English Practice Research Articles

Exploring the influence of the home literacy environment on early literacy and vocabulary skills in Korean-English bilingual children.

Studies have emphasized the significance of maintaining a heritage language for various reasons such as the establishment of linguistic and cultural identity, as well as socio-emotional development. Despite the crucial role that literacy development in a heritage language plays in language preservation, there is a scant research that explores the impact of home literacy environment and literacy development in children with a heritage language. This study aimed to examine the home literacy environment and literacy-related skills in 4-to 5-year-old Korean-English bilingual children living in an English-speaking country, Australia, whose heritage language is Korean, and to investigate the relationships among the home literacy environment factors and the child-internal literacy-related skills. The study employed parental questionnaires and video analyses of parent-child shared book reading sessions to assess the Korean and English home literacy environment. Children's early literacy skills in Korean and English, along with their Korean, English, and conceptual vocabulary skills, were measured as literacy-related skills. The findings indicated that parents utilized an indirect approach for Korean literacy practices, in contrast to a more direct and explicit method for English literacy practices. However, active and direct literacy practices were found to be essential for Korean early literacy development, while indirect methods are sufficient for English early literacy skills. Moreover, the availability of abundant Korean literacy resources at home had a positive impact on the development of Korean and English, as well as conceptual vocabulary skills. In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of providing a robust literacy environment in a heritage language in bilingual families to promote language proficiency in both the heritage language and the dominant social language, while also supporting the development of conceptual language skills.

Neither this nor that: the challenge of social justice for non-indigenous English teachers in First Nations Australian education contexts

ABSTRACT This article examines and critiques gap-based education policies that are based on statistical and reductive conceptualisations of success for First Nations students in Australia. The policy desire to achieve social justice underpinned by parity of outcomes across a range of life indicators (including standardised English literacy) between First Nations Australians and non-Indigenous Australians is embedded in programmatic approaches to pedagogy such as Accelerated Literacy (AL). We examine the experiences of Bruce, a teacher teaching English in the middle years of school in a school that mandated AL as a whole-of-school approach to English and literacy instruction. We show how intersecting notions of social justice can collide in the English classroom and how teachers in these contexts are in danger of re-colonising through English teaching practices that neither produce statistical improvement nor advance culturally responsive teaching based on giving primacy to Indigenous-authored texts in subject English.

In Quest for Reliable English Language Testing Practices in Secondary Education

This paper reports on the current English language teaching context and reformed foreign language policies in the Republic of Serbia. Although the objectives, contents and outcomes formulated in national curricula for all educational levels have been designed in compliance with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages: Learning, Teaching, Assessment, there is not much evidence on the learning outcomes achieved by students at the end of secondary education. In other words, there are no standardized testing practices present in the secondary education system that would, on the one hand, objectively show to which extent the prescribed outcomes have been achieved, and, on the other, serve as a diagnostic tool that pinpoints which aspects in teaching, learning and assessment practices should be improved. This paper focuses on the issue of assessment and draws attention to the need to introduce reliable testing practices of foreign languages that would serve as the objective indicators of the outcomes achieved, which would, in turn, provide feedback on teaching and learning practices. Through the analysis of the results obtained from grammar, vocabulary and reading tests taken by a group of secondary school graduates, the most common errors have been detected and explained. The results show that the commonest errors result from the lack of understanding of the use of English in a context that demands more than just a straightforward application of rules as used in isolated sentences, and the most demanding reading tasks comprised inference and implication questions. This study aims to research the errors and, subsequently, to investigate the implications relevant in English language teaching and testing and point at the segments that need to be worked on more in English language classes.

Students’ display of willingness to participate in an extensive reading book club

This study examines interactions in an extensive reading (ER) book club intended to provide opportunities for students to practice English as their second language (L2). Utilizing multimodal conversation analysis, the study shows how students display willingness to participate (WTP) when they are free to initiate or avoid communication. The analysis of seven and a half hours of videorecordings of meetings held over six weeks at a Korean university demonstrates that several practices, particularly responding to questions and expanding on storytelling, reflect WTP. The study particularly highlights the importance of non-verbal cues in signaling and managing the WTP. The study suggests that student initiative can lead to more interactive and engaging learning environments, which may be especially significant in L2 settings where promoting student talk is a primary objective. The findings have implications for educators regarding the dynamics of student participation and agency, and contribute to our understanding of the nuanced relationships between learner initiative and WTP in fluency-oriented language learning contexts.

“Writing by oneself is too lonely”: Understanding Chinese returnee scholars’ English collaborative writing experiences in academic publishing

Chinese returnee scholars' trans-spatial integration and identity (re)construction have received considerable attention in recent discussions. However, their collaborative academic writing practices in English have been relatively neglected in research. This paper addresses this gap by examining how a group of Chinese returnees engage in collaborative English writing for publication, aiming not only to navigate the challenges of competitive academia but also to excel within it. The concept of community of practice is used as a lens to analyze these returnees' motivation in seeking collaboration in English writing. The examination encompasses the affordances derived from such collaborative efforts and the subsequent impact on the scholars' (re)constructed identities. The paper explores their perceptions of how collaborative writing has built their professional social capital and strengthened their identity as academics. This study contributes to understanding Chinese returnee scholars' international publishing practices and urges universities to reconsider their policy when assessing scholars’ collaborative writing and publishing practices.

Decolonizing English in Higher Education: Global Englishes and TESOL as Opportunities or Barriers (SI on Global Englishes and TESOL)

AbstractEnglish is core to HE (higher education) globally, with both HE and English seen as pathways to success for students. Yet, access to English is unequal and colonial ideologies associate English with Anglophone settings. Much of the research on English in HE has focused on elite institutions and students, while the majority of the world's HE students remain comparatively under‐researched. This paper reports on a mixed‐methods study of TESOL in five linguistically and socioculturally diverse HE settings in Colombia, Mexico, Iraq, Thailand, and Vietnam. The aims were to explore the roles and perceptions of English, TESOL, and other languages in policy and practice, (including multilingualism and Global Englishes) and how these related to processes of dis/empowerment and de/colonialization of HE. We sought to uncover the extent to which TESOL and English allowed or restricted access to opportunities of empowerment for different groups of students on their way to and through HE, and how English intersected with a range of dimensions of potential marginalization or privilege, particularly socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and rurality. We present findings from students through a questionnaire (n = 1820) and interviews with students, teachers, and administrators at each of the sites (n = 150).

Terms of exclusion or limitation of contractual liability under English civil law

Abstract English contract law pays great attention to the terms of exclusion or limitation of contractual liability that the parties may provide in a contract. This is due to the fact that these terms can be considered as a social problem, since they are a means by which the contracting parties seek to avoid liability for non-fulfillment of contractual obligations. In this sense, these terms constitute an easy way for the contracting party, which is stronger, to exclude itself from liability to the other party. This is especially true in consumer related contracts. The purpose of this paper is to address how these terms are regulated by doctrine and jurisprudence in England. This paper consists of two main cases. In the first case, the content and features of the terms of exclusion or limitation of contractual liability will be analyzed according to common law or judicial practice in England. It is understood that in this case, at the center of attention will be the analysis of the decisions of courts of different levels or the analysis of judicial precedents, since it is the latter that gives the meaning and content of these terms. In the second case, the terms of exclusion or limitation of contractual liability will be analyzed in general, according to the English law: “The Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977”. Here we will specifically analyze the reasons that drove the legislators in England to pass this law, as well as address some of the main provisions of this law, as well as the impact they have had on judicial practice. Also, special attention will be paid to the cases of English judicial practice in relation to the correct and exact meaning of the concrete provisions of this law.

Exploring English Vocabulary Learning of Vietnamese Secondary School Students with VoiceGPT Assistance

With the advent of AI chatbots, many teachers’ teaching practices of English as a foreign language have undergone many changes. Many of them have become accustomed to employing ChatGPT to assist their work, bringing many benefits and potential challenges that, to date, have yet to be fully tested in any aspect. Particularly, two notable research gaps involve how Vietnamese secondary school students use VoiceGPT, the Vietnamese version of ChatGPT, to assist them in learning new English words and how they perceive this support. The current case study aimed to address these gaps by employing a quasi-experimental design at Lam Son Secondary School in Ho Chi Minh City with the participation of ten sixth-grade students in two English-intensive classes. In this investigation, the teacher used the Presentation-Practice-Production teaching method to teach vocabulary to her students, who were randomly assigned into two groups with the same number of members in each group, and the data for analysis was collected from their writing samples and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that sixth-grade students had different ways of using VoiceGPT to help them learn English words. The participants with VoiceGPT assistance outperformed those without this A.I. support in terms of lexical performance in the writing productions on five topics surveyed. In addition, they expressed favorable attitudes toward VoiceGPT’s benefits, but some concerns were raised about login difficulties, vocabulary range, and long response time.

Research on Teaching Practice of English for Science and Technology Based on Multimedia Technology

The purpose of this paper is to study the practice of multimedia technology in the teaching of scientific and technical English. With the rapid development and popularisation of computer technology and the deepening of educational concepts, multimedia-assisted English teaching has become one of the most important foreign language teaching modes at present. This study firstly analyses the impact of multimedia technology on English teaching, secondly faces the advantages and challenges of multimedia technology in the teaching process, and finally explores the use and effect of multimedia technology in scientific and technological English teaching based on the data of the survey and research. The results of the study show that for college English teachers in colleges and universities, they should fully explore the advantages of multimedia technology in the process of using it and use it skillfully in teaching practice, which will have a positive effect on improving the quality of English teaching and deepening the reform of college English teaching.

English learning behaviors in computer-mediated communication during COVID-19 in Thailand’s Deep South

ABSTRACT COVID-19 has transformed how teaching is organized, with computer-mediated communication (CMC) implemented to overcome physical constraints from social distancing. This study explored behaviors and approaches employed by 10 English teachers from three private schools to optimize ELT with CMC in southern Thai provinces. Data collection involved focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with the participants. Findings revealed that the students had transformed their behaviors of learning English through CMC. Consequently, CMC was utilized in two ways, including as auxiliary and primary instruments. Firstly, CMC was employed to supplement synchronous learning in the early stages of COVID-19 with social media to assign and return completed tasks. Nevertheless, online classes saw low student participation, notable learning fatigue, limited English practice opportunities, and inadequate self-practicing for language development. Secondly, after CMC was utilized as a primary instrument; the students had a broader opportunity to study English; demonstrated a higher commitment to learning; and adopted autonomous learning, self-assessment, and digital skills. This study further found that CMC-ELT performance could be maximized by allowing students to actively design their online learning, using diverse applications to promote participation, introducing creative content to reduce limitations, increasing spaces for autonomous learning, and providing channels for publishing student outcomes.

Pelatihan Bahasa Inggris “Tenses” Bagi Siswa Sekolah Minggu HKBP Getsemane Medan Labuhan

Mastery of English is a must for everyone around the world. Likewise in Indonesia, mastering English will provide great benefits for future studies and careers. However, students still experience obstacles in learning and practicing English either in the school environment or in the community because English is a foreign language for the Indonesian people, which is not used as an official or everyday language. Therefore, the PKM activities of the Faculty of Languages ​​and Arts, HKBP Nommensen University try to provide solutions to students and the community to improve their ability to master English. By focusing on English 'tenses' training for Sunday school students at the HKBP Getsemane church, Martubung Medan. The training participants were 20 elementary and middle school students who were Sunday school children and church teenagers. The training lasted for two weeks with three meetings each week, starting from 16-28 October 2023. After the training was carried out, the results of the training in the form of trainee test scores showed significant progress in the trainee's ability to understand and practice English tenses, both written and verbal. From the observations it was also found that the training participants were very enthusiastic and interested in learning English using the methods used in class.

Using Extrinsic Motivation in Learning English During Covid-19 Pandemic

Using extrinsic motivation as a reward system offers a way to motivate students in educational settings. It is also a boundless teaching method to encourage students’ motivation in class. Since March 2020, Indonesian students and universities have undergone massive learning changes without being prepared. After the COVID-19 Pandemic, most universities had to change to online teaching and learning. This research examines how extrinsic motivation is practical and applicable in an educational setting. If the students do not have internal drives, extrinsic motivation, such as rewards, is needed to strengthen the students’ behaviors. The study adopts the case study method (Gerring, 2004). In addition, the researcher focused on the effectiveness of extrinsic motivation. Lecturers performed individual check-ins with 18 students for six weeks. They observed lecturers and students to investigate students’ perceptions of extrinsic motivation in their English classes. Results showed that extrinsic motivation can motivate students to participate actively in their English classes and to practice English inside the classroom during online learning. It also created active types, showing that almost all the students raised their hands to participate and seemed to study English harder. Thus, using extrinsic motivation made the teaching and learning process run effectively.

Assessing Mental Workload in Dual STEM–Air Force Language Listening Practice

Cognitive workload analysis is an important aspect of safety studies at the Spanish Air Force Academy where students must complete a dual academic curriculum based on military pilot training combined with an industrial engineering degree. Recently, a mental workload assessment (MWA) and forecasting model based on Shannon’s law from information theory (IT) has been published; it proposes a new mathematical procedure (MWA-IT) that defines a workload index that could be extrapolated to other case studies. The aim of this study was to adapt this model to the Spanish University Centre of Defence to calculate the mental workload caused by the listening practice in English as a foreign language. In addition, a contrasting methodology, the NASA task load index (NASA-TLX), was applied to validate the proposed model using the error study provided by SMAPE and MSE. The results established an expected reference baseline for MWA-IT in English listening that is between 36 and 92 at the end of the four courses, which corresponds to the students that start with the lowest English level (higher workload = 92) and the ones with the highest English level certification (lowest workload = 36); meanwhile, the NASA-TLX result was between 49.8 and 193.7 for the same circumstances. The main difference is that MWA-IT can be predicted with 41% less deviation than can NASA-TLX and does not require the completion of a questionnaire following the activities. Finally, the study also highlights the fact that that nearly 65% of the workload was caused by the first two courses, when the advanced STEM subjects were taught and the pilot learning and practice program had not yet begun. This methodology may help the teachers in charge to redesign or add new content depending on the expected workload reference.

Digital literacy practices of novice English as a foreign language teacher in writing research articles for publication

Digital literacy is essential in writing research articles for publication in today's digital age, particularly for novice english as a foreign language (EFL) teacher trying to publish their research articles. This qualitative research explores the digital literacy practices of novice EFL teachers in writing research articles for publication, including the digital tools they use, their purposes for using these tools, and the challenges they face in using them. The data were collected using a questionnaire and interview. The study found that novice EFL teachers conceptualized digital literacy as the ability to search and evaluate credible online sources, using word processing and digital editing tools, collaborating online, and publishing their work digitally. Novice EFL teachers use various digital tools, such as word processing software, reference management software, and online academic databases, to improve their research and writing process. They use these tools for various purposes, such as collaborating with peers, improving their writing skills, and publishing their work online. However, novice EFL teachers face limited technical issues, limited access, inadequate technology infrastructure, and time management. It is recommended that academic institutions provide support to help novice EFL teachers develop their digital literacy skills, including technical support services, and training programs.

Teachers’ Perceived Value of Integrating ICT in Transposing English Language Teaching in Nepal

In the evolving landscape of English Language Teaching (ELT), the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has emerged as a fundamental pedagogical approach. This research delves into the perceptions and value attributed by teachers in Nepal towards the incorporation of ICT tools and methodologies in their teaching practices. I have used content analysis method to gather the related field of studies and analysed the data. Findings indicate that significant challenges such as limited technology access, lack of trainings, administrative support, over-load of unnecessary paper-work cause major obstacles in transposing ICT in classroom. However, ICT also offers great opportunities to transfer the traditional teaching practices, develop ICT skills, access to vast source of information and more importantly, the potential era for a paradigm shifts in the recent practices. The study emphasizes the need for a strategic approach, including investment in technology infrastructure, teacher training and supportive policy environment, to enhance ICT integration in ELT classrooms. In addition, the study provides valuable insights for policy makers, educators, researchers, and other stakeholders in their efforts to integrate ICT in teaching and learning in Nepal. Most importantly, this research contributes to the escalating discourse on ICT integration in ELT by providing nuanced insights grounded in the Nepalese context. The findings advocate for a holistic approach encompassing infrastructural development, targeted professional development initiatives, and transformative pedagogical strategies to optimize the potential benefits of ICT in transposing English language teaching practices in Nepal.

Continuity of Care Increases Physician Productivity in Primary Care

Continuity of care, defined as an ongoing therapeutic relationship between a patient and a physician, is a defining characteristic of primary care. However, arranging a consultation with one’s regular doctor is increasingly difficult as practices face physician shortages. We study the effect of declining care continuity on the productivity of physicians by analyzing data of over 10 million consultations in 381 English primary care practices over a period of 11 years. Specifically, we examine whether a consultation with the patient’s regular doctor is more productive than with another doctor in the practice. Using statistical models that account for confounding and selection bias and restricting the sample to consultations with patients who had at least three consultations over the past two years, we find that the time to a patient’s next visit is on average 18.1% (95% confidence interval: 16.9%, 19.2%) longer when the patient sees the doctor they have seen most frequently over the past two years, while there is no operationally meaningful difference in consultation duration. The data show that the productivity benefit of care continuity is larger for older patients, patients with multiple chronic conditions, and patients with mental health conditions. We estimate that the total consultation demand in our sample could have fallen by up to 5.2% had all practices offered continuity of care at the level of the top decile of practices while prioritizing patients expected to yield the largest productivity benefits. We discuss operational and strategic implications of these findings for primary care practices and for third-party payers. This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, healthcare management. Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.02015 .

Task-Based Instruction in Enhancing Conversational Skills of Thai Students at Grade 11, YouTube as Teaching Media

Students' English communication abilities in Thailand remain poor due to a lack of a wide range of activities to practice English. Learning English in authentic contexts enables students to develop intrinsic motivation and demonstrate acquired language competency. This study aims to enhance English conversational performances and investigate students' motivation after receiving instruction by integrating TBI and YouTube. The design of this study was pre-experimental research, which used the one-group and pretest-posttest analysis. The sample group included 39 eleventh-grade students from a government senior high school in Mahasarakham province, Thailand chosen by a purposive sampling process. The listening and speaking tests, as well as the intrinsic motivation scale, were used in this study. Data were analyzed by the paired-sample t-test and descriptive statistics (i.e., the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and percentage). The results revealed that combining TBI with YouTube improved students' English communication skills, and intrinsic motivation in learning. Based on the findings of this study, the researchers recommended that teachers employ the TBL approach and YouTube videos in class as instructional mediums. Furthermore, future studies could combine TBL with other forms of multimedia to help students learn more effectively and enjoyably.

EXPLORING THE BENEFITS OF MULTIMODAL LITERACY IN ENGLISH TEACHING: ENGAGING STUDENTS THROUGH VISUAL, AUDITORY, AND DIGITAL MODES

This research paper investigates the benefits of integrating multimodal literacy into English teaching practices. Multimodal literacy refers to the ability to comprehend and create meaning using multiple modes of communication, such as visuals, auditory elements, and digital technologies. The study aims to explore how incorporating multimodal approaches can enhance student engagement and learning outcomes in English classrooms. Drawing on recent research and educational theories, this paper examines the theoretical underpinnings of multimodal literacy and its potential impact on language acquisition. The research employs a qualitative approach, including classroom observations, interviews, and student feedback, to gather data and provide insights into the effectiveness of multimodal literacy strategies. The findings contribute to the understanding of innovative teaching practices that promote student engagement, critical thinking, and communication skills in English language learning contexts.

What helps patients access web-based services in primary care? Free-text analysis of patient responses to the Di-Facto questionnaire

BackgroundThe National Health Service (NHS) and general practice are increasingly adopting digital services. These services can impact both positively and negatively upon patient experiences, and access to digital services is not equal amongst all groups. Within a wider project examining digital facilitation (the Di-Facto study) our team conducted a patient survey amongst English primary care practices aiming to investigate patient views of what supports uptake and use of web-based services. This paper reports on the analysis of the free-text responses from the patient survey.MethodsThe Di-Facto patient survey was distributed to practices in eight clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England between 2021–2022. We examined free-text responses to two questions relating to access to primary care web-based and support for web-based services. We used qualitative reflexive thematic analysis based on a six-stage process to analyse responses.ResultsOf the 3051 patients who responded to the Di-Facto survey, 2246 provided a free-text response. We present our findings in two major themes: systems and structures and their impact on use of web-based services, and ‘what works for me’, a description of how respondents described what worked, or did not work in terms of their interactions with web-based services. Respondents described how the technology, such as poor practice website design, confusion over multiple digital apps, data security and concerns about eConsultation offerings impacted on use of web-based services. Respondents described practice level barriers, such as a lack of or inconsistent provision, which prevented optimal use of web-based services. Respondents described personal and technical barriers that impacted on their use of digital services, and described which web-based services worked well for them. Respondents felt that web-based services were not a replacement for face-to-face interactions with a doctor.ConclusionsThis analysis of free-text responses from a large patient survey highlights the system, practice, and person level barriers and facilitators to use of digital services in primary care. With an increasing push towards digital solutions in NHS primary care, practices should consider the design, rollout and communication of their web-based services to support patient access.

Linguistic Characteristics of Research Article Titles in National and International ELT Journals

Researchers have extensively studied the linguistic characteristics of research article (RA) titles. However, no research has investigated RA titles viewed from research design types published in national and international English Language Teaching (ELT) journals. Thus, the present study aims to fill this gap by investigating the average word length, syntactic structure, and syntactic structure type based on research design. This study used a comparative mixed method design to analyze 120 RA titles published in 2022-2023. The average length of titles was analyzed by counting the parts of speech of the tiles, the syntactic structures of titles were analyzed using the Framework of Cheng et al. (2012), and syntactic structure types based on research design were analyzed by reading the method section of the articles. Results indicate that the average length of the RA titles was 12 words in national journals and 13 words in international journals. Nominal structure was the most used RA title type in national journals, while compound structure was the most used in international journals. Furthermore, the nominal structure was often used for experimental design in international journals, while it was often used for descriptive study design in national journals. The compound and Verb-ing phrase structures were often used for case study design in both international and national journals. In conclusion, there are important differences and similarities in RA title characteristics between the two groups of ELT journal rankings. The findings contribute to the scholarship on the contrastive aspect of titling practices in English for Publishing Purposes.