Much research on reading comprehension has been done with native readers in mind; however, this study deals with reading comprehension problems for non-native readers - Vietnamese students of English. The study begins with a description of the interpreters and translators training at the Hanoi Foreign Languages College. Based on the aims and objectives of the training course the study emphasises the importance of teaching reading skills to Vietnamese interpreter and translator students in the first, second and third year. To deal with this problem, the study overviews relevant theoretical issues of reading skills presented in current literature with the purpose of relating these to the realities of teaching reading in a particular context in Vietnam. The study then looks at the main problems of teaching reading skills in the English Interpreter Department at the Hanoi Foreign Languages College. Focus has been placed on the analysis of some difficulties encountered by Vietnamese students reading English in an attempt to answer the pertinent question 'Why is it difficult for Vietnamese students to read English?' Consequently, the study considers ways in which the teaching of reading skills to Vietnamese students of interpreting and translating may be improved. The study is also concerned with the selection and development of materials and then proposes a reading syllabus in order to promote more rapid and efficient progress in the teaching of reading skills. Finally, the writer makes some suggestions about how to improve the situation of teaching reading to her colleagues in the EFL area based on her own teaching experience.

This field study proposes a basis for the establishment of a professional development program for Vietnamese high school teachers. The social background and the problems of teaching and learning English in Vietnamese high schools are discussed, including the students' goals in learning English in high schools; the teachers' qualifications and the methods of teaching commonly used; the coursebooks and how they are used; learning facilities, and the attitudes and policy decisions of education authorities. To develop effective solutions to these problems, it is necessary also to know the background to teaching and learning English in Hanoi Foreign Languages Teachers' College. In-service training is of vital importance in the education of all nations. A review of what other people have done in this field is included with particular reference to the problems which are relevant to the situation in Vietnam. Given the constraints of funding and work procedures, a short full-time in-service course would be the most practicable for the Vietnamese situation. A survey of the needs of high school teachers in their professional development has been carried out and is discussed in relation to the priorities to be given to various components of an in-service syllabus. The priorities were found to be: to improve the language, teaching techniques and awareness of a communicative approach to teaching and learning language of high school teachers in Vietnam. These priorities having been identified, the study considers: iv 1 - the syllabus model. 2 - the development of specific goals. 3 - the development of content. 4 - possible modifications of the syllabus in the future. The solution to the problem of professional development must take into account not only the work of internationally known authorities, but also the needs of Vietnamese teachers. The proposed course suggests ways of finding out and meeting the needs of participants and points to possible future development.

Increasing development of the relationship between Vietnam and other countries has resulted in a great demand for English language teaching (ELT) throughout the country. The need is ever greater for a considerable number of people who can use English effectively in their work. However, at present ELT in Vietnam is still far from satisfactory. There exists a common problem of communicative incompetence in Vietnamese learners. ELT in the Hanoi Foreign Languages Teachers' College (HFLTC) is taken to illustrate the fact that even after five years of training, students frequently remain deficient in the ability to actually use the language, to understand its use in normal communication, and to carry out their teaching adequately afterwards. That existing situation demands a critical look at ELT in all institutions to work out suitable materials and methods to be used in the Vietnamese setting. This work has been undertaken as an exploratory study of this problem. To provide a context for the study, the background to ELT in Vietnam is reviewed. Following it is a detailed description of different approaches used in ELT with reference to the teaching and learning situations in Vietnam. Special emphasis is placed on the differences between conventional approaches and the currently influential one - the Communicative Approach. A detailed comparison is made between two lessons taken from structuralbased and functional/notional-based textbooks representing two distinct approaches. This comparison will be examined from the methodological point of view, investigating, for example, how language is treated in the two approaches, how different types of activities are used, and the role of teacher and learner in the two approaches in order to highlight a possible fresh approach for Vietnamese coursebook designers, teachers and learners in ELT. A sample lesson based on the Communicative Approach is finally provided to assist any attempts to teach and learn English communicatively. It is hoped that this survey will contribute to reducing the existing problem of inadequate communicative competence in Vietnamese learners.

A pesar de las recomendaciones científicas sobre una introducción sistemática del input, los materiales didácticos muestran una presentación no sistemática del mismo. La falta de correspondencia entre dicha realidad y la teoría ha suscitado el presente trabajo de investigación, cuyo principal objetivo es averiguar hasta qué punto la introducción no sistemática del vocabulario está relacionada con su aprendizaje. Un grupo de 44 estudiantes de inglés como lengua extranjera en Educación Primaria participaron en el estudio. Los resultados de la tesis apuntan graves deficiencias en la introducción de input, las cuales se reflejaron en la adquisición por parte de los aprendices. Las cifras apuntan a un ritmo de adquisición léxica irregular solo parcialmente limitado por la introducción de input. Por otra parte, se ha podido observar que es posible predecir la tendencia del ritmo de aprendizaje, pero no la cantidad exacta a la que ese ritmo crece. / Researchers recommend a systematic introduction of input. However, it seems that this recommendation is far from reality. The aim of this work is to find out to what extent non-systematic introduction of vocabulary is related to learning. Forty-four Primary Education learners of English as a Foreign Language took part in the study. The results of this thesis show serious deficiencies in the introduction of input. These deficiencies were reflected in the learners’ low level of acquisition. Figures show an irregular rate of acquisition which is only partially limited by the introduction of input. In addition, it has been observed that we can predict the tendency of the rate of acquisition but not the exact proportion at which this rate grows.

This study explored the learning experience of Arabic language learners at the college level, focusing on their perception of effective and ineffective Arabic language teachers as well as the influence of their experiences on their motivation. The study also attempted to shed some light on the nature of the teacher-student interaction within the current sociopolitical context. The 29 students who agreed to participate in this study were all Arabic language learners enrolled in the second year or higher of Arabic at a major university in the United States. Data were collected from multiple sources including an open-ended survey and semi-structured interviews that were conducted on a one-on-one basis with the participants. Data were analyzed using coding procedures suggested by Strauss and Corbin (1998) from a grounded theory qualitative approach. Results indicated that participants perceived their effective Arabic language teachers as adaptable teachers. These adaptable teachers influence learners' learning outcomes by balancing their high expectations of their students with an awareness of language learning needs. Moreover, participants' perceptions of their best Arabic learning experiences were always associated with adaptable teachers, whose positive interaction style radiated throughout in their teaching. The data indicated that participants were intrinsically motivated in four different ways: (1) intrinsic motivation for the linguistic aspects of Arabic, (2) intrinsic motivation for knowledge, (3) intrinsic motivation for optimal experience, and (4) intrinsic motivation for accomplishment. Moreover, motivation constructs such as expectancy-value, self-efficacy, and flow were related to the students' experiences. According to many students, the more years they spent in learning Arabic, the more they had become obsessed with it. Most participants in this study credited both native and non-native speakers as effective language teachers.. Participants credited their native teachers for their linguistic knowledge and their in-depth understanding of the Arabic culture and described them as resourceful. At the same time, they credited non-native teachers for their pedagogical knowledge, organizational skills, and knowledge of learners' characteristics, and described them as role models. Suggestions for future research and implications for research and practice are discussed. / Not available / text

Šiame darbe nagrinėjamas kalbos mokymo automatizavimas technine prasme - kompiuterinių ir internetinių mokymo priemonių kūrimas, taip palengvinant ir atpiginant mokymo(si) procesą. Apžvelgiami įvairūs užsienio kalbos metodai informatikos požiūriu, nagrinėjamos jų realizavimo programiškai galimybės. Taip pat apžvelgiamos Lietuvoje prieinamos kompiuterinės kalbų mokymosi priemonės. Darbe pateikiamos metodinės rekomendacijos kompiuterinių mokymo priemonių kūrėjams. Praktinėje dalyje pateikiamos dvi programos: viena klasikinė ir viena internetinė. / This paper investigates computer assisted language learning and teaching through the various aspects: choice of language teaching methods to implement into software, mnemonical evaluation of various language learning programs and accessibility. Various language learning methods‘ software implementations are analysed, among them are: Communicative method, Pimsleur method and learning system, Audio-lingual method, Grammar-Translation method, Spaced repetition and language curve. Later various software-based and web-based language teaching programs are approached. Author makes a comparision between PHP-based web applications and Microsoft Visual Basic Express 2008 based software applications, their performance and user usability. Web-standards related advantages and disadvantages in language learning web-based programs are discussed. This work contains source code of two programs – English language irregular verbs teaching program, written with Microsoft Visual Basic Express 2008 and PHP and MySQL – based website that satisfies XHTML 1.0 Transitional standard. Website is suited for teaching Basic English list of 850 words and user can practice to transcribe English words to Lithuanian language, translate words in test form with 5 possible answers to choose from in both ways, recognize word’s meaning from English speech.

Issu d'une pratique professionnelle consacrée à l'offre en langues étrangères dans une bibliothèque municipale, ce travail de recherche questionne le positionnement de l'institution, basée sur le principe d'égalité d'accès au service public de la lecture, alors que celle-ci cherche à enrayer la baisse de sa fréquentation et celle du nombre de ses inscrits à une époque caractérisée par l'accroissement des mouvements migratoires et l'augmentation conséquente du plurilinguisme. La problématique s'attache aux transformations des pratiques et des représentations des professionnels dans les bibliothèques municipales métropolitaines induites par l'introduction d'une offre en langues étrangères, en questionnant les notions de public, d'information et de positionnement institutionnel. Une première enquête quantitative vise à établir le nombre d'établissements concernés par cette offre singulière et la taille de celle-ci en volume et en valeur ; une seconde enquête qualitative s'attache à l'analyse des propos recueillis lors d'entretiens en face à face avec des professionnels, des non usagers des bibliothèques et des élus dont dépendent ces établissements. Les résultats montrent des bibliothèques nombreuses à proposer ce type d'offre, les faibles volumes et valeurs de celle-ci. Ils soulignent une méconnaissance des publics cibles comme de leurs attentes, le bouleversement des pratiques et des représentations professionnelles engendré par la prise en compte du critère inhabituel de la langue des usagers et des documents, la transformation du positionnement des bibliothécaires, des publics et de l'institution finalement peu investie dans le champ des langues étrangères. Ils montrent que cette question déborde les pouvoirs décisionnels des professionnels, interpelle ceux de la tutelle territoriale et de l'Etat. Ils ne permettent pas de déterminer si l'évolution de cette offre singulière relève plus de l'ombre d'un développement ou d'un développement dans l'ombre. / Initiated and informed by years of professional experience dedicated to providing foreign language resources in a French public library, this research questions the positioning of the library as an institution anchored in the principle of equal access to public service, in the context of a decline in both attendance and enrolment as well as that of increased international migration and multilingualism. The argument focuses on the transformation of practice and professional representation generated by the introduction of foreign language material in France's municipal libraries and questions the notions of “general public,” “information,” and “institutional positioning.” A quantitative survey assesses the size of the phenomenon. The qualitative survey analyses observations collected during face-to-face interviews with professionals, with non-library users as well as with elected representatives responsible for overseeing public libraries. Results reveal a real, albeit limited evolution: while numerous libraries now provide resources in foreign languages, such offers remain small in terms of both volume and value. They also highlight a lack of understanding of the nature and expectations of target audiences, the disruption of professional practice and representation generated by the acknowledgment of language as one of the criteria to shape the offer of resources, the transformation of the positioning of public librarians, of audiences and, more generally, of an institution not yet substantially involved in the field of foreign languages. In conclusion, the results show that this question goes beyond the sole decision-making power of public libraries themselves and falls more broadly in the remit of territorial and national authorities. Whether the development of foreign language resources in French public libraries is merely a passing shadow or, on the contrary, a significant evolution remains to be determined.

This diploma thesis deals with the topic of specific learning disability. In the theoretical part I define the term specific learning disability and I mention the related terms. I deal with the history, types and causes of specific learning disability, further I describe the possibilities of diagnostics and re-education concerning specific learning disability. I also attend to the situation of a pupil in the family and school background. The main attention is especially paid to teaching foreign languages to pupils with specific learning disability. The practical part is based on a questionnaire which was filled in by teachers of basic and high schools. The goal is to find out what kind of experience the teachers have with pupils with specific learning disability and what their approach to them is. The questionnaire survey is worked up and analysed in the practical part.

This diploma thesis focuses on teaching German language to preschool children in Czech nursery schools. The theoretical section defines the conditions of early foreign language learning and opinions on it, and presents arguments for early German as a second language learning. Suitable methods for education of preschool children are discussed as well. The aim of this thesis is to determine and compare how early foreign language learning is realized in particular preschool institutions, based on the information from videos made within the project "Intercultural education of children, students and teachers". E.g. whether the children understand instructions given in foreign language and the teacher's speech, the extent to which the communication takes place in German within the group, which activities are most often used, the ways or forms of implementation of these activities and whether they meet the conditions of early foreign language learning. The diploma thesis summarizes the education methods of individual preschool institutions and identifies potential mistakes made, and it suggests more effective ways of teaching.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-08-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:43:24Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 furtoso_vab_dr_sjrp.pdf: 2239957 bytes, checksum: e66fb030ca1302f829b9ca143ab68ea0 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Aprender e ensinar são processos de co-construção de conhecimentos que acontecem na e a partir da interação, cujas modalidades e espaços de realização têm se ampliado com o incremento das tecnologias de informação e comunicação. Corroborando que a avaliação é um elemento integrador entre o ensino e a aprendizagem e acreditando no impacto positivo que a avaliação pode desempenhar quando praticada sob esta ótica, neste estudo investigou-se o potencial da avaliação em um processo de aprendizagem dupla, o aprender língua estrangeira (LE) e o aprender a ensinar Português para Falantes de Outras Línguas (PFOL) em um contexto online de aprendizagem de línguas, o teletandem. De natureza qualitativa, este estudo teve como objetivos investigar características do texto falado e da avaliação de desempenho oral em contexto online de aprendizagem de línguas em tandem. As informações foram coletadas no escopo do Projeto Teletandem Brasil: línguas estrangeiras para todos (TTB) por meio de: roteiro de conversa; gravações em áudio e/ou vídeo de sessões de teletandem; questionários; fichas de acompanhamento de teletandem e notas de campo da pesquisadora. A análise e a discussão dos dados foram conduzidas de acordo com o conteúdo e orientações da análise da conversação, à luz do referencial teórico que incluiu discussões acerca das áreas de Português para Falantes de Outras Línguas; de Avaliação; de Educação a Distância e do Português falado no Brasil. Os resultados deste estudo mostram que a troca linguístico-cultural caracteriza a conversa(ção) no teletandem, apontando para a importância do feedback do parceiro no preenchimento de lacunas de forma e de conteúdo, além da necessidade de apoio e/ou monitoramento constante da fala do interlocutor. As características do texto falado apontadas por este estudo revelam a importância de refletir sobre... / Based on the principle that assessment integrates learning and teaching, in this thesis the potentiality of assessment was investigated in a twofold learning process, that is, learning a foreign language (FL) and learning to be a teacher of Portuguese to Speakers of Other Languages (PSOL). As a qualitative research, this study aimed at investigating features of both spoken language and oral proficiency assessment in an online FL learning context, which is constituted by teletandem interactions. The information was collected in the scope of the Teletandem Brazil project (TTB) by means of interviews, audio and video recordings of teletandem conversation, questionnaires, teletandem tracking sheets and field notes. The data were categorized according to the contents revealed in each type of research instrument and analyzed with the support of a theoretical framework that includes discussions on the PSOL, Assessment, Distance Education and Portuguese spoken in Brazil. The results show that the teletandem conversation is a linguistic and cultural interchange between Brazilian and foreigner partners powered by the feedback provided. The partners‟ intervention to help each order in relation to linguistic and cultural aspects during the conversation is essential to contextualize and keep the progress of interaction, as well as to provide the support required in order to acknowledge and give attention to the interlocutor‟s speech. Taking into account the features of the spoken language in online conversation, the natural speech flow present in language proficiency assessment scales is discussed, mainly related to criteria such as oral comprehension, fluency and interactional competence. As part of the TTB activities, the teletandem tracking sheet showed to be a powerful assessment instrument to promote collaborative learning. The strength of this kind of learning and evaluation trigger... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)