English Language Course Research Articles

Online Social Learning and Instructional Presence: Enhancing English Education at a Jordanian University

Due to the rapid growth of online education, universities have maximised their English language learning experiences. This study explores English language learning communities in synchronous and asynchronous online contexts, focusing on social and instructional presence. The sample included 10 English language, literature, and translation students. Open-ended questions were asked in a small focus group to promote reflective conversation. The intricacies of social and instructional presence in online learning are made clear by this qualitative method. By concentrating on the complex relationships and common perspectives that emerge in targeted group discussions, the study revealed how students view their interaction with social and instructional presence to enhance English language instruction in the digital environment. The study offers important information for customising approaches used at the university. Combining these strategies may enhance virtual learning environments, mainly the English language courses offered by the university.

Exploring Reflections on Learning Grammar through Task-Based Activity among Undergraduates

Task-based activities in L2 classroom settings such as preparing multimedia presentation materials and cooperative presentations can significantly improve L2 learners’ language acquisition, in terms of encouraging self-directed learning, improving students’ confidence and interest in learning, as well as promoting peer interactions. Nevertheless, this kind of language learning activity can be difficult, even for advanced L2 students due to challenges like problems working in a team, presentation anxiety, and cognitive load. Within this context, the present study aimed to explore the perception of L2 learners when learning English grammar through task-based activity. This qualitative study is derived from a conceptual framework from Willis (1996), which comprises three stages of task-based learning (TBL). The sample of this study consists of forty-one English language undergraduates who are studying a communicative English language course in a Malaysian public university. The data was derived through a survey questionnaire based on open-ended questions. The findings revealed both positive and negative reflections on the TBL, even though they are considered advanced users of the L2 language. The findings are comparable to past studies of different contexts. From these findings, it is suggested that future research should explore participants' perspectives on the potential effectiveness of implementing TBL in pairs.

Students' Perceptions of Using ChatGPT for Academic Writing in English

This article explores the perceptions of university students on the use of ChatGPT for academic writing in English. Participants (n = 79) are all students on mandatory English-language courses at a university Language Centre in Finland. They are predominantly first-year bachelor’s degree students from various degree programmes in different faculties. Participants’ insights were collected via a survey that was administered to several intact groups during the autumn semester of 2023. The survey collected quantitative and qualitative data which were analysed and discussed in light of students’ developing academic writing skills in English. The study sheds light on students’ specific uses of the AI-driven tool as well as their perceptions of its impact on not only the writing process and product, but also on their own writing skills. The results indicated that students perceived ChatGPT to have above average usability, a finding which was supported and elucidated by students’ free responses concerning ways in which they have used this technology. Conversely, the reasons that some students had not used it included, amongst others, a lack of need, ethical concerns and doubts about its usefulness. Given the continued development and availability of large language models such as ChatGPT, this research has clear implications for all stakeholders in higher education. In particular, by illustrating how students utilise ChatGPT in their academic writing, the study provides university language teachers with the insights needed to ensure that their course outcomes, content and assessments remain reflective of students’ developing knowledge and study practices.

Language Barriers in Studying Medicine in English: Concerns and Attitudes of Clinical Phase Medical Students at the University of Tripoli

Despite being a foreign language, English is the medium of instruction in many Arab medical schools, creating language barriers and difficulties for students. The aim of this study was to assess the concerns and attitudes of students towards English as a medium of instruction (EMI) and to explore the barriers as well as opinions of students. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that targeted students enrolled at the clinical phase at the faculty of medicine in the University of Tripoli using a self-administered questionnaire during the period from the 10th of March 2024 to the 24th of March, 2024. About 61 (36.1%) medical students were moderately comfortable with the English language, followed by 45 (26.6%) who were comfortable as opposed to 10 (5.9%) who were very uncomfortable. The majority 102 (60.4%) recommended changes to address the language concerns in the curriculum. Among the 66 participants who responded to this section, 33.3% recommended that the university should provide free English language courses and 161 (95.3%) stated they would choose to study medicine in English again. The study revealed that the majority of the participants did not feel that English is a significant barrier in their studies with 62.7% disagreeing with the existence of language barriers.

The Effect of Using Artificial Intelligence on Learning Vocabulary among Jordanian EFL University Students

This study examines the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing English vocabulary acquisition among university students at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University in Jordan. A quasi-experimental design was employed, involving 40 EFL students, evenly split by gender (20 males and 20 females), all of whom were enrolled in the Basic English Language Course. The students were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which utilized the Duolingo app for vocabulary learning, or a control group, which followed traditional methods of vocabulary instruction. The intervention was conducted during the first semester of the 2023/2024 academic year, and the results were analyzed using SPSS. Analytical methods included (MANOVA), T-tests, and (ANCOVA), which helped assess the impact of AI-driven tools compared to conventional approaches. The findings revealed that students using Duolingo showed significant improvement in vocabulary acquisition compared to the control group. Furthermore, no significant differences in learning outcomes were observed between male and female participants, suggesting that AI-driven tools are equally effective for all learners. The study concludes by recommending the integration of AI-based platforms like Duolingo into EFL curricula and calls for further research to explore their long-term effects on various aspects of language learning.

Emerging New Media Syntax, Violation of English Syntactic Rules, and Meaning Misrepresentations

A new variety of English syntax emerged with the new media. This study examines new media syntax to show instances of mindless violation of grammatical rules and the misrepresentation of meanings among student users of the new media. The study relies on selected social media posts. Descriptive survey, textual and content analyses, and interpretive techniques are employed. The analysis demonstrates that new media syntax, a corrupted or bastardized form of the English syntax, is characterized by syntactic deviations, grammatical violations, misrepresentation of meanings, and informal features, which affect the performance of students in English Language courses or subjects because most of them transfer the syntactic features of new media syntax to their formal compositions. The study concludes that the strained use of new media exerts adverse effects on English syntax and students’ writing and performance because they lose marks to the transferred features of new media syntax to the formal English syntax, which causes solecism, violation of grammatical rules and misrepresentation of meanings. Teachers are charged to consistently teach students how to use new media language for its associated informal contexts and purposes alone rather than mixing it with the formal variety in formal compositions.

Formation of professionally oriented lexical competence among students of non-linguistic universities in the training program «Technosphere Safety»: a case study of the English language course

Modern methods of teaching foreign languages in non-linguistic universities are determined by the need to effectively combine language and professional training that meets the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education (FSES HE). The key goal of this system is to develop students’ skills in understanding professionally-oriented information and developing the competence to communicate in a foreign language in professional situations.The article discusses issues related to the formation of professionally oriented lexical competence among students of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Maikop State Technological University» in the training program «Technosphere Safety». The study emphasizes the relevance of the topic, since when studying a professional foreign language it is impossible to develop lexical competence without the ability to work with thesaurus in one’s professional field.The goal of the research is to clarify the methods of developing professionally-oriented lexical competence among students of non-linguistic universities in the training program 20.03.01 «Technosphere Safety» in the process of reading texts in the specialty in English. The extent to which it is necessary to select lexical material and compile an individual thesaurus with a professional focus is assessed, which allows students to better understand professional texts, expand their vocabulary and accurately use professional terminology.Professionally oriented texts were the research material; linguistic and lexical units were analyzed, the skill of developing lexical competence among students was practiced.The research is based on complex research methods, consisting of theoretical methods (deductive analysis, method of statistical work with lexical material, comparative analysis) and empirical methods (observation method and data analysis).As a result of the research, a strategy for working on vocabulary when reading professionally oriented texts has been proposed, and the most effective exercises for developing lexical competence among students in the training program «Technosphere Safety» have been identified.Key conclusions: the formation of professionally oriented lexical competence among students of non-linguistic universities when working with foreign language texts on the topic «Technosphere Security» helps to analyze the information received and to form lexical competence and the skill of using an individual terminological thesaurus in the professional field, expanding the vocabulary in the specialty.

Exploring the interplay of language mindsets, self-efficacy, engagement, and perceived proficiency in L2 learning

Language mindsets, which are beliefs about personal qualities relevant to language learning and perceived as either fixed or malleable, have become a focus in understanding their roles in shaping language learning processes. Several studies show how they are related to language learning, along with important variables such as self-efficacy. Although research on language mindsets is growing, most studies have focused on their isolated effects, leaving a critical gap in understanding how these mindsets interact with other significant factors to influence language learning in a motivational aspect. This study aimed to address this gap by exploring the interplay between language mindsets, self-efficacy, engagement, and perceived proficiency (PP)—a construct that reflects an individual’s subjective perception of their language skills and is linked to their motivation to learn. A total of 257 students enrolled in English language courses from three universities in Korea joined the study by responding to questionnaires. The results of the path analysis show that a growth mindset did not predict self-PP; notably, however, it predicted PP with the full mediation of self-efficacy. In addition, the indirect effect of the relationship between self-efficacy, engagement, and proficiency was significant but weak. However, the inclusion of a growth mindset strengthened the indirect effect. Conversely, the link between a fixed mindset and PP showed no significant indirect effect through self-efficacy and engagement. The findings highlight the importance of a growth mindset in initiating the process of language learning and underscore the mediating role of self-efficacy in this context, contributing to the development of more effective and pedagogically informed guidance in L2 classrooms.

Курс английского языка как способ профессиональной ориентации и самоопределения в средней школе (10-11 классы, подготовка будущих дипломатов)

The aim of the study is to justify the need to develop an English-language course for immersion in a professional field within the framework of organizing career guidance for schoolchildren (grades 10-11). The paper emphasizes the expediency of using a specially constructed foreign-language course (English for future diplomats) in preparing high school students for career choice. The authors present their experience in creating and testing this course at the International School of Youth Diplomacy, vividly describing the components of the design process. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the fact that it describes for the first time the stages of organizing career guidance for high school students based on a separately developed specialized English-language course for linguodidactic purposes. As a result, the researchers present features of modeling the “English for Future Diplomats” course, provide specific recommendations for its development, and outline methods for organizing student work, taking into account the specifics of the course program.

Methodology of Lexical Competence Formation of Power-Engineering Students based on CBA and its Experimental Research in Teaching ESP

This article considers about methodology of lexical competence formation of power - engineering students and its experimental research in ESP teaching. Here some theoretical approaches are discussed, and new methodology suggested by the author is tested in practice. Experimental work was carried out in 3 non-philological universities of the Republic of Uzbekistan as Tashkent State Technical University named after Islam Karimov (TSTU), Fergana Polytechnic Institute (FerPI) and Navoi State Mining Institute (NSMI). Anonymous questionnaires were obtained from students and teachers, written control works are received from students. Using the results obtained, the existing difficulties in teaching and mastering the terms of power engineering were identified. With the help of these difficulties there have been developed a typology of exercises aimed at overcoming the identified challenges. The exercises given here were prepared and published in the textbook "Foreign language for 3rd year power engineering students" for the development of lexical competence, used at English language course for students of the 3rd year of the Faculty of "Power engineering" of non-philological higher educational institutions of the republic. The texts in the manual is based on the content of teaching special subjects and textbooks in the field of power engineering of TSTU, 3rd year "Foreign language" educational and methodological complex, O.G.Smirnova, E.A. Protsukovich's e-book English for Power Engineering, David Bonamy's Technical English 1, and Internet sources. Besides this there are given some recommendations and suggestions on teaching technical terms to ESP students in higher educational establishments.

Creating a speech portrait of a modern Chinese teacher in online media

The purpose of the study is to identify the speech characteristics of modern Chinese teachers. The object of the study is the blog(s). Special attention is paid to the visual and auditory design of the video material: the presence of music, the design of the room, the style of the blogger's clothes, the manner of speech. The desire to show their own market attractiveness against the background of competitors, the desire to become popular and have their own audience on the Internet motivates bloggers to show authority in a variety of ways. The research material was two commercials of English language courses on the "bilibili" platform. The coronavirus infection has pushed the Chinese government and private educators to develop online teaching platforms, among which the bilibili video hosting can be cited as example. Users of this platform have the opportunity not only to watch videos, but also to purchase video courses on various topics. The work uses a descriptive method (observation, interpretation, generalization). In the course of the study, the speech analyzer programs Text-Analyzer and Cathoven were used, with the help of which the approximate level of oral text on the CEFR scale was determined. As a result of the analysis, the main features of the speech portrait of the teacher-blogger were highlighted, and the importance of the image on the Internet for attracting an audience was emphasized. The main contribution of the author is a comprehensive study of the image of a modern teacher in Chinese linguoculture. Along with the economic boom and the development of social networks in China, there has been a reassessment of traditional values. The penetration of Western mass culture has had a strong impact on the population, especially on the younger generation, who use the Internet to a greater extent and consume entertainment and educational content. This influence has not spared modern Chinese teachers. Studying the image of a Chinese teacher in modern realities will help to update information about Chinese culture, its synthesis with modern mass culture and traditional Confucian values.

Internet heuristics in the English language course for junior medical students

Introduction. Teaching of modern Internet heuristics to medical students is presented in fragments or in demand at late stages of training (graduate or postgraduate course of specialization). The aim of the article is to reveal the peculiarities of the heuristic method of teaching in the educational work with professional authentic Internet materials in English for undergraduate medical students. Materials and Methods. The present study was conducted in three stages (February – April 2024) and is based on experimental work made in September 2022 – June 2023 [36]. The entrance survey of students to test the null hypothesis (H0) was conducted using the Anketolog Online Survey Platform. To check the impact of factor α, a univariate analysis was performed in MS Excel. The final questionnaire to test the alternative hypothesis (H1) was conducted using the WebAsk Online Survey Service. The data obtained were analyzed using IBM SPSS (version 23.0). The comparative analysis method was used to develop the necessary professional content of the course. The study involved 80 junior medical students (1st and 2nd year) of English language proficiency level from Elementary (A1) to Pre-Intermediate (A2). Results. It was found that school English-language training does not affect the choice and motivation of medical students of the elementary and threshold levels of English proficiency in studying the professional Internet materials (F = 1.27, p>0.05) The distribution of answers regarding the evaluation of the conducted practical work with professional Internet materials is 40% in favor of training in the skills of working with scientific databases of articles on medical topics, 25% – training in the basics of writing professional texts (articles and abstracts) on medical topics, 20% in favor of training in critical thinking skills in working with professional materials, 15% – training in time management when working with information and correlates between all the studied groups. The obtained data served as a basis for the development of thematic sections of the educational discipline “Introduction to Internet information heuristics”. Conclusion. The results of the experimental study and the design for the academic discipline "Introduction to Internet Information heuristics" developed on their basis contribute to ensuring the level training of medical students in terms of developing skills in working with professional materials in English and allows them to master modern heuristic methods of working with information that are in demand in clinical practice.

Retraction Note: The comparison of the effect of two methods of face-to-face and E-learning education on learning, retention, and interest in English language course

Retraction Note: The comparison of the effect of two methods of face-to-face and E-learning education on learning, retention, and interest in English language course

Online English Language Teaching in the University of Maroua during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Exploring Platforms and Interaction

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lockdown was imposed on Cameroon in 2019. During the period of the lockdown, the University of Maroua enforced online teaching. The aim of this paper is to examine how English Language courses were taught online in the Department of English Language and Literature in the Faculty of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences. The objectives are twofold. Firstly, to examine the platforms used for lectures during the confinement and secondly, to investigate interaction patterns employed for online teaching. Data for the study was collected from students and lecturers through convenient sampling technique in the 2019-2021 academic year. Only lecturers and students who actively took part in online pedagogy during the COVID-19 lockdown were involved in the study. The researcher exerted participant observation, 30 screenshots of online teaching, interview with lecturers and 102 copies of a questionnaire administered to Level One and Master’s One students. Results show that three platforms were used: WhatsApp (100%), Google classroom (88.76%) and zoom (56.75%). With regard to the method employed in teaching, interaction with the use of text and voice was done on the platforms, especially WhatsApp. The interaction was between Lecturer – learners, human – machine (screen) and Learner – Learner. Lecturers equally placed electronic material such as course synopsis and books on the WhatsApp and Google classroom platforms for students to exploit. The findings of this study offer vigorous acumens to higher education stake holders in Cameroon on the implementation of online teaching and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in teaching. The researcher recommends incessant training for lecturers and students so that they can copiously grasp online pedagogy and go global with ICTs, especially Artificial intelligence (AI) which is one of the fastest growing Information Technologies.

Implementasi Konten Marketing Pada Akun Instagram @Kampunginggrisbandung Tahun 2024

Instagram is still one of the popular social media choices in Indonesia for marketing activities. This can be seen from the number of Instagram users in Indonesia which reaches hundreds of millions of people. Based on data from Napoleon Cat, there are 109.33 million Instagram users in Indonesia as of April 2023. English Village is a company operating in the education sector by offering various English language course programs such as Speaking Class, IELTS and TOEFL Preparation as well as bootcamp programs. English Village uses Instagram social media for marketing purposes, but in the midst of increasingly massive marketing competition for English language courses, the Instagram account used by the English Village for promotion is faced with a big challenge, because engagement from followers on Instagram is still relatively low and inconsistent at all times. type of content, even though the marketing division team always uploads various types of content on a scheduled basis. Based on the research conducted by the author, it can be concluded that planning, implementing marketing content that is right and interesting and consistent in carrying out regular evaluations will greatly influence customer engagement so that it can influence buying interest for customers and potential customers.

The Effectiveness of Using Motion Graphics in Acquiring English Vocabulary among Second-Grade Intermediate Students

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of using motion graphics in teaching a unit of the English language course for the second intermediate grade in acquiring vocabulary among second-grade intermediate students. The study used the English vocabulary test as an instrument to collect data and measure the effectiveness of the independent variable of the study. The test was performed twice, before and after the treatment was applied to the groups. The study used a quasi-experimental design. The study population was selected from one of the female intermediate schools in Unayzah Governorate in Al Qassim region. The study sample consisted of (54) second-grade intermediate Female students aged between (14-15) years, assigned randomly as experimental and control groups. The sample was divided into two groups, (27) students in each. The study concluded that there are statistically significant differences between the average scores of the experimental group students and the scores of the control group students in the results of the vocabulary acquisition post-test in favor of the experimental group. The study recommended using a variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs and preferences of learners as well as ensure that the instructional materials and resources are accessible to all students, including those with diverse learning needs and backgrounds.

Portraying the Learning Needs of English Language in Non-English Department Students

The existence of English language courses plays an important role in efforts to welcome industry 4.0. This is caused by the use of English which dominates knowledge and science and even today's lifestyle. Thus, in the implementation of teaching, English has been taught from low level education to high level education. Learning English at the college level non-English majors have different needs than English majors. Primary School Teacher Education (PGSD) is present as one of the non-English majors and has a curriculum that requires students to master English, especially for research needs, articles, teaching materials and books and other sources written in English. This is because education departments have already developed in countries that use English and Latin as their national languages. It can be emphasized that some of the learning materials and resources written in books, articles and journals related to the field of PGSD are written in English and Latin. So that through needs analysis, lecturers and students can find out which aspects of language skills and competencies must be mastered to support the scientific field they are pursuing. Through the results of the analysis, lecturers can also determine what teaching methods, media and materials are in accordance with the learning objectives that have been formulated.

Language proficiency and diversity in students’ attitudes towards code-switching: a case study of English as a foreign language classrooms in Italian tertiary education

By relying on a mixed-method approach consisting of a combination of various quantitative and qualitative techniques of data collection and processing, this article delves into the attitudes towards code switching (CS), as expressed by students attending English language and English linguistics courses at two Italian universities. Data are retrieved by means of a questionnaire, submitted to 297 students in total and including both closed- and open-ended questions. Based on concepts such as those of conversational loci, or CS functions – namely academic, managerial and social, all well-rooted in the literature – this article also aims at establishing a link between students’ attitudes and their respective proficiency level in English according to the CEFR. Despite managing to establish that teacher CS is not felt to have a negative impact on their language skills, the data gathered reveal diverse attitudes, also in relation to the specific functions examined. In the conclusion, possible pedagogical implications of classroom CS are proposed and assessed.

EFL Learners’ Attitudes Towards Utilizing ChatGPT for Acquiring Writing Skills in Higher Education: A Case Study of Computing Students

The rapid technological advancements have recently paved the way for a new era of language instruction. Amongst the technological tools which have emerged recently is ChatGPT. This study explores students' attitudes towards utilizing ChatGPT for acquisition of writing skills in English as a foreign language (EFL). Conducted during the first semester of the academic year 2023-2024, the study involved fifty-two students at a private university in Sharjah who were taking an English language course during the implementation of this study. The study used a mixed-methods design to investigate students' attitudes and quantify the findings. Two study tools were employed: a questionnaire and a semi-free interview. Comprising ten items, the questionnaire measured students' attitudes towards using ChatGPT for acquiring writing skills whilst at the same time focusing on higher-order thinking skills as they are related to effective writing. The semi-free interview, on the other hand, included the advantages and drawbacks of utilizing ChatGPT-based essay writing versus self-dependent essay writing. The findings indicated that most subjects confirmed ChatGPT's effectiveness in saving time and ensuring language accuracy. However, the progress one could make in acquiring writing skills and enhancing higher-order thinking abilities could not be seen significant. The paper concludes with recommendations for researchers to consider.

Where Does the First Year Students’ Level of English Language Skills Stand in CEFR A Study from Early Childhood Teacher Education Department

This study aims to reveal the proficiency level of English language skills among first-year students in the Early Childhood Education department at Universitas Negeri Medan. The skills assessed in this study include grammar, reading comprehension, writing proficiency, listening comprehension, and oral communication. This study employed a quantitative research methodology, focusing on first-year students who are enrolled in English language courses. Throughout the research process, the researchers refrained from administering any interventions to the samples. The acquired data from the samples undergoes analysis using descriptive statistics. The analysis indicates that 70% of the students demonstrated proficiency at the A2 level, which corresponds to basic English usage according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). This level corresponds to the English language proficiency of elementary kids. Based on this study, it is necessary to enhance the English language curriculum utilized in the Department of Early Childhood Education to align with the students' English language competence level.