The present investigation evaluated the effectiveness of multiple exemplar training (MET) on the facilitation of bidirectional symmetry-like relations (object-naming) for typically developing children (ages 3-4 yrs) whose first language was Spanish. Two experiments were conducted in which a multiple probe design was implemented to introduce exemplar training across 3 four-item stimulus sets. Participants were first trained in listener (name-object or A-B) relations via either conditional discrimination training (in Experiment 1), or a respondent-type training procedure (in Experiment 2). This training was followed by tests for derived symmetry-like relations (B-A relations). If participants failed these tests, MET was implemented in which B-A relations were explicitly taught with novel stimulus sets. Following MET, probes were conducted again with the original training set and MET continued with novel stimuli until participants met criterion for the emergence of derived B-A relations (Experiment 1) or derived A-B and B-A relations (Experiment 2 only); or after they had been exposed to a total of three different MET sets, whichever occurred first. Results from Experiment 1 indicated failed tests for B-A relations following direct training in A-B relations, and marked improvements in derived B-A relations following MET across all participants. Results from Experiment 2 demonstrated the emergence of derived A-B relations following a respondent-type training procedure (denoted as receptive symmetry training) and the emergence of B-A relations following MET across all participants. These results lend support for the use of a respondent-type training procedure to establish derived relations in typically developing children. Results and implication are discussed in light of a behavior analytic account of language development in general, and for second language acquisition specifically.

Foreign Domestic Workers (FDWs) in Hong Kong are a marginalised group, with many being subjected to various kinds of abuse. Numerous empirical studies documented the nature and extent of the abuse FDWs suffer. This study, with the aim of enhancing the prestige of FDWs, investigated the impact that Filipino Domestic Workers (FilDWs) in Hong Kong have on children's L2 English listening comprehension and spoken fluency. It was the first research that explored the impact of FilDWs on both a productive and receptive skill. A total of 20 children from Chinese Medium oflnstruction (CMI) schools between eight and 12 years old were used as research subjects. The experimental group consisted of 10 children from households with FilDWs, while the control group was composed of 10 children from households without FilDWs. Each group consisted of six boys and four girls. Prior to doing the study a pilot study was launched at a CMI school where five children of the target age group were tested. Based on the results of the pilot study, a test was designed to assess both listening comprehension and spoken fluency. Each participant listened to a children's story and was asked 25 fixed questions about it. All answers were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Results showed that those in the experimental group consistently outperformed those in the control group by substantial margins, even after controlling for age and gender. These results serve as evidence against the popular assertion in Hong Kong that FDWs have a bad influence on children's English.

<p> In an effort to help alleviate low achievement and motivation in Turkish university preparatory English programs (Education First, 2015), an English teacher at Mihrimah Sultan University (pseudonym) in Istanbul, Turkey, conducted a study in which ten university English preparatory program students used a mobile language learning application, English Quickly (EQ pseudonym). The aim of the study was to ascertain whether or not the eight-week application usage period would help students to improve their English language skills as well as their motivation to practice English. The mobile application EQ was downloaded by the students in February 2017, and was used for eight weeks, terminating in April 2017. Students used the different functions of the application including watching videos, speaking, and learning new vocabulary. The conceptual framework used for the study consisted of an analysis of knowledge, motivation, and organizational influences based on the work by Clark and Estes (2008). Recommendations were generated and an evaluation plan was designed using the New World Kirkpatrick's Four Level Model (Kirkpatrick &amp; Kirkpatrick, 2016).</p><p>

<p> In this qualitative explanatory single case study, community of practice and positioning theory were used to examine the perceptions of Chinese English teachers (CETs) concerning foreign English teachers (FETs) in a bilingual primary school in an urban environment in East China. The problem in this study was the difficulty of CETs and FETs to work harmoniously to teach English in Chinese primary schools. Specifically, the research questions were a) what are the Chinese English teachers&rsquo; perceptions of barriers to collaborating with foreign English teachers? and b) What are the Chinese English teachers&rsquo; perceptions regarding the contributions of the foreign English teachers in relation to English language teaching? At this school, each Chinese teacher was paired up with a foreign teacher as co-teaching dyad with shared responsibility. After conducting interviews with seven Chinese English teachers at the school, the interview transcripts were coded using values coding methods and descriptive coding. After compiling the data, six themes emerged relative to the research questions. Concerning barriers to collaboration, the Chinese English teachers mentioned noticeable differences in the dedication to teaching, a lack of solidarity between the two groups, and problems with the administration of the school. Contributions of the foreign teachers were providing cultural context, different approaches in teaching and working with the students, and native speaker model. From these results, it was recommended that foreign teachers need to demonstrate their desire to teach in better ways to their Chinese coworkers. Additionally, school administration must provide more direct leadership so that teachers can know what is expected of them concerning how to work together with the other teachers.</p><p>

<p> This dissertation examines how critical thinking skills are addressed in university-level intensive language programs for international students in the United States. The theoretical framework for this study was built upon Vygotsky&rsquo;s sociocultural theory. Three research questions inquired about language instructors&rsquo; ability to conceptualize critical thinking, integration of critical thinking into intensive language programs curricula and assessment tools, and obstacles in implementation of critical thinking in language instruction. Twenty-one instructors from intensive language programs for international students at six research universities in the Northeast part of the United States participated in this study. The data collection instruments were a questionnaire and follow-up interviews. A qualitative data analysis using a coding scheme revealed that the majority of the participants did not have a strong conceptualization of critical thinking and had difficulty in articulating critical thinking as a cultural construct. The analysis also revealed that the instructors from intensive language programs with re-designed curricula that included critical thinking as learning and instructional objectives reported a high success rate in preparing international students for academic challenges unlike the instructors from language programs that follow a traditional structure-oriented approach to language teaching. Some instructors from structure-oriented language programs reported that they developed their own critical thinking materials to infuse language instruction with critical thinking instruction. Other than their programs&rsquo; focus on language assessment, obstacles in implementing critical thinking into language curricula listed by the instructors included a lack of textbooks encouraging critical thinking, resistance from administrators and other instructors to re-design language curricula, students&rsquo; lack of motivation to learn critical thinking, and difficulty of teaching and evaluating critical thinking. With no other studies existing on teaching critical thinking in intensive language programs in universities in the U.S., this study offers pioneering evidence and implications for (a) stronger implementation of critical thinking skills in language support programs for international students planning to pursue academic degrees, (b) reconceptualization of the notion of academic literacy to include critical thinking, (c) development of critical thinking instructional materials and textbooks for language instruction, and (d) training in critical thinking instruction in teacher education programs and professional development initiatives.</p><p>

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston University / It 1a the purpose of this study (1) to analyze the pronunciation errors of Italian speaking people learning English and ( 2) to determine whether or not a native dialectical language has any effect on the individual's learning situation. Using the case study method the writer has selected twenty persona of Italian extraction-- ten native of northern Italy and ten native of southern Italy-- each speaking a native dialect as a primary language and exposed to the English language and pronunciation only through the regional dialect or western Connecticut.

This thesis focuses on the trainee counsellor’s experience of speaking a second language in counselling practice. It is based on a single in-depth case study, examining the author’s experience of practice during her training and in her first post-qualification years. Through a detailed exposition of the practitioner’s countertransference experience in relation to her use of a second language, it identifies three positions, termed ‘Worrying and Stumbling’, ‘Connecting and Attuning’ and ‘Relaxing and Playing’. Detailed practice examples are provided to illustrate each position. Like Klein’s use of the term, positions are conceptualised not as chronological or fixed stages, but as ways of being in relation which can dominate or recede at any time. In contrast to the problem-focused perspective that characterises existing research on second language use in counselling, this thesis provides evidence of the opportunities that arise in the therapeutic relationship when the counsellor is working in a second language, even arguing that second language use can be an asset. As counselling and psychotherapy become increasingly globalised, with counsellors and clients often no longer sharing the same native tongues, this thesis makes a timely contribution to research focused on the counsellor’s experience in this setting. Shedding new light on the experience of trainees working in a second language, it offers insights to counselling educators, researchers, practitioners and trainees.

abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore and report on the impact of coaching as an embedded part of professional development has on teacher learning and practice in the context of educating English Language Learners (ELLs). A close examination was made of what teachers, coaches and principals believe to be effective professional development and how the relationship between a coach and teacher affects understanding of and classroom practice with a specific population of students. The research questions were (a) How can coaching support implementation of professional development goals over traditional development activities as reported by the teacher, coach and administrator? (b) What is the relationship between the coach and teacher? (c) How does the coaching process relate to self- reported coach and teacher knowledge of instruction and practice in the ELL context? I used a qualitative approach to gather data through classroom observations and in-depth interviews. The 17 participants came from Title 1 elementary schools with high ELL populations located in the central and west valley of Phoenix, Arizona. I analyzed the data deductively then coded and categorized participant responses in relation to the literature on professional development and coaching. The findings indicated that those involved perceived embedded coaching as an effective component of professional development. What I have now termed based on my study as Professional Development Praxis (PPD). They agreed that with a structured system of coaching in place, both teachers and coaches increased their knowledge of how to best instruct ELLs as well as enhanced their ability to put research-based strategies into classroom practice. The recommendation of this study is that districts, schools and professional developers provide training and support for educators in a meaningful, effective and student centered way. Professional development were educators are provided knowledge about ELLs, opportunities for practice of what they are learning in and out of training sessions and on-going collaboration and support as they work with their students. It is the job of everyone involved in the system to better prepare educators to meet the critical needs of students who come to school with specific linguistic and academic needs. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ed.D. Educational Administration and Supervision 2012

<p> Schools in the United States have more students who are English learners (ELs) than at any point in recent decades. Academic performance for these students, as measured by standardized tests, falls below that of their native English-speaking peers and, on some measures, is not making the sorts of gains that other groups appear to be making. Of the various program delivery models for ELs found in schools in the U.S., dual language has received a great deal of attention and interest in recent years due to some impressive long-term student achievement results. There is a great deal of research regarding the effectiveness of dual language and practices that have been shown to support that effectiveness. However, there is little in the research focusing on the perspective of dual language principals and listening to their voices. </p><p> This qualitative study involving interviews of 15 elementary principals of dual language schools in the Eastern United States region was focused on understanding their experience as they contextualized best practices to meet the needs of their specific student population. The study drew on conceptual frameworks of transformative leadership theory, Fowler&rsquo;s initiative implementation, and Cummins&rsquo;s interdependence hypothesis. </p><p> Analysis of the interview data revealed that dual language principals frequently found themselves playing a balancing act between two groups of people within their school. Another finding was that the dual language principal&rsquo;s responsibilities are more complex than those of their colleagues in more traditional elementary schools. It was also learned that dual language best practices are generally followed faithfully. The final finding was that, despite the extra complications, dual language principals find the rewards to be worth the extra effort. The study reveals that dual language programs offer a powerful vehicle for transformative leaders to build community across language and culture. </p><p> Implications for policy include recommendations for school systems to coordinate efforts to find qualified bilingual staff and appropriate bilingual materials. Future research is suggested to explore the perceptions that different language and cultural parent groups have about dual language. Several implications are outlined for practice, including creating meaningful and purposeful cross-cultural experiences for students and parents.</p><p>

<p> For nearly four decades, research has documented positive correlations between metacognitive abilities and student growth. Teachers who wish to cultivate metacognitive thinking should encourage their students to plan, investigate, and expand on the concepts they learn in class (Fisher, Frey, &amp; Hattie, 2016; Flavell, 1979). This mixed-methods study sought to investigate the effects of the Drive My Brain Model ([DMB], Gomez, 2016) on English language learners&rsquo; (ELLs) metacognition. The sample for the quantitative portion of this study was comprised of 54 fifth-grade ELLs from a public elementary school located in Orange County, California. The qualitative sample consisted of 12 students that represented a proportional sample of the students at the school, and two teachers. A quasi-experimental design was used for this study. The treatment group received roughly 30 minutes of Drive My Brain (DMB) Model activities each day over eight weeks, receiving a total of 1,155 minutes of intervention. Two pre-developed, validated surveys were used as pre-test/post-test for both groups. Survey scores for both groups were compared using a Chi-square test. Results indicated that statistically significant growth was achieved by the treatment group. Additional quantitative measures included an observation checklist, student task rubrics, and a student Likert survey questionnaire. Results indicated that students, who felt the DMB Model was easy to use, performed better on content tasks. Qualitative analysis supported quantitative findings. Student task artifacts revealed that students in the treatment group used more metacognitive and cognitive strategies. Additionally, student and teacher interviews found the DMB Model to be easy to use. </p><p>