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


Volume 7 Issue 4 October - December 2017

Research Paper

An Analysis of TPACK Integration into English Language Teacher Education Programs: A Comparative Study of Turkey and Denmark

Yildiz Turgut*
*Assistant Professor, Department of English Language Teaching, Adnan Menderes University, Turkey.
Turgut, Y. (2017). An Analysis of TPACK Integration into English Language Teacher Education Programs: A Comparative Study of Turkey and Denmark. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.4.13763

Abstract

Technology has always been a part of teaching process and being able to teach with technology requires an understanding of how technology, pedagogy, and content interact to support student learning. Recently, studies on developing TPACK skills of teachers have been emerged; however, studies on TPACK in pre-service education on a specific domain, more specifically English Language Teaching, are limited and none of the existing studies have attempted to compare pre-service teachers' TPACK in different countries or contexts. Therefore, this study compares pre-service English language teachers' TPACK in two countries, Turkey and Denmark, at two Teacher Education Institutions' (TEI) contexts. Through a mixed-method design, results of the study indicated the differences not only in definition of technology, but also in technology applications and teaching processes. Based on these findings, suggestions for teacher education and future research were made.

Research Paper

From Error Correction to Meaning Making:Reconstructing Student Perceptions of Revision

Catherine* , Rachel Wright Junio**
*-** Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA.
Barrette, C., & Wright, R. (2017). From Error Correction to Meaning Making: Reconstructing Student Perceptions of Revision. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(4), 16-24. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.4.13764

Abstract

For most students, revision is viewed as a punishment for not writing well enough. However, what if students' negative perceptions of revision shifted to view revision as an opportunity to better develop the meaning and message of texts. Revision, like all processes in writing, is complex, cognitively demanding, and requires students to be able to detect, identify, and correctly change specific errors made during the initial writing process. The real question becomes, how can teachers modify teaching strategies to reshape students' perceptions of revising while also making students more effective and independent at revising writing? This research analysis focuses on answering this question by first examining the literature on how the misconceptions about revision were shaped and reinforced and then by examining researchbased strategies that help to reframe students' perceptions of revision while shaping them into independent and effective revisers.

Research Paper

Understanding the Dynamics of Language Centers in School Setting

Josephine B. Alarcon*
Research Center on Social Sciences and Education, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines.
Alarcon, B. J . (2017). Understanding the Dynamics of LanguageCenters in School Setting. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(4), 25-34. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.4.13765

Abstract

Language Centers (LC) are gaining local and international reputation for their contribution to English language training or proficiency. However, despite their widespread phenomenon, there is dearth in literature about them locally, or even perhaps globally. Using phenomenology, this paper aimed to explore the dynamics of language centers by identifying their purpose, programs, and practices. Data were gathered through in-depth interview with five language center directors. These LCs are all university-situated. Results of the interview surfaced three important concepts about the dynamics of language centers concerning their purpose which is termed what to harness, their programs termed what to highlight and practices termed how to handle. LCs exist basically to improve proficiency of non-native speakers of English, their language programs are flexible because they are based on the language needs of the clienteles /learners, while linkages make these LCs more profitable or successful.

Research Paper

Integrating 21st Century Skills into Teaching English: Investigating Its Effect on Listening and Speaking Skills

Hamid Ashraf* , Fatemeh Ahmadi**, Mansooreh Hosseinnia***
* Assistant Professor, Department of English, Torbat-e-Heydarieh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Torbat-e-Heydarieh, Iran.
**-*** Ph.D Scholar, Department of English, Torbat-e-Heydarieh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Torbat-e-Heydarieh, Iran.
Ashraf, H., Ahmadi, F., and Hosseinnia, M. (2017). Integrating 21st Century Skills into teaching English: Investigating its effect on listening and speaking skills. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(4), 35-43. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.4.13766

Abstract

The present study intended to integrate some 21st century skills teaching into English classroom and investigate their effect on listening and reading comprehension skills. In so doing, the study used a quantitative, experimental design with 55 participants, 25 in the control group and 30 in the experimental group who were students of second high school grade in Birjand with convenience sampling. Final National listening and speaking examination was used as the pretest and posttest. The results of a pretest showed that, the students of the two groups were homogenous with regard to their proficiency level. Then, they were divided into experimental group who practiced speaking and listening by means of 21st century skills, and control group who practiced the same speaking and listening activities with traditional education. After the twelfth session, the participants took a posttest. And, the results of the post-test showed that learning 21st century skills have a positive effect on speaking and listening skills.

Research Paper

The Experiences in Processing Policies and Contracts by Adult ESL Readers

Evalyn B. Abiog*
*Faculty Member, University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Manila, Philippines.
Abiog, B. E. (2017). The Experiences in Processing Policies and Contracts by Adult ESL Readers. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(4), 44-54. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.4.13767

Abstract

The present study describes the experiences of adult English as a Second Language (ESL) readers in processing legal texts prior to entering a financial agreement. A preliminary survey was conducted to determine the commonly read policies and contracts of adult ESL reader-consumers, which revealed those of banks and life-insurance companies; hence, these two were used as instruments of the study. A bank policy and a life-insurance contract were used as samples of legal texts, which were read by eight adult ESL readers from several cities in Metro Manila. Triangulation was employed to capture the essence of the experiences of the adult ESL readers. The participants' accounts were subjected to qualitative data analysis of transcribing, highlighting statements, clustering related themes, reducing related themes to core themes, and describing the essence of the participants' experience. The study found that, the experiences of the adult ESL readers in making sense of legal texts were influenced by processing strategies. The essence of the participants' experiences lies in their challenging, yet meaningful reading experience. The challenges rest on the complexity of legal texts and on the limited understanding of these readers. Despite these challenges, they recognized the implications of their reading experience to their future financial transactions.

Research Paper

Discrimination in the TESOL Profession in Mexico:Voices and Perspectives of English as a Foreign Language Teachers

Edgar Emmanuell Garcia-Ponce* , M. M. Lengeling**, I. Mora-Pablo***
* Associate Professor, Department de Lenguas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
** Teacher Trainer, Department de Lenguas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
*** Faculty Member, Department de Lenguas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Garcia-Ponce, E. E., Lengeling, M. M., and Mora-Pablo, I. (2017). Discrimination in the TESOL Profession in Mexico: Voices and Perspectives of English as a Foreign Language Teachers. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 7(4), 55-67. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.7.4.13768

Abstract

Over the last three decades, research has centred the attention on discrimination within TESOL motivated by issues concerning the distinction between native- and non-native English speaking teachers. However, based upon the authors experience as English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers and researchers, it is claimed that discrimination in this field is not restricted to acts related to nativeness; their range is far more extensive. In order to show this, the present study set out to investigate the range of discriminatory acts that EFL teachers have experienced. By drawing on data collected through online questionnaires, the findings suggest that a high number of Mexican teachers in the field of TESOL have faced a wide range of discriminatory acts, which are profession-related, physical, and linguistic in nature. The findings also suggest that, these perceived discriminatory acts impact in complex ways, from no effects, frustration, demotivation, low self-esteem, to positive effects. This study raises intriguing questions as to the effectiveness of movements and position statements to encourage discrimination-free practices within TESOL, and highlights the need to raise awareness amongst the whole educational community, involving administrators, teachers, learners, and parents, to eradicate these discriminatory acts.