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Although classroom assessment is one of the most frequent practices carried out by teachers in all educational programs, limited research has been conducted to investigate the dependability and validity of criterion-referenced tests (CRTs). The main purpose of this study is to develop a criterion-referenced test for first-year Japanese university students in a general English program. To this end, four research questions are formulated: (a) To what extent do the criterion-referenced items function effectively?; (b) To what extent do the facets of persons, items, sections, classes, and subtests contribute to the total score variation in two CRT forms?; (c) To what extent are two CRT forms dependable when administered as pretests and posttests?; and (d) To what extent are two CRT forms valid when administered as pretests and posttests? Two CRT forms made up of vocabulary (k = 25), listening (k = 20), and reading (k = 25) subtests were administered to 249 students using a counterbalanced design. Criterion-referenced item analyses showed that most items were working well for criterion-referenced purposes. Both univariate and multivariate generalizability studies indicated that the most of the variance was accounted for by the interaction effect, followed by the items effect, and then by the persons effect. FACETS analyses showed the separation for all the facets accounted for in the analyses and showed that item separation was greater than person separation. This indicated that the students' ability estimates were similar due to their having taken a placement test, whose results were used to form proficiency-based classes. Both univariate and multivariate decision studies indicated that the CRT forms were moderately to highly dependable. The content validity of the CRT forms was supported because the test content was strongly linked to what was taught in class. The construct validity was supported mainly because a fair amount of score gain was observed. This study elucidates how the statistical analyses used in this study can be applied to CRT development, and how CRT development can be carried out as part of curriculum development. / Educational Administration

This research investigated the possible correlation between English proficiency and academic success in Internal Auditing 1 of learners registered at the Vaal Triangle Technikon. Acquisition of a Second language was investigated with reference to Additive and Subtractive bilingualism, Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills, and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. Factors that influence the acquisition of a L2 were also discussed. Factors that influence learning through a Second language, problems experienced by learners learning through a Second language and the coping mechanisms they use were investigated. The specific language situation in South African education was explained starting with a short historical background of English in South African schools. General problems experienced at schools, language problems experienced at schools, the language proficiency of teachers and how they cope with the language problems were discussed. Language problems experienced by the learners and its effect on higher education were also investigated. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding respondents' school history, First language, experiences with English as a subject at school, experiences of English as language of instruction, and their views on Internal Auditing 1 as a subject. Respondents' English proficiency was determined through three instruments, namely Grade 12 English Second language results, an English proficiency test and an English writing performance test. There is a discrepancy between tile respondents' own perception of their English proficiency and their English proficiency as reflected by their Grade 12 English Second language results, the proficiency test and the writing performance test. While respondents felt that their English proficiency is average or above average, the tests indicated that their English proficiency is very low. Despite the respondents' very tow levels of English proficiency they reported that they did not find the English used in different situations relating to Internal Auditing 1 difficult and no significant correlation could be determined between their English proficiency levels and their academic success in Internal Auditing 1. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Several studies and reports have indicated that grade 09 learners are underperforming in science. The underperformance of learners in science is very concerning and has evoked research interests into teaching strategies that can be used to improve the performance of learners in science. This study investigated the impact of student teams achievement divisions (STAD) cooperative instructional strategy on the performance of grade 09 learners in science. A mixed method approach specifically quasi-experimental design and interviews were used to collect data. The population for the study composed of grade 09 learners from Baltimore circuit in Limpopo. The sample consisted of sixty learners from two purposively selected secondary schools. The dependent samples t-test was used to analyze the data collected. The results revealed that student teams achievement divisions (STAD) cooperative instructional strategy resulted in better performance of learners in science than traditional teaching method. In addition, learners expressed an increased interest, motivation and self-efficacy after exposure to cooperative learning. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

This research investigated the possible correlation between English proficiency and academic success in Internal Auditing 1 of learners registered at the Vaal Triangle Technikon. Acquisition of a Second language was investigated with reference to Additive and Subtractive bilingualism, Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills, and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. Factors that influence the acquisition of a L2 were also discussed. Factors that influence learning through a Second language, problems experienced by learners learning through a Second language and the coping mechanisms they use were investigated. The specific language situation in South African education was explained starting with a short historical background of English in South African schools. General problems experienced at schools, language problems experienced at schools, the language proficiency of teachers and how they cope with the language problems were discussed. Language problems experienced by the learners and its effect on higher education were also investigated. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding respondents' school history, First language, experiences with English as a subject at school, experiences of English as language of instruction, and their views on Internal Auditing 1 as a subject. Respondents' English proficiency was determined through three instruments, namely Grade 12 English Second language results, an English proficiency test and an English writing performance test. There is a discrepancy between tile respondents' own perception of their English proficiency and their English proficiency as reflected by their Grade 12 English Second language results, the proficiency test and the writing performance test. While respondents felt that their English proficiency is average or above average, the tests indicated that their English proficiency is very low. Despite the respondents' very tow levels of English proficiency they reported that they did not find the English used in different situations relating to Internal Auditing 1 difficult and no significant correlation could be determined between their English proficiency levels and their academic success in Internal Auditing 1. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

English language learners need teachers who are knowledgeable about the children they are teaching and they must be willing to learn more about their students' cultures, backgrounds and languages in order to make their educational experience meaningful.

Several studies and reports have indicated that grade 09 learners are underperforming in science. The underperformance of learners in science is very concerning and has evoked research interests into teaching strategies that can be used to improve the performance of learners in science. This study investigated the impact of student teams achievement divisions (STAD) cooperative instructional strategy on the performance of grade 09 learners in science. A mixed method approach specifically quasi-experimental design and interviews were used to collect data. The population for the study composed of grade 09 learners from Baltimore circuit in Limpopo. The sample consisted of sixty learners from two purposively selected secondary schools. The dependent samples t-test was used to analyze the data collected. The results revealed that student teams achievement divisions (STAD) cooperative instructional strategy resulted in better performance of learners in science than traditional teaching method. In addition, learners expressed an increased interest, motivation and self-efficacy after exposure to cooperative learning. / Science and Technology Education / M. Ed. (Natural Science Education)

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Social interaction is the foundation of knowledge construction in a constructivist classroom. This project proposes a mediated instruction that is based on the theory of constructivism and social interaction to help new adult immigrants successfully achieve English competence and adapt quickly to the culture of the United States.

The purpose of this dissertation was to implement a needs analysis and on the basis of the findings come up with a framework consisting of practical stages and processes, for determining the academic reading needs of teacher trainees of English, at Instituto Superior de Ciências da Educação da Huíla (hereafter, ISCED-Huíla), a higher teacher training institution in Lubango, in southern Angola. The investigation was initially prompted by the lecturers’ perceptions that the academic reading level of undergraduate teacher trainees in Angola was inadequate for the demands of tertiary level study. A scientific approach to investigating the needs of these students was thus adopted. A needs analysis was undertaken in order to determine, in a systematic manner, the academic literacy levels of the students, their attitudes towards reading, the reading strategies they claimed to use when reading academic texts, their academic reading lacks and needs, and the teacher trainers’ perceptions and opinions on the students’ reading competence in specific reading sub-skills, and on university needs analysis procedures. In all, 45 first-year teacher trainees and 5 teacher trainers were involved in the main study. The teacher trainees were required to answer the Accuplacer test, an academic literacy standardized assessment. Both teacher trainees and teacher trainers completed a corresponding questionnaire survey. The findings showed that, among others, first, teacher trainees’ academic literacy levels were below expected from a tertiary level reader; second, there were certain discrepancies between what teacher trainees and teacher trainers considered to be the needs, skills and lacks of the teacher trainees; and third, academic literacy and academic reading skills should be developed in both L1/Portuguese and L2/English. Therefore, a framework for determining the academic reading needs of teacher trainees, for syllabus and programe development and evaluation is presented. It is hoped that the results of the study will be of assistance to English for Academic Purposes (EAP) reading professionals and to teacher educators, especially those in developing countries, involved in selecting, adapting and designing teacher training programmes, materials and tasks in order to improve academic literacy levels in their countries, schools and universities where English is taught as a foreign language. / English Studies / M.A. (Applied Linguistics)