TM Awareness Research Articles

EFL TEACHERS' AWARENESS, PRACTICE AND CHALLENGES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE INTEGRATED SKILLS TEACHING: FOUR SELECTED ALETA WONDO CLUSTER SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN FOCUS

The main objective of this research was to investigate EFL teachers’ awareness, practice and challenges of English language integrated skills teaching in Aleta Wondo Cluster four selected secondary schools, Sidama Regional State. The researcher employed descriptive survey design involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The participants of the study were secondary schools EFL teachers. Multi-stage sampling technique that moves from a broad to a narrow sample using a step by step process was employed to select the four secondary schools and their all teachers who have been teaching English. Cluster sampling technique used to cluster the secondary schools in to three geographical districts. Simple random sampling technique used to choose Hula District of these districts. Comprehensive sampling technique used to select 42 EFL teachers. The researcher gathered the data through questionnaire, interviews and classroom observations. The researcher utilized descriptive statics SPSS V20, frequency, percentage, mean, grand mean and standard deviation for the quantitative data. The qualitative data analyzed qualitatively. The result of analysis revealed that the sample schools English teachers had moderate awareness about English language integrated skills teaching. In addition, the result showed that teachers rarely taught two language skills: reading and writing, listening and speaking, and listening and writing in integration lessons; but they hardly taught any three or four language skills in integration. Moreover, the result of the study showed that there were challenges related to students, to teachers, to schools, and to the national exam. The researcher recommended that awareness creation training should be given to teachers.

Credit facility for horticultural sector in India – An empirical study

Working with the secondary sources of empirical data (2009–10 to 2018–19), the present study tries to show the status of agricultural credit facility with special reference to horticultural sector in India. Tabular analysis with simple compound annual growth rate (CAGR) has been done in 2020. In case of crop loan (short-term credit), agriculture and horticulture have no difference and the system of delivery is also similar. Horticulture finance includes loans for development of fruit orchard, poly-house, green house development and marketing of such produce. Agricultural credit is vital in India for 86.2% small and marginal farmers for capital formation. Financial support in horticulture was lacking. Productivity credit inter alia as evinced in term of growth rates of area (CAGR=1.56%), production (CAGR=2.72%) and productivity (CAGR=1.28%) shows better performances compared to agriculture. But fund allotment in government (govt.) budget for horticulture remains almost constant (CAGR=0.86%). Study suggested for more investment (public and private) in horticulture since it contributes 29.2% of agricultural GDP and provides nutritional security. Popularization of microcredit, farmers’ awareness and improve technologies for delivery of institutional loan can be ensured. Diversion of crop loan must be checked. Study also highlights different govt. schemes for overall development of the horticulture sector.

COVID-19 CONFINEMENT CHANGED DIETARY BEHAVIOUR IN INDONESIA

Pandemic has affected various sectors and caused alteration in many fields. Dietary behaviour might change due to COVID-19 pandemic. Previous studies related to dietary behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic had been done in several countries. However, there is limited study on consumption pattern in Indonesia during pandemic. Our work focused on observing the changes in dietary behaviour of Indonesian during COVID-19 confinement. In order to reach the purpose, a cross-sectional study was conducted by using online questionnaire distributed using social media. The information of respondents related to socio-demographic and situation during confinement were gathered. Furthermore, respondents were also inquired about the consumption of vegetable, fruit, supplement and vitamin, soft drink, snack, and jamu or empon-empon during COVID-19 confinement. The results will be useful for industries and government due to the lack of information related to dietary behaviour during COVID-19 confinement in Indonesia. The results found an increasing and decreasing consumption of certain food group due to economic situation, stress and anxiety, and also food accessibility. COVID-19 confinement also changed the way in preparing meal. This condition was also affected by the increasing of respondents’ awareness on healthier lifestyle. A longer observation accompanied by Body Mass Index information is able to illustrate the impact of dietary behaviour during COVID-19 pandemic on chronic disease tendency.

The Effect of Patient Education Interventions on Asthma Management in Hail Region

<p>The rising importance of educating asthma patients about their medication and devices and how to use them and the impact of this knowledge on controlling the disease and improving the quality of life has attracted great interest from researchers in assessing the current situation of dealing with the disease in their community. The purpose of this study is therefore to assess the knowledge of asthma patients about their medication and devices, highlight the problems in the advice provided by health-care providers to asthma patients and study the potential impact of education on the management of asthma. The study was also designed to encourage health-care providers to provide appropriate education for patients and develop an educational program for the management of asthma. A cross-sectional study was conducted using two types of questionnaire, the first directed at asthmatic patients to assess their knowledge and the other directed at health-care providers to assess the challenges, which they faced in advising patients. The results showed that patients’ awareness of asthma was of a medium level. Moreover, the level of challenges faced by health-care providers when advising patients to teach them how to use asthma medications and devices was also of a medium level. The most significant problems were time and lack of patient interest. The findings explained that asthmatic patients in Hail region need improvement in their level of awareness about the use of asthma medications and devices in order to achieve a higher degree of disease control, which will be achieved through the development and implementation of an educational program by health-care providers.</p>

Mobile-Based Application for Agricultural Crops of Silang, Cavite

Farmers’ awareness on fast-moving developments in technologies affects the agriculture operations. Smartphones have been useful in agriculture for their mobility and accessibility. The mobile-based application for agricultural crops of Silang was designed to provide information about crops. Information includes health benefits of the fruits, uses of the crops, and how its different parts can be develop to another product. The application is the first step towards understanding the benefits of the by-products of the crop in interactive way. The software development was anchored on agile model. The performance of the application was evaluated by 40 persons composed of subject matter experts including crops farmers and agriculturist, IT experts and potential users. The developed application was rated using Core App Quality Standard utilizing the criteria of Visual Design and User Interaction, Functionality, Compatibility, Performance and Stability, and Security. The app’s performance was adherent to the standard as verified by the app’s overall rating of excellent. The application will be able to help the crop farmer to get information in utilizing wastes into by-products, hence would be an opportunity to augment their income. It is recommended that the application may be added with crops available from other regions and consider a dynamic and cross-platform version of the app to maximize potential users.

Streamline of the teaching methods for enhancing the student motivation at the University

Motivation of human resource is important not only in working area but also for students who are preparing themselves for the future career. This paper therefore focused on students’ motivation and suggests the ways of developing the teaching methods in order to increase their motivation for improve their knowledge and skills. Methodological part of the paper presents the results of the questionnaire survey executed at the University of Žilina. The sample consists of 70 students of the first year of bachelor study program Management. The questionnaire is dedicated to: Factors which motivates the students to fulfil their tasks; the level of students’ skills development before and after the completion of subject; students’ awareness; and detection of weak moments during teaching which offer the opportunity for improvement. Based on survey, the paper reveals weaknesses in teaching and contains proposals and recommendations for streamlining the teaching to enhance students’ motivation and their interest in development of their skills and knowledge. In the application part of this paper, there are suggested methods which are based on theoretical knowledge, questionnaire survey, and own observation and experiences (for example: Increasing students’ awareness on their responsibilities, duties, conditions, evaluation criteria and education program).Â

Innovation capability of women and men managers: evidence from Kazakhstan

The relationship between gender and managers’ innovation capability is not thoroughly investigated, and the innovator’s contribution and men and women’s impact on innovation management is not clearly stated in the research literature. Although recent studies have shown a positive impact of gender on organizational innovations, women managers are still considered less innovative compared to their male counterparts. The paper examines an under-researched role of innovators and their genders in managing innovations in organizations and aims at identifying women and men managers’ innovation capability in the context of newly emerging economy of Central Asia. The quantitative research method (a multivariate closed questionnaire) was utilized among 224 respondents from Kazakhstani private organizations functioning in extraction, construction, production, energy, service, trade, and education industries. Subordinates assessed their supervisors’ (first-line, middle-level, and top managers) innovation capability: stance on innovations, support of subordinates for innovative ideas and activity, and adopting innovations. Linear regression analysis was used for the hypotheses testing and further data assaying. The findings define that women and men managers demonstrate an equally positive attitude towards innovations in organizations but the former outperform the latter in adopting innovations and encouraging employees to innovate. The work lays the ground for further research in the region of Central Asia and emerging countries with dynamic but unstable economic development. The involvement of more women managers in innovations will further a long-term impact on subordinates' satisfaction, dedication to organization and performance. The social implication of the present work lies in increasing executives and senior officials’ awareness of the positive effect of gender diversity on organization innovative capability.

Two-Sided Matching between Fashion Firms and Publishers: When Firms Strategically Target Consumers for Brand Image

Many fashion companies strategically choose publishers for advertising to target preferred consumers, because such consumers not only generate revenue, they also influence the companies’ brand image. Meanwhile, publishers also select companies because the ads posted by companies affect publishers’ image as well. It is important to jointly model the preferences of firms and publishers in this scenario, because observed advertising is an outcome of mutual selection from both sides. We develop a two-sided matching framework to model advertising as realized from such a two-sided selection process. The preference of a third party (consumers) is embedded in this framework through a consumer product choice model. Applying the proposed model to two unique datasets of fashion brand purchases, magazine readership, and advertising record, we are able to detect magazines and watch brands’ preferences separately. More expensive magazines also prefer more luxurious fashion watch brands. Watch brands prefer magazines with a potential consumer network with more male, well-educated and wealthy readers. Advertising effect is more prominent in terms of consumers’ awareness set formation compared to the brand purchase persuasion in general, but Asian brands can benefit more from advertising at the brand choice stage instead of the awareness formation stage.

The Relationship between Communication Strategies and Language Proficiency among the English Department Students of IAIN Kudus

In foreign language classes, students very often intend to express their ideas to listeners, but they realize that their linguistic or semantic structure is not available, then they give a pause before continuing their utterances. It means that they used communication strategies to close the gap between linguistic competence and communicative competence. Furthermore, many aspects related to the students’ communication strategies, one of that is language proficiency. This qualitative case study is set to investigate: (1) the use of communication strategies of students; (2) the language proficiency level of students; (3) the influence of communication strategies to the language proficiency. There are twelve students with high and low proficiency levels as the subject of this research which was taken purposively. They are the second-semester students of the English Education Department at IAIN Kudus in the academic year of 2019/2020. In this study, the researcher used observation, interview, and documentation as the sources of data. It is intended to address the research questions. The results revealed that (1) The students used stalling or time-gaining type and sub-types, namely fillers and self-repetition in which the most popular form of filler was “ehh, eee, and ehmm”; (2) High proficient students were infrequently to produce the error of grammar. While low proficient students often used non-verbal language. It means that students with high proficiency level can process words so that their utterances are more understandable; (3) Communication strategies influenced the language proficiency. It is because high proficient students are able to share their ideas and opinions freely than low proficient students who regularly produce errors of grammar. This study provides valuable contribution in introducing communication strategies and raising students’ awareness to actually use English in real-life communication.

Lecturers Awareness and Integration of Learning Space Technology for Instructions in Nigeria

Learning Space is imperative in content delivery in institutions of higher learning. However, despite its value and worth to instructional delivery, the awareness and integration to instruction in Nigeria University by the lecturers have not been significantly established. Therefore the objectives of this study were to examine the lecturers’ awareness of learning space and investigate the lecturers’ integration of learning space for instruction at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The study was of a descriptive nature and cross-sectional survey. 120 lecturers was sampled in the faculty of education, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Stratified sampling procedure, was used to grouped lecturers along gender. The self designed questionnaire was administered to 120 lecturers of 60 males and 60 females. Mean scores was utilised to answer research questions. Research hypotheses were tested with t-test statistical analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study were that lecturers had positive awareness and integration of learning space technology for instructions delivery at University of Ilorin Nigeria. The study further recommended that lecturers should be encouraged to have more knowledge of learning space for teaching and learning and they should be educated on how to use learning space for their various instructions.

Malaysian Public University Lecturers’ Perceptions and Practices of Formative and Alternative Assessments

Successful teaching and learning are highly dependent on assessment as it provides necessary information for making informed decisions in a higher education program. University lecturers should be equipped with skills and knowledge on different methods of evaluation to assess their students effectively. Only few researchers have investigated the assessment methods employed by lecturers in universities in Malaysia. Traditional class-based assessments are the most common mode of assessment although this form of assessment fails to measure students’ learning adequately. This qualitative study aims to determine the level of lecturers’ awareness of the different kinds of assessments at the University Puta Malaysia (UPM). The study sampled 48 lecturers from various faculties at UPM. They responded to a self-reporting questionnaire that required them to indicate their perceived competence in alternative and formative assessments. The result of the thematic analysis revealed that lecturers were utterly aware of formative assessment practices. However, despite the significance of alternative assessments in the learning process, some lecturers were not aware of alternative assessment practices. The implication is that the literacy level of lecturers in alternative assessment methods should be improved. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.5.23

Knowledge Level and Determinants Factors in Selecting to the Islamic Rural Banks

The aims of this research are fourfold. First, it aims to identify the source of knowledge of the respondents on Islamic rural banks. Second, this research aims to study the factors considered important by the respondents in selecting Islamic rural banks. Third, this research studies the level of knowledge and awareness of the respondents on the products or contracts of Islamic rural banks. Finally, this paper aims to compare the respondents’ knowledge and awareness based on gender, education level, and period of banking in Islamic rural banks. We disseminated questionnaire to 285 customers of Islamic rural banks in several cities in West Java, Indonesia. This research uses descriptive and quantitative methods using a t-test. We found that our respondents attained knowledge in Islamic rural banks in college, and the most substantial factor affecting them to choose Islamic rural banking is not sharia compliance. In fact, it is the economic factor. Qardhul Hasan, wadiah, and mudharabah are the three most popular contracts among our research respondents. Finally, the level of knowledge and awareness about these three contracts are not significantly different between male and female, between different education levels, and between the banking periods of the customers.

Addressing Domestic Abuse and Violence via a Non-Formal Environment Seen as a Pedagogical Tool at University

The purpose of the study was to identify how family abuse and violence could be addressed via a non-formal educational environment seen as a pedagogical tool at university. The study utilised an exploratory case study design. Quantitative and qualitative data were drawn from observations of sampled students’ performance in the programme entitled “Legal and Psychological Domains of Domestic Abuse and Violence” and through the interview. The Attitudes towards Domestic Violence Questionnaire (ADV), the quiz entitled “Dimensions and dynamics of family violence” was administered to measure the impact of the domestic abuse and violence on the students’ awareness of legal and psychological consequences. IBM SPSS Statistics software was used to process the above data. MS Office Excel Software was used to consolidated and process the data drawn from the interview. The study showed that non-formal university settings have the potential to enrich pedagogic tools for addressing domestic abuse and violence. The prevention intervention had a positive impact on students’ awareness of legal and psychological aspects of domestic abuse and violence, students’ perceptions of committing abusive and/or violent actions by men and women in family settings. It was validated by measurements, observations, and students’ feedbacks. The experiment raised some implications like attracting experts, raising funds, finding sufficient evidence, and cases to fill the programme content. Further research is needed in developing methodology and instruments of evaluation of the effectiveness of such intervention programmes. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19.4.1

Nurses’ Awareness and Participation in Mandatory Continuing Professional Development in the Philippines: A Pilot Survey

Introduction: Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in the Philippines is relatively new. The purpose of the study was to determine nurses’ awareness and participation in CPD in the Philippines. Methods: This descriptive survey was conducted among nurses (n=30) in a private hospital in Iloilo City. A researcher-made survey tool was used to gather data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Mann-Whitney U to test for differences between variables. Results: Results indicated that were nurses were generally aware of the CPD law and its implementing rules and regulations (IRR). However, while nurses understood the concept of CPD and the renewal requirements of the CPD Act, more than half were not aware of learning activities under Self-Directed Learning and that nurses can earn CPD credit units through online CPD programs. Almost half were unaware that excess CPD cannot be carried over to the next three-year period, and more than one-third were unaware that only completed post baccalaureate degree programs can be used to earn CPD credit units. There were no significant differences in the awareness of nurses when grouped according to sex, age, civil status, position, salary, and length of work experience. Seminars and workshops were the most common CPD activities participated by nurses in the last 12 months. Conclusion: Addressing the common information gaps regarding the CPD law identified in this study may assist in increasing nurses’ support in the implementation of the mandatory CPD among nurses.

Chemistry Teachers’ Awareness, Understanding, and Confidence toward Computational Tools for Molecular Visualization

Recent advances in cheminformatics and bioinformatics research have generated software and computational tools for molecular modeling and visualization that can be incorporated to improve chemistry teaching and learning in high school. Nevertheless, there have never been any study simultaneously reporting chemistry teachers’ awareness, understanding, and confidence toward contemporary computer-aided molecular modeling and visualization tools. This study examined 32 high school chemistry teachers’ knowledge, understanding and confidence toward nine new computational programs on molecular modeling and visualization namely ChemDraw, HyperChem, UCSF Chimera, Marvin Sketch, PsiPred, MBC (PS2), Rampage, Vienna RNA Package and Mode RNA following two days of professional workshop-based training. After completing the training and assessments, the teachers showed an enhancement in awareness, understanding, and confidence toward those nine computational programs. Intensive activities consisting of theoretical lectures, hands-on practices, assignments, and case study presentations seem to provide valuable resources to the increase in teachers’ knowledge, understanding, and skill that incorporates computational technology. Hence, the impact of this research pointed toward the value of teachers’ professional development that creates a platform to reduce the barriers of access, resources, knowledge, and skills. This study is expected to help improving teachers’ awareness, understanding, and confidence necessarily required for further implementation of available technology for instructional purposes.Â

Consumer behaviour and factors affecting the selection of green private label products in Greek retail market

Green private label products are products that have the name of the store or the name of the company owned. Made on behalf of a commercial enterprise, usually by third parties and placed on the same branch network. During the last few years, due to the strong presence of discount stores, retail chains continually expand the range of private label products. Green private label products, except of being a defensive mechanism towards discount chains, they contribute to the diversification of the commercial chain, greatly expanding the range of products in the store and the customer's choice, ensure higher margins and increase the bargaining power of the chain towards suppliers. Therefore, the intense competition between retail operators in order to gain greater market share in relation to the increasing consumers’ awareness regarding price and quality issues, contributed to the production of green private label products. In the early years of presence of private label products, they were characterized as products with low price and low quality. The factors associated with the store and affect the acceptance of private label products are the image, the atmosphere and loyalty in the store. The private label products are an extension of the image of the store. A primary quantitative research has been conducted in order to answer on specific research hypothesis that have been stated in the methodology chapter. The main findings of the research illustrate that there are positive relationships between the intention to buy green private label products, the factors of perceived value (quality, emotional, price and social), the brand consciousness of customers and consumers’ attitude toward green private label products, and with some of the demographic variables.

Indonesian Students’ Awareness of Verbal and Non-Verbal Intercultural Differences at the Global Workplace

The aim of this paper is to describe Indonesian students’ awareness about cultural differences happens in the global workplace. The students followed 600 minutes of Intercultural Communication course in six weeks. The research involved 36 students of English Education Department, who filled out 12 questions of questionnaire about cultural awareness. The result showed that most students had proper verbal and nonverbal awareness related with the intercultural differences at the global space. The result was supported by Hanvey (1979) statement who stated that the level of most students at level three. They were aware of significant and subtle cultural traits that contrast markedly with one’s own but can be understood cognitively. This research suggests that the next researcher can dig more perspective not only from students but also from other occupations. Besides that, another instrument like interview or participant observation also can be applied to get more information.

The Integration of Green Chemistry Principles into Small Scale Chemistry Practicum for Senior High School Students

Implementation of Principles of Green Chemistry in teaching chemistry can become an essential approach to enhance students’ awareness of the environmental problem. In contrast with the goal of sustainability, chemistry practicum normally deals with chemicals and waste management which contribute to environmental problem. A shift toward more sustainable and economical experiments is essential to maintain the existence of the practicum in the senior high curriculum. Small Scale Chemistry (SSC) practicum is one of the approaches to promote sustainability in chemistry practicum by using smaller scale and safer apparatus. It is expected to produce less waste. It is also safer and more economical chemistry experiment. This research aims to study the integration of principles of green chemistry in chemistry practicum by using SSC experiment. This study investigates two main topics in senior high school chemistry subject: electrochemistry and acid-base indicator. This study has shown the practice of integration of the principles of green chemistry approach into senior high school chemistry practicum through SSC. The experiments demonstrated in this study enable us to integrate Principles of Green Chemistry in terms of preventing waste, using less hazardous chemical, and conducting safer experiments which can be implemented in senior high school chemistry practicum.

CORRUPTIONS PRACTICES AND EMPLOYEE’PERCEPTION

This study intend to examine the degree of awareness, perceptions and reactions of employees of corruptions practices in Bahraini Banks. Our finding demonstrated that males are more involved in such practices and it seems that there is a considerable lack of awareness among employees on the danger of such phenomenon on the nation economy. Some of them are acting corruptly due to two major causes either because family nepotism or because of the low wage and the necessity to get bribes to cover their expenses. Nonetheless the low respect of the law seems to be also an important reason of those irregularities. Bahrain even is an Islamic country, the values of the society themselves have changed and in some ways bribes are perceived especially by the young generation as a way of life and has not the strong negative connotation in the society as before. Therefore managers should increase and adjust not only the employees’ awareness but especially the level of their salaries proportionally to the prices rising level. Also it is crucial that the authorities should be more severe and rigorous in this matter by inflicting strict sanctions on who are acting corruptly

Test-taking strategies and students’ achievement in EFL reading tests

This research aims at investigating the effects of reading test-taking strategy training on EFL students’ performance in English reading tests. The participants of the research were 90 prep-class students chosen randomly and divided into three groups of 30 students as face-to-face training group, online self-training group, and control group. The first group was involved in strategy training sessions for six weeks in school context (face-to-face) whereas the second group was only informed about the contend of the training sessions and directed to study through online strategy videos (online self-training). The last group was the control group the who were excluded from strategy training sessions. The reading test scores of the participants were analyzed via SPSS 16 with the aim of revealing whether or not there is an impact of strategy training. Moreover, semi-structured interviews were carried out with the participants, and the findings were analyzed through content analysis. Results of the research revealed that (a) the students’ awareness of test taking strategies are in parallel with their test scores; (b) face-to-face strategy training was found to be more effective than online strategy training; (c) strategies related to ‘drawing inference’ and ‘guessing the meaning from the context’ were found to be the most effective ones while strategies such as detecting the question types, finding the main idea, skimming and scanning were other important strategies. The results suggested that strategy training on test taking might be included in the regular curriculums; students’ awareness of test taking strategies should be fostered starting from the early stages of formal education; reading theories and strategies might be integrated into current reading courses with an inter-disciplinary model. Keywords: Test taking strategies, EFL, reading test, strategy training