Foreign language teachers, experts of pedagogy, and textbook publishers often cite frequency as an important tool in the creation of textbooks, as well as in teaching students a foreign language. These same figures, however, rarely question the application of frequency in these works. This thesis examines the application of frequency over a range of first-year German textbooks compared to a textbook that is explicitly based on a particular frequency dictionary. These textbooks are compared to each other and to the Jones and Tschirner Frequency Dictionary of German and Pfeffer’s Grunddeutsch: Basic (Spoken) German Word List, Grundstufe.

The aim of this study was to investigate how the target language is used in the foreign language classroom and how different teachers combine the target language and the first language in their teaching. The study was conducted in three different Swedish schools at different levels: one at the intermediate level; one at the secondary level; and two at the upper secondary level. The teachers were observed during class and interviewed. In addition to this, the students answered a questionnaire about their own and their teacher's use of the target language. The results showed that the teachers used the target language as the most common language in their teaching, although the first language was also used. The intermediate teacher used the first language when she did not have enough language herself, when she explained grammar or went through important information. The secondary teacher used the first language when she explained grammar as well as the upper secondary teacher, who also used the first language when she had important information. The results showed that the teacher's choice of language in the classroom had an impact on the students since more teacher target language use encouraged more student target language use in the classroom, and that it is important to start the lesson in the target language to encourage more target language use by the students. Both the teachers and the students thought that the target language was important during language teaching.

The aim of the thesis is to investigate how teaching devices, with focus on ICT use are regarded in education. I make comparison with teaching without technical devices, but emphasize the teaching with such devices. I address questions concerning what technical devices are used and in which way these devices may enhance the education process. In addition, in which way the devices influence power and communication. The methods indicate a deductive-abductive approach, observations, interviews, and questionnaires. The theoretical framework focuses, Linguistics, Pedagogy, cognition, and Informatics. The results-part is built up on two cases – one concerning teaching with technical devices, the other concerning teaching without those devices. The results imply that the schools of Sweden use computers and Internet in a very ‘common’ way. However, there are intentions to use cell phones with software to assist the teaching. By this approach, that would be possible to add an additional time to the lectures since the pupils and teachers can work outside the classroom. One problem with technical devices is named ‘noise’, which are things in between the ‘useful’ (technical) devices and issues around that can decrease the learning process. In addition; if the goal is to have a symmetrical relationship between teacher and pupil, it may be difficult without taking carefully account on the (technical) device in use, and perhaps regard them as cognitive tools. From what I found, the tools are not regarded as cognitive.

The study focuses on the use of poetry in language teaching in the lower grades in the Swedish school. Poetry has a reputation of being an art form with such specific rules and structures that children and teachers think that it is something that they do not have the ability to work with.  The purpose of this study is to get an understanding of how poetry is used in educating children. My research is based on the following questions.  To which extent is poetry being used in schools and how is it being used? Can you as a teacher see any effects on childrens language development by using poetry? As a part of my study I have met with and interviewed four different people, who in one way or another is involved in teaching children. Two working teachers in the lower grades, one pedagogical resource and one artist that work with teachers in reaching different goals through the help of aesthetic processes. My goal with the interviews was to get a sense of the way poetry is portrayed in schools and to see if it is a genre that is incorporated in teaching the Swedish language. Poetry has not always been mentioned in the Swedish curriculum as something children has to know about. However in the most recent curriculum poetry is brought up as something every child should know and recognize by the end of the third schoolyear.

ABSTRACT EVALUATION OF AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING PROGRAM AT A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY USING CIPP MODEL TUN&Ccedil / , Ferda M.S. Department of Educational Sciences Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cennet Engin DEMiR January 2010, 110 pages This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Ankara University Preparatory School program through the perspectives of instructors and students. To this end, the CIPP (context, input, process, and product) evaluation model developed by Stufflebeam (1971) was utilized. 406 students attending the preparatory school in the 2008-2009 academic year and 12 instructors teaching in the program participated in the study. The data were gathered through a self-reported student questionnaire and an interview schedule which was designed for the instructors. Besides, in order to obtain more detailed information about the preparatory school, written documents were examined. While the data based on the questionnaire were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, content analysis was carried out to analyze the qualitative data. Multivariate Analysis of Variances with Pillai&rsquo / s Trace test was employed to investigate whether the significant differences among dependent variables across independent variables existed. Results of the study indicated that the program at Ankara University Preparatory School partially served for its purpose. The findings revealed that some improvements in the physical conditions, content, materials and assessment dimensions of the program were required to make the program more effective.

<p>The aim of the thesis is to investigate how teaching devices, with focus on ICT use are regarded in education. I make comparison with teaching without technical devices, but emphasize the teaching with such devices. I address questions concerning what technical devices are used and in which way these devices may enhance the education process. In addition, in which way the devices influence power and communication.</p><p>The methods indicate a deductive-abductive approach, observations, interviews, and questionnaires. The theoretical framework focuses, Linguistics, Pedagogy, cognition, and Informatics. The results-part is built up on two cases – one concerning teaching with technical devices, the other concerning teaching without those devices. The results imply that the schools of Sweden use computers and Internet in a very ‘common’ way. However, there are intentions to use cell phones with software to assist the teaching. By this approach, that would be possible to add an additional time to the lectures since the pupils and teachers can work outside the classroom. One problem with technical devices is named ‘noise’, which are things in between the ‘useful’ (technical) devices and issues around that can decrease the learning process. In addition; if the goal is to have a symmetrical relationship between teacher and pupil, it may be difficult without taking carefully account on the (technical) device in use, and perhaps regard them as cognitive tools. From what I found, the tools are not regarded as cognitive.</p>

Foreign language teachers, experts of pedagogy, and textbook publishers often cite frequency as an important tool in the creation of textbooks, as well as in teaching students a foreign language. These same figures, however, rarely question the application of frequency in these works. This thesis examines the application of frequency over a range of first-year German textbooks compared to a textbook that is explicitly based on a particular frequency dictionary. These textbooks are compared to each other and to the Jones and Tschirner Frequency Dictionary of German and Pfeffer’s Grunddeutsch: Basic (Spoken) German Word List, Grundstufe.

Diss. Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2009.

This study investigates expatriate English teachers’ cross-cultural adjustment in Taiwan. Cross-cultural adjustment theories and the differences between Chinese and Western culture are reviewed. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected in order to develop the framework for the study. The process was examined across three facets of adjustment: general, working and interaction with host nation. The study was based on the framework of Black, Mendenhall and Oddou (1991) and develops an empirical cross-cultural adjustment model for native English- speaking expatriates who work in Taiwan as English teachers. The framework was successfully implemented by means of questionnaire and interview data and a literature review. The key findings of this study are: 1. Expatriate English teachers’ job satisfaction, age, previous crosscultural experience and their motivation for or purpose in coming to Taiwan are the key factors which affect their intention to stay in Taiwan. 2. Expatriate English teachers’ Mandarin or Taiwanese language ability has significant effects on their daily activities and social life outside work in terms of general adjustment. 3. Cross-cultural training for expatriate teachers could improve their living conditions in Taiwan in terms of general adjustment. 4. Expatriate teachers who possessed an undergraduate degree had more difficulties in their relationship with school management. 5. The total time expatriate teachers had spent living in Taiwan had some effect on their job satisfaction and adjustment in relation to interacting with the Taiwanese. Based on the empirical findings of this study, some recommendations for language education institutions and Westerners who are working or planning to work as English teachers in Taiwan are as follows: 1. Those who are planning to go to Taiwan to work as English teachers should receive some cross-cultural training and gain basic Mandarin or Taiwanese language skills before departure. An undergraduate degree is the basic qualification but an English teaching certificate or higher degree is strongly recommended. 2. English language education institutions should offer expatriate teachers cross-cultural training which includes basic local language skills, general information about living and working in Taiwan and the differences in the education system, teaching methodology and management style between Taiwanese and Western cultures. 3. When recruiting expatriate teachers, it is recommended that English language education institutions should avoid those who are including a trip to Taiwan as part of wider Asian travel and who are likely to stay in Taiwan for a relatively short time.

The number of learners of Japanese as a second or other language has increased rapidly worldwide over the past several decades. The objectives of their study have largely changed from pursuing purely academic research interests to acquiring the communicative skills needed for business or leisure purposes. There are five language competency skills needed to master foreign languages: reading, writing, listening, speaking and intercultural competence. Students, particularly those studying outside Japan, depend more on textbooks for learning how to speak than their peers in Japan; and speaking is studied formally through analysis of model discourses in selected textbooks. In particular, if the learner’s first language is very different from Japanese, which in fact almost all other languages are, the complexity of the spoken language, including gender difference and respect forms, presents most learners with certain challenges that require adequate explanation to be comprehended. Likewise, the larger the cultural gap between learner and target language, the greater are the challenges for acquiring intercultural competence, which is closely interrelated with the production of ‘natural speech’. It is, therefore, crucial for learners from other cultures who have little opportunity to speak in Japanese to learn from a textbook of good quality which provides appropriate explanation of the social and cultural context of the model dialogues they employ as exemplars. The present study aims to analyse and evaluate the appropriateness of model dialogues contained in intermediate level textbooks for learners of Japanese as a second or other language. The findings suggest that none of the selected textbooks included satisfactory explanation about the model discourses, so there seems to be much room for improvement in this regard. It is anticipated that the results of this study will contribute to the design concept of foreign language textbooks in future.