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Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 144-158). Also available in print.

M.A. (Applied Linguistics) / The South African English Academy requested that an investigation be undertaken on the feasibility of producing a battery of English proficiency tests in the four modes (listening, speaking, reading and writing) which are free of ethnic labels. For the purpose of this study the aural and oral modes will be developed first as these are the two modes from which language arises. These tests are intended to be universal language tests which will be appropriate for both English first and second language learners. They will be undertaken with mother tongue standards as the first point of departure. It is proposed that mother tongue speakers represent the "universal" standard to which second language speakers aspire, although we are fully aware that native speakers show considerable variation in ability. First language norms will be taken as the norm of performance for this study because it assumed that this is what most second language learners would aspire to. This study will attempt to provide a valid and reliable measuring instrument to facilitate the correct placement of pupils in schools where English is the medium of instruction. Of particular importance is the fact that these are not tests of absolute competence, but are tests of progressive competence. No pupil is a failure, the pupils performance is measured on a continuum of six levels in the senior primary phase. This will enable the teacher to assist each pupil to progress at his own pace according to his own ability. There is a very definite need for performance tests in English since tests of communicative competence in English that are "universal in nature" are not available in South Africa. A standardised test battery aimed at measuring the language proficiency (of the heterogeneous population at the senior primary level) across all four language modes, does not exist in South Africa. The problem is to .develop tests with tasks at the appropriate level for a heterogeneous population and produce evidence regarding their validity. Although subjective and objective assessment methods are commonly used, the merits of the one method as opposed to the other are still debated. The importance of investigating the relationship between the multiple-choice aural test (by means of objective and indirect assessment) and the productive oral test (by means of subjective and direct assessment) cannot be underestimated.

Text in Afrikaans / Die doelstelling van hierdie navorsing is om te bepaal of warmte, empatie en kongruensie as openinggespreksvaardigheid met die verbaal aggressiewe klient enige waarde het en om te bepaal in watter mate maatskaplike werkers vaardig is in die hantering van die aggressiewe klient. Volgens die bevindinge van hierdie ondersoek waaraan vier en twintig maatskaplike werkers deelgeneem het, blyk dit dat daar groot gebreke in die hantering van die aggressiewe klient is en dat maatskaplike werkers nie altyd oor die nodige vaardighede beskik om die uitdaging wat die aggressiewe klient bied, te hanteer nie. Die navorsing kan as 'n voorbeeld van die werkwyse van maatskaplike werkers beskou word en dui daarop dat daar in hulle opleiding ten opsigte van die hantering van aggressie sekere leemtes is. Daar aanbeveel dat hierdie aspek verder ondersoek word. word / The aim of this research was to determine whether conversational skills such as warmth, empathy and congruency have any positive effect when dealing with verbally aggressive clients and to what degree social workers are equipped to deal with aggressive clients. According to the findings of this research in which twenty four social workers participated it would appear that there are serious shortcomings in the way in which they deal with aggressive clients and that they do not always have the skills required to meet the challenges posed by aggressive clients. This research outlines the way in which social workers operate and would seem to indicate that there are serious shortcomings in their training when it comes to dealing with aggressive clients in interview situations. It is recommended that this matter be further investigated. / Social Work / M.A. (Sosiale Wetenskappe (Geestesgesondheid)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oral participation of freshman International Students (ISs) in college content classes. The research questions were: (i) how much do ISs speak in different academic situations; (ii) what discourse moves do ISs make, especially initiation moves; and (iii) what are the exchange patterns into which IS discourse moves are organized. The naturally occurring discourse of eight freshman undergraduate ISs studying in a variety of fields was tape-recorded in four academic situations (lectures, laboratory sessions, freshman composition classes, and student/teacher writing conferences). Analysis of the transcripts showed that the amount of IS talk varied across the four situations, and among the eight students. The frequency of student moves also varied among the students and across situations, with student questions the most frequent move in lectures, student offer moves in labs, offered responses in composition classes, and nominated responses in conferences. The most frequent exchange patterns in lectures, labs and conferences were 2-part exchanges, but the 3-part exchange was the most frequent in composition classes. Longer exchange patterns also varied across the situations. The findings contribute to studies in SLA, Interlanguage variation, discourse and interaction analysis. There are also implications for the teaching of English for Academic and Specific Purposes.