The Tahltan language is endangered and at a critical juncture because there are now fewer than 30 fluent speakers. The Tahltan Nation is working to change this by creating many different opportunities for language learning, focusing on programming, documentation, and professional development and training. One way that our language is being revitalized is through immersion programs for young children. Using ‘Tahltan Voiceability’ as the overarching methodology, this study reports on the language nest model as an immersion method of Indigenous language revitalization in Tahltan communities in northern British Columbia. Parents, language mentors, and administrators shared their perspectives and experiences regarding the way in which K’asba’e T’oh (the Dease Lake Language Nest) began in Tātl’ah (Dease Lake), how things are progressing, and what motivated and continues to motivate people to be involved. Through an analysis of these conversations, I share esdahūhedech (their tellings) and report on emerging themes. With this immersion setting in place, there is hope that this program will create speakers, inspire others to learn our language, and be part of increasing the proficiency of language learners, thereby moving our language out of the endangered status. This study is part of a growing body of research in Canada studying language nests to promote the intergenerational transmission of Indigenous languages. / Graduate

Cette recherche porte sur l’enseignement des langues vivantes étrangères à l’école et sur la manière dont les professeurs des écoles, que nous avons distingué en plusieurs catégories : « amateurs », diplômés ou experts dans la langue enseignée, mettent en œuvre leurs praxéologies pendant les séances. Elle traite également des conditions et des contraintes, qu’ils rencontrent selon leur catégorie, c’est à dire par rapport à la connaissance qu’ils ont de la langue anglaise ou de la formation dont ils ont pu bénéficier. Au niveau théorique elle s’appuie sur les Théories de l’acquisition des langues, la Didactique des langues et la Théorie anthropologique du didactique (TAD) d’Yves Chevallard. La TAD permet de déterminer les praxéologies langagières et didactiques des enseignants et les conditions et les contraintes qu’ils rencontrent à l’aide de l’échelle de codétermination didactique. Au niveau institutionnel, elle repose sur les textes officiels, le Cadre Européen de Référence Commun pour les Langues (CECRL) et les programmes B.O. n°8 du 30 août 2007 ainsi que le B.O. n°1 du 5 janvier 2012. De plus, Cette recherche s’inscrit dans une approche clinique, centrée sur l’individu. Elle étudie à travers des entretiens (non directifs, d’autoconfrontation et d’alloconfrontation) et des transcriptions de séances d’anglais filmées, les praxéologies de cinq professeurs des écoles enseignant l’anglais en cycle 2 et 3. Elle se situe également dans une approche comparative afin de déterminer et de comparer ce qui peut conditionner ou empêcher la diffusion de leur praxéologie en classe pendant les séances de LVE de ces différents enseignants participant à cette recherche. / This study focuses on the teaching of foreign languages in school in France and on the way teachers--categorized as amateurs, with a degree, or experts in the language they teach--put into practice their praxeology during their teaching sessions. It also takes a look at the conditions and the constraints, that teachers, in each category, meet, depending on their knowledge of the English language and the training they have received.On the theoretical level, this thesis uses the Theory of language acquisition, language didactics and didactic anthropology (ATD) by Yves Chevallard. At the institutional level, it relies on published reports, the Common European Framework Reference for Languages (CEFR), and the contents of two Bulletin Officiel reports published on August 30, 2007 and January 5, 2012. This study takes a clinical approach, centered on individuals. It takes an in-depth look at the praxeology of five school teachers who teach English in cycle 2 and 3 of the French education system, through interviews (non-directive, self-confrontational and allo-confrontation as well as transcripts of English lessons filmed in classrooms.

Each year a group of university students from English speaking countries go to Chile and work as volunteers under the National Volunteer Centre Program. The purpose of this case study is to examine how a group of novice volunteer teachers describe their experiences in a foreign country and how these experiences shape their understanding of teaching. Participants went through the process of open-ended questionnaires and one-on-one interviews of their experience. This study was sustained in the literature by the domains of volunteerism, English Language Teaching, and volunteerism and ELT, and a socio constructivist and experiential lens was adopted. Even though volunteer teaching abroad is an increasing worldwide trend, there are few studies that combine these areas, showing that the existing blend of volunteerism and English language teaching needs to be further examined. The analysis of the data showed that novice volunteer teachers experience five types of experiences when teaching English: language teaching experiences, language learning experiences, challenges, general experiences, and volunteering experiences. Novice teachers recalled their expectations before teaching and those were maintained, modified, or unfulfilled. Volunteers stated what teaching means to them after working in public schools, they were able to describe diverse language teaching experiences, and make recommendations to future volunteers.

With the growing number of students from China who study abroad, many initially struggle to engage with native English speakers due to limited opportunities to develop oral English skills within their homeland (Gu and Maley, 2008). The reasons why Chinese students' may exhibit varied levels of motivation to engage with others when they study abroad is not well understood. This thesis has employed MacIntyre's "Willingness to Communicate" pyramid model (MacIntyre et al., 1998) as a theoretical model to underpin this study. An 18 month longitudinal study was carried out upon a group of 24 tertiary students from China who were undertaking an undergraduate degree in Britain. Qualitative data were gathered by means of carrying out 60 interviews employing a multi-lingual platform. The study sought to understand the factors which may influence the reasons for the changes in students' Willingness to Communicate and Communicative self-confidence as they studied in Britain and also to identify any additional variables influencing them. The results of this research showed there to be a wide range of factors influencing Chinese students' L2 communicative behaviour. Some of these factors were linked to their home and education background in China. Others were linked to how they responded to others in English within differing communicative contexts. This study concluded that Willingness to Communicative within a Chinese context to be a complex phenomena as Chinese students may respond to interlocutors in differing ways. Hence, this study has contributed to our understanding of Chinese learners of English in that a wide range of variables have been identified, which may impact upon Chinese students' communicative behaviour. The model which MacIntyre and his associates formed, was found to be a helpful model in comprehending Chinese student's L2 communicative behaviour. However, this study has developed MacIntyre's model by identifying other culturally specific factors which were not covered. This research has also enhanced our comprehension of Chinese students' communicative behaviour within authentic English speaking environments, with both native and non native English speakers. Finally, this study has highlighted that there are significant cognitive factors which also impact upon Chinese students' Willingness to Communicate, suggesting the need to undertake additional future research in order to further investigate this area.

Dual-immersion is a bilingual education method offered that places English as a first language (EFL) and English language learner (ELL) students in the same classroom to learn two languages at the same time. This study examines whether second language acquisition through dual-immersion supports literacy for both ELL and EFLS children over time. Students' scores on standardized tests (ITBS, TAKS, Logramos, Stanford 9, and Aprenda) were studied to assess the impact, if any, of dual-immersion instruction vs. regular/bilingual education on reading development. Scores from 2000 through 2004 were gathered and analyzed for students enrolled in a dual-immersion class which started in kindergarten in 2000. These scores were compared to scores of students enrolled in regular and bilingual education classrooms for the same amount of time at the same school to examine whether there was an effect for students in the dual-immersion class. It was found that no significant difference existed between the groups. All groups were performing at a passing level on the standardized tests. The dual-immersion class was performing as well as the regular education class on standardized tests in both English and Spanish.

Indigenous languages in Canada are critically at risk of extinction. Many Indigenous communities are working hard to save their languages through various methods. One method proven to be largely successful in other parts of the world is early childhood heritage language immersion programming, which is commonly known as a 'language nest' program. However, this method is sparsely employed in B.C. and Canada as a method of language retention and revitalization. Using qualitative research methodologies involving observations and interviews this study included key community members in two Indigenous communities which have developed 'language nest' programs. The goal of the observations and interviews was to identity factors contributing to successes and challenges in initiating and maintaining 'language nest' programs. The findings of the study indicate that the 'language nest' model is adaptable to the First Nations context in Canada. The findings combined with a literature review yielded practical recommendations for other communities and possibilities for future action.

The Swedish syllabus for English promotes a communicative approach to language teaching, but does not offer concrete guidelines regarding how a communicative classroom should be enacted. This leaves a great deal of interpretation up to each individual teacher. The purpose of this study is to observe and understand how teachers at upper secondary schools in Sweden perceive and enact the communitive guidelines stipulated by the syllabus for English. This qualitative study is based on classroom observations combined with semi-structured interviews with four teachers of English at upper secondary schools in Sweden. The findings reveal that the teachers use a range of strategies when enacting their communicative classroom. However, the most significant finding is that there is considerable focus on meaning rather than form across all of the four participants. This suggests that the teachers perceive communicative language teaching largely in terms of a natural approach, where the learning of form happens by itself as long as the target language is used in an anxiety-free classroom environment. Furthermore, corrective feedback on language form is perceived as potentially harmful for the pupils’ willingness to communicate in English, and hence it is largely avoided. Since the latest research in the field of communicative language teaching has restored the significance of form, there is a need for teachers of English to develop strategies that are a hybrid of both meaning- and form-focused activities in order to successfully accomplish all facets of communicative language teaching. The syllabus for English should offer clearer guidelines to support teachers in this endeavour.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第22540号 / 人博第943号 / 新制||人||224(附属図書館) / 2019||人博||943(吉田南総合図書館) / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科共生人間学専攻 / (主査)准教授 高橋 幸, 教授 谷口 一美, 教授 STEWART Timothy William, 准教授 笹尾 洋介, 教授 田地野 彰 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DGAM

The flipped classroom is a teaching method where students access instructional materials outside of class through teacher-made videos or readings so that time spent in-class with the instructor can focus on collaboration and student-driven practice. This instructional practice has gained popularity worldwide at the secondary and post-secondary level because of its perceived benefits for students. Such benefits include higher test scores and proficiency, more frequent interactions between teachers and students, increased content knowledge and application, and improved motivation and attitude towards a course. Although worthwhile, much of the research lacks details of teacher perspectives on the method and its use in secondary, world-language classes, specifically in the state of Utah. This study analyzed the responses of 33 world-language teachers in the state of Utah to questions about their training on the flipped method, their use of it in the classroom, and their views on the advantages and disadvantages of the technique. The purpose of this study was to understand how world-language teachers in the state of Utah are using the flipped method and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the method from a world-language teacher's perspective. The key data source for this qualitative study was a 22-question electronic survey. The results of this study indicate that although there is a moderately high rate of training for teachers on the flipped method, there is a low rate of implementation among the world-language teachers. In addition, teachers responded that their top three advantages of the flipped method include allowing more one-one-one time between teacher and student, allowing for self-paced learning of students, and proving a more in-depth study of course material. Participants also acknowledged the top challenges to the flipped method to be an increased workload outside of class for both teachers and students, students being less-able to complete in-class activities without proper preparation and a lack of student motivation. Possible areas of future research are recommended.

To achieve a National Senior Certification, all South African candidates must select two official South African languages, one on Home Language (HL) level and another on First Additional Language (FAL) level. With the FAL often being a language in which the learner commonly lacks comprehension or assistance at home and therefore becomes subject to motivational barriers, additional support from the teacher is necessary. With additional barriers such as time constraints in completing the curriculum, teachers need to explore alternative paths to supply students with the necessary support. Previous research recognises the success of computer-based interventions in STEM subjects, but few studies have been done to establish the viability of similar interventions in FAL teaching. This research is focused on establishing whether these can be successfully implemented by Afrikaans FAL teachers to extend language learning and alleviate issues such as motivational barriers and time constraints, while improving vocabulary, comprehension and grammatical application. A computer-based intervention focused on learning complex Afrikaans language structures was offered to a group of Gr 7 Afrikaans FAL learners, after which the researcher engaged in interviews with participants. Additional comparative data was acquired through pre- and post-intervention surveys. A qualitative research approach was followed to better understand specific aspects affecting participants’ opinions of the viability of the intervention regarding the application of the technology, covering of the academic content and design of the intervention. / Dissertation (MEd)--University of Pretoria, 2019. / Science, Mathematics and Technology Education / MEd / Unrestricted