published_or_final_version / English Studies and Comparative Literature / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Language Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / English / Master / Master of Philosophy

This thesis investigates the second language acquisition of English psych predicates by Chinese-speaking and French-speaking adult learners of English within the Government and Binding Theory. Two major parts comprise the whole work: a study of psych predicates across Chinese, English and French, including verbs like blame and annoy, adjectives such as annoying and annoyed, and nominals like annoyance; and an experiment on Chinese and French learners' knowledge of English psych predicates. / An account of psych predicates is proposed, under which Experiencer Object (EO) verbs are the causatives of Experiencer Subject (ES) verbs, derived by zero affixation. Different D-structures are suggested for the two classes of verbs, solving the linking problem of psych predicates. The binding problem with EO verbs and corresponding -ing adjectives is resolved by the assumption of anaphoric pro, which enables the anaphor to be bound backwards by the antecedent through the extension of chain-binding theory. The Target/Subject Matter (T/SM) restriction is ruled out by a generalization established on the interaction of the zero CAUS and selectional restrictions. / Given the linguistic analysis that EO verbs are made up of a zero CAUS and a root, and the fact that psych adjectives and psych nominals are derived from these verbs, the central hypothesis for the L2 acquisition of English psych predicates hinges on this zero CAUS. It is predicted that if L2 learners of English have difficulty figuring out the causative nature of EO verbs and -ing adjectives, they should have difficulty recognizing the correct argument structure, the ungrammaticality of T/SM violations and the grammaticality of backwards binding with these predicates. A picture identification task, a multiple choice task and a grammaticality judgment and correction task are designed to test L2 learners' knowledge of these properties. The results obtained through the experiment are discussed with respect to the issues in second language acquisition.

This cross-cultural study examined the preferences of 137 Taiwanese EFL students and 97 ESL Quebecois students for specific types of corrective feedback, as well as their attitudes and beliefs about error correction, and those of 12 Taiwanese English instructors and 12 native English teachers in Quebec. All participants completed two questionnaires, the first eliciting overall preferences and attitudes for corrective feedback, and the second eliciting preferences for specific types of feedback aurally modeled through a digital recording designed for the purpose of this study. In addition, a subsample of participants was selected for follow-up interviews. Descriptive analysis of the initial questionnaire coupled with trends found in interview data revealed cross-cultural differences in preferences for types of errors to correct, the use of correction, rates of correction and affective reactions to error correction. However, statistical analysis of the data yielded by the main elicitation instrument revealed similar preferences within both cultural groups, with explicit correction being ranked highest, followed by recasts and then prompts.

This study took place in the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) in Riyadh. It investigates the effectiveness of teaching four reading strategies on ESL Saudi female students' reading comprehension and on their reported use of these strategies. The strategies taught are two "global" strategies: finding main ideas and prediction. Global strategies are those related to general approach and comprehension of the reading passage. The other two strategies are problem solving strategies: word analysis and guessing meanings of words. Problem solving strategies are concerned with working directly and analyzing the reading text.The study has three goals. First, the study aims to investigate the impact of teaching global and problem solving strategies on preparatory level students' reading comprehension. Second, it compares the impact of teaching global strategies on reading comprehension and that of teaching problem solving strategies on readingcomprehension. Third, it measures how preparatory level students' perception of use of strategies develops after teaching these strategies to the students.There were three groups of preparatory students (beginning) representing two treatment groups and one control group. Each treatment group received training in different strategies. The number of students in the global strategy group was twenty-four, and in the problem solving strategy group it was twenty-two students. Students in the control group numbered twenty-one. Measurements consisted of reading comprehension tests and a questionnaire about reading strategies conducted over pre- and post-training stages.The results obtained from the two measurements lead to three findings. First, the two training groups (global and problem solving) experienced only non-significant improvement in their post- reading comprehension when compared to the control group. This means that reading strategy training did not significantly improve their reading comprehension. Second, there was no significant difference between the two treatment groups in their gain in reading comprehension. This implies that the present study did not show any favor of training students on global strategies over training them on problem solving strategies. Third, there were various results regarding students perception of using the strategies they were taught. Students mostly showed decrease in their perception of using strategies either significantly or non-significantly except for two strategies which were using context clues and prediction. Students showed more significant awareness of using contextual clues after the treatment. They also revealed an almost significant gain in their perception of using prediction. / Department of English

The notion that tests have a strong influence on teaching and learning is referred to as 'washback' or 'backwash'. Questioning the assumption that washback occurs automatically, without the basis of empirical research, studies have been conducted in various contexts of English teaching and learning. No research, however, on the washback effect of tests within the Korean English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context has been carried out. The present study was designed to examine the washback effect of the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a university entrance exam, on EFL teaching and learning in Korean secondary schools. / This study first investigates the relationships among the curriculum, the school textbooks, and the CSAT: (1) the relationship between the curriculum and the textbooks and (2) the relationship between the curriculum and the CSAT. Second, this study examines if a washback effect from the CSAT exists. This study further discerns the nature of washback and the variable(s) influenced by the washback effect. The results indicate that the curriculum corresponds to the textbooks, while the CSAT does not represent the curriculum, and that there is a negative washback effect of the CSAT on EFL teaching and learning. The variable(s) influenced by the washback effect are negative attitudes that the participants of the study have toward the test.

This study explores culture teaching in English classes in urban and rural elementary schools in Korea from the perspectives of both teachers and students. Language and culture theories provide a framework for the data interpretation. As well, qualitative research methodology depicts a picture of much deeper understanding for teachers' and students' perceptions. Interviews were audiotape recorded as a primary tool to gather information for the inquiry for three months (May-July, 2004). Data also included document analysis and participant observations in schools. From the research findings, I conclude that not only can teachers not fully engage in culture teaching in elementary English education, but also students are not exposed to sufficient cultural education. Sociocultural contexts significantly affect teachers' and students' perceptions of English-speaking cultures and their English education. Elementary English textbooks also play an essential role in culture teaching in Korea.

This report seeks ways to improve the management of the existing English Language Teaching Resource Centres (ELT-R/C) in Mozambique. Suggestions are made so as to define clearly the place of the ELT-R/C and their managers in the education system organizational structure; introduce other activities in the ELT-R/C; enlarge the number ofELT-R/C users and improve the communication system and consequently the relationships between the ELT-R/C and other education stakeholders. The report also suggests the optional number of staff for the ELT-R/C and what should be done for the Provincial English Advisors (PEA) to run the ELT-R/C more effectively and efficiently. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.