Low English Proficiency Students Research Articles

Self-directed extensive reading with social support: effect on reading and learning performance of high and low English proficiency students

Self-directed extensive reading with social support: effect on reading and learning performance of high and low English proficiency students

Effects of supplementary and mainstream education on the secondary–tertiary transitional challenges in English medium higher education

Despite the rapid growth of English medium instruction (EMI) in higher education, little research has been conducted to pinpoint the challenges faced by students. This quantitative study explored the challenges posed by the secondary–tertiary transition to first-year students with different English proficiency levels in EMI higher education institutions. In addition, we also investigated students’ perception of the usefulness of supplementary and mainstream education in preparing them for those challenges. 91 participants studying at two tertiary institutions in Hong Kong completed a 52-item questionnaire. The questionnaire included items in relation to three major aspects of challenges: ‘academic studies and skills’, ‘socialization’, and ‘college/university life adaptation’. It was found that students with low proficiency regarded all three aspects as significantly more challenging than the high proficiency ones in their first-year studies. However, despite the different proficiency levels, students similarly perceived mainstream education to be significantly more useful than supplementary education in preparing them for those transitional challenges. The findings together suggest that more English support is needed for low-proficiency students at the tertiary level and argue that mainstream education plays an essential role in assisting students in this secondary–tertiary transition. Implications are discussed in terms of the benefits of having a general English course as perquisite for low English proficiency students before they enroll in English for Academic Purposes courses, and the development of a variety of tasks with more emphasis on communication and collaboration at the secondary level to support them in this transition.

The Influence of Auditory Tools on the Recognition of New Words in the Subject of the English Language

Abstract The educational process undergoes continuous evolution each year. These methods and tools have yielded positive outcomes, complementing the modern teaching practices being implemented in post-war Kosovo. It is noteworthy that our country has dedicated special attention to the field of education, actively seeking the best teaching methods that effectively bridge theory and practice. Consequently, the purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of auditory tools on the recognition of new vocabulary during English language classes. Additionally, this paper sheds light on the impact of auditory tools in motivating students to enhance their English vocabulary. This small-scale research employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative approach involved ten English language teachers, while the quantitative method encompassed one hundred students. The Likert scale was utilized, consisting of ten questions, to gather responses from fifth-grade students. The researcher aimed to include both high and low English proficiency students to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the results regarding the use of auditory tools for English vocabulary acquisition. In conclusion, the final results indicate that English teachers utilize auditory tools to teach English vocabulary to a certain extent, highlighting the need for increased investment in supplying the targeted schools with such tools.

The Effectiveness of Task-Based and Genre-Based Integrated Learning on English Language Proficiency of Thai Rural Secondary School Students

Despite continuous and enormous attempts to improve English language teaching and learning in Thailand, a specifically designed teaching model which responds to low English proficiency students’ needs, interests, and contexts in rural schools was still needed. This study developed an innovative instructional model based on key agents’ voices on problems and needs in teaching and learning English in a rural context. Based on both global and local standards – the Common European Framework for Language References (CEFR) and Thailand’s Basic Education Core Curriculum (2008), the model, so-called TIGA, combined task-based learning approach (T), the input of target language (I), genre-based approach (G), and authentic assessment (A). TIGA-based teaching lessons were empirically designed and developed to facilitate English learning so that students can accomplish real-world tasks. The two-group pretest-post-test design was employed. Participants included 44 secondary school students purposively selected from two seventh grade classes at two Thai rural schools. The TIGA model and TIGA-based lessons were implemented with an experimental group of 28 secondary school students at one school. Pre- and post-tests were used to assess both groups of students’ English proficiency levels, followed by semi-structured interviews to investigate their attitudes towards the model and lesson implementation. The results showed a significant difference between the students’ English abilities in the experimental and control groups. The study also revealed that the instructional model could motivate and engage the low-ability students to improve their level of English proficiency. The present study offers pedagogical implications for relevant educators in similar contexts.

Lecturers’ Challenges and Strategies in Teaching Maritime English Online to Students with Low English Proficiency

This study aimed to investigate the problems faced by ESP lecturers when teaching low English proficiency students during online Maritime English lessons and their strategies in dealing with the problems. A questionnaire with six open-ended questions was distributed to 9 Maritime English lecturers from 6 different Maritime Polytechnics in Indonesia. A follow-up interview was conducted with four lecturers to obtain more detailed information regarding their online teaching practices, especially the difficulties and the strategies to mitigate them. The findings of this study revealed 3 (three) main problems faced by the lecturers. Firstly, students were reluctant to interact and participate in class activities. Secondly, students showed low motivation and interest in learning English. Thirdly, the lecturers needed extra time to explain the teaching materials. To overcome the problems, the lecturers used various texts, pictures, videos, or online platforms to expose students to maritime vocabulary. They also grouped the lower proficiency students with the higher proficiency students in a collaborative activity, designed class activities based on students’ learning styles, and employed various scaffolding techniques. Keywords: English for Specific Purposes (ESP) teaching, low English proficiency, Maritime English, online learning.

EFL classroom learning environment at a Thai university: What variables matter for low-proficiency students?

This study investigated the EFL classroom learning environment at a university in Thailand from the perspective of low-English proficiency students. Using structural equation modelling, five hypotheses involving variables generated by students and teachers were investigated (SEM). According to the findings, task orientation in low-proficiency students was the key to boosting students' English course grades. In the case of low-proficiency students, equity, teacher support, and student cooperation were not found to be important. Student cohesion was also found to be an unreliable predictor of students' English grades. Because research on the classroom learning environment engaging low students is still limited, these findings suggest future investigation.

Foreign Language Enjoyment and Classroom Anxiety of Chinese EFL Learners With Intermediate and Low English Proficiency

Driven by Positive Psychology, research on emotions in second language acquisition has moved from The Anxiety-Prevailing Phase to Positive and Negative Emotions Phase (Dewaele & Li, 2020). A growing number of scholars begin to study learners’ emotions from a more holistic perspective. The present study investigated the levels and sources of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) of 231 Chinese EFL undergraduates with intermediate and low English proficiency. The study found moderate levels of both FLE and FLCA among participants. However, the level of FLE was much lower than the international and domestic samples, while the level of FLCA showed the opposite pattern. There was no significant gender difference emerged for FLE, while female participants reported more FLCA than their male counterparts. Moreover, no significant difference was found in the levels of both FLE and FLCA between intermediate and low English proficiency students. Qualitative data analysis confirmed that FLE was closely related to teacher factors while FLCA was more related to learners themselves. Based on these findings, pedagogical implications were provided for EFL teaching in China.

The Effects of Meta-Discussion Strategies Toward Low English Proficiency Students in Oral English Performance

The Effects of Meta-Discussion Strategies Toward Low English Proficiency Students in Oral English Performance

Reading and Writing Learning Strategies for Low English Proficiency Students at a Private University in China

This study aimed at applying English reading and writing strategies’ training to improve the low English proficiency students’ competence of English reading and writing. It was a quasi-experiment design. In total, 70 non-English major undergraduates at a private university in China participated in the research, 35 students in the experimental group and the rest 35 students in the control group. The intervention of English reading and writing strategies training was applied to the experimental group over a 24-lesson period in 6 weeks. The control group received an English reading and writing course without the intervention in the same period of the class schedule. Meanwhile, this study applied SILL and PET to the pre-test and the post-test, and used statistical analysis to do data analysis. The result of a detailed one-way ANCOVA showed that the intervention of English reading and writing strategies training in the experimental group had a significant improvement in English reading and writing skills.

Reading Metacognitive Strategies Employed by ESL Learners

This study aims to investigate the relationship between the metacognitive reading strategies employed by the ESL learners in a secondary school in Malaysia and their English proficiency. The objective of this study is to identify the types of metacognitive strategies employed by students while reading academic text. In addition, this study also aims to investigate the differences (if any) in metacognitive strategies employed by the high and low English proficiency students while reading academic text. The respondents of this research are forty students with high and low English proficiency and were selected randomly. This study is using the quantitative research method where questionnaire is used to obtain the data. Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI) was used as the measuring tools to identify the metacognitive reading strategies employed by the students. The result of this study shows that the students employed the three metacognitive strategies which are Global Reading Strategies (GLOB), Supporting Reading Strategies (SUP) and Problem-Solving Reading Strategies (PROB). In addition, the mostly employed metacognitive reading strategy was Global Reading Strategies (GLOB), followed by Supporting Reading Strategies (SUP) and Problem-Solving Reading Strategies (PROB). As a conclusion, metacognitive reading strategies can be implemented by secondary school English language teachers in their teaching as it beneficial in helping learners’ comprehension.

Willingness to Communicate from Indonesian Learners’ Perspective

The present study is aimed at investigating dynamic complex systems and sub-systems underlying students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in the classroom context. The fact that students’ reticence still arises during the classroom discussion until to date. It is insufficient to see students’ willingness to communicate from a single perspective. Seen from dynamic complex theory, the present study postulates the systems and sub-systems underlying students’ willingness to communicate in L2 that are dynamic and interconnected one to another. I conducted a naturalistic inquiry by investigating eight Indonesian university students (4 low English proficiency students and 4 high English proficiency students). A number of research instruments (face to face interview, online interview, and students’ log) were used to collect the data with regard to the students’ participation in the classroom. The finding reveals that classroom systems such as social and classroom context, linguistic competence, individual differences, and cultural context affect participants’ WTC in L2. Those systems encompass some sub-systems interacting and interconnecting one to another that affect classroom communication in second language.

Challenges and Induction Needs of Novice English as a Foreign Language Teachers in Saudi Arabia

The first year of teaching poses massive challenges that lead to attrition among novice teachers. School communities often fail to provide adequate support to novice teachers to help them adapt to their new professional environments. In Saudi Arabia, attrition among novice teachers is a significant problem that hinders the development of the educational system. This study was conducted to examine the challenges that Saudi Arabian EFL novice teachers face as they transit into their first teaching jobs, and to determine whether these teachers have adequate support or would benefit from a formal induction process. Two kinds of data collection methods were used in this study, namely quantitative and qualitative. In this mixed methods study, 150 novice teachers were surveyed and 5 teachers were selected for semi-structured interviews. The quantitative analysis of the data was accomplished using descriptive and inferential statistics to answer the research questions. The qualitative analysis of the data was accomplished by interpreting the responses provided to the interview questions. The findings indicated that the challenges surrounding novice teachers hinder them in their development as new teachers. The most conspicuous challenges reported by the study participants were dealing with low English proficiency students and managing the negative attitudes of students toward learning English. This report also determined additional perceptible challenges: adoption of various teaching methods and the establishment of a student-centered approach, student behavior management, course planning, dealing with individual differences, and communication with parents. This study showed that these teachers had left their pre-service training with a very limited knowledge and skills for dealing with the reality of teaching. Mentoring and observing veteran teachers were identified by novice teachers as the two most beneficial strategies for implementing a teacher induction program that could mitigate the challenges they face in their first few years.

스마트러닝이 영어 학습부진학생의 어휘 학습에 미치는 영향

The present study examined whether learners with low English proficiency pay more attention when learning vocabulary using smart devices and learn vocabulary better. The experiment was conducted in a middle school. Four lower level classes each of which has 10 students participated in the study. Ten target words were selected from the textbook based on the vocabulary pre-test. The researcher observed the students` attitude using a classroom observation scheme to see whether students showed more interest and were more motivated when using smart devices. Both experimental and control groups studied the vocabulary for four lessons, the former using a tablet PC and the latter only with the teacher in the traditional classroom. After each lesson, both groups took a post-test immediately. Delayed post-tests were administered two weeks later for each lesson. The result showed that the experimental group was more motivated and gained better grades in both the post-tests and the delayed-post tests. However, when comparing the post-test and the delayed post-test grades for each group, there was not a significant difference. This may mean that learners with low English proficiency learn vocabulary better when using smart devices but still need support to put their vocabulary knowledge into long term memory.

The Investigation of Students’ Attitudes toward Project Work in Enhancing Independent Learning in English I at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok

The objectives of the study were: 1) to survey the students’ attitudes toward the project work used in the English I course; 2) to compare the attitudes toward the use of project work of high, moderate, and low English proficiency students; 3) to investigate the correlation between the students’ attitudes and their English learning achievement. The population was 4,000 first-year students enrolled in English I. The subjects were 360 students from different faculties selected using the stratified random sampling technique. An English achievement test and a close-ended questionnaire were used for the quantitative data collection. The qualitative data were gathered from the open-ended questionnaire and interviews. Descriptive statistics such as mean and Standard Deviation (S.D.), the Pearson correlation coefficient, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze and explain the data. The results showed that the students had high to moderately positive attitudes toward the use of project work in their English class. Moreover, the results revealed that there was no difference in how the high, moderate, and low proficiency students viewed the project work, and the statistical significance of the correlation between students’ attitudes and their final scores was not found. Interestingly, the qualitative data yielded invaluable results that provide useful information for further research and pedagogical implications for language teachers. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5p581

An investigation of vocabulary learning strategies employed by high and low English proficiency students based on selected vocabulary from a business corpus

An investigation of vocabulary learning strategies employed by high and low English proficiency students based on selected vocabulary from a business corpus