English Majors Research Articles

Impacts of ChatGPT-assisted writing for EFL English majors: Feasibility and challenges

Impacts of ChatGPT-assisted writing for EFL English majors: Feasibility and challenges

Common syntactic errors in the writing skills of the 3rd year students at Van Lang University

This study aimed to analyze common syntactic errors found in the argumentative essays of third-year English major students at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University, Vietnam. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to obtain data in this study. The quantitative approach involved counting and calculating the frequency, percentage, and ranking of syntactic errors, while the qualitative method was adopted to explain these errors. The instrument for collecting data was argumentative essays written by 37 third-year English majors enrolling in Writing-5 at Van Lang University. Microsoft Word was used to collect and analyze syntactic errors and sentence structures, while Microsoft Excel was employed to calculate the frequency and rank of these errors and structures. The results found that the five most frequent errors in their essays were at the noun phrase and sentence levels. These errors included run-on sentences, preposition errors, article errors, sentence fragments, and pronoun errors. Through error analysis, it was indicated that the majority of errors made by students were due to the negative transfer from their first language and the literal translation. Based on the findings, language teachers and syllabus designers could use these results as guidance to design appropriate teaching methods and materials.

Kurdish EFL Students' Perceptions towards Summative and Formative Assessment at Salahaddin University

Inappropriate choice of assessment type in education may undermine the positive facets of both the teaching and learning process. The assessment system at Salahaddin University-Erbil has remained in an unchanged form over a prolonged duration. The students at Salahaddin University think that the assessment system fails to help them improve their learning process. Hence, the current assessment system should undergo certain changes. This study aims to delve into Kurdish EFL students’ perceptions of summative and formative assessment at Salahaddin University and look for ways to refine the existing assessment framework to better address students’ needs and contribute to the improvement of their overall learning experience. Additionally, it aims to pinpoint which assessment type yields a more positive impact on both the teaching practices and students’ learning. A mixed-methods approach has been adopted to attain the aims of the study. Quantitative data was obtained by administering a survey questionnaire to 542 students majored in English language across three Colleges at Salahaddin University to capture their perceptions about the two forms of assessment. Qualitative data has been gathered through interviewing thirty senior English majors at three colleges within Salahaddin University to quest for solutions to the problems that they encounter with the current assessment system. Results yield promising conclusions by showing that the students at Salahaddin University are not satisfied with the assessment system in use at the present time because they believe that it has a detrimental impact on their academic achievement. According to their beliefs, the assessment system needs to be altered towards a more formative-oriented style since it opens threads for helping them enhance their learning experience and equips them for the demands of the labor market competently. Results prove beneficent as they provide significant information for the board of trustees and faculty staff of Salahaddin University who are in charge of refining the assessment framework, which consequently leads to the improvements of the educational structure and the overall quality of both teaching and learning.

A Survey of Sinological Literacy of College English Majors Under the Background of New Liberal Arts

Under the new circumstances, the world development pattern has undergone rapid changes, and China is playing an increasingly important role on the international stage. To establish a good national image under the background of globalization, higher requirements are put forward for English majors to improve their Sinological literacy. Based on the background of the new liberal arts, the author takes English majors in Chongqing Normal University as the research subject. And combines domestic and foreign research results to study the current situation of Sinological literacy through questionnaires, interviews, and literature research. The questions consists of 4 dimensions (Sinological knowledge, Sinological competence, Sinological spirits, and Sinological emotions.) and 53 questions. The research questions are: (1) What is the status quo and problems of English majors' Sinological literacy in Chongqing Normal University? (2) What are the causes leading to students' lack of Sinological literacy? (3) What measures are offered to improve Sinological literacy? The paper founds that students majoring in English lack knowledge related to sinology. They are confused about the Sinological spirit and have weak competencies. By interviewing, the paper found 4 reasons that may explained it: (1) Students lack interest and incentive to learn Sinology. (2) There are few qualified teachers who are equipped with abundant Sinology. (3)Students prefer fragmented knowledge than Sinology due to the era of multimedia. (4) English majors are more likely to be influenced by Western culture if they`re not guided correctly. Through literature research, the paper also raises some measures:(1) Establish the correct concept, the school should add the corresponding subjects. (2) Strengthen teachers' character. (3)Make full use of the rich activities in the second classroom .(4)Build campus culture full of Sinological elements. The author analyzes the result of the investigation case and gives some corresponding countermeasures to solve the problem, in order to provide suggestions for the Sinological literacy cultivation of college English majors and hopes that schools can train more talents for English majors to communicate with other cultures.

Research on the development prospects and cultivation countermeasures of English majors in cross-border E-commerce backgrounds

Abstract: In recent years, the development of e-commerce has been very rapid no matter in which country or region. Based on its broad development prospects, a large number of investors have invested in the field, which also makes the competition between e-commerce increasingly fierce. As an emerging mode of e-commerce, live broadcasting, relying on the development of Internet technology, has become an important way of e-commerce with goods. However, China's e-commerce market has become mature, with high competitive pressure and reduced opportunities in the industry. In order to make better use of the English majors' own advantages, so as to broaden their development prospects in this industry, this paper starts from this background, analyzes the current situation and development prospects of cross-border e-commerce, studies the requirements and expectations of this industry for English majors, and puts forward the cultivation and practice programs for English majors in this direction.

Learner Agency: Multiple Case Studies of English Speaking Learning of English Majors in China

Objectives This article delves into the ways in which three English major students, each possessing varying levels of proficiency in spoken English―high, moderate, and low―express their agency throughout the process of acquiring spoken language. This exploration encompasses their experiences both within and beyond the classroom, all situated within a broader contextual framework. Methods Qualitative research was conducted during one fall semester from September to December 2023. The researchers observed an English speaking course instructed by a Chinese female teacher. Data were collected through classroom observations, semi-structured interviews, course documents and learners’ artifacts. Data analysis was conducted with three levels of coding (open coding, axial coding, and selective coding) and the credibility was ensured with data triangulation. Results The findings revealed that English major students, when encountering difficulties and challenges, such as pronunciation problems and limited vocabulary etc, exercised different forms of agency to address and overcome obstacles in the process of learning spoken English. Specifically, the agency forms of English major students in spoken English learning is manifested through action engagement, action adjustment, and action resistance. Conclusions The findings and the analysis of the current study revealed that learner agency had a significant role to play in English as a foreign language classroom in a Chinese college context. Based on the thematic data analysis, this study offered some pedagogical implications for educators and teachers both at Chinese universities and beyond.

基于文化自信的高级英语课程思政策略探究

As an important place to cultivate cultural confidence, colleges and universities should guide students to cultivate cultural consciousness and firm cultural confidence on the basis of foreign language and culture acquisition. In the course of advanced English, the concept of “building morality and cultivating human beings” is integrated into every teaching link by introducing Chinese culture organically in four aspects: vocabulary, background, text content and theme. While cultivating English majors’ cross-cultural communication ability and critical thinking ability, colleges and universities should also enhance their national cultural confidence, thus strengthening their socialist belief and patriotic enthusiasm, making them high-quality foreign language talents with national feelings.

The Influence of Learning Strategy on the English Oral Proficiency of English Majors under the Background of Media Convergence

With the gradual development of information and media technologies, more and more tools are available in the process of language learning. In this context, the impact of the use of learning strategies on the spoken English proficiency of English majors has received widespread attention. In this study, the use of metacognitive, cognitive, and social-emotional strategies on the learning strategies of oral English was studied through questionnaires and oral English proficiency tests. The results show that the frequency of use of different learning strategies is significantly positively correlated with the oral English level of English majors in the context of media integration, that is, the use of learning strategies has a positive effect on the improvement of English-speaking level of English majors.

Intercultural Competence Cultivation for English Majors in Translation Teaching

Intercultural Competence Cultivation for English Majors in Translation Teaching

Teaching Research on Integrating Ideological and Political Elements into Business English Reading Courses

In the current situation of economic globalization and communalization with a shared future for mankind, it is crucial to cultivate outstanding composite talents who possess morality, literacy, patriotism, business knowledge, good cross-cultural communication skills, and teamwork spirit. This requires the Business English major to increase the reform of course ideology. This article will propose several innovative paths for the ideological and political education of Business English Reading courses based on the necessity of conducting ideological and political education in Business English majors and working together with colleagues to study.

Intercultural Competence Enhancement for English Majors in China

Intercultural Competence Enhancement for English Majors in China

Significance of "Printing English" in the Curriculum Setting of Business English Majors (Publishing Direction)

Significance of "Printing English" in the Curriculum Setting of Business English Majors (Publishing Direction)

A Study on the Improvement Path of Intercultural Communication Ability for College Students in English Majors Teaching

A Study on the Improvement Path of Intercultural Communication Ability for College Students in English Majors Teaching

Research on the Teaching Reform of “Curriculum Ideology and Politics” for English Majors under the Background of the “New Liberal Arts Construction”

In recent years, curriculum ideological and political education has become a hot topic in educational reform. The concept of curriculum ideological and political education provides a new convergence point for the integration of subject teaching and ideological and political education. Its purpose is to infiltrate the core content of ideological and political education in subject teaching, organically integrate ideological and political curriculum teaching with the subjects, and implement the fundamental task of cultivating students’ morality. In the process of English teaching, cultivating students’ firm political stance is particularly important, especially in cultural comparison and dissemination, nurturing students to “tell a good Chinese story”, spreading excellent traditional Chinese culture, and demonstrating cultural confidence. Further exploration is needed. In the context of the integrated reform of ideological and political education in universities, middle and primary schools, the research on curriculum ideological and political education in subject teaching is not yet in-depth and extensive. Based on the curriculum standards for morality and the rule of law, as well as the correlation between students’ core literacy and socialist core values, this article proposes the necessity of integrating ideological and political education into English majors, and actively explores effective strategies and approaches in order to provide useful ideas and references for the ideological and political education reform of English majors.

Research on the Teaching Pathways of English Major Curriculum Ideological and Political Education from the Perspective of “Cultural Confidence”

With the rapid development of global information technology and the continuous deepening of the new educational philosophy of College English majors, College English teaching is no longer limited to helping students lay a solid foundation in English language, but also to cultivate students’ cross-cultural awareness, cultural identity, and national pride. College teachers should fully integrate China’s excellent traditional culture, integrate “curriculum ideological and political education” into practical teaching to enhance students’ cultural confidence, and promote China’s excellent traditional cultural ideas[1]. “Integrated English” as a core professional course shoulders the dual mission of language learning and cultural exchange. The long-standing Chinese culture provides a rich source for the ideological and political courses of College English majors. This article, from the perspective of cultural confidence, combines the current situation of English major teaching in university education, analyzes the significance of developing ideological and political courses for College English majors from the perspective of cultural confidence, and explores effective ways to implement ideological and political education for College English majors from the perspective of cultural confidence. The author takes the course Contemporary College English Intensive Reading 1 as an example, explores the ideological and political elements in the textbook from the perspective of cultural confidence, designs a teaching outline that combines teaching objectives and ideological and political objectives, and explores the practical path of implementing the function of ideological and political education in College English teaching.

Exploring L2 Motivational Self System and Grit as Predictors of L2 Willingness to Communicate: A Comparative Study between English Majors and Non-Majors in Chinese EFL Context

Exploring L2 Motivational Self System and Grit as Predictors of L2 Willingness to Communicate: A Comparative Study between English Majors and Non-Majors in Chinese EFL Context

A Study of the Usage of English Mobile Tools by College Students of English Majors

A Study of the Usage of English Mobile Tools by College Students of English Majors

Activating argumentation schema to write argumentatively and tactfully

To argue tactfully is a goal in argumentative writing, which entails balanced argumentation schema. Although computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) has been widely acknowledged as language learning mediation, especially in writing, few studies investigate its effectiveness in activating the balanced argumentation schema. This study explores the effectiveness of QQ group discussion, a kind of CSCL mediation most popular in China, in argumentative writing by means of quasi-experiment and interview. Fifty-six second-year college students in an English Department participated in this study. The experimental group were asked to have a pre-writing QQ group discussion on a disputable topic while the control group had an in-class face-to-face discussion (a regular teaching method for English majors). Content analysis of the essays was made to investigate the use of Counterargument elements, Qualifier and Concession. The results show that the two groups had no difference in the use of Counterargument-claim and Rebuttal. However, the experimental group surpassed the control group in Counterargument-data, Concession and Qualifier, which signifies more argumentativeness and tactfulness. In the delayed post-test this group still performed better. The interview transcriptions were coded and analyzed by inductive content analysis with the functions of QQ discussion as the themes. The result not only supported that of the experiment, but also revealed why and how QQ mediation could help activate the balanced argumentation schema. It is suggested that CSCL mediation should be promoted in argumentative writing instruction so that the students could write argumentatively and tactfully.

Exploration on the Practice of Translation Teaching for English Majors Based on the Internet of Things and Multimedia Assistance

In this paper, an automatic judgment algorithm of English text is proposed, which is split and filtered first, then extracted and optimized, and finally interactively fused, and a BP neural machine judgment system is designed. After machine judgment and teachers' self-judgment of the same English sentence sample, the test results show that the ETSS system has excellent performance, improves the reliability and accuracy of judgment, and reduces the degree of human intervention and misjudgment rate in English translation judgment work. The results of the model translation of the Generalized Maximum Probability Ratio Detection (GLR) algorithm and its recognition include nested data points so that accuracy cannot be effectively guaranteed. In the GLR based comprehensive evaluation of content recognition acquisition improvement, the ID accuracy rate exceeded 95%, and the total result was 92.3%.

Relationships among Willingness to Communicate, Self-Perceived Communication Competence and Communication Anxiety

This study investigated the relationships among L2 communicative willingness (WTC), self-perceived communicative competence (SPCC), and communication anxiety (CA) of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in northwestern China. 71 English majors participated in the study and 10 of them also took part in the structured interview. The results indicated that: (1) SPCC had a positive correlation with WTC and negative correlation with CA while CA showed a negative relationship with WTC and SPCC; (2) SPCC held a positive predictive power on WTC. Both qualitative and quantitative results of the study showed that students with high SPCC also had strong WTC and low CA. Students with high CA had relatively low WTC and SPCC. Based on the current findings, some practical implications about enhancing EFL learners’ willingness to communicate were discussed.