i-manager's Journal on English Language Teaching (JELT)


Volume 7 Issue 1 January - March 2017

Research Paper

An Evaluation of a Self-Access Centre through EFL Learners' Eyes

Cem Balcikanli*
*Associate Professor, Department of ELT, Gazi University, Turkey.
Balcikanli, C. (2017). An Evaluation of a Self-Access Centre through EFL Learners’ Eyes. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.1.11391

Abstract

Learner autonomy has become a central concern in the recent history of language learning. Self-Access Centres (SACs) play a critical role in fostering learner autonomy specifically in EFL (English as a Foreign Language) settings. As SACs aim at enabling learning to occur independent of teaching, in these centres, language learners are given more opportunities to control their own learning and gain learning experiences and learning outcomes through collaborative endeavours. This study reports an evaluation of a SAC in the School of Foreign Languages of a state university in Ankara, Turkey, where it presents a challenging task to set up a SAC at a state university due to low budget provided to state universities. Using Gardner and Miller's (1999) and Morrison's (2008) frameworks, the study examines the effectiveness of a SAC in terms of learners' attitudes, behaviours, and experiences. Data derived from the interviews conducted with more than 200 EFL learners basically reveal the following points: First, the SAC provides opportunities specifically for learning outside the classrooms. Second, it offers possibilities for learners to reflect on their own learning processes, which is a key to the use of learner strategies. Third, it encourages learners to develop their autonomous skills through the exercise of out-of-class learning because in a collaborative setting, students interact with others in the Vygotskian sense. More importantly, students mention collaborative aspects of language learning, which has been given particular weight in recent years. In spite of the above mentioned findings, there is recognition of the practical problems of a SAC.

Research Paper

Philosophy of Education Subscales: Predictors of EFLTeachers' Professional Development

Hamid Ashraf* , ZH. Kafi**
* Assistant Professor, Department of English, Torbat-e Heydarieh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran.
** Ph.D Student, Department of English, Torbat-e Heydarieh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Iran.
Ashraf, H., and Kafi, Z. H. (2017). Philosophy of Education Subscales: Predictors of EFL Teachers’ Professional Development. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(1), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.1.11403

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the relationship between Iranian EFL, English as a foreign language, male and female instructors' philosophy of education and their professional development to see whether there is any significant relation between the type of philosophy of education that teachers hold and their professional development. It also attempted to find out whether Iranian EFL instructors' philosophy of education subscales can be considered as some significant predictors of their professional development or not. Consequently, 300 Iranian EFL male and female instructors teaching at English language institutes in Mashhad, Tehran, and Bojnord, in Iran, took part in the study. The participants were asked to fill out two questionnaires, Professional Development Inventory along with Teachers' Philosophy of Education Inventory simultaneously, in order to elicit their ideas about the aforementioned issues. To analyze the data, Multiple Regression was employed. The results exhibited that "Perennialism" as one of the philosophy of education subscales was considered to have the only significant relation with Iranian EFL teachers' professional development along with being the only significant predictor of their professional development. Finally, pedagogical implications along with suggestions for further studies are discussed.

Research Paper

Rethinking Intercultural Communication Competence in English Language Teaching: A Gap Between Lecturers' Perspectives and Practices in a Southeast Asian Tertiary Context

Quyen Phuong Vo*
*Lecturer, School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Vietnam.
Vo, O. P. (2017). Rethinking Intercultural Communication Competence in English Language Teaching: A Gap Between Lecturers’ Perspectives and Practices in a Southeast Asian Tertiary Context. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(1), 20-29. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.1.11404

Abstract

It is undeniable that the existence of internationalization has given a great deal of influences within various fields of worldwide nations, namely science, technology, economics, politics, and even education. One of its obvious results is the emergence of intercultural communication and English language has then become as a bridge for cross-cultural communication, thanks to its worldwide lingua franca. For these reasons, Intercultural Communication Competence (ICC) should be more concerned in English Language Teaching (ELT) tertiary contexts. Although ICC in ELT has been long discussed in the previous studies of Vietnamese tertiary contexts, its investigations are revealed differently and separately with regard to its theoretical analysis in this context or its practices in English classrooms. This study aims to gain an indepth understanding on this issue by investigating English teachers' perceptions and practices on ICC in ELT in the context of Vietnamese southern tertiary institutions. The study uses a mixed method, namely a survey questionnaire and interviews to English lecturers from six southern universities in Vietnam. The findings of the study reveal the positive attitudes of English lecturers on ICC in ELT, but certain challenges confronted by their implementations have been highlighted. As a result, some possible measures to enhance ICC engagement in ELT in this context are proposed.

Research Paper

Accounting Students' Perspective of Work-Relevant Communication Skills: Evidence From a Philippine University

Pia Patricia P. Tenedero*
*Assistant Professor, Department of English, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines.
Tenedero, P.P.P. (2017). Accounting Students’ Perspective of Work-Relevant Communication Skills: Evidence From a Philippine University. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(1), 30-42. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.1.11405

Abstract

To further probe the alignment (or misalignment) of university and industry priorities in terms of English language skills development of future accountants, this study extends the earlier investigation of employers' perception on the communication skills needed by entry-level accountants. Using conjoint analysis, this research examines the outlook of 302 graduating accounting students on the communication skills that they consider relevant to their target career. The respondents answered a researcher-made questionnaire by ranking 16 skills set in the order of their perceived importance for employment in audit firms. Results show that accounting majors perceive interview skills to be the most important communication skill related to employability, followed by reading and communication technology. Such views are relatively consistent with employers' perspectives. However, writing and listening are ranked lower by the students than employers. Analysis of gender variance further shows that female students give higher importance to reading than their male counterpart.

Review Paper

Direct Instruction in Second Language Acquisition: A Critical Review of Related Literature

Hjalmar Punla Hernandez*
*Assistant Professor, English Division, Department of Humanities, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Philippines.
Hernandez, P. H. (2017). Direct Instruction in Second Language Acquisition: A Critical Review of Related Literature. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(1), 43-56. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.1.11406

Abstract

Second Language Acquisition (SLA), as a sub – discipline in applied linguistics, is rapidly growing and changing (Ellis & Shintani, 2014). As such, it has yielded stirring issues on both naturalistic and instructed settings causing reviews and/or investigations by language researchers. This paper accordingly serves as a humble attempt at critically reviewing the related literature of instructed SLA particularly direct instruction as situated in the landscape of language teaching. Initially, the paper kicks-off with the essentials of direct instruction. It subsequently delves into the importance of such th instruction, and this extends to the analysis of notably empirical studies conducted in the 20 century and currently st empirical studies in the 21 century. In regards of these, the paper arrives at conclusions, recommendations, and trajectories for future SLA studies.