CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / O objetivo desta tese foi investigar como o conhecimento prosÃdico està organizado em um estÃgio inicial de aquisiÃÃo de L2 em aprendizes brasileiros de inglÃs com a ajuda de uma rede neural conexionista. A abordagem proposta neste trabalho consiste primeiramente em "quantificar" as elocuÃÃes dos aprendizes de L2 na forma de coeficientes LPC e outras caracterÃsticas linguÃsticas/fonÃticas que possam representar o fenÃmeno aqui estudado (TransferÃncia do Conhecimento ProsÃdico do PortuguÃs para o inglÃs). A este processo dÃ-se o nome de "extraÃÃo de caracterÃsticas" da fala (feature extraction), uma importante etapa na abordagem conexionista do processamento da fala. Em segundo lugar, uma vez determinadas as caracterÃsticas do item lexical ou da frase produzida por cada aprendiz, sÃo inseridos esses dados na rede neural a fim de analisar as propriedades (regularidades) estatÃsticas do conjunto de falantes como um todo. Em terceiro, utiliza-se ferramentas de visualizaÃÃo para analisar como a rede organiza os falantes e quais informaÃÃes sÃo mais relevantes para este processo de formaÃÃo de grupos (e.g. nÃvel de proficiÃncia, uma certa caracterÃstica ou propriedade da fala, entre outros). A rede utilizada à conhecida como Mapa Auto-OrganizÃvel (Self-Organizing Map, SOM). A rede SOM organiza os falantes por grau de similaridade em grupos bem definidos (clusters). A aplicaÃÃo da rede SOM neste contexto Ã, portanto, inovadora. A rede SOM à implementada no ambiente Matlab usando o pacote Som toolbox, que à um conjunto de rotinas de programaÃÃo desenvolvidas pelo grupo de pesquisa da FinlÃndia, tambÃm inventores da rede SOM. Os resultados das simulaÃÃes apontam que a rede SOM pode vir a ser usada mais frequentemente para avaliar o grau de distÃncia a que um grupo de aprendizes està do grupo de falantes nativos. Dessa forma, uma rede neural pode vir a ser aplicada como ferramenta no contexto de determinaÃÃo de nÃvel de proficiÃncia em lÃngua estrangeira. / The objective of this dissertation was to investigate how the prosodic knowledge is organized in an early stage of L2 acquisition in Brazilian learners of English with the help of a connectionist neural network. The approach proposed in this research is first, to quantify the utterances of L2 learners in the form of LPC coefficients and other linguistic/phonetics features that can represent the phenomenon studied here (Transfer of the prosodic knowledge from Portuguese to English). This process is called speech feature extraction, an important step in the connectionist approach to speech processing. Second, since certain features of the lexical item or sentence produced by each learner are determined, these data are entered into the neural network to analyze the statistical properties (regularities) of the set of speakers as a whole. Third, visualization tools are used to analyze how the network organizes speakers and what information is most relevant to this process of group formation (e.g. proficiency level, a certain characteristic or property of speech, among others). The network is known as Self-Organizing Map (Self-Organizing Map, SOM). The SOM organizes speakers for similarity degree in well-defined groups (clusters). Application of SOM in this context is therefore innovative. The SOM network is implemented in Matlab environment using the SOMtoolbox package, which is a set of programming routines developed by the research group in Finland, also the inventors of the SOM. The simulation results indicate that SOM might be used more frequently to assess the degree of distance that a group of learners is to the group of native speakers. Thus, a neural network might be used as a tool in the context of determining the level of foreign language proficiency.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-22T13:15:55Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rhanya Rafaella Rodrigues - 2017.pdf: 3318689 bytes, checksum: 6699e30f5ef3af03787ed15fb2893906 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-05-22T13:16:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rhanya Rafaella Rodrigues - 2017.pdf: 3318689 bytes, checksum: 6699e30f5ef3af03787ed15fb2893906 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-22T13:16:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Rhanya Rafaella Rodrigues - 2017.pdf: 3318689 bytes, checksum: 6699e30f5ef3af03787ed15fb2893906 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The process of L2 acquisition tends to produce many controversies regarding the level of advanced performance of learners. Whereas some researchers attribute proficiency level to pedagogical practices worked up in the classroom, others affirm that individual differences, that is, specific characteristics of learners, interfere in this process (ORTIZ-PREUSS; SANZ, 2016). Nonetheless, Sanz (2005) suggests it should be investigated the relations between pedagogical conditions and individual differences of learners, in order to further explain the variability in final proficiency level of L2 adult learners. In addition, another prominent aspect is the lack of researches on acquisition of intonation in Spanish/L2. Based on that, in this research, we propose to observe the effects of explicit instruction in acquisition of total declaratory and interrogative utterances, which possess the most distinct intonational patterns between Portuguese and Spanish (DIAS, 2015). Intending to analyse possible interactions between effects of explicit instruction and IDs – Individual Differences (age, frequency of use, teaching experience and attention span capacity) in the acquisition of these utterances, we conducted a semi-experimental research of quantitative nature. The research participants were Brazilian learners of Spanish from intermediate-advanced level who were in the context of Spanish teaching graduation course and in the context of a language course center. These participants were divided into groups of four, considering: i) the context (graduation course or free course); and ii) the intervention (experimental or control). For obtaining the data, we used the following instruments: linguistic pre-test, linguistic post-test, questionnaire of linguistic background and proficiency, and test of attentional capacity (ANT). It should be noted that we used a free software, PRAAT, not only in the explicit instruction, as a way of evidencing the melodic contours produced by students, but also in the data analysis, to assigning scores to correct or incorrect utterance production. The participants of experimental groups were submitted to a period of explicit instruction about the target utterances in between pre-test and post-test. The results indicate that scores of participants of experimental groups enhanced after receiving explicit instruction, although differences in the analysis cannot be considered significant among the groups. Besides that, we observed the association between explicit instruction and age, frequency of use, general mastery of skills, having lived in Hispanic-speaking country and teaching experience. It was also verified that total interrogative utterances are more difficult for Brazilian learners of Spanish/L2 when compared to declaratory utterances. Lastly, the results point out that explicit instruction can contribute to the acquisition of this study’s target-utterances, however, we must consider that some IDs can maximize or supply the effects of explicit instruction. Keywords: Pedagogical Conditions. Individual Differences. Intonation. Spanish/L2. Effects of Explicit Instruction. Total Declaratory and Interrogative Utterances / O processo de aquisição de L2 tende a gerar muitas controvérsias no que se refere ao nível de desempenho avançado dos aprendizes. Enquanto alguns estudiosos atribuem o nível de proficiência obtido às práticas pedagógicas desenvolvidas em sala de aula, outros afirmam que são as diferenças individuais (DIs), ou seja, as características pessoais de cada aprendiz, que interferem nesse processo (ORTIZ-PREUSS; SANZ, 2016). No entanto, Sanz (2005) sugere que se deve investigar a interação entre as condições pedagógicas e as diferenças individuais dos aprendizes, com vistas a explicar melhor a variabilidade no nível de proficiência avançado de aprendizes adultos de L2. Além disso, outro aspecto que chama a atenção é a carência de pesquisas sobre a aquisição da entoação em espanhol/L2. A partir disso, neste estudo, propõe-se a observar os efeitos da instrução explícita na aquisição de enunciados declarativos e interrogativos totais, que são os que apresentam padrão entoacional mais divergente entre a língua portuguesa e a língua espanhola (DIAS, 2015). Espera-se, também, analisar possíveis interações entre efeitos da instrução explícita e DIs (idade, frequência de uso, experiência linguística, experiência docente e capacidade atencional) na aquisição desses enunciados. À vista disso, realizou-se uma pesquisa semi-experimental de natureza quantitativa. Participam do estudo 19 aprendizes brasileiros de espanhol em nível intermediário-avançado, que fazem parte do contexto de licenciatura em espanhol e do contexto de curso de idiomas. Os participantes estão divididos em quatro grupos, considerando-se: i) o contexto (graduação ou curso livre); e ii) a intervenção (experimental ou controle). Para a obtenção de dados foram usados os seguintes instrumentos: pré-teste e pós-teste linguístico, questionário de histórico e proficiência linguística e teste de capacidade atencional (ANT). Cabe ressaltar que usou-se o software de uso livre PRAAT, tanto na instrução explícita, como forma de evidenciar os contornos melódicos produzidos pelos alunos, quanto na análise de dados, para a atribuição dos escores de acerto ou erro na produção dos enunciados. Os participantes dos grupos experimentais foram submetidos a um período de instrução explícita sobre os enunciados-alvo, entre o pré-teste e o pós-teste. Os resultados indicam que os escores dos participantes dos grupos experimentais aumentaram após o recebimento da instrução explícita, embora as análises não tenham revelado diferença significativa entre os grupos. Além disso, observa-se associação entre efeitos de instrução explícita e idade, frequência de uso, domínio geral de habilidades, vivência em país de fala hispana e experiência docente. Verifica-se, também, que os enunciados interrogativos totais são considerados os que apresentam produção mais difícil aos aprendizes brasileiros de espanhol/L2, em comparação com os enunciados declarativos. Os resultados indicam que a instrução explícita pode contribuir para a aquisição dos enunciados-alvo deste estudo, no entanto, deve-se considerar que algumas DIs podem maximizar ou suprir os efeitos da instrução explícita. Palavras-Chave: Condições Pedagógicas. Diferenças Individuais. Entoação. Espanhol/L2. Efeitos da Instrução Explícita. Enunciados Declarativos e Interrogativos Totais.

Submitted by Fabiano Vassallo (fabianovassallo2127@gmail.com) on 2017-05-16T18:21:16Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) ALVES, 2017 (dissertação).pdf: 2682473 bytes, checksum: 7aaac0cc3202c08cb69d6f9b48b1eedc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Josimara Dias Brumatti (bcgdigital@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-06-06T14:52:46Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) ALVES, 2017 (dissertação).pdf: 2682473 bytes, checksum: 7aaac0cc3202c08cb69d6f9b48b1eedc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-06T14:52:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) ALVES, 2017 (dissertação).pdf: 2682473 bytes, checksum: 7aaac0cc3202c08cb69d6f9b48b1eedc (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Este trabalho busca relacionar aspectos das políticas linguísticas - norma, padrão, práticas, atitudes, crenças e representações sociais e linguísticas (CALVET, 2007; BISINOTO, 2007; PETITJEAN, 2009) com fundamentos do ensino de pronúncia (FLEGE, 1981; ELLIS, 1986; ALMEIDA FILHO, 1995; NOBRE & ALMEIDA, 2014). Objetiva-se analisar a pronúncia, especificamente, das consoantes sibilantes do espanhol, desde a evolução fonética do espanhol como L1 à produção oral de falantes de espanhol/L2. Cabe ressaltar que a supracitada produção oral compõe-se de dados empíricos do uso e apoia-se em ferramentas de tecnologia de fala, como o software de análise e síntese de fala – PRAAT, versão 6.0.23. Metodologicamente,com a produção de fala (corpus 1) de 30 participantes, alunos da graduação de Letras: Português/Espanhol da UFRJ, busca-se descrever o uso dos sons sibilantes que estão em alternância com outros itens sonoros nesse processo de aquisição/desenvolvimento de aprendizagem. Objetiva-se, ainda, discutir a heterogeneidade linguística da língua espanhola em diálogo com o ensino de pronúncia, a partir dos dados qualitativos de 30 estudantes do PROLEM/UFF (corpus 2). Como resultados, tem-se que o grupo de nível avançado apresenta mais realizações fonéticas do que os grupos de nível básico e intermediário e que os dados orais dos níveis iniciais são variados, com a presença diferencial da sibilante interdental surda [θ] e, nos níveis finais, uma progressão na realização da sibilante ápico-alveolar surda [s] e alguns segmentos sibilantes em coda silábica, como as fricativas glotal [h, ɦ] e a palatal [ʃ, ʒ], fones responsáveis pelos fenômenos denominados aspiração e palatalização. Por outro lado, esses últimos segmentos não foram encontrados nos níveis iniciais, com a exceção das palatais em coda. Nesta perspectiva, pode-se verificar que este trabalho construiu diretrizes que poderão auxiliar o ensino-aprendizagem de categorias fonético-fonológicas de espanhol/L2, evitando que esse processo se estabeleça em estágios superficiais de purismo linguístico sem conhecer a diversidade, pluralidade e heterogeneidade linguística; e, ainda, detectou em que medida a produção das sibilantes pode carregar práticas político-ideológicas em relação à linguagem e como se configura o processo de escolha de uma pronúncia, a eleição de uma variedade linguística em oposição a outras e, ainda, o porquê desse fato glotopolítico ser tão profícuo no contexto de ensino-aprendizagem formal / Este estudio busca relacionar aspectos de las políticas linguísticas - norma, patrón, prácticas, actitudes, creencias y representaciones sociales y lenguaje (CALVET, 2007; BISINOTO, 2007; PETITJEAN, 2009) com presupuestos teóricos de la enseñanza de la pronunciación (FLEGE, 1981; ELLIS, 1986; ALMEIDA FILHO, 1995; NOBRE & ALMEIDA, 2014). El objetivo es analizar la pronunciación de las consonantes sibilantes del español, desde la evolución de la fonética del español/L1 a la producción oral de los hablantes de español/L2. Cabe destacar que la mencionada producción oral consta de datos empíricos sobre la utilización y se basa en los instrumentos de la tecnología de voz, como el software para el análisis y la síntesis de voz – PRAAT, versión 6.0.23. Metodológicamente, con la producción del habla (corpus 1) 30 participantes, estudiantes de Letras: Portugués/Español - UFRJ, se describe el uso de los sonidos sibilantes que están en alternancia con otros ítemes sonoros que están en proceso de adquisición y desarrollo del aprendizaje. El objetivo es, también, examinar la heterogeneidad lingüística de la lengua española en diálogo con la enseñanza de la pronunciación, a partir de los datos cualitativos de 30 estudiantes de la PROLEM/UFF (corpus 2). Como resultado, el grupo de nivel avanzado incluye más características fonéticas que el nivel básico e intermedio y los datos orales del nivel inicial son variadas, con la presencia diferencial de la sibilante interdental sordo [θ] y, en el nivel final, una gradación en la realización de la sibilante ápico-alveolar sorda [s] y en algunos segmentos sibilantes en coda silábica, como las fricativas glotal [h, ɦ] y palatal [ʃ, ʒ], fones responsables por los fenómenos llamados aspiración y palatalización. Por otro lado, estos últimos segmentos no fueron encontrados en los niveles iniciales, con la excepción del palatal en la coda. Em esta perspectiva, se puede verificar que este trabajo construyó directrices que pueden ayudar al proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje de las categorías fonético-fonológicas del español/L2, evitando que este proceso se establezca en etapas del purismo lingüístico sin conocer la diversidad, la pluralidad y la heterogeneidad de la diversidad linguística. Y, todavía, detectó la manera com la cual la producción de las sibilantes puede llevar a prácticas políticas e ideologías en relación al lenguaje y cómo se configura el proceso de elegir una pronunciación, la elección de una variedad en oposición a otras, y también el porqué de este hecho glotopolítico sea tan recurriente en el contexto de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje

L'identification des systèmes dynamiques complexes reste une préoccupation lorsque les erreurs de prédictions contiennent des outliers d'innovation. Ils ont pour effet de détériorer le modèle estimé, si le critère d'estimation est mal choisi et mal adapté. Cela a pour conséquences de contaminer la distribution de ces erreurs, laquelle présente des queues épaisses et s'écarte de la distribution normale. Pour résoudre ce problème, il existe une classe d'estimateurs, dits robustes, moins sensibles aux outliers, qui traitent d'une manière plus « douce » la transition entre résidus de niveaux très différents. Les M-estimateurs de Huber font partie de cette classe. Ils sont associés à un mélange des normes L2 et L1, liés à un modèle de distribution gaussienne perturbée, dit gross error model. A partir de ce cadre formel, nous proposons dans cette thèse, un ensemble d'outils d'estimation et de validation de modèles paramétriques linéaires et pseudo-linéaires boîte-noires, avec extension de l'intervalle de bruit dans les petites valeurs de la constante d'accord de la norme de Huber. Nous présentons ainsi les propriétés de convergence du critère d'estimation et de l'estimateur robuste. Nous montrons que l'extension de l'intervalle de bruit réduit la sensibilité du biais de l'estimateur et améliore la robustesse aux points de levage. Pour un type de modèle pseudo-linéaire, il est présenté un nouveau contexte dit L-FTE, avec une nouvelle méthode de détermination de L, dans le but d'établir les linéarisations du gradient et du Hessien du critère d'estimation, ainsi que de la matrice de covariance asymptotique de l'estimateur. De ces relations, une version robuste du critère de validation FPE est établie et nous proposons un nouvel outil d'aide au choix de modèle estimé. Des expérimentations sur des processus simulés et réels sont présentées et analysées.L'identification des systèmes dynamiques complexes reste une préoccupation lorsque les erreurs de prédictions contiennent des outliers d'innovation. Ils ont pour effet de détériorer le modèle estimé, si le critère d'estimation est mal choisi et mal adapté. Cela a pour conséquences de contaminer la distribution de ces erreurs, laquelle présente des queues épaisses et s'écarte de la distribution normale. Pour résoudre ce problème, il existe une classe d'estimateurs, dits robustes, moins sensibles aux outliers, qui traitent d'une manière plus « douce » la transition entre résidus de niveaux très différents. Les M-estimateurs de Huber font partie de cette classe. Ils sont associés à un mélange des normes L2 et L1, liés à un modèle de distribution gaussienne perturbée, dit gross error model. A partir de ce cadre formel, nous proposons dans cette thèse, un ensemble d'outils d'estimation et de validation de modèles paramétriques linéaires et pseudo-linéaires boîte-noires, avec extension de l'intervalle de bruit dans les petites valeurs de la constante d'accord de la norme de Huber. Nous présentons ainsi les propriétés de convergence du critère d'estimation et de l'estimateur robuste. Nous montrons que l'extension de l'intervalle de bruit réduit la sensibilité du biais de l'estimateur et améliore la robustesse aux points de levage. Pour un type de modèle pseudo-linéaire, il est présenté un nouveau contexte dit L-FTE, avec une nouvelle méthode de détermination de L, dans le but d'établir les linéarisations du gradient et du Hessien du critère d'estimation, ainsi que de la matrice de covariance asymptotique de l'estimateur. De ces relations, une version robuste du critère de validation FPE est établie et nous proposons un nouvel outil d'aide au choix de modèle estimé. Des expérimentations sur des processus simulés et réels sont présentées et analysées. / Complex dynamic systems identification remains a concern when prediction errors contain innovation outliers. They have the effect to damage the estimated model if the estimation criterion is badly chosen and badly adapted. The consequence is the contamination of the distribution of these errors; this distribution presents heavy tails and deviates of the normal distribution. To solve this problem, there is a robust estimator's class, less sensitive to the outliers, which treat the transition between residuals of very different levels in a softer way. The Huber's M-estimators belong to this class. They are associated to a mixed L2 - L1 norm, related to a disturbed Gaussian distribution model, namely gross error model. From this formal context, in this thesis we propose a set of estimation and validation tools of black-box linear and pseudo-linear models, with extension of the noise interval to low values of the tuning constant in the Huber's norm. We present the convergence properties of the robust estimation criterion and the robust estimator. We show that the extension of the noise interval reduces the sensitivity of the bias of the estimator and improves the robustness to the leverage points. Moreover, for a pseudo-linear model structure, we present a new context, named L-FTE, with a new method to determine L, in order to linearize the gradient and the Hessien of estimation criterion and the asymptotic covariance matrix of the estimator. From these expressions, a robust version of the FPE validation criterion is established and we propose a new decisional tool for the estimated model choice. Experiments on simulated and real systems are presented and analyzed.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) et ses ligands PD-L1 et PD-L2 appartiennent à la famille B7 : CD28 des molécules de cosignalisation immunitaire. Leur interaction délivre un signal inhibiteur à l’activation lymphocytaire. Ces molécules sont impliquées non seulement dans le contrôle de la tolérance, mais aussi dans un mécanisme d’échappement tumoral et viral au système immunitaire. Les deux ligands de PD-1 : PD-L1 et PD-L2 montrent une expression tissulaire assez large, témoignant de leur rôle étendu aux différents stades de la réponse immunitaire. L’expression de PD-L1 est plus large que celle de PD-L2. PD-L1 est exprimé sur les cellules hématopoïétiques et non hématopoïétiques, PDL2 présente une expression assez restreinte aux CPAs professionnelles. L’expression de PD-L1 et PD-L2 est fortement régulée dans plusieurs cas pathologiques et notamment dans les cancers. La régulation de l’expression de PD-L2 qui fait l’objet de notre étude, représente une cible importante dans le domaine de l’immunothérapie. Notre projet porte sur l’analyse de l’expression, la régulation et la fonction de PD-L2 dans les LT, dans différents contextes physiologiques et pathologiques. Nous avons pu démontrer que PD-L2 qui avait été décrit chez la souris pour son expression restreinte aux CDs et aux macrophages, était de façon surprenante exprimé avec son homologue PD-L1 sur les LT après costimulation CD3+CD28. Nous l’avons confirmé ex vivo par activation par Staphylococcal enterotoxin E. Ce résultat montre que PD-L2 est bien induit sur des LT dans des conditions d’activation physiologique ou pathologique. Nous avons pu démontrer aussi une régulation négative de l’expression transcriptionnelle et protéique de PD-L1 et de PDL2 sous l’effet de la CyclosporineA (CsA). Cet effet est indépendant de l’action de l’IL-2. Nos données d’analyses bioinformatiques nous ont permis d’identifier les sites putatifs de fixation de facteurs de transcription au niveau du promoteur du gène pd-l2, qui peuvent être régulés par la CsA. L’analyse de la fonction de PDL2 sur les LT nous a permis de démontrer que la stimulation de PDL2 par des anticorps monoclonaux fabriqués dans le laboratoire inhibait l’activation T. Nos résultats démontrent pour la première fois une fonction de PDL2 et une signalisation « reverse siglaling » dans les LT potentiels. La caractérisation fonctionnelle et l’étude des voies de signalisation de PD-L2 que nous avons déjà étudié dans notre projet, représentent une piste importante à explorer. Cela permettrait de proposer de nouvelles stratégies permettant de lutter contre les mécanismes d’échappement tumoral. / PD-1 (programmed death-1) is a new CD28 families member, that deliver inhibitory signals that regulate the balance between T cell activation, tolerance, and immunopathology. (1) (ref octa).PD-1, is inducibly expressed on T cells. The PD-1 ligands PD-L1 (B7-H1) and PD-L2 (B7-DC) exhibit distinct patterns of expression: PD-L1 is expressed more broadly than is PD-L2. PD-L1 is expressed on resting and up regulated on hematopoietic, nonhematopoietic cells and cancer cell. However, PD-L2 is expressed only on professional antigen-presenting cells. In addition, it has been demonstrated that PD-L1 and PD-L2 are differentially regulated by Th1 and Th2 cytokines.Suggesting that PD-L2 is regulated differently in the former versus the latter, and this proved to be the case, both in transcription and promotion (2) (ref octa) However, little is known about the regulation of PD-L2 expression and nine is known about the expression of PD-L2 on T cells. In the present study, we observed in the first time, by flow cytometer and real time PCR (RT PCR) that PD-L2 expression is induced on ex vivo on activated CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, on in vitro on activated JURKAT T cell line and this expression is inhibited by the immunosuppressive drogue Cyclosporin A (CsA). In the second time we showed that PD-L2 is up regulated in vivo on Non hodchkin lymphoma, other up regulation of PD-L2 expression is observed on Vb8+ T cells after PBMC treatment with the Staphylococcal enterotoxin E (SEE) super antigen. Finally, we attributed a function to PD-L2 to be a co-inhibitory molecule for CD4+ T cells activation.

Motivation always attracts language teachers’ attention as one of the most significant factors for second language learning. In the past decades, motivational studies have experienced transitions and developments, and various studies investigated language learning motivation. (Dörnyei and Ryan, 2015) However, those motivational studies indicate that research outcomes vary depending on languages, contexts, and individuals, and understanding L2 learning motivation requires investigations at the local level.<div>This study examined the motivation of Japanese learners at a large state university in the Midwestern United States by asking them to respond to an online survey with eleven motivational factors that include the L2 Motivational Self System (Dörnyei, 2005, 2009) and the anti-ought-to L2 self (Thompson & Vásquez, 2015). <div>The main findings are as follows. First, attitude towards leaning Japanese, classroom support, the ideal L2 self, and the anti-ought-to L2 self had significant relationships with students’ intended effort. Second, rather than how long/in which course students study, why/for what they are learning Japanese makes the most significant differences in their motivation. Third, the ought-to L2 self might not be the best motivational factor for learning Japanese since characteristics of Japanese are different from those of English, which is widely used around the world. Fourth, interest in Japanese anime, manga, and games did not correlate with participants’ ideal L2 self and intended effort although interest in the other cultural items showed moderate correlations with those factors. Fifth, the longer/higher-level their learning experience became, the less interest participants showed in Japanese anime, manga, and pop culture, indicating that their interest in these cultural aspects began to vary and shifted to the other aspects of Japanese culture. </div><div>The main pedagogical implications suggested by the study are that there is a need to help students to set realistic goals and visualize future self-image with the Japanese language so that they can continue learning regardless of the course level or length of study, and teachers should consider at which stages their students are, and on the basis of that, decide how much anime and manga to incorporate into their lessons.</div></div>

Many studies show that language learners see the benefits of using their first language in order to learn second or subsequent languages, while they also see some disadvantages. This reflects dominant ideas in language learning about the importance of keeping languages separate. The present study examines translanguaging, a strategy in which learners are encouraged to use their entire linguistic repertoires during language learning. To this aim, data are examined from Swedish learners (n= 168) in grades 7-9 to investigate their attitudes and perceptions towards translanguaging in the EFL classroom, and to shed light on the roles of age and proficiency in constraining them. The data was collected by means of a questionnaire and a proficiency test in order to measure the participants’ proficiency in English. Unlike the mixed views reported in previous studies, the learners investigated here had a positive view of translanguaging and perceived it as beneficial to their learning. Furthermore, the findings suggest that learners often used Swedish for specific functions, especially explaining grammar and vocabulary, clarifying tasks and instructions, comparing the languages and asking questions. This was even more so for low proficiency learners, who used translanguaging more for both practical and social purposes. On the other hand, higher proficiency learners used less Swedish and viewed translanguaging as less helpful. These learners also reported that their teachers used more Swedish in the classroom compared with their less proficient peers. It was also found that learners showed a greater tendency to use translanguaging with increasing age, although this might have been due to differences between teachers and their individual practices. / Många studier visar att elever ser fördelarna med att använda sitt förstaspråk för att lära sig andra eller efterföljande språk, medan de också ser några nackdelar. Detta återspeglar dominerande idéer i språkinlärningen om vikten av att hålla språken åtskilda. I den här studien undersöks transspråkande (translanguaging), en strategi där eleven uppmuntras att använda hela sin språkliga repertoar under språkinlärningen. För detta ändamål undersöks data från svenska elever (n = 168) i årskurs 7-9 för att undersöka deras attityder och uppfattningar kring transspråkande i det EFL-klassrummet och för att belysa hur faktorerna ålder och färdighet påverkar dem. Uppgifterna samlades in med hjälp av en enkät och ett färdighetstest för att mäta deltagarnas färdigheter på engelska. Till skillnad från de blandade åsikter som rapporterats i tidigare studier hade de studenter som undersöktes i denna studien en positiv syn på transspråkande och uppfattade det som fördelaktigt för deras lärande. Dessutom tyder resultaten på att eleverna ofta använde svenska för specifika funktioner; särskilt att förklara grammatik och nya ord, klargöra uppgifter och instruktioner, jämföra språk och ställa frågor. Detta var ännu mer för elever med låg färdighet, som använde transspråkande mer för både praktiska och sociala ändamål. Å andra sidan använde elever med högre kompetens mindre svenska och betraktade transspråkande som mindre användbart. Dessa elever rapporterade också att deras lärare använde mer svenska i klassrummet jämfört med sina kamrater med lägre färdighet. Studien pekar också på att eleverna visade en större tendens att använda transspråkande med ökande ålder, även om detta kan ha berott på skillnader mellan lärare och deras individuella metoder.

La tesi ha come oggetto lo sviluppo dell’autonomia nell’apprendimento delle lingue in contesto universitario. L’elaborato si articola in due parti. Nella prima si affronta il concetto di autonomia nell’apprendimento dal punto di vista teorico, storico e metodologico. Dopo una rassegna sui principali modelli di riferimento e un excursus su come il medesimo tema sia stato affrontato nei documenti e progetti del Consiglio d’Europa, ci si focalizza sulla funzione e organizzazione dei centri per l’autoapprendimento universitari, sulla trasformazione che stanno subendo da spazi fisici ad ambienti virtuali e sul ruolo dei consulenti linguistici. La seconda parte del lavoro si basa sull’osservazione critica di due studi di caso, svolti presso il Centro per l’Autoapprendimento dell’Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (CAP), aventi come protagonisti studenti internazionali di italiano L2. Il primo studio costituisce una ricostruzione sull’utilizzo del Centro e sulle attività di consulenza linguistica. Il secondo prende in esame una sperimentazione didattica, incentrata sulla collaborazione tra consulente linguistico e docente di lingua, finalizzata a stimolare all’apprendimento autonomo dell’italiano un gruppo di studenti internazionali selezionato. I risultati delle due indagini sono analizzati e commentati per permettere una riflessione sulle attività del CAP al fine di migliorarle e proporre buone pratiche didattiche utili allo sviluppo dell’autonomia nell’apprendimento dell’italiano L2. / The aim of the thesis is to investigate the development of autonomy in language learning at university. The work consists of two parts. The first deals with the concept of learning autonomy from a theoretical, historical and methodological point of view. After a review of the main reference models and an excursus on how the same subject has been addressed in the documents and projects of the Council of Europe, the study focuses on the function and organization of self-access learning centers, on the transformation they are undergoing from physical spaces to virtual environments and on the role of language advisors. The second part of the work concerns two case studies, carried out at the Centro per l’Autoapprendimento (CAP) of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, with international students of Italian L2. The first case study examines how the students make use of the Center and of the language advising activities. The second describes a didactic experiment on the collaboration between language advisor and language teacher, aimed at bringing a selected group of international students closer to autonomous learning of Italian. The results of the two case studies are analysed and commented to reflect on the activities of the CAP in order to improve them and to propose good teaching practices useful for the development of autonomy in Italian L2 learning.

Students spend more time using English out-of-school compared to in school. Situated in previous research on Extramural English, this study will be drawing on interviews with a specially selected sample of upper secondary school students who engage in intense and personally meaningful interactions in English-mediated communities online. This qualitative research study seeks to answer how and where these students communicate. Furthermore, the students’ experiences of use of English in school and in online communities will be explored. Results are based on a thematic content analysis. Based on the result, students experience high confidence in their L2 English proficiency in online communities. However, some of the participants experience anxiety and worries when using English in school. Teachers need to be aware of their students’ Extramural English to understand challenges related to students’ in- and out-of-school L2 English experiences.

In früheren Studien zum L2-Wortschatzerwerb wurden die Auswirkungen des visuellen Kontexts auf das Lernen und die Verarbeitung von Wörtern und Kollokationen in der L2 untersucht. Es wurde festgestellt, dass die Erstsprache einen positiven Transfer auf das Lernen einer Zweitsprache hat, wenn die Wörter Ähnlichkeiten aufweisen. Darüber hinaus wurden die Einflüsse der kognitiven Fähigkeiten der Lernenden und ihres Erwerbsalters (AoA) auf das L2-Vokabellernen unter verschiedenen Bedingungen des L2-Vokabellernens festgestellt. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, die Auswirkungen des visuellen Kontexts und des Transfers auf das Lernen von L2-Vokabeln weiter zu untersuchen und zu klären, wie die kognitiven Fähigkeiten und das Erwerbsalter diese Auswirkungen in einem bestimmten L2-Lernkontext beeinflussen. Im Detail wurden Effekte der Ereignisdarstellung (d.h. nicht-sprachlicher visueller Kontext) untersucht sowie Transfereffekte aus der Erstsprache in die Zweitsprache im Bezug auf das Lernen von L2-Phrasenwortschatz (d.h. Verb-Nomen-Phrasen) bei erwachsenen Anfängern. Wir führten Kurzzeitexperimente zum L2-Wortschatzerwerb durch, bei denen wir die Reaktionszeiten maßen. Zwei weitere Forschungsfragen untersuchten, ob es Zusammenhänge zwischen der AoA oder den kognitiven Fähigkeiten der Lernenden und ihrem Lernerfolg beim Vokabellernen in einer kurzfristigen L2-Lernumgebung gibt. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass erwachsene L2-Anfänger*innen beim L2-Vokabellernen von visuellen Darstellungen profitierten: Sie waren unter Lernbedingungen mit Ereignissen genauer und schneller als unter Lernbedingungen ohne Ereignisse. Diese Effekte konnten in drei Experimenten nicht nur mit jungen Erwachsenen im Alter von 18 bis 31 Jahren nachgewiesen werden, sondern galten auch für Erwachsene im frühen und späten mittleren Alter von 32 bis 65 Jahren. Die vorangegangene Forschung deutete darauf hin, dass die Ähnlichkeit zwischen L1 und L2 das L2-Lernen beeinflussen könnte, jedoch nicht in diesem spezifischen L2-Lernkontext. Darüber hinaus wurde der AoA der Probanden manipuliert, was dazu führte, dass junge Erwachsene in den kognitiven Tests und bei den L2-Lernaufgaben besser abschnitten als die anderen beiden Gruppen. Basierend auf den Ergebnissen unserer Forschung konnten wir herausfinden, welche Faktoren den Erfolg des L2-Wortschatzerwerbs bei erwachsenen L2-Anfängern stark beeinflussen und dass das Lernen von L2-Phrasenwortschatz mit dargestellten Ereignisfotos angewendet werden kann. / Previous studies of L2 vocabulary learning presented visual context effects on L2 word and collocation learning and processing. It was found that L1 has a positive transfer in L2 learning when words have similarities. Furthermore, the influences of learners’ cognitive ability and their age of acquisition (AoA) in L2 vocabulary learning have been found in diverse L2 vocabulary learning conditions. The present dissertation aimed to further investigate the effects of visual context and transfer on L2 learning, as well as how cognitive ability and AoA influence any such effects in a particular L2 vocabulary learning context. In detail, we investigated event depiction (i.e., non-linguistic visual context) effects and L1–L2 transfer effects on L2 phrasal vocabulary (i.e., verb-noun phrases) learning for adult beginners. We conducted short-term L2 vocabulary learning experiments during which we measured reaction times. Two other research questions examined whether there are relationships between learners’ AoA or their cognitive ability and their L2 vocabulary learning success in a short-term L2 learning setting. Results showed adult L2 beginners benefited from visual depictions in L2 vocabulary learning: They were more accurate and faster in event-present learning conditions than in event-absent learning conditions. These effects were not only replicated with young adults aged 18 to 31 in three experiments, but they also extended to early and late middle-aged adults aged 32 to 65. The prior research suggested that the L1–L2 similarity might influence L2 learning, but not in our L2 learning context. In addition, the AoA of subjects was manipulated, which resulted in young adults performing in the cognitive test and L2 learning tasks best compared to the other two groups. Based on the findings of our research, we were able to identify which factors strongly influence L2 vocabulary learning success for L2 adult beginners and that L2 phrasal vocabulary learning with depicted event photographs can be applied.