Univerzita Karlova v Praze Filozofická fakulta Ústav anglického jazyka a didaktiky Didaktika konkrétního jazyka Iva K o u t s k á Specifické aspekty výuky cizích jazyků u seniorů/účastníků univerzity třetího věku Specific aspects of teaching foreign languages to seniors/participants of the University of the Third Age ABSTRAKT (anglická verze) 2015 vedoucí práce: doc. PhDr. Pavla Zajícová, Ph.D. Abstract The following thesis deals with chosen aspects of teaching seniors at universities of the third age (U3A) and specific aspects of teaching foreign languages to seniors at U3As. The thesis focuses on the ambiguity of the term "senior" and discuses existence or nonexistence of an independent scientific discipline dealing with education of seniors. The thesis characterizes chosen institutions of education of seniors and chosen specific aspects of this process. In the empirical part the thesis compares four case studies of education of seniors and teaching foreign languages to seniors at: 1) U3A in Malta, 2) U3As in Scotland, 3) U3As in the Czech Republic and 4) at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem U3A. The aim of the thesis is to present a more complex insight to the above described problem which is a complicated and interdisciplinary topic, not much described in an expert literature....

The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of stereoscopic three-dimensional (S3D) images on productive and receptive recall of foreign language vocabulary. S3D images are highly-realistic and differ from non-stereoscopic three-dimensional (NS3D) images in that they provide the impression of the added third dimension of depth. This within-subject study exposed the participants (N = 82) in a controlled setting to a series of carefully designed and randomly distributed NS3D and S3D images. The subjects were then given immediate productive and receptive tests of foreign language vocabulary items that were represented by NS3D and S3D images. Quantitative data consisted of the scores from the vocabulary tests. Qualitative data, gathered through background questionnaires and follow-up surveys, included a mixture of open-ended and Likert questions. The statistical analyses of the data using a series of paired t-tests showed NS3D and S3D images to be equally effective for vocabulary recall. In addition, significantly more subjects found S3D images to be engaging and/or more useful, while subjects also indicated that they perceived the main benefits of learning with S3D images to come from enhanced focus, realism, engagement, and association. At the same time, some learners reported being distracted and experiencing discomfort while viewing S3D images. Post hoc tests revealed that lower performance on S3D images was driven only by those subgroups that exhibited discomfort and / or lack of experience with S3D technology.

The purpose of this essay was to see what mistakes Swedish university students make when writing English essays and to focus on one specific mistake, namely the use of capital letters. Fifty essays written by students of Swedish origin were taken from the SWICLE (the Swedish Component of the International Corpus of Learner English), corrected and the mistakes were subsequently analysed. Furthermore, six Swedish school book series were examined in order to find examples of how Swedish pupils are taught how to use capital letters in English. The results showed that mistakes concerning capital letters were very common compared to other mistakes and that the students in the study seemed to have grasped some grammatical rules on the matter, but not all. Other common mistakes made in the essays were spelling mistakes and choice of words. Most common among the mistakes concerning capital letters were overuse of capital lettering and the lack of initial capital letters when writing weekdays, months and holidays. Only one out of the six school book series went deeper into the matter of when to use capital letters in English, which suggests that one of the reasons why capital letter mistakes are so common might be that the students are not extensively taught on the matter.

A pesquisa investiga as concepções e teorias subjacentes às práticas didáticas propostas por professores em uma classe de 1º ano do Ensino Fundamental em uma escola bilíngüe. O trabalho parte de uma desconstrução do mito de monolingüismo no Brasil, apontando para a pluralidade lingüística e cultural que constitui a sociedade brasileira apesar das políticas de planificação lingüística. Define os conceitos de bilingüismo, educação bilíngüe e escola bilíngüe apoiando-se nas definições multidimensionais propostas por Hamers, Blanc, Mackey, Valdés e Figueroa, que levam em conta não apenas a proficiência nas duas línguas, mas o uso das línguas em situações de comunicação, e o bilingüismo visto como um processo em construção ao invés de um produto acabado. Os contextos bilíngües presentes no Brasil são enumerados em escolas bilíngües indígenas, escolas LIBRAS-português para surdos, escolas de fronteiras nos países do MERCOSUL, escolas internacionais e escolas bilíngües de prestígio, apresentando alguns aspectos históricos e sociais relativos à presença de cada um desses contextos na sociedade, sobretudo a conscientização dos direitos de terceira geração, como os direitos lingüísticos. Adota uma metodologia de pesquisa etnográfica, analisando em nível micro-sociológico um contexto específico, uma sala de aula de 1º ano do Ensino Fundamental em uma escola bilíngüe de prestígio, levantando dados por meio de observações e entrevistas. Analisa as práticas didáticas propostas por professores encontradas no trabalho de campo e as teorias a elas subjacentes, identificando um programa de imersão baseado na teoria de aquisição natural das línguas proposta por Krashen (natural approach), que propõe uma aquisição inconsciente da língua, semelhante à língua materna, valorizando os aspectos afetivos, lúdicos e comunicativos da língua. Encontra uma ambigüidade nas práticas de alfabetização expressa por uma visão mais ampla de alfabetização em língua portuguesa do que na língua inglesa, e relaciona-a a aspectos culturais presentes na assimetria entre metodologia de ensino e na concepção de material didático em cada língua. Relaciona a realidade encontrada em sala de aula com aspectos macro-sociais em uma perspectiva de mútua influência entre escola e sociedade, observando que o aumento do interesse pelo ensino-aprendizagem de línguas hegemônicas pode tanto constituir uma forma de aprofundamento das desigualdades sociais quanto instrumentalizar os indivíduos para terem acesso a uma amplitude maior de conhecimentos historicamente construídos. / This research investigates the conceptions and theories underlying didactic practices proposed by teachers in a first year Elementary Education class at a bilingual school. This work stems from a deconstruction of the monolinguism myth in Brazil, pointing to the linguistic and cultural plurality which constitutes Brazilian society in spite of the policies on linguistic standardization. Defines the concepts of bilingualism, bilingual education and bilingual school, basing itself on the multidimensional definitions proposed by Hamers, Blanc, Mackey, Valdés and Figueroa, which take into consideration not only proficiency in the two languages, but the use of these languages in situations of communication, and bilingualism seen as a work-in-progress and not a finished product. The bilingual contexts present in Brazil are enumerated in indigenous bilingual schools, LIBRAS-Portuguese schools for the deaf, schools on the borders of MERCOSUL countries, international schools and bilingual schools of prestige, presenting some historical and social aspects relative to the presence of each of these contexts in society, above all the awareness of the rights of the third generation, such as linguistic rights. The research adopts an ethnographic research methodology, analyzing at a micro-sociological level a specific context a classroom of a first year Elementary School Education group at a prestigious bilingual school, gathering data through observations and interviews. Analyzes the didactic practices proposed by teachers found in the field of work and the underlying theories; identifying a program of immersion based on the theory of the natural acquisition of languages proposed by Krashen (natural approach), which considers an unconscious acquisition of language, similar to mother language, valuing the affective, playful and communicative aspects of the language. Finds an ambiguity in the practice of the literacy process expressed by a more ample view of literacy in the Portuguese language than in the English language that might be regarded to diverse cultural features present in the methodology of education and the conception of didactic material in each language. Relates the reality found in the classroom with macro-social aspects, in a perspective of mutual influence between the school and society, observing that the increase in interest for the learning of hegemonic languages can constitute a form of deepening social inequality, as well as provide individuals with tools to have access to a greater amplitude of knowledge historically constructed.

The purpose of this study was to describe and analyse teachers’ experiences of the transition from year 3 to year 4 in the Swedish compulsory school regarding the subject English. The study also concerned collaboration between teachers of English both within the same unit of the school system and between different units. Both questionnaires and interviews were used to collect the data and a total amount of 32 teachers from all over the country answered the questionnaires, 12 lower primary school teachers (years 1-3) and 20 upper primary school teachers (years 4-6). Three of the lower primary school teachers and eight of the upper primary school teachers also participated in a follow-up interview. The study revealed that the information passed on from lower primary school teachers to upper primary school teachers regarding the subject English differed greatly between different schools. The teachers’ experience of how well functioning the routines regarding meetings before the transition are also differed as well as how much attention the subject received during those meetings. Collaboration between teachers within the subject was found to be close to non-existent. This study shows the importance of functional and adequate routines and guidelines concerning the transmission of information about the pupils’ knowledge development to future teachers. The transition for and the continuous teaching of the pupils ease if sufficient information is passed on.

This research is logged in the field of language acquisition, focusing on Spanish as a foreign language learnt at university level. It investigates how learning strategies are used by students to develop proficiency in Spanish over a three-year period (from the first year to the third year). Adopting a cognitive lens that places special attention to how linguistic knowledge is constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed, this study focuses on the language learning process, specifically on what the students do to learn a language. Taking into account that the learning of foreign language poses particular and distinctive challenges – as opposed to the learning of a second language – and using a multiphase design that combines sequential strands encompassing quantitative and qualitative techniques, this study finds that those who successfully complete all the Spanish courses are the ones who report significantly more use of metacognitive strategies in the first year. The study concludes by proposing a framework that helps to classify the role that the use of strategies play in learning a foreign language from a student’s perspective. This framework adds a new dimension and provides valuable information to similar types of studies. Considering the above-mentioned findings, the study recommends introducing first-year students to the potential value of using metacognitive strategies in foreign language learning, and suggests that lecturers should recommend more activities for students to engage in the language outside the classroom. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Modern European Languages / PhD / Unrestricted

People have need for different aid supporting them when learning a foreign language and most of us benefit from the use of more than one aid. Teachers offer a variety of techniques when teaching English, to ensure that as many pupils as possible are able to assimilate English education. Digitalization and research have brought the use of visual aid in English education to increase over the years. The aim of this study is to explore lower primary school teachers’ experiences of using visual aid in the English classroom in order to discuss which possible effects visual aid can have for pupils’ language competence.  In primary school year 1-3. The study is a qualitative study in the form of semi structured interviews with seven primary school teachers in the south of Sweden. The interviews provided an insight into the participants' individual actions, opinions and experiences on visual aid in English education. The results from this research confirm a generous use of visual aid, such as pictures, images, body language, film and drama among the teachers in this study. All seven participants experience increased engagement in classroom activities and refer this specifically to the use of visual aid. The teachers use visual aid to enhance and clarify content, to ensure acquirement of English vocabulary and to create a varied and diverse education and they consider the use of visual aid in English education to increase pupils’ language learning. The main purpose is to ensure that as many pupils as possible acquire English communication skills. It appears that the teachers in this study regard the benefits to exceed the challenges. One benefit is a motivating and interesting education with a high level of pupil activity in which pupils’ ability to succeed in English education increases. A challenge is to offer necessary aid to beginners and motivate pupils with highly developed English skills to acquire further knowledge in the same education. In further research it would be interesting to explore pupils’ view on the use of and benefits and challenges from visual aid in English education.         Keywords: English education, Foreign language learning, Primary school, Young language learners, Visual aid, Pictures, Drama, Film.

The aim of this essay has been to gain knowledge about how authentic experiences affect students' motivation for their learning of Spanish and to compare how their motivation is influenced by different kinds of authentic experiences. According to Bryman (2006) the most common methods when doing investigations about motivation are questionnaires combined with structured interviews, within a mixed method, with both quantitative and qualitative instruments. The research has therefore been carried out at a Swedish high school, applying questionnaires at 122 students and structured interviews with 8 students. The results were analyzed with the motivational theories; Eccles and Wigfield's expectancy-value theory och Deci och Ryan's self-determination theory. The results show a tendency of a positive attitude towards authentic experiences during lessons. These seem to be used by the teachers, especially in the form of authentic music and film, and students also consider those activities to positively influence motivation and most of them believe that different authentic experiences could increase motivation, increase the posibility to integrate to internal motivation towards Spanish as a subject, but most consider that real and virtual meetings with Spanishspeaking probably will not do so, since the ability to integrate them rather seem that it might inhibit the students' psychosocial needs.

Motivational research has recently shifted focus to include what role teachers, and the motivational strategies they use, play in the language learning classroom (Cheng & Dörnyei, 2007; Dörnyei & Csizer, 1998). Motivational research has traditionally gathered data from either teachers or students. However, researchers have recently been calling for a shift in focus from this individualistic perspective to evaluating motivation more holistically (Dörnyei, 2001a; Oxford, 2003; Ushioda, 2006). Nevertheless, few studies have included the opinions of both the students and teachers. This study has elicited the opinions of both students and teachers to find out which teaching practices both groups believe foster motivation in the foreign language classroom. The results indicate that students and teachers alike find teaching practices related to Teacher, Rapport, and Climate as the top three most motivational conceptual domains. Furthermore, only 3 conceptual domains, out of 17, were statistically different between groups: Task, Effort, and Comparison.

This degree project aims to investigate if ICT has any influence as motivation for English foreign language learners. Furthermore, this study is to investigate in what way the motivation is affected, if it is affected at all. Today, computers and other digital tools such as tablets influence the society greatly and are a part of the learners’ everyday life. The data in this study is analyzed and collected through survey questionnaires. The participants are 45 third graders from a Swedish elementary school. Many students today have a great interest in computers and tablets since it is a part of their daily life. Andersson (2003) states that many are bored since the Swedish school still hold to the old traditions. Hence, this project aims to investigate if incorporating ICT in the EFL classroom can increase students’ motivation. The conclusion of this study is that the majority of students are affected by ICT in a positive way. Also, the collected data showed that students’ motivation increased because the lessons got more fun and they felt happier when incorporating ICT in the EFL classroom.