English Language Students Research Articles

Self-efficacy in communication and employability skills of English language students

The majority of the relevant studies have concentrated on identifying the potential employable abilities of Bachelor of Arts in English Language (BAEL) students in general rather than the employability skills of BA English Language graduates. Hence, it is important to know also what are the employable skills of the BAEL graduates in order to determine the areas of workplace they are to be employed in. This study aims to know the self-efficacy of BAEL students in oral, written, computer-mediated communication and the important employability skills of BAEL undergraduate students. The study is quantitative in nature, and a descriptive survey approach was employed to ascertain the respondents' employability skills in the various fields. The researcher used Google Forms for the survey questionnaire. The study revealed that the self-efficacy of the BA English Language fourth year undergraduate students had a positive opinion of their own skill efficacy. The English language students can handle themselves in company especially when interacting in small groups. They can carry out written communication tasks and also electronically assisted tasks. On the other hand, BAEL students have potentials to be employed in various industries. The researcher advised the students to be readily accepted in various fields in the workplace after graduation. Teachers and curriculum/policy makers were suggested to create learning interventions that can enhance the employability of the students in the various areas of English communication.

Investigating the students use of english internet slang at 4th grade english education UIN Mataram

Internet slang is often used in informal communication. The purpose of this research is to find out what are the factors of students of 4th grade English Language and Education UIN Mataram in using internet slang, and students perceive toward the use of internet slang in communication. This research used qualitative case study method to obtain quantitative data, this research using 2 instruments which are questionnaires and interviews. The author distributed questionnaires to 53 respondents consisting of 4 classes, namely classes A, B, C, and D in collecting data. The results showed that more than half of the respondents said that there are 5 factors that influence them, which are; 1. Social status, 2. Age, 3. Social Distance of Familiarity, 4. Situations, and 5. Media and Popular Culture, next findings There are 3 students' perspectives about the internet slang, first is the desire to appear cool, second is facilitate communication, the last is conceal information from others. Another discovery is 32 respondents (60.37%) understand the term of internet and 17 respondents (32.08%) do not understand the term of slang, it can be concluded that students at 4th Grade Uin Mataram mostly understand the terms of Internet slang

University Students’ Awareness of the Role of Culture in the Language Learning Process

To learn English language and communicate in different contexts successfully, English language students need to learn about the culture of English native speakers in spite of mastering the linguistic knowledge of the language. Indeed, culture shapes the language just as it shapes the life of its speakers. However, it is unknown whether students are aware of the role of culture in the language learning process and in case they are aware, it is still not evident how they learn about the culture. To learn about these two aspects, the current study explores undergraduate students’ awareness in this regard. It uses a four-Likert scale questionnaire to elicit answers from 45 EFL junior students in English Department. The results demonstrated that the majority of students are aware of the role of culture on English language learning and they use different methods to learn about the culture. Their awareness can be exploited to make culture part of English language teaching programs at universities.

Abstracts Analysis on Student’s Final Project Using CARS Theory

This research aims to describe the moves and steps of the CARS model contained in the final project of Genre Analysis (GA) of English language education for students in Indonesia. This study aims to describe the moves and steps of the Creating a Research Space (CARS) model that is presented in the English-language students' Genre Analysis (GA) theses of several universities in Indonesia. The model used in this study is the CARS model of Swales which consists of three moves. The research method is qualitative. The data in this study are five abstract scripts of students of the English Language Education study program available in Indonesia. Two abstract scripts were obtained from the document repository of the University of Education Indonesia and three abstracts from the documents of the Islamic University of Indonesia for 2023. The data collection technique used is the library, which is the primary data source for the written source. The data analysis techniques used qualitative descriptive techniques. These results show that the Creating a Research Space (CARS) model developed by Swales can be effectively applied to the analysis of abstract genres in English language student scripts. All moves and steps in the CARS model, ie M-1 (creating analysis fields), M-2 (solving problems in analysis), and M-3 (absorbing problems), can be clearly identified in the abstract scripts studied. From this point of view, the researchers emphasize that applying the CARS model not only helps in abstract structural analysis but also provides a deeper insight into how to compose an informative, coherent, and consistent with academic standards.

Abstracts Analysis on Student’s Final Project Using CARS Theory

This research aims to describe the moves and steps of the CARS model contained in the final project of Genre Analysis (GA) of English language education for students in Indonesia. This study aims to describe the moves and steps of the Creating a Research Space (CARS) model that is presented in the English-language students' Genre Analysis (GA) theses of several universities in Indonesia. The model used in this study is the CARS model of Swales which consists of three moves. The research method is qualitative. The data in this study are five abstract scripts of students of the English Language Education study program available in Indonesia. Two abstract scripts were obtained from the document repository of the University of Education Indonesia and three abstracts from the documents of the Islamic University of Indonesia for 2023. The data collection technique used is the library, which is the primary data source for the written source. The data analysis techniques used qualitative descriptive techniques. These results show that the Creating a Research Space (CARS) model developed by Swales can be effectively applied to the analysis of abstract genres in English language student scripts. All moves and steps in the CARS model, ie M-1 (creating analysis fields), M-2 (solving problems in analysis), and M-3 (absorbing problems), can be clearly identified in the abstract scripts studied. From this point of view, the researchers emphasize that applying the CARS model not only helps in abstract structural analysis but also provides a deeper insight into how to compose an informative, coherent, and consistent with academic standards.

Students’ Difficulties in Writing in English Language

English language is no doubt one of the most used and influential languages around the world. In Albania, English language learning starts since 6-year-old age. Therefore, many studies and research have been done concerning English language and competences. When studying a foreign language, writing is considered as the most demanding and crucial competence. Based on previous studies in Albania, students tend to face difficulties during the writing process. They lack the necessary writing skills needed to have a successful writing performance and they claim that further attention and importance should be given to the writing process by teachers. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to identify the most common errors that Albanian students make in writing and what difficulties they have when it comes to it. The data is provided through a writing task in the form of an essay to second year English language students. There were 47 students of English Language at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Tirana, taking part in the research. Based on the study data, students mostly made grammatical and vocabulary mistakes. They were aware of the patterns used in different writing types and they made less mistakes compared to other errors considered in the study. Even though they tend to be careful not to think in Albanian, its influence is obvious in their writing, especially when it comes to the word order of clauses and sentences. Considering the findings, some practical recommendations have been made in the end.

Psycho-Sociocultural Determinants of Code-Switching among Igbo- Speaking English Language Undergraduates in Southeastern Region, Nigeria

The present investigation aimed to ascertain the psychological, social, and cultural determinants propelling code-switching behaviours among Igbo-speaking English Language undergraduates in the southeastern region of Nigeria, as perceived by students enrolled at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in Anambra State, and Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, in Imo State, Nigeria. Employing a quantitative descriptive survey research design, the study comprised the entire population of regular Igbo-speaking English language students from the aforementioned region, with a sample size of 735 participants selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Guided by four research questions and two null hypotheses, data were collected utilizing a 34-item researcher-structured questionnaire entitled the Psycho-sociocultural Determinants and Code-switching Questionnaire (PDCQ). The validity of the instrument was established through extensive use of relevant literature and also peer-reviewed by experts in English, Research Methods, and Psychology all from the Faculty of Education at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach's alpha coefficient (α = 0.76). Analysis of the research questions relied on measures of central tendency and dispersion, while Simple Linear Regression was employed to test the hypotheses. Findings unveiled a prevalent pattern of code-switching among undergraduates, attributed to a complex interplay of psychological, social, and cultural incentives, including the desire to foster solidarity and belongingness within diverse social circles, the conveyance of bilingual prestige, and the authentic expression of personal identity and ideas. In light of these findings, recommendations were proffered for governmental, policy-making, and university administrative entities to collaborate in formulating inclusive language policies that acknowledge and respect the cultural diversity of students, thereby fostering an educational milieu that is both inclusive and culturally attuned.

Students and Teachers Perception About Gender Equality and Human Rights in English Textbook (Pakistan)

Although earlier research highlighted the gender representations in ELT textbooks, it did not address how students and teachers view gender equality and the representation of human rights. This study, therefore, is designed to understand English language students' and teachers' perceptions about the inclusion of themes of gender equality and human rights in the English textbook of the 10th grade of the Punjab textbook board. Students' views were probed by means of a survey, and an interview was used to collect data from teachers. The findings revealed that a significant majority of the students believe that topics related to the role of women and the rights and responsibilities of citizens should be included in English textbooks. They also recommended to include topics related to gender equality and human rights in the textbooks. Some of the students agreed that topics related to famous women and male leaders, showing different familial relations of men and women, and both performing outdoor tasks are present in English in the main content, activities, and in the form of images. However, they were either unable to provide any names of the units containing these topics or provided the names of the units from the 9th-grade textbook. Similarly, most of the teachers mentioned that representation of women is limited in the English textbook of 9th grade and the presence of women and their social roles are completely ignored in the 10th-grade textbook. Teachers argued that it is essential to talk about the role of women in the textbook to encourage women's participation, acknowledge their achievements, and promote equality and respect towards women.

THE INFLUENCES OF THE FIRST LANGUAGE ON ENGLISH-MAJORED FRESHMEN’ SPEAKING SKILL, CASE STUDY AT THE INDUSTRIAL UNIVERSITY OF HO CHI MINH CITY.

In the fast-changing environment of global education, English language skills have become pivotal to most students at higher education institutions, including the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH). However, while the mother tongue tends to be overused in the speaking class setting by IUH’s first-year English language students, the students rely excessively on translation strategies, which restrains the former’s speaking confidence and fluency. The primary goal of the present study includes exploration and analysis of the factors contributing to and influencing mother tongue usage and the development of IUH-specific recommendations to address these challenges. Using quantitative research method through questionnaire, the research emphasizes the prominent reasons for source language overreliance, as well as the necessity for mandating target language primarily. The results of the study demonstrate the significance of communication and support the interactive task-based innovation in English language instruction. Additionally, the study presents the impact of teachers on the classroom environment and their views regarding English education in Vietnam. The students’ reflection includes the significance of English in global integration and advice on steps, including reducing excessive mother tongue usage. Furthermore, this research presents a new perspective on the development of the English-speaking ability of IUH freshmen and helpful recommendations for educators.

Unleashing the Potential of TikTok: Exploring the Power of Mobile in Enhancing English Speaking Skills

The swift advancement of social media programs has facilitated their incorporation into language teaching. This study sought to examine the impact of the TikTok application on improving English language speaking abilities and learner independence in a cohort of 15 female English language students at the University of Jeddah, Khulais branch. A qualitative research methodology was employed to ascertain the students' perceptions regarding the efficacy of utilizing the TikTok application for enhancing their English language proficiency. This study utilized data collection and interviewing approaches to get information from a sample of pupils. An online survey was conducted utilizing a mixed method approach, which included both closed- and open-ended questions. The results demonstrated a beneficial effect of using the application for educational purposes on students' speaking abilities. Moreover, most participants indicated that their vocabulary range expanded and their pronunciation improved as a result of engaging with TikTok video content. Furthermore, it was observed that the application played a role in enhancing self-assurance in English communication.

The influence of nonautonomous online collaborative writing on EFL learners

Web-based collaborative writing has received significant attention in the twenty-first century. This study aims to investigate students’ attitudes toward nonautonomous online collaborative writing. A mixed methods approach was employed in this study, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative aspect involved the administration of a questionnaire, while the qualitative component involved conducting interviews. The participants comprised 42 male Level 3 English language students from Qassim University in Saudi Arabia, aged 20 and 22. The findings indicated that nonautonomous online collaborative writing assisted students in efficiently completing written drafts and improved writing speed, fluency, and organization. It encouraged learners to write by guiding them through brainstorming ideas, generating an outline, and addressing spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. According to the interviews, online collaborative writing required the teacher’s supervision and support to provide comments, share drafts with peers, and receive feedback from others. The teacher’s guidance focused on how students create their essays, such as acquiring relevant ideas and organizing material, resulting in much-improved writing. The teacher provided students with clear directions and instructions, including what to do and what not to do at the start of the task. He also reviewed students’ assignments, wrote encouraging notes, and praised them for their accomplishments.

Using Podcast to Teach Listening Comprehension

Listening is important to be learned by students in learning English language. However, students find it hard to comprehend and understand the language, because students are not accustom to the language. To help students to accustom to the language and improve listening skill needs proper medium in learning activity. Using podcast as medium in learning listening is expected to help the students accustom to the language. The research was conducted at SMK Putra Pakuan that involved 33 students of X TKJ as the sample from the total population 135 students of tenth grade. Pre-experimental method and one group pre-test post-test design were used. T-test formula is used to analyze the data. Based on data calculation, the result of t-test value is 4.26. Meanwhile, t-table value is 2.03 at significant level 0.05 with the degree of freedom (df) is 32. It shows that the t-test value is higher than t-table value (4.262.03). It means the alternative hypothesis (Ha) is accepted. Therefore, it can be concluded that podcast has an effect on students listening comprehension.

The Use of Story-Telling Techniques in Classroom: An Empirical Study at Thai Nguyen University

This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of English language teachers and students regarding the use of storytelling techniques in language education. Quantitative data were collected through surveys from 187 students to assess their beliefs regarding the effectiveness of storytelling in enhancing language areas and motivation. Additionally, qualitative interviews were conducted with 12 English language teachers to explore their perspectives on the challenges and benefits of incorporating storytelling into language instruction. Quantitative findings reveal that students generally perceive storytelling as highly effective in enhancing vocabulary acquisition and communicative skills, with varying opinions regarding its impact on grammar enhancement and motivation. English language students tend to exhibit higher levels of motivation and engagement compared to Chinese language students and bi-language students. Qualitative interviews highlight the importance of careful planning, time management, and narrative selection for effective implementation of storytelling techniques. Overall, the study underscores the multifaceted benefits of storytelling in language learning and emphasizes the importance of integrating storytelling activities into language education programs to meet diverse student needs

English as a Foreign Language Students’ Usage of Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer in the Classroom and Homework Assignments

Understanding the interaction between artificial intelligence and humans was one of the study's objectives. Another was to examine the advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT for English language learners. The primary aims of this study were to examine how English language learners utilize ChatGPT, why they use it, and how it impacts their academic progress. The phenomenon in question has been the subject of extensive research. The questionnaire used in this study was created with Google Forms and delivered electronically. More than 115 English as a foreign language students gave answers; the majority of them were students studying English at the bachelor and master levels. The questionnaire data represent how and how frequently students utilize ChatGPT, and the results show that a considerable proportion of them use the software. The data also show us the most common reasons why English language students use ChatGPT, and it appears that grammar is the first reason, while tasks requiring critical thinking are the second. Another very distinct reason is the use of ChatGPT for summarizing the books they are required to read during their English studies, which usually occurs at the bachelor's level where they learn Old and Modern English Literature. The results also revealed that students believe ChatGPT has had a beneficial impact on their academic advancement. After all, it is vital to note that artificial intelligence and its application are a developing phenomenon, particularly in the educational process; thus, the support of ChatGPT is assisting students in realizing their school projects, although not completely. This phenomenon should be viewed as both useful and detrimental. Artificial intelligence should not be used to limit student growth and critical thinking since it risks diminishing the value of human intelligence. Something artificial cannot be substituted with something natural, such as intelligence. As a result, our synthesizing mind is capable of far more than artificial intelligence.

Selected models of speech perception by students 5 semester English Education Study Program Universitas Nias of english during lecturing

Understanding speech (speech perception) is an important ability that English language students must master. There are several theoretical models of speech comprehension that attempt to explain the cognitive and linguistic processes underlying this ability. As for speech perception models, 1) Motor Theory of Speech Perception, 2) Analysis-by-Synthesis, 3) Group Model, 4) Fuzzy Logic Model, 5) TRACE Model. This study aims to find out what kind of speech perception model used by students in lectures, especially in the process of teaching and learning English. Specifically, this research is classified as qualitative research. To collect data, the participants studied were the 5th semester population of the English education study program, especially at Nias University. Random samples were used and the samples were 7 people from class A. From the results that have been obtained, there are 4 (four) students classified as using the Cohort model, 2 (two) students classified as using the Motor Theory model, and 1 (one) student classified as using the Fuzzy Logical Model, so we can conclude that most students use the Cohort model they often use this model in English learning activities every day.

New Paradigm of Education: A Review on Analyzing the Effectiveness of Vocabulary Learning Through Animation Movies in English Language Classrooms

Vocabulary is often overlooked by educators, yet it is one of the most important aspects of language learning. It is essential for all four language abilities, as it is linked to writing, reading, speaking, and listening. Without comprehensive vocabulary knowledge, students may not be successful in acquiring English as a language. One potential way for English language students to improve their vocabulary is to use multimedia sources like animated movies. Animated movies can provide significant benefits to students by using visual aids that enhance comprehension and facilitate improved learning outcomes. This paper aims to understand the effectiveness of vocabulary learning and teaching through animated movies. This article investigates the efficacy and role of animated films in the acquisition of vocabulary. The articles reviewed for this paper focus on the development, analysis, and examination of animated movies for enhancing vocabulary acquisition. In addition, the paper examines the research design, method, and theory that support the use of animated films in research. The review paper implies that animation films enhance vocabulary more effectively than traditional classroom settings.

Saudi Students’ Note Taking Strategies: Perceptions and Difficulties

The English language classrooms especially at the university level are based on the lecturing instruction method. This traditional method is commonly used despite its drawbacks. In order to avoid these drawbacks, learners develop certain techniques and strategies such as note taking. In fact, this strategy is defined as the act of recording newly exposed piece of knowledge or information in short notes to recall later. Despite the importance of note taking as an indispensable skill that university students should develop and master, the literature on the topic is still scarce especially in the Middle East which urges the need to conduct the current research whose main aim is to elicit the higher education students’ attitudes towards the implementation of this skill in their learning process. In fact, 93 male students currently studying at the University of Jeddah as English language students participated in the current work through the use of a semi structured interview and the submission of their note taking drafts. Results indicated that these participants misperceive what note taking really means and thus do not know and use much of the micro skills of this strategy. The educational partakers should reconsider note taking in lectures and instruct learners to use it in an effective way as this would help them promote their learning especially in the case of second/ foreign language learning.

English Pre-Service Teachers’ Impressions in Relation to Their Teaching Practice: The Case of “Aleksander Moisiu” University

Teaching practice, also known as practicum, is a very important step in the formation of future teachers. It is the stage when pre-service teachers become aware of their potentials, increase their knowledge, acquire new skills, become more practical in respect to applying various techniques and approaches, gain expertise in teaching, in other words, they view the class from a different perspective; not from that of the student anymore. Successful teacher training leads towards warm and welcoming learning environments and this leads to pupils who are keen to come to school and to learn English. It is a path which every pre-service teacher experiences in various ways and allows him or her to create one’s own impressions on the way things really work within the classroom context. These impressions are very important because they give a hint on what goes well and what needs to be remedied in the future. In this context, the study in question aims to shed light on English pre-service teachers’ general impressions of practicum as well as to investigate on their impressions in relation to teachers and students’ motivation, without leaving behind the difficulties encountered in class along with the management problems that have been noticed. More specifically, this study is conducted with English language students, at the end of their third semester of teaching practice. The data is collected by means of focus groups and is analysed by using the qualitative method. The results have indicated that the participants have a positive attitude towards the teaching practice. They pay attention to students’ motivation and are aware of its importance in students’ progress. Furthermore, they pointed out various challenges they faced in class and the way teachers usually solved them.
 
 Received: 19 February 2024 / Accepted: 16 March 2024 / Published: 23 March 2024

Efficacy of Flipped Classroom and Literature in ESL And EFL: A Revision of a Case Study

We present here a case study that aims to determine to what extent Flipped Classroom is a valid way to introduce difficult and demanding reading texts in the ESL EFL classroom in a university course of English language. In the case of the study, the content objective is the introduction of the reading of passages from Macbeth written by William Shakespeare in a specialized university course for English language students whose linguistic competence is in the region of B2 CFRL. This study revisits some of previously obtained data and crosses these new items with new data gathered during the research described in this paper. We obtain some interesting findings that support the hypothesis that using alternative teaching methods, as Flipped Classroom, can be a valid tool to introduce demanding texts in an environment as the one here described.

Understanding the role of digital immersive technology in educating the students of english language: does it promote critical thinking and self-directed learning for achieving sustainability in education with the help of teamwork?

PurposeUniversities are constantly searching for best practices to promote sustainability when it comes to educating students of the English language. Although this area of study has recently gained the attention of scholars around the world there is still a need to explore it from various perspectives.ObjectiveThis study aims to comprehensively investigate the impact of digital immersive technology on the education of English language students, specifically focusing on its potential to promote critical thinking and self-directed learning for achieving sustainability in education through teamwork. The research will assess the influence of digital immersive experiences on enhancing learning outcomes, examining their role in fostering critical thinking skills and encouraging self-directed learning practices. Additionally, the study explores the collaborative aspects of digital immersive technology, evaluating its contribution to teamwork among students.MethodologyThe objective was achieved by using a survey questionnaire to collect data from 304 registered students in various universities in Beijing. Data analysis was conducted by applying Mplus 7.0 software.FindingsThe findings revealed that the use of digital immersive technology was pivotal for achieving sustainable education both directly and indirectly to an extent. In addition, team working moderated all the respective paths except the path involving the use of digital immersive technology and critical thinking.ImplicationsThese results generated implications for teachers and policymakers to promote and facilitate the use of digital technology for teaching the English language to students, encouraging them to develop critical skills and self-directed learning strategies. The study also offered guidance and deeper understanding for researchers to address the concerns linked to the use of digital technology and sustainable education particularly in their future endeavors.