English Language Classes Research Articles

HOW READING EXERCISES CONTRIBUTE TO DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE IN TEACHING EFL IN THE CASE OF SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS IN UZBEKISTAN

In this article, the author discusses the specialized schools existing in Uzbekistan, their objectives, and their distinctive characteristics. Additionally, the author provides information about the importance of developing reading competence through communicative technologies in English language classes for upper grades of specialized schools.

Re-Creation of a Classic Novel through Transmedia Storytelling : Cross-Cultural Learning Focusing on Tess of the d'Urbervilles

This study explores the transmedia-storytelling model to induce EFL learners to participate in project-based learning while reading a classic novel, <i>Tess of the d'Urbervilles</i>. The objectives are to encourage their participation and to design a class representing ‘limited selection and freedom’ for the twenties. In particular, when provided with subtitles through CCD (Cross-Cultural Dialogue) based inquiry, learners can experience student-centered creation activities by adding, reforming, and storytelling the content. In this study, the more the students learn about individual freedom and the ability to adapt, the higher consideration they will have for both their own and other cultures, which can improve their emotional resilience. They will also learn that studyng with people from different cultural backgrounds can promote their learning efficacy. Hopefully, this study can contribute to building a model of Liberal Arts to encourage further readings in the Classics and to activate learners’ convergence skills in English language classes.

Developing oral communication skill in Bangladesh

Competency in Oral Communication has become the most spoken issue of Bangladesh in the recent years (Brunfaut, T., & Green, R., 2017). English Language is no more the communication medium for the English only; it has achieved the status of the official or the dominant language for above two billion people in more than 60 countries. In a short period of time, English received a wide geographical coverage and become one of the leading means of communication. In line with the present competitive world, Bangladesh is not an exception. In the country, English continues its domination and expansion as the highly demandable and an inevitable language. People who have a very sound communication skill in English, especially of spoken English, are in the triumphant march. However, the way of increasing this oral communicative competence for the students of Bangladesh, is indeed a very crucial and burning issue. Despite acknowledging the great importance of this language, our students have not reached to that required level. Only ‘mutual intelligibility’ or ‘mere communication through English’ cannot be considered as competency in speaking. Even the students entering the tertiary level have a very poor knowledge in English Language. This paper, therefore, goes through the present scenario of communicative skill especially speaking skill of today’s students and the existing methods of developing this oral communication skill in Bangladesh. In doing so, the researcher collected survey data from 50 students and 10 Teachers from 3 different schools of different geographical locations, data from 30 students’ and 6 teachers’ interviews. Significant innovations are also found from the practical observations of 3 English language classes of three different institutions. The paper, thus, attempts to diagnose the reasons behind the students’ incompetency, and to propose some new strategies to overcome the language barriers.

The influence of project-based learning on promoting students’ self-confidence and learning motivation in Nguyen Tat Thanh University English language classes

As Nguyen Tat Thanh University in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, has recently implemented project-based learning for non-English majors for the first time, this research desired to discover the perceptions of students on the method as well as whether project-based learning is effective to enhance students’ motivation and self-confidence. The study was conducted with the implementation of qualitative and quantitative research methods. Data were collected through questionnaires with the participation of 100 non-English major freshmen at Nguyen Tat Thanh University and semi-structured interviews carried out with a total of 3 English lecturers and 15 students in the same English class. The findings showed that there was an increase in both students’ confidence and motivation level during the project-based learning class. In addition, the research indicated positive feedback and perception of the students to the experience of PBL implementation in developing their language skills and proficiency.

Using ChatGPT in planning English language classes

The digital transformation is a global trend in modernizing educational systems. Implementing digital technologies in Russian educational institutions has been legally established and has become an everyday practice for teachers and students. The transition to new forms of learning, including interaction with artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with other technological solutions, contributes to solving applied problems, such as optimizing teacher’s working time. This article explores the possibilities of using AI (in particular, ChatGPT) as a tool for English lesson planning and instructional design.The article provides an overview of the capabilities, basic principles of interaction, and prospects for using ChatGPT in the educational process. The main part of the article consists of examples of ChatGPT responses to requests from a user — an English language teacher. As a result of interaction with ChatGPT, we were able to create a lesson plan as well as exercises for the development of lexical skills, for monitoring text understanding, for developing speaking skills and listening skills. The article demonstrates that the use of ChatGPT in English language lesson planning opens new perspectives for effective individualized learning and expands the possibilities for creating attractive and relevant educational content to meet diverse needs of students.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The teaching of English, historically centered on structural paradigms, faces challenges with the rise of digital technologies in social interactions. Augmented Reality (AR), by integrating virtual elements into real environments, offers transformative potential. The present work, "English in Public Schools: Augmented Reality Applications and Social Language Practices," explores the integration of AR in English language classes. Based on teacher plans in Sergipe, data from a teacher training course conducted in 2021 are analyzed through Freeman's Teacher Research (1998). Results highlight the potential of augmented reality in public English teaching, emphasizing the importance of teacher training courses in the effective implementation of educational technologies.

Crisis – Challenge – Coherence: Combining Universal Design for Learning and Sense of Coherence

The study investigates the effectiveness of using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach as a trauma-sensitive pedagogy strategy in higher education. By integrating the concepts of UDL and Salutogenesis, we aimed to develop a tool that promotes healthy learning, problem-solving, and motivation among students. Salutogenesis emphasizes the development of a Sense of Coherence (SoC), which serves as a tool for stress resilience and restoration. To assess the impact of UDL practices on SoC levels, we administered a Sense of Coherence-13 questionnaire before and after implementing UDL practices in English language classes at a polytechnic university. All the students in the study had experienced traumatic events caused by the current crisis in Ukraine. The study focused on demonstrating that UDL practices can serve as a restorative and inclusive tool. The results indicate that the application of UDL practices led to an increase in SoC levels, demonstrating their potential for promoting restoration. Additionally, teacher interviews were conducted to identify the challenges and benefits of implementing UDL practices.

Teachers' Perspectives on Teaching Listening Skills in Secondary Level English Language Classes

Teachers' Perspectives on Teaching Listening Skills in Secondary Level English Language Classes

INGLIZ TILINI O‘QITISHDA PEDAGOGIK TEXNOLOGIYALARNING O‘RNI

This article examines the types of pedagogical technologies used in English language classes and the specific features of their use. Also, the positive effect of pedagogical technologies on the quality of teaching is shown on the basis of examples.

Increasing Vocabulary Acquisition in the English Language Class: Using Origami in Community Service Projects

Increasing Vocabulary Acquisition in the English Language Class: Using Origami in Community Service Projects

Students’ Specific Needs Frequently Presented in English Language Class in Ecuador: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Hearing Disability

Students’ Specific Needs Frequently Presented in English Language Class in Ecuador: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Hearing Disability

English in Displacement: Language Learning and Test Preparation Experiences of Refugees and Asylum Seekers

AbstractIn an effort to better support adult and refugee English language learners, this paper aims to focus on understanding the needs and experiences of one specific group, that is, refugee and asylum seeker healthcare professionals (RASHPs), based in the United Kingdom. RASHPs tend to be highly educated and experienced learners. One of their main objectives is to acquire high levels of English language proficiency and possibly return to clinical practice in their new host country. The data for the study come from an online survey that was completed by 106 respondents, followed by interviews conducted with three nurses and nine doctors. Additionally, two language test preparation teachers were also interviewed. The findings show that RASHPs represent a very diverse group of learners, with a range of linguistic backgrounds, age groups, and proficiency levels. Results further reveal that RASHPs often face a range of situational, technological and psycho‐social barriers that may prevent them from fully engaging with their English language and test preparation classes. The study concludes with a series of classroom and policy‐level recommendations that could help ensure better outcomes for refugee and asylum seeker learners.

Impact of IT and English Courses on Youth Unemployment in Bulungur District, Samarkand

This research looks into how IT and English language classes affect youth unemployment in Bulungur District, Samarkand, where rural unemployment rates have stayed consistently high. In spite of numerous government interventions, there remains a shortage of studies on the efficacy of skill-focused educational initiatives in rural Uzbekistan. Utilizing a combination of different methodologies, the research study examines secondary data from local employment reports and conducts a case study on Purpose Education, a prominent training center in the area. Research shows that the incorporation of IT and English classes led to a notable decrease in unemployment, as the employment rate for graduates rose from 43% in 2021 to 76% in 2022. The findings indicate that focused educational efforts can successfully tackle joblessness in rural regions, but additional synchronization with local economic demands and enhancements to infrastructure are required for long-term achievement. The research offers important knowledge for policy makers and schools looking to decrease rural unemployment with skill development initiatives.

The role of individual preparation before collaboration: An exploratory study on students’ computer-supported collaborative argumentation in a primary classroom

ABSTRACT Background Collaborative learning is widely applied in real-world classrooms while young learners still have challenges engaging in high-quality knowledge co-construction processes. Researchers suggested an individual preparation activity before collaboration. However, there remains a limited understanding of the role of individual preparation on students’ collaborative learning. Method Conducted in a fifth-grade English language class in a Singapore primary school, this study explored students’ collaborative learning outcome and process under two conditions: individual preparation before collaboration (With-IP) and immediate collaboration (Without-IP) conditions. Student groups’ collaborative argumentation artifacts were collected and coded. Process analysis was conducted to reveal the distribution and transitional pattern of students’ verbal discussions and online collaboration behaviors. Findings This study reveals that individual preparation (With-IP) significantly enhanced the quality of collaborative argumentation compared to no preparation (Without-IP), by fostering more idea elaboration, deeper engagement with content knowledge, and higher quality of arguments. However, the students were also found to make more coordination and regulation efforts in the With-IP condition than Without-IP condition. Contribution This research underscores the role of individual preparation on collaborative learning processes and outcomes. This insight is pivotal for educators and practitioners in tailoring collaboration scripts to the objectives of classroom teaching and learning.

Sudanese Students’ Perceptions of Code Switching in English Language Classes

This study aims to learn how Sudanese students perceive their teachers' use of their mother tongues in English language classes and whether this usage aids or hinders student comprehension. The researchers used a descriptive and analytical approach. Sixty students completed one questionnaire, the primary tool for gathering pertinent data from the study. The researcher used the SPSS program to analyze and validate the assumptions. The findings of this research are as follows. First, the students had favorable opinions regarding the use of code-switching. Second, many instructors incorporated Arabic into their English classes. Considering these findings, the researcher suggests that code-switching is used more frequently to help students become fluent in bilingual and multilingual settings. Teachers can benefit from using code-switching to teach English because students have favorable attitudes toward its use in English language classes. Finally, the study offers several suggestions and ideas for additional research.

Emotions in English language classrooms among Chinese top university students

The role of learner emotions in language learning has long been observed and researched. Of various emotions, foreign language anxiety, enjoyment and boredom have been the most often researched, while research on other emotions like pride and sadness is hardly available in the current literature. Research on emotions in students with special characteristics can be hardly found as well. Hence, this study collected interview data from 26 and survey data from 520 top students in two universities in China to examine their emotions in English language class. Analyses of the data revealed the following major findings: (a) The participants experienced a diversity of emotions in their English language class due to both learner-internal and external reasons, but the most often reported emotions were anxiety, enjoyment and boredom, (b) significant correlations existed among the students’ English language classroom anxiety, enjoyment and boredom, (c) English language classroom anxiety and boredom significantly negatively while enjoyment significantly positively predicted the students’ English test performance, and (d) English language classroom anxiety debilitated English learning but motivated students to study harder as well; enjoyment facilitated English learning but students might forget much of what had been learned after class; though boredom caused some students to be absent-minded in class, most students would study on their own when feeling bored. These findings further pinpoint the important role and complex nature of learner emotions in second/foreign language learning. Based on these findings, specific suggestions for language teachers and learners are discussed.

A Study on Afghan EFL University Teachers’ Views and Believes on Using Persian in English Language Classes

A Study on Afghan EFL University Teachers’ Views and Believes on Using Persian in English Language Classes

L1 and translation use in EFL classrooms: A quantitative survey on teachers’ attitudes in Kazakhstani secondary schools

This study, involving 100 Kazakhstani secondary school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers selected through convenience sampling, aims to explore their attitudes towards incorporating learners' first language (L1) and translation in English teaching. The results of a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire unveil a mixed attitude among teachers. They acknowledge the efficacy of integrating L1 and translation as pedagogical tools in language teaching while strongly favouring English-only instruction. This preference is influenced by institutional factors such as curricula, the opinions of colleagues, and textbooks, all of which actively promote English-only instruction. Additionally, the analysis of contextual variables, such as teaching experience, academic level, school type, class size, and language proficiency, suggests that the extent of L1 and translation use also depends on teachers' and learners' English language proficiency, school type, and class size. This research provides empirical insights into the use of L1 and translation in EFL classrooms and contributes to the broader discourse on language pedagogy and translation in language teaching (TILT). The findings suggest important implications for teachers, school administrators, textbook writers, and researchers, calling for a critical re-evaluation of current educational policies and tasks in English textbooks.

Reflexive participant collaboration: researching ‘with’ adult migrant learners of English

ABSTRACT This article explores a method of collecting in-situ data created by adult migrants attending English language classes to investigate the interindividual variance of vulnerability within this population. The study encourages reflexivity to evaluate and redress the power relationships present both in the research process and the daily lives of the migrants, whilst also building trust between the researcher and participants. I argue that weekly text message data, generated by participants and arranged as graphs for online interviews, empowers participants to take ownership of their research contribution and encourages deeper reflections to share the stories behind the messages.

Characteristics, prevalence and tensions of critical thinking in Indonesian high school English language classes resulting from policy-driven teaching

Indonesian government policy has emphasised Critical Thinking development in secondary school students to position the nation for better engagement with global concerns, including the Industrial Revolution 4.0. A vehicle of choice to achieve this Critical Thinking development is English as an Additional Language in Secondary Schooling. This article presents a qualitative study that investigated the characteristics and prevalence of Years 10, 11 and 12 Critical Thinking in English listening and speaking tasks in an Indonesian high school. Data were generated through sustained engagement with one class in each year level, providing rich and detailed classroom data. These data were analysed with a conceptual framework of Critical Thinking in English Listening and Speaking to determine the characteristics of student Critical Thinking. Frequency counts of the characteristics yielded the prevalence of Critical Thinking in the period of engagement with each class. The point of intersection between Critical Thinking policy and its implementation demonstrates the congruence and dissonance between the actualised student Critical Thinking and teacher documents. Results showed that the characteristics and prevalence of Critical Thinking were fundamentally different for each year group, in large part due to the differences in teacher facilitation of Critical Thinking, despite, or because of, the overarching policy directives.