Since the inception of the Kentucky Educational Reform Act in 1990, Kentucky has undergone numerous educational changes. Regarding world languages, recent changes include a new state World Language Standard, a K-12 world language program review, and university language proficiency entrance requirements. These changes create an interesting context in which world language educators negotiate their perceptions and pedagogical choices. This study explored the perceptions, influences, and pedagogical choices of one Kentucky world language educator regarding language proficiency and cultural tools of context, standards and assessments. A constructivist framework guided the case study design. Data collection included interviews, observations, and artifact collection and data analyses followed the comparative analysis process (Yin, 1994; Merriam, 1998). Findings suggest that the participant's perceptions of language proficiency reflect characteristics of the communicative competence language proficiency model of Uso-Juan and Martinez-Flor (2008). In addition, the participant's pedagogical choices regarding context, standards and assessments reflect organizational, policy, and personal influences (Grant, 2003) and characteristics of mediated action (Wertsch, 1998). This study highlights the importance of understanding world language educators' perceptions during a time of contextual change and the need for professional development supporting educators’ pedagogical choices.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka elevers och lärares attityd gentemot svordomar och könsord ur ett genusperspektiv, vilka effekter svordomar innehar i klassrummet samt hur de används av eleverna och lärarna. Intervjuer genomfördes med tre lärare, en kvinnlig respektive två manliga. Lärarna fick besvara frågor som behandlar svordomar och könsord i klassrummet. För att få ett trovärdigt resultat spelades informanterna in med hjälp av ljudinspelning. En enkätundersökning genomfördes med eleverna där de fick besvara 11 frågor, som behandlar deras eget språkbruk i klassrummet och deras åsikter angående lärare som använder svordomar i sin undervisning. Resultatet visar att genus har en stor inverkan på hur vi bedömer och accepterar svordomar och könsord i klassrummet. Lärare och elever av det kvinnliga könet har mindre tolerans i jämförelse med män. Undersökningen visar att de manliga eleverna inte bryr sig om ifall en lärare använder svordomar eller könsord i klassrummet. Samma inställning har de manliga eleverna gentemot vilken effekt svordomar och könsord har i undervisningen. De kvinnliga eleverna tappar däremot respekten för lärare som använder svordomar och könsord samt anser att svordomar och könsord innehar en negativ effekt i klassrummet. / A study has been conducted by investigating teachers' and students' attitudes towards swear words and sexual slurs from a gender perspective. The purpose of the investigation was to study the acceptance of swear words in classroom situations among teachers and students. Therefore, interviews were conducted with three teachers, of whom one was female and two were male. In order to get a correct analysis, the informants were recorded using a dictation machine. Teachers were allowed to answer questions related to their own use of profanities and the students' use of profanities in the classroom. A survey was conducted with the students where they answered eleven questions. Additionally, the students answered questions about their own language use in the classroom and their opinions regarding teachers' usage of swear words. The analysis of the results shows that gender has a great impact on the acceptance of swear words and vulgar words in the classroom. Female students and teachers have less tolerance compared to men, and the majority of both male and female students in the survey do not consider there to be any effect of swear words regarding the quality of teaching.  Finally, the result shows that female students lose respect for teachers who are using swear words.

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There are a myriad of factors that influence the teaching and assessment of English as a foreign language in Israel. One such factor is the change in perception of how the mind collects and processes information. The transition from behaviorist theories of learning to constructivist and cognitivist theories has resulted in a new concept of learning that recognises the pivotal role of the learner in the learning process. Another instrumental factor is the creation of standards in education that are intended to raise the level of academic achievement and provide equitable educational opportunities for all learners. Both of these factors have impacted the study of English as a foreign language. Countries around the world have assumed monumental changes in the way they approach foreign language study. Following the examples of foreign countries Israel has recently implemented a standards-based curriculum that supports alternative assessment. Since this is a relatively new concept, the principles underlying standards and assessment are unfamiliar to many EFL teachers. Novice teachers, as well as experienced teachers, are experiencing difficulty incorporating standards and alternative assessment into their lessons. In the light of the above it was clear that a need existed to investigate how English foreign language teachers relate to assessment and to examine the extent to which they implement alternative assessment in their teaching. The aim of the study is to explore teachers' understanding of alternative assessment and find out how teachers incorporate alternative assessment in their EFL classes. Against this background, an empirical investigation was undertaken. It comprised a textual analysis of ten assessment packages and two focus group interviews. The research produced a wealth of descriptive data that illuminated the subject. The findings magnified the disparity between the theory behind alternative assessment and actual practice. It was apparent that the assessment activities which EFL teachers employed, were not in sync with the principles that were being promoted by the new curriculum for EFL teaching and assessment in Israeli schools. The study discusses the results of the investigation, suggests the implications and presents recommendations. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Didactics)

There are a myriad of factors that influence the teaching and assessment of English as a foreign language in Israel. One such factor is the change in perception of how the mind collects and processes information. The transition from behaviorist theories of learning to constructivist and cognitivist theories has resulted in a new concept of learning that recognises the pivotal role of the learner in the learning process. Another instrumental factor is the creation of standards in education that are intended to raise the level of academic achievement and provide equitable educational opportunities for all learners. Both of these factors have impacted the study of English as a foreign language. Countries around the world have assumed monumental changes in the way they approach foreign language study. Following the examples of foreign countries Israel has recently implemented a standards-based curriculum that supports alternative assessment. Since this is a relatively new concept, the principles underlying standards and assessment are unfamiliar to many EFL teachers. Novice teachers, as well as experienced teachers, are experiencing difficulty incorporating standards and alternative assessment into their lessons. In the light of the above it was clear that a need existed to investigate how English foreign language teachers relate to assessment and to examine the extent to which they implement alternative assessment in their teaching. The aim of the study is to explore teachers' understanding of alternative assessment and find out how teachers incorporate alternative assessment in their EFL classes. Against this background, an empirical investigation was undertaken. It comprised a textual analysis of ten assessment packages and two focus group interviews. The research produced a wealth of descriptive data that illuminated the subject. The findings magnified the disparity between the theory behind alternative assessment and actual practice. It was apparent that the assessment activities which EFL teachers employed, were not in sync with the principles that were being promoted by the new curriculum for EFL teaching and assessment in Israeli schools. The study discusses the results of the investigation, suggests the implications and presents recommendations. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Didactics)