Thesis (Ph.D. (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Teaching through specifically designed and produced learning materials is a widely used and accepted way of teaching in higher education both nationally and internationally. Although this kind of teaching is used mainly in the field of distance education, it has become increasingly popular at traditional universities in face-to-face methods of education. Developing language-learning materials that meets the needs of English for Specific Purposes learners is a process that requires meticulous planning as English for Specific Purposes courses are aimed at meeting the career needs of the learners. An empirical study was conducted to determine the perceptions and concerns of learners using the ENGL 122 study guide at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). The results of the study indicated that the learners were positive that the study guide enhanced their learning process, but various concerns were also raised by the learners. This study also aimed to create a framework for the writing of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) study guides. In order to achieve this, a literature study was done to provide information about the relevant theories and principles that apply to ESP study guide development. The literature study also included aspects that need to be taken into consideration when designing or planning the development of an ESP study guide. / Thesis (Ph.D. (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Teaching through specifically designed and produced learning materials is a widely used and accepted way of teaching in higher education both nationally and internationally. Although this kind of teaching is used mainly in the field of distance education, it has become increasingly popular at traditional universities in face-to-face methods of education. Developing language-learning materials that meets the needs of English for Specific Purposes learners is a process that requires meticulous planning as English for Specific Purposes courses are aimed at meeting the career needs of the learners. An empirical study was conducted to determine the perceptions and concerns of learners using the ENGL 122 study guide at the North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus). The results of the study indicated that the learners were positive that the study guide enhanced their learning process, but various concerns were also raised by the learners. This study also aimed to create a framework for the writing of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) study guides. In order to achieve this, a literature study was done to provide information about the relevant theories and principles that apply to ESP study guide development. The literature study also included aspects that need to be taken into consideration when designing or planning the development of an ESP study guide. / Thesis (Ph.D. (English))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Inspired by the Bologna Process and other globalising influences from modern higher education, and driven by policy reform for national development after the ravages of the 1994 conflict and genocide, Rwanda’s tertiary education has embarked on a number of policy reform for national development after the ravages of the 1994 conflict and genocide, Rwanda’s tertiary education has embarked on a number of policy reforms that have ushered in expectations, requirements and demands that call for both reinvigorated and new academic literacies in undergraduate study since 2007. With its aim of producing a highly skilled human resource as a panacea for Rwanda’s social and economic development deficits, the tertiary education curriculum is more than never before focused on outcomes that are linked to further education and the labour market. However, one of the problems to contend with is academic and professional under- preparedness of students entering and exiting undergraduate study, respectively. Theoretically these developments involve distancing oneself from a previous pedagogy whereby the teacher imparts knowledge to the student but instead places greater responsibility on the student to search for knowledge either individually or in a group, as well as critically examine and be able to argue a point of view in writing and through other modes of communication. Therefore, this study has been informed especially by the New Literacy Studies and the Academic Literacies Approach to understanding the development of tertiary academic literacies. The study has also been inspired by the concept of educational scaffolding. It is against this backdrop that my study set out to investigate the academic literacies requested in undergraduate study, and to explore approaches adopted by tertiary learning institutions in the country to embed academic literacies acquisition into the mainstream curriculum over the last decade. Furthermore, the study sought to explore how technology is integrated at different levels to support the acquisition of academic literacies, including technological and information literacies. In order to achieve the aforementioned, the study embarked on a qualitative blend of cross-sectional and longitudinal research designs. Principal data were gathered from official documents obtained from the government and tertiary learning institutions. Drawing on the synergies of qualitative content analysis and intertextual analysis, the documentary data were analysed and then qualitatively interpreted. The data were supplemented by a couple of questionnaire mini-surveys which were also subjected to qualitative analysis. The findings indicate that a new and expanded definition of literacy in the 21st century implies  students’ development of a set of interrelated and transferable academic competences which are elaborated in the thesis. Curriculum discourses show that there is a shift of curricular and pedagogical  emphasis from general linguistic competence as a vehicle for developing academic literacies to a more integrated embedment of a number of literacies including English for Specific Purposes (ESP), study skills, as well as information, communication and technological literacies. Regarding the use of ICT as a scaffolding tool for learning, findings show that the use of technologies has the potential to support students’ processes of academic literacies development from a highly dependent level to a more autonomous level, given that the ICT integration policies and strategies could fully materialise. / Inspirerad av Bologna Processen och andra globala strömningar inom modern högskolepedagogik har man i Rwanda inlett en mängd policy reformer inom högre utbildning för att skapa nationell utveckling efter den förödande konflikten och folkmordet 1994. Sedan 2007 ställs nya förväntningar och krav på studenter inom den grundläggande högskoleutbildningen som skapar behov av att förstärka det som i forskningen benämns som ’new literacies’. Teoretiskt tar denna strömning avstånd från en tidigare pedagogik där läraren ger studenten kunskap och lägger i stället ett allt större ansvar på studenten att enskilt eller i grupp kunna söka kunskap, kritiskt granska och kunna argumentera för en ståndpunkt i skrift. Utbildning, och särskilt högre utbildning, ses som ett universalmedel för att råda bot för Rwandas sociala och ekonomiska underutveckling. Nya krav ställs också på att utbildningen både ska ha ett relevant akademiskt ämnesinnehåll som kan leda till fortsatt utbildning och vara anpassad till en kommande  yrkespraktik. Detta ställer i sin tur krav på att blivande studenter är väl förberedda när de går in i utbildningen och att de vid genomförda studier har både akademisk kunskap och är förberedda för en yrkesprofession. Mot denna bakgrund är syftet med denna studie att undersöka vilka krav på ’academic literacy’ som har ställts på studenter i Rwanda över tid. Det sätt på vilket stöd för sådana kunskapskrav integreras i den allmänna kursplanen under det senaste årtiondet och hur kunskap i och om IKT kan integreras för att ge stöd i att uppnå kursplanens mål har också undersökts. Data består huvudsakligen av insamlade officiella dokument från regeringen samt ett tvärsnitt av institutioner för högre utbildning. Med hjälp av en kvalitativ innehållsanalys och intertextuell analys har dokumenten tolkats för att se vilka centrala förändringar vad gäller ’academic literacy’ som skett över tid. Datainsamlingen kompletterades med mindre enkätstudier som också analyserats kvalitativt. Studien visar att en ny och utvidgad definition av ’academic literacy’ vuxit fram under 2000-talet som innebär att studenter behöver utveckla ny akademisk kompetens som är relaterad till och kan överföras mellan olika områden. Diskursen i de dokument som studerats visar att det skett en förändring som innebär att allmän språklig kompetens inte räcker som medel för att utveckla ’academic literacies’ utan den har utvidgats till att även integrera ämnesspecifik språkkunskap, olika former av studieteknik och IKT. När det gäller IKT som stödjande redskap för lärande visar studien att givet att politiska beslut och strategier för IKT-användning kan genomföras, förväntas användningen av dessa redskap ha en potential att stödja studenterna i den process som det innebär att gå från att vara helt beroende av lärarens undervisning till att mera självständigt söka och utveckla kunskap. Sammanfattningsvis understryks i studien att den kritik som framförts om  högskolestudenters bristande förberedelse både för akademiska studier och för arbetslivet är utanför deras kontroll. Kritiken ska snarare ses som ett imperativ för institutioner inom högre utbildning att skapa lämpliga kurser och pedagogiska miljöer för att ge studenterna förutsättningar att kunna utveckla en ’academic literacy’ som alla studenter har rätt att tillägna sig.

Orientador: Elza Taeko Doi / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T20:48:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_SandraMagalhaesde_M.pdf: 1272275 bytes, checksum: 64c7c04935a346d7349119148bcb6d7c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Este é um estudo etnográfico que analisa o inglês técnico (¿Inglês para Propósitos Específicos¿ ou IPE) a partir do ponto de vista de alunos de diferentes áreas: Computação, Meio Ambiente e Enfermagem. O objetivo principal é determinar as preferências e as necessidades de cada grupo no que se refere às quatro habilidades (ouvir, falar, ler e escrever). O pressuposto básico contesta a noção de que ensinar IPE deveria significar ensinar ¿leitura¿. Os dados foram coletados através de (1) questionário investigativo, centrado nas preferências dos alunos; (2) gravação de aula em áudio, na qual professora e alunos discutem as respostas ao questionário com o objetivo de negociar o conteúdo do curso; (3) questionário final, que avalia as respostas dos participantes, à luz de suas preferências. O embasamento teórico deste estudo inclui o trabalho de vários pesquisadores, com uma ênfase especial em AUGUSTO (1997) e CELANI (1988) sobre IPE; LEFFA (1999; 2001; 2003) e PAIVA (2005), sobre o papel do inglês como uma língua multinacional; NUNAN (1988; 1999; 2003) e TUDOR (1996) sobre a abordagem centrada no aluno. Os dados coletados mostram que a produção oral, que tende a ser menos focada no inglês técnico, é considerada a mais importante das habilidades pelos alunos de Enfermagem e de Computação. Segundo a opinião dos estudantes de Meio Ambiente, a produção oral vem em segundo lugar. Os resultados são consistentes com a concepção de linguagem dos participantes, isto é, aprender uma língua significa aprender a falar. Além disso, eles corroboram a noção amplamente difundida de que os possíveis candidatos a um emprego devem falar inglês fluentemente a fim de se tornarem competitivos no mercado de trabalho / Abstract: This is an etnographic study that analyzes technical English (¿English for Special Purposes¿ or ESP) from the point of view of students in different fields: Computer Science, Environmental Science and Nursing. The main goal is to determine the preferences and needs of each group as far as the four learning abilities (listening, speaking, reading and writing) are concerned. The basic assumption challenges the notion that teaching ESP should be synonymous with teaching ¿reading¿. The data have been collected by means of (1) an investigative questionnaire, which focuses on students¿ preferences; (2) in-class tape recording, in which teacher and students discuss the answers to the previous questionnaire with intent to negotiate course content material; (3) a final questionnaire, which assesses students¿ responses in light of their preferences. The theoretical underpinnings of this study include the work of a number of researchers, with a special emphasis on Augusto (1997) and Celani (1988), on ESP; Leffa (1999; 2001; 2003) and Paiva (2005), on the role of English as a multinational language; Nunan (1988; 1999; 2003) and Tudor (1996) on student-centered approach. The data show that speaking, which tends to take a back-seat in technical English, is considered the most important of the four abilities by the Nursing and Computer Science students. In the opinion of the Environmental Science students, it comes in second. The results are consistent with the subjects¿ conception of language, that is, learning a language means learning to speak. In addition, they corroborate the widespread notion that prospective candidates must know how to speak English fluently in order to be competitive in the job market / Mestrado / Lingua Estrangeira / Mestre em Linguística Aplicada

Orientador: Matilde Virginia Ricardi Scaramucci / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T17:15:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Lucas_PatriciadeOliveira_M.pdf: 3746550 bytes, checksum: dc43570f17a02f5a6d10606a53716429 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Este estudo visa apresentar o percurso reflexivo de uma professora recém-graduada, em sua prática de ensino de leitura em inglês com propósitos específicos para funcionários de uma empresa de manutenção de aeronaves. O objetivo das aulas era ensinar esses funcionários a lerem manuais de manutenção, sem a necessidade de traduzi-los. O processo de reflexão sobre a prática da professora foi realizado a partir de seus relatórios, contendo as atividades desempenhadas e o material didático por ela utilizado. Para a fundamentação do trabalho, foram utilizados estudos sobre a reflexão na formação do professor: de Schön (1983; 1992), complementados por Smyth (1992), Zeichner & Liston (1996) e Vieira-Abrahão (2002). No percurso reflexivo da professora deste estudo, as questões pedagógicas propostas por Smyth (1992) foram fundamentais para a retomada de sua prática, mostrando quais eram as visões de leitura da professora e de que maneira esse percurso a ajudou a reformular algumas delas. / Abstract: The objective of this study is to present a period of reflection of a university graduate's teaching practice of reading in English having specific purposes, for workers from an aircraft maintenance company. The aim of the lessons was to teach these workers how to read maintenance manuals without having to translate them. The process of reflection concerning the teaching practice was done using reports, including activities which were carried out, and the teaching material used. Regarding the basis of the work, studies about reflection in teacher training from: Schön (1983; 1992), complemented by Smyth (1992), Zeichner & Liston (1996), and Vieira-Abrahão (2002) were used. In the teacher reflection process, in this study, educational questions proposed by Smyth (1992) were fundamental in getting back to the practice, showing the views of reading of the teacher and in which way this reflection helped her to reformulate some of these views. / Mestrado / Lingua Estrangeira / Mestre em Linguística Aplicada

O presente trabalho nasceu da investigação sobre um projeto de ensino de estratégias desenvolvido por uma escola de idiomas, que oferece cursos de Inglês para fins específicos, em empresas, para alunos cujos cargos envolvem áreas operacionais nos setores do turismo. Entendia-se que o projeto auxiliaria os alunos no desenvolvimento do exercício de aprender a aprender (a metacognição) e da auto-regulação. A análise dos dados partiu dos questionários respondidos por 60 alunos antes e depois da execução do projeto. Buscavam-se, entre os dados analisados, indicadores da repercussão do projeto com os alunos, bem como informações mais abrangentes que auxiliassem na compreensão desse aluno adulto e de suas características como aprendiz. Diante das respostas obtidas nos questionários, puderam ser observados dados quantitativos como o crescimento de índices na freqüência de utilização das estratégias, e a evolução dos alunos indicada em sua auto-avaliação, apontando a eficácia dos resultados alcançados pelo projeto. No entanto, foi na análise das perguntas abertas que se encontraram as informações mais relevantes sobre esse adulto aprendiz, informações essas que demonstravam as diferentes representações que esses sujeitos fazem do que é saber e aprender Inglês. Ao se deparar com essas informações escolheu-se utilizar como modelo teórico-metodológico para a análise a Teoria dos Modelos Organizadores do Pensamento, assumindo a complexidade desse sujeito aprendiz. Os modelos aplicados pelos sujeitos pesquisados demonstram que sua motivação para estudar Inglês incorpora representações acerca do que é saber Inglês e de como esse processo se dá, fazendo surgir em seus depoimentos suas crenças e valores acerca desses temas. Essas representações estão ligadas prioritariamente ao papel da escola nesse processo ou à repercussão do aprendizado na atuação profissional. O desempenho lingüístico permeia esses dois campos, com concepções diferentes em cada um deles. A presente pesquisa, que se constitui como um estudo de caso, tem a expectativa de, por meio da investigação dessas representações, poder contribuir para o entendimento desse adulto aprendiz, suas características e as motivações que o levam a querer aprender Inglês. / This research was originally planned to investigate about a learning strategy training project developed by a language institute that offers in company ESP courses to adults in operational areas of the tourism industry. The project aimed at helping students develop metacognition and self-regulation. The data gathered consisted of questionnaires answered by 60 students before and after the project conduction. Indications about the repercussion of the project among the students and information that could help understand these students and their characteristics as learners were sought in the data analysis. Through quantitative data analysis, the researcher found an increase in the use of strategies, as well as a significant change in students self-evaluations, which indicated that the project had accomplished some positive results. Nevertheless, the open-ended questions brought even more relevant information about these learners, for they showed the different representations students have of what it is to learn and to know English. Due to the complexity of the subject-learner, the research uses the Theory of the Organizing Models of the Thought as a theoretical-methodological approach. The models found in the analysis indicate that learners motivation to study English carry the influence of their representations of what it is to learn English and how the learning process happens. The study analyzed their beliefs and values as well, hoping to contribute for a better understanding of these learners, their characteristics and their motivation to learn English. These representations are mainly linked to the schools role in the learning process or the repercussion of knowing a second language for professional performance. The concept of linguistic ability is present in both groups in different ways. The research hopes to contribute to the understanding of this adult learner, his/her characteristics and the motivational aspects that drive him/her to learn English.

abstract: This study investigates how the teaching English as an international language (TEIL) framework can be integrated into the English curriculum of the Korea Military Academy (KMA). Addressing the research gap on TEIL and military settings, this study first critically reviews issues around the varieties of English (i.e., world Englishes), the international functions of English, and the pedagogical implications of TEIL in today’s globalizing world. The study then examines current challenges and objectives of ELT and suggests practical strategies for incorporating TEIL into the English curriculum of the KMA. The study suggests the following four strategies to apply TEIL into the English curriculum of the KMA: (a) introduce WE/EIL activities into the English Conversation course; (b) establish a WE/EIL course; (c) provide extracurricular WE/EIL activities; and (d) incorporate intercultural content into the Military English course. The study argues that implementing these suggestions would help cadets develop both their linguistic proficiency in English and intercultural communicative competence that are essential for them to become professional military communicators who can effectively communicate with interlocutors from diverse linguistic, cultural, and national backgrounds in international military contexts. While the study contributes to the literature by bridging the gap between TEIL and military contexts, it demonstrates the following implications: (a) a meaningful case of applying TEIL into the military context in Korea; (b) the importance of both linguistic proficiency in English and intercultural competence for ELT in the KMA; and (c) the possibility of influencing the Korea Air Force and Naval Academy to reexamine their English curricula. The study concludes that the English curriculum of the KMA should be revised based on the recognition of the symbiotic relationship among linguistic proficiency in English, exposure to diverse varieties of English, and intercultural competence in order to produce cadets who can effectively communicate in English as a military lingua franca for the success of their designated military objectives in the future. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis English 2019

O presente trabalho nasceu da investigação sobre um projeto de ensino de estratégias desenvolvido por uma escola de idiomas, que oferece cursos de Inglês para fins específicos, em empresas, para alunos cujos cargos envolvem áreas operacionais nos setores do turismo. Entendia-se que o projeto auxiliaria os alunos no desenvolvimento do exercício de aprender a aprender (a metacognição) e da auto-regulação. A análise dos dados partiu dos questionários respondidos por 60 alunos antes e depois da execução do projeto. Buscavam-se, entre os dados analisados, indicadores da repercussão do projeto com os alunos, bem como informações mais abrangentes que auxiliassem na compreensão desse aluno adulto e de suas características como aprendiz. Diante das respostas obtidas nos questionários, puderam ser observados dados quantitativos como o crescimento de índices na freqüência de utilização das estratégias, e a evolução dos alunos indicada em sua auto-avaliação, apontando a eficácia dos resultados alcançados pelo projeto. No entanto, foi na análise das perguntas abertas que se encontraram as informações mais relevantes sobre esse adulto aprendiz, informações essas que demonstravam as diferentes representações que esses sujeitos fazem do que é saber e aprender Inglês. Ao se deparar com essas informações escolheu-se utilizar como modelo teórico-metodológico para a análise a Teoria dos Modelos Organizadores do Pensamento, assumindo a complexidade desse sujeito aprendiz. Os modelos aplicados pelos sujeitos pesquisados demonstram que sua motivação para estudar Inglês incorpora representações acerca do que é saber Inglês e de como esse processo se dá, fazendo surgir em seus depoimentos suas crenças e valores acerca desses temas. Essas representações estão ligadas prioritariamente ao papel da escola nesse processo ou à repercussão do aprendizado na atuação profissional. O desempenho lingüístico permeia esses dois campos, com concepções diferentes em cada um deles. A presente pesquisa, que se constitui como um estudo de caso, tem a expectativa de, por meio da investigação dessas representações, poder contribuir para o entendimento desse adulto aprendiz, suas características e as motivações que o levam a querer aprender Inglês. / This research was originally planned to investigate about a learning strategy training project developed by a language institute that offers in company ESP courses to adults in operational areas of the tourism industry. The project aimed at helping students develop metacognition and self-regulation. The data gathered consisted of questionnaires answered by 60 students before and after the project conduction. Indications about the repercussion of the project among the students and information that could help understand these students and their characteristics as learners were sought in the data analysis. Through quantitative data analysis, the researcher found an increase in the use of strategies, as well as a significant change in students self-evaluations, which indicated that the project had accomplished some positive results. Nevertheless, the open-ended questions brought even more relevant information about these learners, for they showed the different representations students have of what it is to learn and to know English. Due to the complexity of the subject-learner, the research uses the Theory of the Organizing Models of the Thought as a theoretical-methodological approach. The models found in the analysis indicate that learners motivation to study English carry the influence of their representations of what it is to learn English and how the learning process happens. The study analyzed their beliefs and values as well, hoping to contribute for a better understanding of these learners, their characteristics and their motivation to learn English. These representations are mainly linked to the schools role in the learning process or the repercussion of knowing a second language for professional performance. The concept of linguistic ability is present in both groups in different ways. The research hopes to contribute to the understanding of this adult learner, his/her characteristics and the motivational aspects that drive him/her to learn English.

<p>   </p> <p>Motivated by the lack of research that has explored the rhetorical structure of research articles in the humanities, this dissertation analyzes professional philosophical discourse using move-analysis as an approach. A corpus of 60 research articles was compiled from some of the leading philosophy journals. The articles were selected from three sub-disciplinary areas: (a) metaphysics and epistemology, (b) the history of philosophy, and (c) ethics. To analyze the articles, a move analysis codebook was developed, which identified the rhetorical functions (i.e., moves and steps) that different text segments played. The codebook was then applied to the entire research article structure of the 60 research articles. Linguistic features of certain functional units were also identified via corpus analysis techniques. The results of the study show that rhetorical structure of philosophical writing is distinctive compared to other fields and disciplines. On one hand, at the macro level, philosophical writing uses a problem-solution structure rather than the IMRD (intro-methods-results-discussion) structure, common in the social and natural sciences. At the move and step level, philosophical writing heavily relies on evaluation to critically analyze solutions to philosophical problems. Finally, the dissertation found systemic rhetorical functions that permeated the entire research article. Most notably, philosophers heavily qualify and outline their arguments throughout the text. </p> <p>  </p>