This study aims at investigating teaching of idioms by means of illustrations and teaching of idioms by means of definitions. The informants of the experiment are learners of English in a Swedish high school. The 58 informants of this experiment were tested on a total of 19 idioms. These idioms were carefully chosen in order to make sure that they would not already be known by the informants. Another key factor while choosing the idioms was the possibility to find appropriate illustrations for these idioms. The chosen illustrations depict either the literal or the metaphorical meaning of the idioms. The informants were administered one pre-test and two post-tests (short- and long-term retention tests) to measure the retention rate. The pre-test was used to check if both groups had similar knowledge of the selected idioms and therefore could be comparable. The results of this experiment show that students taught by the use of illustrations had a better short- and long-term retention rate than students taught only by the use of definitions. In both the short- and long-term retention test, informants taught by the use of illustrations outperformed informants taught through definition by more than 10%. This study therefore indicates that the use of illustrations while teaching should not be neglected by teachers and can be a powerful tool to enhance students’ retention of chosen items such as vocabulary or idioms.

SOUSA, Bill Bob Adonis Arinos Lima e. Aquisição vocabular em língua estrangeira por meio de filmes legendados: o uso da tradução numa sequência didática. 2016. 224f. - Dissertação (Mestrado) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Estudos da Tradução, Fortaleza (CE), 2016. / Submitted by Gustavo Daher (gdaherufc@hotmail.com) on 2017-01-23T17:17:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_dis_bbaalsousa.pdf: 4820680 bytes, checksum: 16b8edd9e5faf0dc789147c7e81a5378 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Márcia Araújo (marcia_m_bezerra@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-01-26T12:29:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_dis_bbaalsousa.pdf: 4820680 bytes, checksum: 16b8edd9e5faf0dc789147c7e81a5378 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-26T12:29:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_dis_bbaalsousa.pdf: 4820680 bytes, checksum: 16b8edd9e5faf0dc789147c7e81a5378 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / In recent decades, foreign languages (FL) teaching and learning has benefited from studies on the use of subtitled audiovisual material, although there is a shortage of work concerning research with participants in initial level of learning, compared to studies involving participants at intermediate and advanced level (MATIELO; D’ELY; BARRETA, 2015). Based on this need, our research (Parecer: 1.322.500 – CEP/UFC) examines the effectiveness of the use of subtitled films combined to the translation of intralingual subtitles as a way to broaden the vocabulary repertoire of English language (EL) students from high school. To this end, we apply the assumptions of the functionalist theory of Translation found in Reiss (2004), in Vermeer (2004), and mainly in Nord (2000; 2001; 2005a; 2005b; 2006a; 2006b; 2009; 2010a; 2010b; 2010c; 2012) and her translation project which starts from the textual analysis of intratextual and extratextual elements, shared by various types of text, as a form of promoting a comprehensive understanding of the source text (SC). We also discuss the characteristics of the filmic language (MARTIN 2005; ZABALBEASCOA 2008; AUMONT 2006; 2009; GAUDREAULT; JOST 2009) and its implications for the field of audiovisual translation (AVT), focusing on subtitling (ORERO 2004; DÍAZ CINTAS 2004; 2005; 2008; DÍAZ CINTAS; ANDERMAN 2009; GAMBIER 2006; 2009; DÍAZ CINTAS; REMAEL 2014), as well as considering the contributions that the subtitled audiovisual material may bring to the FL teaching and learning. Through the application of a didactic sequence (DS) with a high school class, it was found that there was a vocabulary acquisition in the EL which surpassed 50% of the lexical deficit that was identified in the participants’ pretests, which represents a considerable gain for this FL students, making this pedagogical tool, DS, the way it was applied, productive. Thus, it may be used in other FL class contexts as another teaching option. / Nas últimas décadas, o ensino-aprendizagem de língua estrangeira (LE) tem se beneficiado dos estudos sobre o uso de material audiovisual legendado, embora haja uma carência no que se refere a essas pesquisas com participantes em nível inicial de aprendizagem, se comparadas aos estudos com participantes em nível intermediário e avançado (MATIELO; D’ELY; BARRETA, 2015). Partindo dessa necessidade, nossa pesquisa (Parecer: 1.322.500 – CEP/UFC) investiga a efetividade do uso de filmes legendados combinados à tradução de legendas intralinguais como forma de ampliar o repertório vocabular de estudantes de língua inglesa (LI) do Ensino Médio. Para isso, aplicam-se os pressupostos da teoria funcionalista da Tradução encontrados em Reiss (2004), em Vermeer (2004), principalmente em Nord (2000; 2001; 2005a; 2005b; 2006a; 2006b; 2009; 2010a; 2010b; 2010c; 2012) e seu projeto de tradução que parte de uma análise textual dos elementos intratextuais e extratextuais, comuns aos diversos tipos de texto, como forma de promover um entendimento abrangente do texto-fonte (TF). Faz-se, aqui, também, uma discussão sobre as características da linguagem fílmica (MARTIN 2005; ZABALBEASCOA 2008; AUMONT 2006; 2009; GAUDREAULT; JOST 2009) e suas implicações no campo da tradução audiovisual (TAV), com ênfase na legendagem (ORERO 2004; DÍAZ CINTAS 2004; 2005; 2008; DÍAZ CINTAS; ANDERMAN 2009; GAMBIER 2006; 2009; DÍAZ CINTAS; REMAEL 2014), percebendo as contribuições que os materiais audiovisuais legendados podem trazer ao ensino-aprendizagem de uma LE. Por meio da aplicação de uma sequência didática (SD) em sala de aula do Ensino Médio, verificou-se que houve uma aquisição vocabular em LI que ultrapassou 50% da carência lexical demonstrada pelos participantes no pré-teste, o que representa um ganho considerável para os estudantes dessa LE, tornando essa ferramenta didática, SD, da forma como foi aplicada, profícua. Podendo, assim, ser utilizada em outros contextos de sala de aula de LE como mais uma opção de ensino.

Vocabulary acquisition plays an important role in second language students’ performance. In the process of learning vocabulary, students are exposed to different sorts of input that might affect the way their working memory processes, retains, and recalls the new information they are exposed to, which can be visual, auditory, haptic, or multimodal (Paivio, 1991). Research has been extensively done on the effects of input modality on working memory in L1 word recall tasks in individuals with normal development and also in individuals with visual disabilities; however, no attention has been given to the effects of input modality on working memory in word recall tasks in blind individuals in the realm of second language learning. The current research sought to investigate the effects of input modality on working memory in L2 word recall tasks with the goal of determining if the lack of access to visual stimuli would have any substantial effects on L2 word retention and recall. It was predicted that participants would do better on those word recall tasks that involved the use of more than one modality simultaneously and that lack of access to visual stimuli would not negatively affect L2 word recall. To address these issues, we devised two word recall experiments: experiment 1 for the blind participant of the study (a 24 year old female graduate student who is an English native speaker), and experiment 2 for the sighted participants. Both experiments comprised a Digit Span Test, 4 word recall tasks in which participants were exposed to four different lists of high frequency Spanish words and their English translations in different modalities (Oral, Written (Braille), Oral+Written (Braille), Haptic/visual+Oral), and an interview. Thirty (16 females, 14 males) American English Native speakers who were sighted with ages ranging from 19 to 37 participated in this study; half of them were blindfolded for the last word recall task (Haptic+Oral). The results for both experiments showed that contrary to our predictions and to what dual coding theories claim, our participants were able to recall more words in those tasks that involved the use of only one modality. In part this may be attributed to 1) the fact that it was the first time these participants were exposed to Spanish vocabulary and so it made it more difficult for their working memories to integrate modalities and 2) an information overload since the stimulus words were presented with their translation. Moreover, the lack of access to visual stimuli did not have a strong effect in those participants who were blindfolded, which may be explained by the fact that the oral and haptic input triggered the use of mental imagery when retaining and recalling the words. Finally, the practical and pedagogical implications of the findings of the present study, as well as recommendations for the future research are discussed.

Due to our constantly evolving society and our opportunity to communicate across borders,English language learning is becoming increasingly important for the individual and his/herability to act and live in the world. The importance of learning English as a foreign language(EFL) is also emphasized in the Swedish curriculum, which further states that the teaching inthe lower grades of schooling should focus on communicative skills such as vocabularyacquisition. This is in line with previous research studies which describe that the knowledge ofvocabulary is main key to learn a language. Previous research studies have been done withinthis area of EFL teaching where storytelling has been used as a method for English vocabularyacquisition. The results of these research studies indicate that the storytelling method is verybeneficial to use within EFL teaching in the lower grades of schooling as it creates a teachingcontent familiar and interesting to the students. With the knowledge of the importance ofvocabulary acquisition and, the benefits the storytelling method can contribute with it isinteresting to further investigate how this method is implemented in a Swedish context. As ofthis, the main aim of this empirical study is to investigate how storytelling can be used as amethod for teaching English vocabulary to 1-3rd grade EFL students in Sweden and also, whatteachers think about this method.To collect data to this study six semi-structured interviews were conducted with 1-3rd gradeteachers in Sweden. The results show that the informants have an overall positive attitudetowards storytelling as a method to teach English vocabulary. Additionally, all teacher expressthat they use this method in their own EFL teaching but in various extent. The most interestingfindings were the different approaches the teachers use within the storytelling method and also,how the teachers support their students in order to enhance their comprehension of the teachingcontent. Future research within this area is needed and specifically within a Swedish context.More research on the storytelling method and its possibilities to EFL acquisition could strengthen the argument why this method should be used more frequently to teach vocabulary within EFL education in Sweden. / <p>Engelska</p>

The purpose of this essay is to investigate whether the vocabulary in authentic texts used by upper secondary English teachers teaching the course English 7 reach the expectations set by the Swedish National Agency for Education and the CEFR. This was done by analysing 26 texts contributed from five teachers with vocabulary profile web tools such as Text Inspector and Compleat Lexical Tutor. The analysis focused on word frequency and the CEFR levels.. The word frequency results showed that the vocabulary difficulty of teachers’ texts deviated slightly of being too simple or difficult for English 7 students, while the CEFR results showed that the vocabulary difficulty was too advanced for English 7 students. Although the results deviated from one another, the vocabulary difficulty of the teachers’ texts was often similar to each other. Furthermore, the results showed that the vocabulary difficulty often variated between text genres. The study, therefore, reasoned that the English 7 teachers enact their agency by selecting texts that they not only believe are suitable for their students but also will be suitable for students with different language proficiencies. The study concluded that English 7 teachers select texts of similar vocabulary difficulty and that English 7 students read authentic texts that contain advanced vocabulary that goes beyond the expectations of the CEFR. The study also suggested that further research should investigate how the CEFR should be interpreted and that similar studies should include a closer engagement with the teachers to obtain their views on how and why they select particular authentic texts.

The objective of this study was to examine the accuracy of Swedish primary school students’ EFL self-assessments. Self-assessment is an important component of formative assessment, which is the main tool used by Swedish primary school teachers when evaluating EFL proficiency. In the study, a survey and a vocabulary picture test were conducted. The survey consisted of Likert-scale statements and was used for students’ EFL self-assessments. It was followed by an English vocabulary picture test to evaluate students’ English vocabulary. To investigate whether there was a correlation between the results of students’ self-assessments and their results on the vocabulary picture tests, a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was produced. Furthermore, results were also analysed by individual, item, and gender. In conclusion, EFL self-assessments made by the students were found to have a weak correlation of 0.22 to their results on the English vocabulary picture test. Thus, the findings of this study indicate that young Primary School students’ EFL self-assessments should not be used as the sole evaluation of English proficiency.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第22538号 / 人博第941号 / 新制||人||224(附属図書館) / 2019||人博||941(吉田南総合図書館) / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科共生人間学専攻 / (主査)准教授 PETERSON Mark, 准教授 中森 誉之, 准教授 勝又 直也, 教授 西山 教行 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

This research study explores to what extent reading aloud is beneficial for vocabulary acquisition. Based on research statistics provided by Eurostat (2020) the majority of students in Sweden learn English as a foreign language. Therefore, the focus of the study is based on investigating the EFL classroom in Sweden. The research question this study is based on is to what extent reading aloud is beneficial for teaching English as a foreign language in the Swedish school from grade one to three in terms of children's ability to learn vocabulary. The method used for this research to collect scientific journals, dissertations and related research that can contribute to this discussion and result of this study is collected through different electronic databases. The access to studies conducted in an EFL classroom was rather restrictive and therefore the majority of the studies used were conducted on children who studied English as a first language in preschool and grade one to three in primary school. Whilst the selected studies target groups differed in age, findings indicate that the benefits of only reading aloud have little influence on children’s vocabulary acquisition. However, findings also presented that using word explanation and repetition during read aloud is shown to be more beneficial for vocabulary acquisition.

One can argue that songs offer a useful learning opportunity for learning English as a second language since it includes the combination of music and text. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine in what ways songs can affect the ESL classroom. The aim is further to compare and apply the findings to a Swedish upper secondary school context to examine how development can take place for ESL learners in Sweden. Moreover, the approach to this study consisted of a literaturereview of articles within the research area, which were used to answer the two research questions: To what extent can the use of songs in the ESL classroom stimulate incidental vocabulary learning?Additionally, what are other potential benefits from using songs in the ESL classroom? The results were unified regarding the main question of songs and vocabulary acquisition; all findings included positive effects of songs on incidental vocabulary learning and retention of new words. Moreover, implementing songs in the ESL classroom showed more positive attitudes towards school among students and teachers; in addition, the results indicated on a decrease regarding anxiety and stress among the learners. Furthermore, the Swedish National Curriculum emphasizes the importance of a positive classroom environment for the learners, and the syllabus for English requires a variety of texts, in which songs can offer useful learning conditions for vocabulary acquisition. Therefore, the song-based approach is presented as suitable for a Swedish upper secondary classroom.

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