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


Volume 9 Issue 3 July - September 2019

Article

Bilingual Education: Segmented Assimilation or Selective Acculturation

Socorro Mendoza*
Concordia University, River Forest, Illinois, USA.
Mendoza, S. (2019). Bilingual Education: Segmented Assimilation or Selective Acculturation i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 9(3), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.9.3.14997

Abstract

This paper examines the different theoretical perspectives of bilingual education in the United States. One theoretical perspective is not feasible in fully understanding the diverse nature of Bilingual education and language acquisition, and therefore a combination of theoretical perspectives are analyzed. The examination of cultural assimilation and segmented assimilation and the role it has within Bilingual education will help gain perspective from those in the program. This exploration of theories will also help schools understand the perspective of the families and identify ways to support these families and increase parental involvement that will contribute to academic success.

Research Paper

Causes of Low English Language Proficiency among Sudanese University Graduates

Abuelgasim Sabah Elsaid Mohammed* , Abdulgalil Salih**
*Department of English Language and Literature, Prince Sattam Ibn Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
** Gazera University, Sudan.
Mohammed, A. S. E., and Salih, A. (2019). Causes of Low English Language Proficiency among Sudanese University Graduates. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 9(3), 6-15. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.9.3.15865

Abstract

English language has become a global language that is widely taught as a foreign language all over the world. The aim of Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is to enable learners communicate through English. Any failure in achieving this aim needs investigation and quick response. This study aims at identifying the causes of Sudanese tertiary students low English language proficiency and the possible actions to be taken to deal with these causes. The study adopted open ended questionnaire to collect data. A total of 180 participants took part in the study. Results reveal that the Sudanese university students' low level of English language is caused by the context, teachers, general education, curriculum, and the students themselves. The respondents suggest that dealing with these factors could be through review of government and universities policies toward English language, teacher training, curriculum review, and raising students' motivation.

Research Paper

Developing a Vocational English for Specific Purposes Curriculum for the Department of Electric and Energy

Gökhan Öztürk* , Betül Bal-Gezegin**
*Department of Foreign Language Education, Anadolu University, Turkey.
** Department of English Language Teaching, Amasya University, Turkey.
Öztürk, G., and Bal-Gezegin, B. (2019). Developing a Vocational English for Specific Purposes Curriculum for the Department of Electric and Energy. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 9(3), 16-26. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.9.3.16127

Abstract

This paper outlines the process of the design of an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course in an EFL context based on learners' real-world needs and perceptions of various stakeholders on these needs. The specific course chosen for this study is called “Vocational English Course” (called VEC hereafter) for the department of Electric and Energy. The target group enrolled in the course consists of undergraduate students from a vocational school at a state university in Turkey. In order to identify the needs specific to the target context, an environment (situation) and a needs analysis were carried out with questionnaires and interviews to gather information related to the context, language needs, and methods of language teaching and learning. The results of the surveys and the interviews indicated the variety of students' needs which had not been realized previously. By focusing on both students' needs, learning styles and perceptions as well as other stakeholders' expectations and views, and by strengthening the connection between the learner and the target workplace, the content was improved for an ESP course based on the curriculum design model of Nation and Macalister in their book Language Curriculum Design. In the light of the findings of this study, conclusions are drawn, and suggestions are made regarding the development of a needs-based curriculum for vocational English courses.

Research Paper

Using Regression to Reduce L2 Teachers' Scoring Workload: Predicting Essay Quality from Several Rhetorical Moves

Kutay Uzun*
Department of English Language Teaching, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey.
Uzun, K. (2019). Using Regression to Reduce L2 Teachers' Scoring Workload: Predicting Essay Quality from Several Rhetorical Moves. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 9(3), 27-35. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.9.3.15653

Abstract

Scoring essays written in L2 is one of the most arduous and time-taking tasks for language teachers due to the heavy work involved in the process. In this respect, the present study aimed to build a regression model to predict essay quality using only one or two rhetorical moves in the setting of an English Language Teaching department in Turkey. The corpus of the study consisted of 265 essays written by 105 students of English Language Teaching. The essays were written through one semester in a 2nd year English Literature course in the form of literary analysis essays which aimed to identify how an author or poet dealt with a theme or character in a literary work. For data analysis, the Genre-Based Literary Analysis Essay Scoring Rubric was initially used to score all the essays within the corpus. After the normality tests, two regression models were built in order to predict essay scores using the thesis statement scores and a combination of thesis statement and opinion statement scores. The results showed that the chosen rhetorical moves could significantly predict essay scores. Using predictive models, teachers can distinguish poor, mediocre, and good essays without scoring of whole essays.

Research Paper

Teachers' Perceptions about Vocabulary Instruction through Flashcards at English Language Centers in the Mekong Delta City

Hong Gam Thi Nguyen* , Huan Buu Nguyen**
* English Language Center, Can Tho City, Vietnam.
** School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, Vietnam.
Nguyen, H. G. T., and Nguyen, H. B. (2019). Teachers' Perceptions about Vocabulary Instruction through Flashcards at English Language Centers in the Mekong Delta City. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 9(3), 36-48. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.9.3.15906

Abstract

This study reports on teachers' perceptions and reasons for choosing or avoiding flashcards to teach vocabulary with 61 teachers at English language centers in a Mekong Delta city, Vietnam. This study used a mixed-method design which combining both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. The data used in this study include questionnaires, interviews, and classroom observations. The findings reveal that teachers perceived flashcards as positive in teaching vocabulary to young learners. The findings also indicate that these learners could improve and remember vocabulary easily. However, flashcard preparation and expenses were reported as challenges in using flashcards to teach vocabulary.

Research Paper

Need of a Syntax-based Interpretation for Learning English as a Second Language among Arabic Speakers

Oveesa Farooq*
Department of English, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Farooq, O. (2019). Need of a Syntax-based Interpretation for Learning English as a Second Language among Arabic Speakers. i-manager’s Journal on English Language Teaching, 9(3), 49-56. https://doi.org/10.26634/jelt.9.3.16032

Abstract

The fact that English is an internationally intelligible language, and therefore its use in the educational institutions of most non-English speaking countries is stressed upon. This impresses upon us the need of ELT (English Language Teaching) as a second language in such countries. Same is the case with Gulf countries, especially Saudi-Arabia. For learning any language, the knowledge of all the four branches of linguistics (Syntax, Semantics, Morphology, and Phonlogy) have a major role to play. It is very important to use functional and content words for the formation of sentences in that language. In order to gain this information, the learners of second language need to know the organization of these lexical and functional words in a language that is syntax of a language. So, the syntax based interpretation forms the basis of learning any language. The present paper focuses on the importance of syntax in learning English as a second language among Arabic speakers. It has been observed that the performance of majority of the native Arabic speakers is very poor when it comes to basic language skills listening, speaking, reading, and writing English. In classroom activities, using English in simple conversations among each other, conversations with teacher, writing simple passages, paragraphs or essays, role play, etc is even a bigger issue for them. The present study attempts to focus on the issues these students have and the need of syntax-based interpretation for learning English as a second language among Arabic speakers.