English Course Research Articles

An Examination of Students’ Perspectives of Medical English Course Quality in Guangdong Medical Universities

Phenomenon: In China, medical English courses are critical to medical education, equipping Chinese students with the linguistic tools necessary for international medical practice and collaboration. However, a disconnect persists between the pedagogical approaches of medical practitioners and language educators, leading to a curriculum that emphasizes grammatical accuracy over practical communication skills. This misalignment results in student disengagement and falls short of addressing the real-world demands of the medical profession. With the growing importance of English proficiency in the global health sector, the need for significant improvements in medical English education is evident. This study delves into the underlying causes of student demotivation and aims to reconcile educational delivery with the evolving expectations of the medical field. Insights gained from this research will inform targeted interventions, promising to enhance medical English courses and support improved educational experiences for Chinese medical undergraduates. Approach: This cross-sectional quantitative study surveyed 3,046 second-year medical students from four medical universities in Guangdong Province, China, leveraging means-analysis and Expectancy-Disconfirmation Theory (EDT) as its foundation. The research was conducted at the end of the 2022–2023 academic year, utilizing a questionnaire to assess students’ perceptions of their medical English courses. Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) was the primary analytical tool to discern discrepancies between students’ expectations and experiences. Findings: The IPA revealed that course content, classroom environment, and instructor effectiveness were pivotal factors influencing the perceived quality of the medical English courses. Students expressed a need for practical and relevant course material, with current content and textbooks falling short of preparing them for future medical communication demands. Additionally, while learning technologies were acknowledged, there was a discernible preference against their excessive application, suggesting a misalignment between student satisfaction and learning outcomes. Insights: This study highlights the need for innovative staffing models, refined qualifications for part-time instructors, development of collaborative and practical teaching materials, and focused training for medical English instructors. It also emphasizes the judicious integration of e-learning to enhance the learning experience. These insights aim to improve instruction quality by informing potential pedagogical adjustments and resource allocations in medical English education.

Effects of Perceived Teacher Support on Student Behavioral Engagement in the Blended Learning Environment: Learning Experience as a Mediator

Blended learning (BL) has been widely adopted to improve students’ academic achievements in higher education. However, its success relies mainly on student engagement, which plays an essential role in active learning and provides a rich understanding of students’ experiences. The study utilized three self-designed scales—the Teacher Support Scale, Student Engagement Scale, and Student Learning Experience Scale—to gauge and examine the impact and relationship between perceived teacher support, student behavioral engagement, and the intermediary role of learning experiences. A cohort of 899 college students undertaking the obligatory College English course through BL modes across five Chinese universities actively participated by completing a comprehensive questionnaire. The results showed significant correlations between perceived teacher support, learning experience, and behavioral engagement. Perceived teacher support significantly predicted students’ behavioral engagement, with socio-affective support exerting the most substantial predictive effects. All predictive effects were partially mediated by learning experience (learning mode, online resources, overall LMS-based learning, interaction with their instructor and peers, and learning outcome). The influence of perceived teacher support on behavioral engagement differed between students who reported the most positive (vs. negative) learning experiences. Suggestions for further research are offered for consideration.

Educational Game Teaching Methods on Communicative English Listening and Speaking Abilities for Early Childhood Students

Background and Aims: Early childhood education (ECE) in China has undergone significant transformations, shaped by historical, cultural, and socio-political factors. The foundations of early education in China can be traced back to Confucian traditions, emphasizing moral development and the importance of family and community in transmitting cultural values. This overview explores the historical roots, current practices, challenges, and notable reforms in China's general early childhood education system, providing a comprehensive understanding of its evolution. Thus, the purposes of this research were to:1) To compare the communicative English listening abilities of early childhood students after learning through the educational game teaching method with the criterion determined of 70 percent of the full score. 2) To compare the communicative English speaking abilities of the early childhood students after learning through the educational game teaching method with the criterion determined of 70 percent of the full score. The sample of this study is 30 early childhood students (1 classroom) of Jinshan Xinyuan Preschool Zoucheng City in the academic year of 2023 which was selected by cluster random sampling method. Materials and Methods: The population of this study is 180 early childhood students (6 classrooms), who were enrolled in English courses. The sample of this study is 30 early childhood students (1 classroom) of Jinshan Xinyuan Preschool Zoucheng City in the academic year of 2023 which was selected by cluster random sampling method. Data was collected through listening rubrics and speaking rubrics and SPSS software was used to analyze the collected data, the data used for analysis were the mean value of samples, standard deviation, and single sample t-test. Result: The results of the study were as follows: (1) As presented in Table 4.3, the mean scores of students’ English Communicative English Listening Abilities after learning through Learning Management Using the educational game teaching methods were 11.8 and the standard deviation was 1.69. which was statistically higher than the criterion of 70% at a .05 level of statistical significance (t29 =38.25, p＜0.05). The data above showed that Learning Management Using the educational game teaching methods was able to enhance the students’ Communicative English Listening Ability. (2) As presented in Table 4.3, the mean scores of students’ Communicative English-Speaking Abilities after learning through Learning Management Using the educational game teaching methods were 14.77 and the standard deviation was 2.65. which was statistically higher than the criterion of 70% at a .05 level of statistical significance (t29=30.54, p=0.000 < .05). The data above showed that Learning Management Using the educational game teaching methods was able to enhance the students’ Communicative English-Speaking Ability. Conclusion: According to the research results, we can draw the following conclusions: The average score and standard deviation of the preschool students who adopted the educational game teaching mode were higher than the standard of 70% at the level of statistical significance of 0.05. The educational game teaching method can enhance the preschool students’ Communicative English Listening and Speaking Abilities.

Mindsets, resilience and student engagement as predictors of L2 achievement among Chinese English learners: Insights from fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

English learning is a long-term and continuous process that is permeated with various learning challenges, which requires learners to maintain active mindsets, robust resilience and deep learning engagement to attain a desirable achievement. Nevertheless, a detailed exploration of how mindsets, resilience, and engagement contribute to L2 achievement jointly has not been thoroughly investigated. This study hence aimed to address this issue by surveying 479 Chinese college English learners, all of whom were first-year students enrolled in the Comprehensive English Course. Through path analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis(fsQCA), three major findings were obtained. Firstly, growth mindsets and resilience predicted L2 achievement significantly, whereas fixed mindsets and engagement did not have statistically significant predictive effects on language achievement. Secondly, none of the individual factors of mindsets, resilience and engagement determined the level of L2 achievement unless being configured to function jointly. Thirdly, growth and fixed mindsets, resilience, and three sub-components of student engagement are interrelated and can be dynamically combined in different ways to influence L2 achievement. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of the language learning process, implying that language programs must attend to the complexity of student experiences. The study underscores the need for educators to be aware of the various configurations that lead to L2 achievement, advocating for a flexible and adaptive teaching style that can accommodate the diverse needs of students.

The Impacts and Experiences of Corequisite Remediation for Latino Students

ABSTRACT Many colleges across the United States are scaling corequisite remediation, an approach that places developmental education students directly into college-level courses with supplementary, aligned academic support. We conducted a randomized control trial in five colleges with ethnic diversity, offering a unique opportunity to examine the benefits of corequisite remediation for Latino students. Latino students represent a large portion of the U.S. college student population and are overrepresented among developmental education participants. We found positive impacts on college-level English course completion for Latino and non-Latino students when randomized to corequisites, and estimates suggest that Latino students saw larger benefits. Further, Latino students in corequisites were less likely to report feeling academically overwhelmed and/or bored relative to their Latino peers in traditional developmental education courses. This evidence suggests that corequisites can support improved academic success and potentially help to address gaps between Latino and non-Latino students in early college course completion. On the other hand, we found some evidence of less frequent Latino student engagement in discussions and asking questions relative to non-Latino students in corequisites (a pattern not observed in traditional developmental education courses), so it may be important to ensure that corequisite classrooms are inclusive and encourage broad student participation.

The Framework of Online Learning Based on PBL-PL for College English Courses

The Framework of Online Learning Based on PBL-PL for College English Courses

Profiling lexical coverage in EMI academic seminars: a corpus-based study

Since the implementation of the Bologna Process, Higher Education Institutions have increasingly offered English as the Medium of Instruction (EMI) programmes to promote “internationalisation at home” (Beelen & Jones, 2018). While these programmes allow students to take content courses in English, EMI settings may also be challenging for learners due to the linguistic demands they may impose. However, current efforts to identify these demands have primarily relied on self-reported data, with limited consideration given to the linguistic features that may cause difficulties for EMI learners. This paper aims to address this gap by exploring the lexical demands of EMI seminars. The study analyses the lexical coverage of BNC/COCA (Nation, 2012) and ASW (Dang et al., 2017) lists in MetCLIL, a corpus comprising nine EMI seminars and 110,496 tokens, and investigates the impact of contextual variables on lexical demands. The findings indicate that (1) EMI seminars show lower lexical demands on L2 learners than L1 lectures and seminars or EMI lectures but similar to L1 tutorials, (2) academic spoken vocabulary is less frequent than in other educational settings, and (3) certain contextual factors seem to play a critical role in lexical coverage.

Better learning and practice with teacher corrective feedback in higher education: a lesson from Thailand

ABSTRACT This study examined how the mindsets and feedback preferences of 91 Thai undergraduate students in an English composition course influence their writing skills. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research gathered data on students’ mindsets, feedback preferences, and writing outcomes. While most students displayed a fixed mindset and were reluctant to accept feedback, qualitative results revealed they were generally positive about feedback and believed it could enhance their writing. However, no direct connection was found between their overall mindsets, feedback preferences, and writing outcomes. Yet, qualitative data suggested a positive relationship between their attitudes towards written corrective feedback (WCF) and their writing improvements. These findings suggest that teaching strategies should focus on modifying EFL students’ mindsets and attitudes towards feedback.

Interactive learning spaces: the challenges and prospects of internationalizing medical education / Espacios de aprendizaje interactivo: dificultades y perspectivas de la internacionalización de la educación médica

The research aims to develop the structure of a streaming platform for conducting webinars for medical students studying at universities in China and abroad. The paper’s authors developed the plan and structure of the ChinaInterMed website with video materials and conducted a survey involving 17 rectors of universities in Beijing. Because of the survey, the authors determined that there were topics on international health systems in the curricula of the medical faculties of all 17 universities under study, courses in English in 10 universities (70.6%), topics on tropical diseases in 16 universities (94.1%) and seminars and practical classes with patients from different cultures in eight universities (47.1%). The results of the study will facilitate the use and integration of ICT in educational institutions, teaching medical students from an international point of view, raising general awareness of international communication, promoting equality in education, creating an effective institutional mechanism for internationalization, increasing the global competence of students, developing seminars, symposiums and workshops, and bringing international aspects to teaching and research work.

Chinese university EFL learners’ perceptions of a blended learning model featuring precision teaching

ABSTRACT The present quantitative study aims to explore how students perceived the incorporation of precision teaching with Pinpoint, Record, Change, and Evaluation (PRCE) in a blended English course. This study surveyed 80 non-English majors at a Chinese university and utilised a questionnaire that focused on online learning experience, interaction, teaching quality, and evaluation, and overall satisfaction. The analysis of students’ responses showed that the blended design based on precision teaching gained positive learner perceptions due to its greater spatial and temporal flexibility, accessibility, targeted classroom instruction, increased learning autonomy, and more learner-instructor interaction. This study also established that learners’ positive attitudes towards blended learning featuring precision teaching were significantly linked to teaching quality and evaluation. The findings are discussed in alignment with those of earlier research, and practical implications for foreign teaching and learning in Chinese universities are also provided.

Reinventing assessments with ChatGPT and other online tools: Opportunities for GenAI-empowered assessment practices

The recent emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools, such as ChatGPT, has brought profound changes to higher education. While many studies have examined the potential use of ChatGPT in teaching and learning, few have explored the opportunities to develop assessments that facilitate the use of multiple technological innovations (i.e. traditional AI and GenAI tools). We conducted qualitative research to address this gap. The assessments of an elective English course in Hong Kong were re-designed to incorporate GenAI and other tools. Students were asked to employ and reflect on their use of these tools for their writing assessments. We analyzed the written reflections of 74 students and conducted focus group interviews with 28 students. The results suggest that the students possess an acumen for choosing the appropriate online tools for specific purposes. When they can choose freely, they develop skills that allow them to evaluate and select between traditional AI and GenAI tools when appropriate. Some students mentioned concerns with the different features of the free and premium versions. The results of this study call for (1) assessment practices that allow the flexibility to use different AI tools and (2) the equitable use of various AI tools.

Fostering Critical Thinking Skills in Chinese University Students through the Superstar Learning Platform

With the expansion of information and communication technology, many online technologies have been introduced into education, which changes the learning environment. 99% educational institutions support the use of at least one learning management system (LMS). The most used LSM in China is the Superstar Learning Platform (SLP). The study here are mainly answer three research questions 1) What are Chinese university students’ current critical thinking skills? 2) Can SLP promote students’ critical thinking skills? 3) What are students’ attitudes to SLP? The results are as follows: Chinese university students have a medium level of critical thinking skills. After one term of College English Course (CEC) via SLP, students have improved their critical thinking skills from medium to good level, and students have a positive attitude towards SLP in CEC.

The Use of Youtube as an English Learning Media at Management Program Study of Universitas Mahkota Tricom Unggul

The demanding situations of the arena of training in assembly the wishes of the internet era are pretty large. This is because of their extraordinary existence experiences, particularly their enjoy in the usage of technology. The internet itself opens up many possibilities for integrating technology in classroom learning. Youtube is one of the getting to know media that may be incorporated in getting to know publications which can be taken into consideration hard with the aid of using students.. The purpose of this research is to be able to find out the benefits that can be taken from youtube for English learning media in English courses. This research is a qualitative research in which the author uses observation, question and answer (interview) and questionnaire. The results of the study show that videos on Youtube can be used as one of the learning media.

A study on evaluation of english hybrid teaching courses based on AHP and K-means

A study on evaluation of english hybrid teaching courses based on AHP and K-means

University EFL students’ perceptions of using second-generation web 2.0 tools in developing English language skills

In 2020, conducting education at a distance was obligatory while the world was fighting the coronavirus disruption. Technology utilization in distance education has demonstrated its significance in teaching English to instructors and learners. This quantitative study aims to examine university EFL learners’ perceptions regarding using second-generation Web 2.0 tools (Quizizz, Socrative, Edmodo, and Quizlet) in developing their English skills. This study is conducted with 150 students of the general English language requirement course at the University College of Applied Sciences in Gaza. The results of this study indicate that the participants appeared to have positive attitudes towards using Web 2.0 tools in general. The study results further indicate that both intermediate and low-level students reported more positive opinions about implementing the digital tools individually or all together when compared to other advanced-level students. The participants differed significantly in terms of their perceptions of the awareness and actual usage of the Web 2.0 tools. The implications of this study indicate that these repeatedly used Web 2.0 tools as curricular tasks could be substituted or replaced with other digital tools to alleviate the oversaturation and reluctance to use digital tools by EFL learners.

Data mining approach for prediction of academic success in open and distance education

Predicting and improving the academic achievement of university students is a multifactorial problem. Considering the low success rates and high dropout rates, particularly in open education programs characterized by mass enrollment, academic success is an important research area with its causes and consequences. This study aimed to solve a classification problem (successful or unsuccessful), predict students’ academic success, and identify those at risk. The primary objective was to predict the academic success status with 26,708 students enrolled in Istanbul University open and distance education programs between 2011 and 2017. Predictions were based demographic data and success grades in Turkish, Atatürk's Principles and History of Revolution, English, and Disaster Culture courses. The study utilized classification models from supervised learning algorithms and was conducted using the SPSS Modeler 18 program. Initially, the data was divided into 70% training and 30% test data. Then, models were constructed by using Random Forest, Tree-AS, C&RT, C5.0, CHAID, QUEST, Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression, NeuralNet, and SVM algorithms. Model performances were compared according to accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, F1 score, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Matthews Correlation Coefficient criteria. The C&RT model demonstrated the best performance, achieving the highest specificity value of 0.915.

Project-Based Learning Method to Enhance Students’ Digital Business Competence in English Course

English is a compulsory subject studied in every study program. English is usually learned in the first and second semesters. This research aims to make English learning more enjoyable. This type of research is descriptive analysis. The instrument used is a questionnaire. The students involved in this research were 28 people from the digital business study program. This study found the correct type of project-based learning for students is role-playing by imitating conversations in English from a short video that is rich in moral values played by students and then made into a video. The second finding is that the results of the questionnaire as a research instrument concluded that the task of project learning was beneficial for them in understanding English learning.

A Model Based on Fuzzy Neural Networks for Sharing Digital Educational Resources in English

The ineffective digitization of core English course resources, due to limited autonomy, fragmentation, and inadequate management, has prompted the development of digital teacher libraries using multimedia and Internet technologies. Fuzzy neural networks (FNNs), combining fuzzy and neural network controls, have emerged as a promising approach for mathematical modeling. This paper presents an FNN-based model for sharing digital English educational resources and proposes an effective guidance mechanism for sharing digital science education resources. Experimental results show that the FNN outperforms the Apriori algorithm in training sample error by 0.02069 and reduces running time by 0.0034 seconds on average. This indicates the FNN's superior approximation capabilities with appropriate initial fuzzy rules. Consequently, the FNN-based model enhances the value and quality of educational resources, expands the capacity of information resource libraries, and effectively mitigates the creation of low-quality resources.

The Influence of Play Based Learning Project on Learner Performance in Science and Elementary Technology and English Language Subjects

This study investigated the effects of Play-Based Learning (PBL) on student performance in Science and Elementary Technology (SET) and English language subjects at primary schools in Ruhango Sector, Ruhango District. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effects of play based learning on student performance of SET and English language subjects in Ruhango Sector, specifically the study focused on the effect of play based learning project, perception regarding the teacher’s roles on learner performance of SET and English language and establish the relationship between play-based learning project and learners’ performance of SET and English language subjects in primary school of Ruhango sector. The theories that guided research were Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a process designed to identify and eliminate constraints in organizational processes that hinder the achievement of organizational goals and Social Cognitive Theory is based on his central concept of self-efficacy. This study used a descriptive and correlational research designs. The target population was 150 people including headteachers and teachers. The sample size of was 96 teachers with backgrounds in SET and English language subjects and 12 headtechers. This study used questionnaire as a primary data source. The questionnaire involved written questions to which the teachers were required to write answers individually and interview guides were used to collect information from headteachers. Microsoft Office Excel was used for analyzing the results from the questionnaire and interview. The Pearson Correlation was used to test one hypothesis. The study concluded that Play Based Learning played an importance role in learner performance of Science and Elementary Technology and English language subjects through play-based activities. The research revealed a strong positive correlation between Project-Based Learning (PBL) initiatives and students' academic achievement in English language courses (r=.9650*, p=0.001). Similarly, a significant positive association was observed between Project-Based Learning (PBL) endeavours and learners' performance in Science, Elementary and Technology (SET) subjects (r=.9836*, p=0.001). The study recommends that teachers should regularly monitor content and adjust settings for individual learners. Finally, teachers should apply practices associated with engagement by determining if learner enjoy the game or want to play.

Exploring Identity Perception and Bilingual Education Dynamics in Taiwanese University Settings

In an increasingly interconnected world, proficiency in English is becoming indispensable, prompting Taiwanese universities to implement English language requirements ranging from one to four years. This initiative aligns with a national bilingual education program aimed at bolstering the English proficiency of college students to enhance their international competitiveness. Consequently, English-medium instruction has become prevalent in various university courses, facilitated by the Freshman English course serving as a transition to English-mediated teaching. While linguistic development is emphasized, the dynamics of identity perception among students cannot be overlooked, as language identity profoundly impacts their learning experiences and growth. This study delves into the identity perception of college freshmen in Taiwan, where bilingual education is heavily emphasized by the government. The purpose of the study is to investigate how Taiwanese college freshmen perceive their identity as they participate in English language learning. In addition, this study aims to examine the influence of gender and college major on the individual differences in identity perception among college freshmen engaged in English language learning. Employing Gao et al.’s (2005) Likert-scale questionnaire on self-identity change, the research surveyed 360 freshmen from a university in northern Taiwan. Data analysis performed with SPSS includes two stages. At the first stage, descriptive statistics revealed that participants exhibited agreement on self-identity changes in four categories: self-confidence, zero, productive and additive. At the second stage, a multivariate analysis of variance demonstrated significant main effects of gender and major on identity changes. Female students exhibited higher self-confidence, additive and productive changes compared to male students. Furthermore, liberal arts majors experienced more pronounced self-confidence, additive and productive changes than their counterparts in business, science, and engineering majors. A Post Hoc test unveiled significant differences, with business majors scoring higher than science majors in subtractive and split changes, while science majors differed significantly from liberal arts majors in zero change. The study’s implications extend beyond theoretical understanding, informing pedagogical practices to enhance language learning experiences.