon of code-switching among young Moroccans in Facebook, since it is highly frequent among this category, trying to trace their attitudes towards this linguistic phenomenon, and whether they consider it as a communicative strategy or a sign of Moroccan language attrition. It also attempts to find out whether demographic variables such as, ‘age’, ‘level of education’ and ‘type of school’ can be considered among factors that might influence the way young Moroccan Facebook users perceive CS. Findings achieved from statistical analysis of data also showed that socio-demographic variables mainly age, level of education, type of school, are responsible for variations at the level of attitudes of young Moroccan Facebook users
Translation vs. Transliteration: Arabization in Scientific Texts
Get PDFThis paper looks at the concepts of translation and transliteration in general and in scientific and academic texts in particular. In simple terms, the former refers to the process of finding equivalents in the target language (as opposed to the original language of the text), while the latter refers to writing the original word using the characters of the target language. The paper argues that translation works well in texts that explain, describe, detail, instruct and summarize while transliteration works better in concepts, processes, known procedures and proper nouns, to mention but a few. The paper suggests that the reliance on literal translation of terms and concepts can be counterproductive to the purpose of translation. Six computer science students were involved in a small-scale experiment. Tests were designed to determine which approach, Arabization or literal translation, is more efficient by measuring the time students took to complete certain tasks and whether students can trace the translated word back to its English origin. All participants were interviewed afterwards. Results showed that they preferred transliterated terms and that Arabic literal translation was not helpful. Results also showed that transliteration of scientific texts helped students understand faster and more accurately. The paper recommends a hybrid approach that employs both methods depending on what terms or processes are being translated
Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC): What Should Indonesian EFL Teachers Have Related to ICC’s Elements?
Get PDFIn the twenty-first century life, the demand to become an intercultural speaker becomes very crucial. It is seen through the incremental important attention of having an intercultural communicative competence (ICC) which is seen as one of the main key competencies in global world-wide. This condition urges any teacher to master the ICC completely as to assist their students to become intercultural speakers in multicultural situations. However, this competence has not been noticed thoroughly by Indonesian EFL teachers since most of them are reluctant to develop their competence in term of integrating the elements of ICC into their teaching-learning process. Hence, this present article recommends a number of competencies related to ICC’s elements in which the Indonesian EFL teachers should have, namely, the linguistic, sociolinguistic, discourse, and intercultural competence which are considered able to aid the Indonesian EFL teachers in enhancing the students’ ICC
Audiobooks for Assisting EFL Students in Reading Independently
Get PDFScholars and practitioners have done much research in developing EFL students' reading skill so that they can recall the main points of a text, answer literal and/or inferential questions, and even complete the actual reading of the text. Yet, those mainly have to involve the presence of a teacher or tutor for monitoring whereas students should be trained to be independent in reading. By reviewing related literature, this article is suggesting to use ‘Audiobook' to assist EFL students in reading independently. This article describes how the teaching of reading for EFL students, and how audiobooks can contribute to it. This all finally come with a conclusion that audiobook definitely can assist EFL in students in reading independently that later will supportively develop their reading skill and language competence besides their listening skill itself
YouTube as a Learning Media to Improve the Student’s Speaking Ability in 21st Century
Get PDFThe development of students' skills, especially in speaking, is considered important to get more attention because speaking skill is included as one of the productive skills that requires a lot of practice rather than only learning the theory. In mastering speaking skill, it is regarded necessary to not only understand what others are talking about but also to respond and communicate effectively with others. Thus, a maximum use of instructional media, especially YouTube, is considered necessary in enhancing the development of students’ speaking skill as a crucial capability to be possessed in the 21st century. The purpose of this study is mainly to describe YouTube's maximum use in terms of practice as well as disclose the benefits of using YouTube as a media learning
Two Uses of Gender in Conversation: A Membership Categorization Analysis
Get PDFDiscourse analysts have for a long time focused on the study of gender differences in language. Recent approaches, however, eschew that concern in favor of studying the performative aspects of gender. In line with this, Membership Categorization analysis offers the additional advantage of studying societal members’ gender categorization in conversation, the way it shapes the course of conversation, and its import, and consequences, for the conduct of participants in interaction. Membership Categorization Analysis is used here to spot some practical uses of gender by interactants in mundane talk among friends. More specifically, the article analyses two conversational instances where interactants deploy the categories ‘men’ and ‘manly practices’ to realize particular actions in conversation (suggestion and blame attribution). One finding is that gender categorization does pragmatic actions in interaction. In addition, the article argues that the relevance of gender, as one textual given among many, must be analytically demonstrated empirically in the conduct of interactants rather than invoked for the theoretical concerns of the discourse analyst
Style Translation in an English Version of Tunisian Mustapha Tlili’s novel The Lion Mountain: A Cognitive Basis to Assessment
Get PDFStyle is every literary author’s identity marker. No translation can ever claim success if it does not reflect the marked stylistic features of the original. This paper assesses the English translation of Tunisian Mustapha Tlili’s novel Lion Mountain in terms of its reproduction of the spirit of the source text, that is the totality of effects generated by the author’s stylistic manners. A cognitive basis to assessment means that the author’s style is a direct expression of his state of mind, his attitudes and beliefs. This model, inspired by the work of Chinese translator and theorist Jin Di (2003), uses a hermeneutic four-stage analysis of literary texts (i.e. penetration, acquisition, transition and presentation), that makes it possible to deal in a rather systematic manner with every aspect of the literary text, namely its spirit, substance, overtone, flavor and imagery. The assessment will demonstrate how translating successes or failures result directly from successes or failures in applying one or more of these hermeneutics-inspired four stages
A Text-Driven, Task-Based Approach to the Design of Materials for Teaching Intercultural Communicative Competence
Get PDFAlthough a large body of research points to the need of providing English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners with intercultural communicative competence (ICC), questions remain as to exactly how ICC should be incorporated into the EFL curriculum. These questions arise in part due to issues of already-packed curricula which seem not to leave time for the teaching of ICC and in part due to issues of teacher preparedness. Additionally, questions arise concerning which culture should be taught. Taking into account materials used in the English Language Center (ELC) of Shantou University (Guangdong Province, China), this paper argues that a text-driven, task-based method of materials design allows for the inclusion of ICC across the EFL curriculum. It also argues that such a method lends itself to the teaching of ICC through a consideration of a variety of cultures
Confrontation in ‘Confrontation’: A Multimodal Analysis of Bob Marley’s Lyrics
Get PDFThis study investigates multimodally the theme of confrontation in Bob Marley’s posthumous Confrontation album. Specifically, the study analyses how the theme of confrontation is conveyed by the artwork of the album cover design. Besides, the study shows linguistically, literarily and by any other aesthetic ways how the theme of confrontation runs through the album. Findings reveal that the artwork of the album cover design speaks volumes without words and is embedded with conscious sophistication in projecting the theme of confrontation. Linguistically, Marley employs deliberate and conscious fiery lexical items inherently confrontational in projecting the theme of confrontation. Literarily, repetition, allusion, pleonasm and metaphors among others play the key role of confrontation in the Confrontation album. Finally, the name of the album, the name of each song and their numerical placement reveal the other aesthetic ways that the theme of confrontation is projected in Marley’s Confrontation, making the album not just a lyrical genius but a discourse masterpiece