Proficiency Level Of Learners Research Articles

Motor proficiency of learners with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities.

Intellectual disabilities refer to a permanent brain condition that interferes with a learner's ability to perform basic living tasks, academic tasks and social interactions. By observing the motor proficiency levels of these learners, one can determine the extent of a learner's possible physical motor proficiency barriers. To determine the motor proficiency levels of learners with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2) Brief Form. This quantitative descriptive study included 46 learners (17 girls and 29 boys) from a Mangaung school for learners with special needs between the ages of 15 and 17 years. Indicated that 31 learners (67.4%) out of 46 learners identified with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities had a well-below average; 11 learners (23.9%) had a below average and only 4 learners (8.7%) had average motor proficiency levels. Alarmingly, this indicates that the majority of learners have severe motor difficulties that may reduce these learners' abilities to perform tasks using gross and fine motor skills. Reported motor proficiency levels can be used as a guide to direct future motor intervention programmes. Timely interventions are central to improving learners' motor difficulties. This study focused on providing information regarding the motor proficiency levels of South African learners with ID that was not previously explored. This was an attempt to bridge the gap in knowledge pertaining to the use of standardised motor proficiency tests for South African learners with ID.

Noun phrase complexity and second language Chinese proficiency: An analysis of narratives by Korean learners of Chinese

This study examined differences in the overall noun phrase (NP) complexity and the use of specific types of NP modifiers among Korean learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL) at different proficiency levels and first language (L1) Chinese speakers. Our data consisted of a corpus of 134 narratives produced by 103 Korean CSL learners (33 beginner, 37 intermediate, and 33 advanced) and 31 L1 Chinese speakers on the same topic. Each narrative was manually analyzed using seven measures of overall NP complexity and 26 measures based on specific types of NP modifiers. Two measures of overall NP complexity (i.e., complex NP ratio and total length of all complex premodifiers) significantly discriminated all learner proficiency levels. The frequency of several types of NP modifiers consistently decreased or increased from lower to higher proficiency levels, while that of several others showed cross-proficiency fluctuations. Advanced learners demonstrated comparable levels of overall NP complexity as well as similar frequency of usage of specific types of NP modifiers as L1 Chinese speakers, with the exception that the latter used significantly more multiple modifiers. Our findings have useful implications for L2 Chinese writing syntactic complexity research and L2 Chinese writing pedagogy.

Extraction of target structures in learners' corpora

Foreign language (FL) or second language (L2) corpora are sets of productions by non-native speakers, learners of a given language, which contemplate the errors and well-formed structures produced. These serve different research objectives, such as studies on language acquisition (LE and L2), phenomena of linguistic interference or analysis and diagnosis of LE/L2 proficiency levels. In the context of this research, the definition of the learner's proficiency level is often relevant, and this is done, typically, through the analysis of the presence or absence of errors in the learners' productions, based on mappings of typical or expected errors and well-formed structures for a given level of proficiency. However, contrary to the learner's error – which is explicitly marked in the corpus and whose typology and methodology of analysis constitutes a subtopic of investigation on its own –, the well-formed structures, and in particular the target structures (well-formed structures expected in the learners' productions of a given level of proficiency), are not easily identifiable in the corpora. The work presented here aims to fill this gap in COPLE2 – Corpus of Portuguese Foreign/Second Language through the use of expressions in CQL – Corpus Query Language. Based on pre-identified target structures and on the information made available in COPLE2, such as morphosyntactic tagging and different levels of information and annotation (learner production, teacher correction, normalized form, lemma, etc.), we propose query expressions in CQL that easily allow any user to immediately extract examples of target structures by proficiency level. The construction of the query expressions implies the definition and testing of the best strategies for each case and requires the systematization of linguistic rules and patterns of occurrence of the phenomena in question, but also the definition of ways to circumvent the limitations inherent to the corpus annotation, on the one hand, and the query language, on the other.

IMPLEMENTING FRAMEWORK OF CEFR FOR TEACHING ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN NON-ENGLISH STUDY PROGRAM

The assumption that English lessons are difficult makes some students feel reluctant to improve their English skills. This learning difficulty has an impact on the decline in academic achievement of students who are running this education. For this reason, the author felt the need to conduct a study on how effective the CEFR with an action-oriented approach is used in teaching English. This research was conducted by determining the students' actual level of English proficiency, setting achievable learning goals, and assisting students in more purposeful learning. The CEFR is a frame of reference used to measure a person's language ability, including English. This study is quantitative research. To measure the effectiveness of the study, pre and post-test assessments were used. The value of the pre and post-test assessment is the research data. The instrument used to collect data was the assessment of the English for Communication course. The respondents of this study were 63 students of Informatics Engineering and Information Systems 1st semester, Institut Bisnis dan Informatika 1957. The average score of students before and after the provision of CEFR material is different or there is an effect of increasing student scores from 55 to 72. It is very important to adjust the CEFR to the context and needs of students because the CEFR is a framework and not a curriculum. The findings of this study imply the following, namely recognizing the proficiency level of the learners: This study can reveal the proficiency level of English learners which can help align the curriculum with the CEFR levels. Determining areas of strength and weakness. Furthermore, this information can help design courses and select materials and activities that suit the needs of students and their proficiency levels. Lecturers can create instruments for assessment and evaluation using the CEFR framework.

Exploring Turkish EFL pre-service teachers’ perceptions of critical thinking and reading

The process of critical thinking (CT) plays an important role in enhancing English language proficiency levels of learners, especially the reading and writing proficiency levels. Since there are not many studies focusing on the relationship between CT and critical reading (CR), the current study intended to measure Turkish EFL pre-service teachers’ CT disposition levels and CR self-efficacy levels together. 118 students studying at the department of English Language Teaching at a state university participated in the study. 36 of them participated in the semi-structured interviews. The quantitative data were analyzed via descriptive and inferential statistics. The qualitative data were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Findings of the study demonstrated that the students’ CT disposition and CR self-efficacy levels were found to be at moderate level. Results of the relationship between CT disposition levels and CR self-efficacy levels revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between them. As for the results of the semi-structured interviews, the students were aware of the concept “critical”; however, their CT and reading skills needed to be developed. Results of the study overall indicated that more importance should be given to CT and reading skills in the field of foreign language teacher education.

Exercisable Learning-Theory and Evidence-Based Andragogy for Training Effectiveness using XR (ELEVATE-XR): Elevating the ROI of Immersive Technologies

eXtended Reality (XR) promises to provide a powerful capability to disseminate a vast array of instructional content appropriate for all types and levels of learners, ultimately revolutionizing education and training. Yet, while XR presents an opportunity for a powerful paradigm shift in education, a scientifically grounded andragogy for harnessing the didactic power of XR has yet to emerge. Herein, a unified framework of research-based instructional strategies for guiding the design of proficiency-based XR educational and training content is proposed, along with an associated naval maintenance use case. While this work draws on relevant pedagogical and andragogical theories, as well as fundamental learning theories applicable to learners of all ages, the framework specifically targets adult learners and training of complex skills applicable to various professional domains. Within the framework, learning theories have been aligned with learner proficiency level to specify competency-based learning objectives and activities, XR form factors, and learning loops that are anticipated to boost XR training efficacy. The proposed framework—the Exercisable Learning-theory and EVidence-based Andragogy for Training Effectiveness using XR (ELEVATE-XR)—is meant to serve as a guide to drive effective and efficient design of XR applications that enhance adult learning.

Effects of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) on ESL Reading Comprehension at a Private Sector University in Pakistan

English is used globally as an international language. It is considered as a prestigious language which provides greater opportunities for its users. Second language acquisition is not an easy task, for language acquisition it is necessary to learn all the aspects of language such as oral and written. Learner efficiently learn language rules, pronunciation, grammar and structure which can be learned more effectively by using Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) method. The recent study aims to explore the effectiveness of CALL in Pakistan at tertiary level which focuses on the improvement of apprentices’ reading skills. This is a quasi-experimental study, the data was obtained by 15 participants through pretest and posttest. Posttest was conducted after three weeks of pretest, during the intervention period CALL was integrated in the language classroom for reading skill lessons. A paired one-tailed t-test was used to analyze test scores and a descriptive data analysis method was used to detect learners’ perceptions. The result of this research study showed that CALL is a highly effective technique used to increase the proficiency level of learners in reading comprehension.

The effect of a motor intervention programme for learners identified with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities

BackgroundIntellectual disabilities (ID) cause problems in intellectual and adaptive functioning which negatively affect motor proficiency levels. AimThis study investigates the impact of a motor intervention programme on the motor proficiency levels of learners identified with moderate to severe ID. MethodA quasi-experimental design was used to recruit participants which included 46 learners aged 15–17 years, identified with moderate to severe ID, selected from a South African special school. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. The 15 experimental learners received a 30-minute motor intervention programme, 3 times a week for a period of 6 weeks, whereas the 23 control learners continued with their normal physical education classes. Groups were assessed using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition (BOT-2) Brief Form. ResultsThe motor intervention programme significantly improved the total scores (p = 0.0380) and the overall motor proficiency levels (p = 0.0447) of the experimental group. ConclusionsThis study reveals evidence that a motor intervention programme can be used as an effective means to improve the motor proficiency levels of learners with moderate to severe ID. ImplicationsA motor intervention should be implemented as soon as possible to enhance the motor proficiency levels of these learners.

The Effects of Task-based Vocabulary Instruction: A Case Study at a Center for Vocational Training and Continuing Education

The effects of task-based language teaching (TBLT) on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ vocabulary learning have been well-recognized. However, few studies on the topic have been conducted in the Vietnamese context, and there is a scarcity of research that examines how learner proficiency levels impact the effectiveness of using such a teaching approach. The current study addresses these gaps by using a quasi-experiment on a sample of 70 EFL learners at a center for vocational training and continuing education in Vietnam to investigate changes in learners’lexical knowledge following TBLT vocabulary lessons and their perceptions of TBLT instruction. Quantitative data came from learners’ scores on the vocabulary pre and posttests, while qualitative data were semi-structured interviews among a subsample of 12 students. Main findings include learners’ improved performance on the vocabulary posttest and their overall positive feelings about the implementation of TBLT instruction for vocabulary lessons. However, low-achieving learners expressed reservations about the effectiveness of TBLT on their vocabulary acquisition due to time constraints and lack of confidence when doing tasks in vocabulary lessons. Pedagogical implications are accordingly presented at the end of the paper.

A Task-based Syllabus For Business And Economics Students

This research work aims at identifying the extent to which task-based course would answer English for Business and Economics (EBE) students’ needs. The research involves a questionnaire addressed to students and a semi-structured interview with language teachers. The results obtained showed that EBE students need adequate syllabus to achieve their academic and professional duties. They need to develop all language skills. Moreover, the task-based syllabus provides tasks of different situations in their academic and professional careers to help them promote both accuracy and fluency. The main results showed that task-based syllabus would be appropriate for EBE learners. It promotes EBE students with related vocabulary activities and choosing the appropriate teaching materials that suit the proficiency level of learners

Differences of Mean Dependency Distances of English Essays Written by Learners of Different Proficiency Levels

This study investigates the differences in the mean dependency distances (MDDs) of the English essays in a learner corpus, focusing on the different proficiency levels of learners, and the different dependency types. This study is based on the following three assumptions. Firstly, the MDDs of learners' production increase as proficiency levels increase. Secondly, there is an upper limit over which MDDs do not exceed, as predicted by the Dependency Distance Minimization principle. Finally, different types of dependencies show different tendencies across learners of different proficiency levels. This study attempts to verify these assumptions with substantial learner corpus data, categorized into subcorpora according to learner proficiency. Corpus analyses yield results that support these assumptions. These results are expected to constitute a prerequisite for employing the MDD of an individual learner's production to evaluate his or her proficiency level.

An Investigation of the Relationship between Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary Knowledge, and English Language Proficiency Level of Saudi EFL Learners

The present study is an attempt to explore the relationship between the breadth (the number of words known) and the depth of vocabulary knowledge (the richness of word knowledge) (the richness of word knowledge), and reading comprehension of EFL learners in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Furthermore, it tries to find the effect of language proficiency level of learners on the breadth and the depth of lexical vocabulary and reading comprehension of Saudi EFL learners. The participants of the study were seventy-five intermediate and advanced level majoring in English Translation at Qassim University in KSA. The level of language proficiency of participants had been checked through an OPT by the department in advance. To collect the relevant data, two tests measuring breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge were administered to all participants. They also received a reading comprehension test in which they were asked to read the passages and answer some multiple-choice questions. The findings obtained from the analysis of the data indicated that there is a significant relationship between breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge and Saudi advanced/intermediate EFL learner’s reading comprehension performance totally. The results further revealed that both dimensions of vocabulary knowledge are positively correlated, that is, those learners who had large vocabulary size had a deeper knowledge of the words, too. The results further showed that language proficiency level of learners have an effect on Saudi EFL learners’ reading performance and vocabulary knowledge. These results confirm the importance and the value of developing students‟ breadth and depth of vocabulary knowledge in EFL classrooms.

An empirical research on the adequacy of task-induced involvement load hypothesis: A case for intentional vocabulary learning

The present study aimed at examining the adequacy of the task-induced involvement load hypothesis in intentional learning. An investigation was carried out to find out whether proficiency level of learners had a role in the effectiveness of the vocabulary tasks with different involvement loads. One hundred and thirty-six university students were randomly assigned into four task groups, each of which included upper and lower intermediate learners. Reading comprehension and discussion, reading comprehension and gap filling, reading comprehension plus sentence-making and reading comprehension plus translation with different involvement loads were compared against each other in terms of the immediate and delayed retention of new words. The study partially supported the involvement load hypothesis in that the task with the highest involvement loads resulted in better immediate and delayed retention of new words. The results of the experiment also showed that tasks with similar involvement loads might not result in similar amounts of vocabulary learning. Keywords: Task-induced involvement, load hypothesis, vocabulary learning, word retention, task.

실시간 다대면 온라인 한국어 강의에서 모국어 사용 여부와 숙달도에 따른 차이 - 매체 효능감과 실재감, 수업만족도를 중심으로 -

Journal of the International Network for Korean Language and Culture 17-2, 129-150. In line with the recent challenges to traditional educational environments, Korean language teachers and learners are interact from their own living spaces through synchronous online classes. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of media efficacy, presence and course satisfaction of learners from classes utilizing video conferencing platforms. While the use of primary language in class is the main variable influencing the media efficacy and presence of the learners, the proficiency level of learners also becomes a variable when primary language use is not allowed. Finally, the effect of media efficacy and presence on class satisfaction was discussed. The subjects of this survey were novice Korean language learners in foreign countries who were using their primary language in the classroom and 61 beginner and intermediate level learners in Korea who were not allowed to use their primary language in the classroom. The results of this survey show that the use of primary language and the level of proficiency of learners are important variables that influence media efficacy and presence in interactive synchronous online Korean language classes. There is a significant correlation between the levels of media efficacy, presence and class satisfaction. Thus, improving the media efficacy and presence of learners is considered to be an important factor in the successful implementation of interactive synchronous online Korean language classes.(Ewha Womans University)

Using meta-analysis of technique and timing to optimize corrective feedback for specific grammatical features

Grammar varies in semantic, morphosyntactic, and phonological complexity, which may influence what type of Corrective Feedback (CF) is effective. The present study was designed to investigate the best form of CF for each grammatical feature, in conjunction with associated variables such as learner proficiency level and L1 influence. Fifteen studies, all of which had English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners with a Korean L1 and productive measures of speech or writing, were selected for study. Results suggest that grammatical features which are very similar to the L1 may benefit more from implicit reformulations (recasts). Explicit CF (direct and metalinguistic feedback) appears more useful for semantically and syntactically complex features such as the English article and past hypothetical conditional. Finally, research of proficiency level suggests that timely emphasis of specific grammatical features is needed in order for CF to be effective.

Direct and Indirect Written Corrective Feedback: A Literature Review of Sampling and Design Features, Target Structures and Overall Effects

Scholars' attention on written corrective feedback especially the direct-indirect dichotomy has been increasing due to inconsistencies in its effects toward L2 learners’ linguistic accuracy. Therefore, this study was performed to provide a literature review of the increasing number of WCF studies that may provide new perspectives for future research on direct-indirect WCF strategies. This study takes a systematic literature approach to synthesize 16 empirical studies that focusing on the effect of direct-indirect WCF from SCOPUS database. The 7-step systematic review process was used as the main approach for this study. 4 research questions were formulated to guide the study. The findings have revealed the sampling features of ESL context, beginner, and advanced proficiency levels of learners are underexplored. Moreover, it is also suggested that future studies incorporate control groups to compare the effects of direct-indirect WCF strategies with non-treatment groups. Methodologically, other research approaches should also be considered by future studies for most of the studies in the review applied experimental approach. In highlighting the targeted linguistic structures, this study has found the focus of studies in the review as mostly emphasizing on grammatical aspect, thus suggesting for more WCF studies on non-grammatical aspects. Finally, the overall effect suggests that indirect WCF was effective on both grammatical and non-grammatical structures whereas direct WCF was mostly effective on non-grammatical structures.

An Online System’s Effect on Iranians’ EFL Academic Writing Performance across Different Proficiency Levels

This study aimed to discover whether an online writing system has any effect on Iranians’ EFL academic writing performance. The study also sought to find out whether the proficiency level of learners influenced the effect of the system on academic writing. To meet this end, an online writing system was developed and 68 undergraduate students of the General English language course studying at Sharif University of Technology were requested to participate in this study. First, their English language proficiency was measured by a language proficiency test that included 80 questions of one of the latest versions of the official TOEFL iBT test, which was provided by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Then, over an eight-week period, the participants were assigned to write eight versions of academic writing that followed a genre-based teaching approach through computer-based instructions. The writing scores were statistically analyzed and the results revealed that providing students with computer-assisted instruction (CAI) led to significant improvements in their academic writing performance. Moreover, according to the findings of this study, the learners’ level of proficiency did influence the effect of the system.

O processo de internacionalização e o ensino e aprendizagem de língua inglesa no contexto de uma universidade estadual

A partir de conceitos de internacionalização e proficiência em língua estrangeira, objetivamos, neste artigo, mapear dados sobre os níveis de proficiência obtidos por aprendizes advindos de projetos de ensino de língua inglesa, com financiamento e parcerias externas, que vêm sendo desenvolvidos em uma universidade pública paulista. No âmbito desses projetos, são oferecidos cursos e testes de nivelamento on-line para alunos de graduação, pós-graduação e servidores. Os cursos ocorrem na modalidade on-line, utilizando a ferramenta de webconferência Zoom. Os professores atuantes em tais cursos são alunos de graduação e pós-graduação em Letras, orientados por especialistas em formação de professores, tecnologias no ensino de línguas e avaliação.

Quantitative linguistics approach to interlanguage development: a study based on the Guangwai-Lancaster Chinese Learner Corpus

Interlanguage is crucial for the understanding of human language acquisition and development. Based on a collection of L2 Chinese texts from three levels of international students studying in China, this study demonstrates the possibility of adopting quantitative and corpus-based methods to investigate the development of interlanguage. To do so, we used Zipf’s law and related metrics to measure linguistic complexity in terms of different language styles and task types. Results show that (1) quantitative linguistic indices, including H-point and curve length, can differentiate the proficiency levels of L2 Chinese; (2) task type interacts with language style and language level with regard to their effects on language complexity; (3) interlanguage is indeed a self-organizing and self-adapting system; and (4) the Zipfian parameters can differentiate language levels. This study offers a new approach to the study of interlanguage by modeling its dynamic organization system in real language use. It has pedagogical implications for the use of language tasks and language styles with different L2 learner proficiency levels.

Recasts and Prompts in Dyadic Interaction: Explicitness of Feedback and Learner Proficiency

The study investigated the effects of recasts and prompts on learning language forms that arose incidentally in dyadic interaction, focusing on the degree of explicitness of each type of feedback and learner proficiency levels. The data were collected from 64 beginning and upper-intermediate English learners of Korean. Thirty-one beginning learners were randomly assigned to a feedback group and to a control group, and thirtythree upper-intermediate learners were also assigned to a feedback group and to a control group. Each learner was paired with an English speaker and worked on a picture-sequencing task. The learners in the feedback groups received recasts or prompts on their erroneous utterances while the learners in the control groups did not. The effects of feedback were measured by pre-interaction picture descriptions and immediate and delayed post-interaction correction tasks. The study found that both recasts and prompts had some effects on learning the targeted forms, and more explicit forms of each feedback resulted in a higher rate of correction. The beginning learners took more advantages of recasts relative to the upper-intermediate learners, and explicit prompts worked better for the upper-intermediate learners. The effects of prompts sustained longer than recasts in both levels.