This study investigates whether or not instruction of English graphophonic correspondences, i.e., the link between letters and sounds, will help Chinese students in learning English vocabulary. Following other related research, I assume that Chinese students can benefit from instruction of English grapheme-phoneme correspondences in learning English words. If this assumption is true, there should be a statistically significant difference between students who have instruction of English graphophonic correspondences for learning English words and students who do not. 1. Chinese students who have been given lessons in both pronunciation and grapheme-phoneme correspondences will recall more English words on a short-term vocabulary test immediately after a vocabulary learning session than will the students who have been given only the lessons in pronunciation. 2. Chinese students who have been given lessons in both pronunciation and grapheme-phoneme correspondences will also recall more English words on a long-term vocabulary test two weeks after a vocabulary learning session than will the students who have been given ~ the lessons in pronunciation. Two groups of students who are in their second year of a junior college in Taiwan participated in this study. The control group was given the normal English course and pronunciation course which did not include the instruction of any letter-sound relationships. The experimental group was given not only the normal English course and pronunciation practice but also instruction in English graphophonic correspondences. This research examined whether or not the students given explicit instruction in English graphophonic correspondences had better performance on both short-term and long-term vocabulary recall tests after the special instruction. The experimental group recalled more words on both short-term and long-term vocabulary recall tests. Moreover, they behaved differently across time depending on which group they were in: The experimental group's performance continued to progress over time while the control group's performance fluctuated across time. The data collected during the experiment support both hypotheses.

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of English

University of Macau / Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities / Department of English

The teaching and learning of English is pervasive in Hong Kong, and children begin to learn English as a second language from as early as when they enter kindergarten at the age of three. Early vocabulary development (i.e., the knowledge of word meanings) is one of the important building blocks for reading development in English. This thesis portrayed two contexts, namely the home and the school, within which the teaching and learning of English vocabulary occurred for young children in Hong Kong. Two studies were conducted to (i) describe the home literacy environment and the English vocabulary skills of children from different socioeconomic backgrounds; (ii) explore the relationship between the home literacy environment and children’s English vocabulary skills; (iii) describe the contexts in which English vocabulary instruction occurred; and (iv) identify the teaching strategies adopted by teachers during English vocabulary instruction in early childhood classrooms. In Study 1, participants were 65 Chinese children (including 40 girls) and their mothers or fathers from four kindergartens. Children’s nonverbal IQ and receptive and expressive vocabulary were assessed. Parents completed a questionnaire which tapped family demographics and the home literacy environment. There were significant differences in home literacy practices and English vocabulary skills as a function of socio-economic status. The home literacy environment, as measured by book reading practices and the teaching of print-related skills, accounted for unique additional variance in English receptive and expressive vocabulary after controlling for the effects of child age, nonverbal IQ and maternal education. In Study 2, English vocabulary instruction was observed in six early childhood classrooms from three kindergartens over the course of a week. From 23 sessions of observations and 535 minutes of data, field notes were coded to identify the contexts of vocabulary instruction and the strategies used in teaching words. The teaching of vocabulary occurred in 12 out of 23 sessions and words were taught within the context of theme-based learning, systematic phonics instruction and storybook read-aloud. Teachers predominantly used certain strategies that promoted children’s recognition and memorization of words, such as the use of visuals, the emphasis on the pronunciation and written form of words, and pointing and labeling of words. This thesis provides an account of the home and school context for the English vocabulary development of Chinese children learning English as a second language. The findings highlight the importance of a rich home literacy environment for the support of second language vocabulary development and reflect the instructional strategies used in early childhood classrooms to facilitate word learning. Implications of these findings are discussed. / published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This is a case study of the academic and occupational discourse of immigrant entrepreneurs in a bilingual (Cantonese and English) business and language program which aims to relate the linguistic and managerial knowledge acquired in class to the business operations. This case study raises problematic questions for both LSP (Language for Specific Purposes) research and bilingual code-switching research. There were two purposes: (1) to study the functional variation of discourse in the educational program and the operation of small business; and (2) to investigate the importance of the functional variation of discourse in code-switching. Pursuing purpose one, part one of the study explores two models: an LSP approach based on "genre" and learning tasks(Swales, 1990); and the Language Socialization approach (Halliday,1975; Mohan, 1986; Ochs, 1988) viewing language learning and sociocultural learning as occurring simultaneously in "activities"(social practices or situations). Two issues are raised: (1) Data indicate that the LSP approach does not illuminate the relation between academic discourse and occupational discourse; (2) It does not account for specific connections between tasks in classroom discourse and genres in business practices. The Language Socialisation approach, however, points to important dynamic theory/practice relations which appear in contrasts between business rules and examples, language rules and examples, seminar discourse and workshop discourse, and the English class and service encounter discourse. Pursuing purpose two, part two of the study compares the Language Socialization model with two models of code-switching as it relates to functional variation of discourse: (1) Guthrie (1983), and (2) Faerch (1985). Model (1) misses a large proportion of second language examples while model (2) fails to account for data labelled as "business rules" and "business examples" in the sample. The Language Socialization approach, however, recognises in discourse both theory (e.g., language and business rules) and practice (e.g., language and business examples). Rules are mostly handled in the first language while examples are mostly handled in the second language. A log-linear analysis indicates that, in all cases, "rules/ examples" is the strongest predictor of language choice.

This study investigates the relationship of instructor behaviour and classroom practices with Chinese ESL speaking-in-class anxiety of a group of first-year university students in Hong Kong. The factors contributing to second language learning speaking-in-class anxiety (SA) are identified by means of interviews,a questionnaire and discussion. The relationship between sex, majors, students' second language (English) proficiency, self-evaluation of their first language (Chinese) and second language (L2) proficiency with SA are examined with the help of a questionnaire. A further aspect of the study explores the kinds of classroom practices and teacher behaviour that help students reduce SA by means of an experiment, comparison of data gathered from pre-and-post experiment questionnaires, participant observation, interviews, classroom activity records, audio recording and comparison of students' English oral grades before and after the experiment. Factor analysis identified five factors contributing to SA. They are - speech anxiety and fear of negative evaluation - comfortableness when speaking with native speakers - negative attitudes towards the English class - negative self-evaluation and - fear of failing the class/consequences of personal failure. Speaking in front of the class without preparation, being corrected when speaking, inadequate wait-time and not being allowed to use the first language in a second/foreign language class were also indicated by this group of first-year Chinese ESL university students as important elements leading to SA. Results suggested that teacher behaviour such as creating a warm and easy going atmosphere in the classroom, upholding teaching professionalism, providing specific help to students and providing pleasant language experience are useful to encourage spoken English in an ESL classroom. Classroom practices such as adopting appropriate tasks and activities that address varied leaning styles and strategies in the classroom, adopting appropriate modes of assessment and correction, allowing preparation in advance before asking students to speak in front of the class, providing adequate wait-time and allowing the use of the first language help lower students' SA. The thesis concludes with an examination of the methodological and theoretical implications of the study. The present research has highlighted the importance of considering the cultural elements, wait time and the use of LI in the L2 classroom, elements which have been neglected in previous anxiety research. A number of tentative and practical recommendations from the study are proposed together with suggestions for future research.

This is a case study of the academic and occupational discourse of immigrant entrepreneurs in a bilingual (Cantonese and English) business and language program which aims to relate the linguistic and managerial knowledge acquired in class to the business operations. This case study raises problematic questions for both LSP (Language for Specific Purposes) research and bilingual code-switching research. There were two purposes: (1) to study the functional variation of discourse in the educational program and the operation of small business; and (2) to investigate the importance of the functional variation of discourse in code-switching. Pursuing purpose one, part one of the study explores two models: an LSP approach based on "genre" and learning tasks(Swales, 1990); and the Language Socialization approach (Halliday,1975; Mohan, 1986; Ochs, 1988) viewing language learning and sociocultural learning as occurring simultaneously in "activities"(social practices or situations). Two issues are raised: (1) Data indicate that the LSP approach does not illuminate the relation between academic discourse and occupational discourse; (2) It does not account for specific connections between tasks in classroom discourse and genres in business practices. The Language Socialisation approach, however, points to important dynamic theory/practice relations which appear in contrasts between business rules and examples, language rules and examples, seminar discourse and workshop discourse, and the English class and service encounter discourse. Pursuing purpose two, part two of the study compares the Language Socialization model with two models of code-switching as it relates to functional variation of discourse: (1) Guthrie (1983), and (2) Faerch (1985). Model (1) misses a large proportion of second language examples while model (2) fails to account for data labelled as "business rules" and "business examples" in the sample. The Language Socialization approach, however, recognises in discourse both theory (e.g., language and business rules) and practice (e.g., language and business examples). Rules are mostly handled in the first language while examples are mostly handled in the second language. A log-linear analysis indicates that, in all cases, "rules/ examples" is the strongest predictor of language choice. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

Reading instruction in China and that in the United States are so different that they are not compatible. In fact, they seem to go in opposite directions. This study examined some of the differences between Chinese EFL reading instruction and American ESL reading instruction through analyzing selected tape-recordings of reading classes from China and the United States, and comparing Chinese EFL reading textbooks with American ESL reading textbooks. This study was intended to answer the following questions. 1. Is a bottom-up method of reading really taught in China while a top-down method is taught in the United States? 2. Compared with the ESL reading textbooks used in the United States, do the Chinese EFL reading textbooks have a larger proportion of exercises dealing with vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation and fewer items in reading skills? 3. Compared with the American ESL subjects, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese EFL subjects in reading comprehension in terms of recognizing main ideas, understanding direct statements and drawing inferences?

Hung Mong-ping. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-173). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (English version) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (Chinese version) --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iv / LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Studies on the Schooling and Social Adaptation of Young NACs from Mainland China --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Difficulties in Finding a School Place --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Enrollment in Lower Grades with Younger Classmates --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Problems in the Learning of Languages --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Relationship with Teachers --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Peer Relationship in School --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Relationship with the Family and Adaptation to the Change of Living Environment --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Community Support for Students --- p.15 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Limitations of Local Studies on Young NACs and Focus of Current Study --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- Socio-cultural Dimension in Minority Education --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Interpersonal Relationship with Classmates and Teachers --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Role of the Minority Parents --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Cultural Adaptation and Marginality --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Identity --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Summary --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3 --- Effects of Age-based Identity on Learning --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Academic Improvement --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- School Dropouts --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Self Concept --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- School Adjustment --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Summary --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4 --- Socio-cultural Influences in SLA --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Norton's Theorization about Socio-culturalInfluences on the SLA --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Research Studies Supporting Norton's Theorization --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- "Norton (1997,2000)'s Revisit of the SLA Theory" --- p.41 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Summary --- p.44 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.46 / Chapter 3.1 --- Research Method --- p.46 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Case Study Research Approach --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Definition of Case Study --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Merits and Limitations of the Case Study --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2.1 --- Merits --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2.2.2 --- Limitations --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Case Study approach for the Study of the Young New Arrivals from Mainland China --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Research Design --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1.1 --- Multiple-Case Study --- p.50 / Chapter 3.3.1.2 --- Length of Research Period --- p.51 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Data Collection --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2.1 --- Triangulation of Informants and Data Collection Methods --- p.52 / Chapter 3.3.2.2 --- Self-completion questionnaires andQualitative Interviews --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3.2.3 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3.2.4 --- Audio-recording and Transcription --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Data Analysis --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3.1 --- Deductive Data analysis Approaches --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3.3.2 --- Member Checks --- p.56 / Chapter 3.4 --- Selection of Subjects for the Study --- p.57 / Chapter 3.5 --- Profile of Subjects --- p.58 / Chapter 3.6 --- Procedures of the Study --- p.61 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Stage 1: Pilot-testing of Questionnaires (Late June 2001) --- p.61 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Stage 2: Interviews with the Teachers (Early July 2001 to early December2001) --- p.62 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Stage 3: Interviews with the Subjects to Collect Background --- p.63 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Stage 4: Interviews with the Subjects to Collect In-depth Data (Mid-September 2001 to Mid-January2001) --- p.63 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- "Stage 5: Interviews with the parents (December to February,2001)" --- p.64 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Stage 6: Data Analysis (March to May) --- p.65 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS --- p.67 / Chapter 4.1 --- Reasons for Coming to Hong Kong --- p.67 / Chapter 4.2 --- Scene of Departure and First Day in Hong Kong --- p.70 / Chapter 4.3 --- Schooling in Hong Kong --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- First School Day --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Feelings before Going to School --- p.75 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- New Teachers and Classmates --- p.76 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Cultural Differences and Language Shock --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3.1.4 --- Worries and Concerns --- p.85 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- School Life --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.2.1 --- Perceived Function of Educationand Academic Goal Setting --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3.2.2 --- Parent's Expectation for the NACs Academic Attainment --- p.89 / Chapter 4.3.2.3 --- Relationship with Teachers --- p.92 / Chapter 4.3.2.4 --- Relationship with Classmates --- p.94 / Chapter 4.3.2.5 --- Language Learning --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2.5.1 --- Attitudes towards Different language --- p.101 / Chapter 4.3.2.5.2 --- Cantonese Learning --- p.102 / Chapter 4.3.2.5.3 --- English Learning --- p.104 / Chapter 4.3.2.6 --- Age Gap with Classmates --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.2.7 --- Participation in Extracurricular Activities --- p.115 / Chapter 4.3.2.8 --- Change to a Different School --- p.116 / Chapter 4.4 --- Family Life and Community Support --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Family Life --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4.1.1 --- Relationship with Family --- p.119 / Chapter 4.4.1.2 --- Living Environment --- p.123 / Chapter 4.4.1.3 --- Family's Economic Situation --- p.125 / Chapter 4.4.1.4 --- Comparison with Hongkongers´ة Family Life --- p.127 / Chapter 4.4.1.5 --- Languages use with Family --- p.129 / Chapter 4.4.1.6 --- Learning of Hometown Cultures --- p.131 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Community Support --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4.2.1 --- Education Department --- p.133 / Chapter 4.4.2.2 --- School's Support --- p.137 / Chapter 4.4.2.3 --- Community Centers --- p.138 / Chapter 4.4.2.4 --- The Church --- p.139 / Chapter 4.5 --- Identity --- p.140 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Perception of Self and In-group Members --- p.140 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Feeling about Different Labels and Desirable Identity --- p.142 / Chapter 4.6 --- Summary --- p.146 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- CONCLUSION --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1 --- The NACs' Sense of Self and Socio-cultural Adaptation --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Sense of Self before and after coming to Hong Kong --- p.148 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Factors Affecting Sense of Self --- p.150 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Socio-cultural Differences --- p.151 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Socio-cultural Influences on Learning --- p.152 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Strategies Adopted by the Young NACs --- p.157 / Chapter 5.2 --- Recommendations and Suggestions --- p.158 / Chapter 5.3 --- Limitations of the Current Study and Suggestions for Future Studies - --- p.162 / reference --- p.163 / appendix --- p.174 / APPENDIX a Number of NACs Admitted to Secondary School (1991-2000) --- p.174 / APPENDIX B The Replication Approach to Multiple Case Study ´ؤ --- p.175 / APPENDIX C Consent Form for NACs Students --- p.176 / APPENDIX D Questionnaires for Young NACs I (Socioculutural Adaptation and Sense of Self) --- p.178 / APPENDIX E Questionnaires for Young NACs II (English Language Learning) --- p.192 / APPENDIX F Consent for NACs´ة English Teachers --- p.206 / APPENDIX G Interview Guide for the NACs' English Teachers -…- --- p.207 / APPENDIX H Interview Guide for Interview with Young NACs I(Sense of Departure & First day in Hong Kong) --- p.209 / APPENDIX I Interview Guide for Interview with Young NACs II (First School Day and the School Life) --- p.211 / APPENDIX J Interview Guide for Interview with YoungNACs III (Family Life) --- p.213 / APPENDIX K Interview Guide for Interview with YoungNACs IV(Perception of Self and Social Life) --- p.215 / APPENDIX L Consent Form (For NACs' Parents) --- p.217 / APPENDIX M Interview Guide for Interview with Young NACs' Parents --- p.219 / APPENDIX N Interview Transcription (Li: Follow-up Interview of the Questionnaire about Adaptation) --- p.221 / APPENDIX 0 Interview Transcription (Li: English Learning) --- p.229 / APPENDIX P Interview Transcription (Li: First Day in Hong Kong) --- p.239 / APPENDIX Q Interview Transcription (Li: First School Day and the School Life) --- p.248 / APPENDIX R Interview Transcription (Li: Family Life) --- p.264 / APPENDIX S Interview Transcription (Li: Perception ofSelf and Social Life) --- p.272 / APPENDIX T Interview Transcription (Li: Interview with Teacher) --- p.281 / APPENDIX U Interview Transcription (Li: Interview with Parent) --- p.287 / APPENDIX V Interview Transcription (Huang) --- p.292 / APPENDIX W Interview Transcription (Chang) --- p.362 / APPENDIX X Interview Transcription (Wong) --- p.431