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The Global ETD Search service is a free service for researchers
to find electronic theses and dissertations. This service is
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Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations.
Our metadata is collected from universities around the world. If you manage a university/consortium/country archive and want to be added, details can be found on the NDLTD website.
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Showing 71 to 77 of 77 (0.042 seconds)| 71 |
The interdependence hypothesis: exploring the effects on English writing following an expository writing course in ZuluRodseth, Wendy Sue 31 January 2005 (has links)
This study explores Cummins' interdependence hypothesis in the South African context. The design is experimental, involving Zulu primary language writing instruction to explore whether skills taught in Zulu composition classes transfer into English expository writing. The intervention and control groups were drawn from two ex-Model C high schools and the focus was on measuring use of coherence and cohesion in English essays. Quantitative findings showed, although the intervention group's writing skills did not improve significantly, they did not decline. By contrast, the control group's writing skills declined significantly. A more qualitative investigation of the corpus supports the statistical findings. However, because of the limitations of this study, more research is required into Cummins' hypothesis, bilingual programmes and teaching academic writing skills in African languages. It is hoped that this research design will benefit future researchers investigate the current debate about the efficacy of bilingual and multilingual approaches to education. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M. A. (Applied Linguistics)
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Language as a contributing factor to the academic performance of Southern Sesotho Physics learnersCharamba, Erasmos 05 1900 (has links)
Language is a crucial means of gaining comprehension of Physics content as well as providing correct answers to Physics questions and explanations of Physics phenomena. Therefore language determines the academic achievement of Physics learners. Consequently, language diversity plays a pivotal role in the outcomes of education in a multicultural society such as South Africa.
The research reports on the role played by language in the academic performance of learners whose language of instruction is different from their home language. A mixed method approach was used in which the participants were assigned to either the control or experimental group. Intervention was provided to the experimental group in form of Physics lessons in the learners’ home language.
The mixed method approach was used to elicit responses from a sample of 40 learners on the role of language in the learning and teaching of Physics to learners whose home language is different from the language of learning and teaching. Data was collected from 3 written tests (an English Language Proficiency test, pre- and post- tests) and interview responses. The sample comprised 24 girls and 16 boys aged between 15 and 17 years. Quantitative data was analysed using R- computing while interview responses were analysed using Glᾰser and Laudel’s model.
A paired t- test revealed statistically significant difference in the academic performance of the two groups in the post- test in favour of the experimental group which had been afforded intervention. The results of this study show that translanguaging approaches, where languages of input and output are deliberately interchanged, proved to be a valuable pedagogical strategy as learners got the chance to learn in their home language leading to an improvement in their academic performance in Physics.
The findings of this research are in line with some previous research which demonstrated that the use of learners’ home language is a social practice that goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. The use of pedagogies that embrace multilingualism is therefore highly recommended in 21st century Physics classes. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)
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An evaluation of the Rwandan trilingual policy in some nursery and primary schools in Kigali CityNiyibizi, Epimaque 06 1900 (has links)
This research study aims to evaluate how the trilingual policy (Kinyarwanda, French and English) is
implemented in Kigali City’s nursery and primary schools in terms of facilitating learners’ cognitive
academic language proficiency (CALP) development, in both the pre-2008 and post-2008 language
policies. It is an exploratory-qualitative-interpretative research study, which analyses the language
preference, the age of change-over and the multilingual models adopted and how they contribute to
learners’ CALP development. It also analyses the implications of the post-2008 policy.
The findings indicated that initial bilingualism, initial trilingualism, early total immersion and
gradual transfer models were implemented in the pre-2008 policy; while the post-2008 policy
implements early total immersion. The learners’ CALP in both the MT and the AL could be more
developed in public schools under the pre-2008 policy due to exposure to Kinyarwanda instruction
from the start but it may not be developed fully under the post-2008 policy, because English is used
as MOI from the onset of education. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Applied Linguistics)
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Conceptualization and teaching of academic literacy in higher education institutions : a case of student-teachers at two KwaZulu Natal universitiesKhumalo, Nontobeko Prudence 03 1900 (has links)
The study sought to understand how higher education institutions conceptualize and teach academic literacy at the two regional universities in KwaZulu Natal. That was done by determining the extent to which academic literacy curriculum provides for the acquisition of academic literacy skills across a diverse range of student teachers. It was done to determine the role it plays in student’s learning, in terms of the topics that are incorporated in the academic literacy curriculum and by establishing how student teachers, view the academic literacy module in terms of its benefits to them. This study is underpinned by both the sociocultural and sociocognitive theories. A qualitative research approach and a case study research design were adopted by the study. Participants were three lecturers teaching academic literacy in Institutions understudy and eleven, fourth-year student - teachers who were registered for the academic literacy module in their first year of study. Data collection instruments used were, semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews and document analysis in the form of module outlines. The findings from the lecturers’ point of view, show that their teaching qualification and teaching experience assist them when teaching academic literacy module. The findings further revealed that both lecturers and students view academic literacy as the core of the module. The study also highlighted that students should be actively involved during the teaching and learning process and that feedback plays an important role in students’ learning. From the students’ perspective, the findings revealed that the students improved on their understanding of academic requirements and in their academic writing. The students also viewed the module as a leveller because irrespective of their background they were also of the view that academic literacy should be viewed as a way of life. The study also highlighted that the usage of English as a medium of instruction to students whose mother tongue is not English is a challenge and so is the gap between the secondary schooling system and the Institutions of higher learning. The recommendations of the study based on the research findings are that the generic form in which the module is currently offered, does benefit them and it should be continued. However, there is a need to consider discipline-specific interventions where students are exposed to their disciplinary discourses. The study also proposed the model to improve academic literacy in Higher Education. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)
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Semiotic anomalies in English, as second language learners of immigrant parents acquire first time literacySnelgar, Elizabeth Claire Gien 11 1900 (has links)
Research has shown that literacy acquisition and the ultimate realisation of literacy, comprehension
of the written text requires more than the ability to decode individual words. This study brings
together a synthesis of current research on early language acquisition, language structure,
vocabulary development and its intrinsic underpinning of comprehension in monolinguals thereby
providing a theoretical framework for a comparative study of limited English proficient learners
(LEP’s)/English language learners (ELLs) acquiring first time literacy with the attendant vocabulary
deficits and age appropriate decoding skills. A quantitative and qualitative study examines the
statistical differences between reading, vocabulary, rapid automatic naming (RAN/decoding) and
comprehension when a learner born of foreign parents acquires first time literacy in a language
other than the language spoken at home. The study isolates and specifies an at risk educational
minority through the identification of a hidden comprehension deficit (HCD).
In summarising the main findings from the literature review and the empirical investigation, an “at
risk educational minority” was identified and isolated through the identification of the HCD. The
envisioned outcome was achieved and the hypothesis accepted. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)
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An assessment of student's English vocabulary levels and an exploration of the vocabulary profile of teacher's spoken discourse in an international high schoolCreighton, Graham Robert 10 1900 (has links)
In many international schools where English is the language of learning and teaching there are large percentages of students whose first language is not English. Many of these students may have low vocabulary levels which inhibits their chances of taking full advantage of their education. Low vocabulary levels can be a particular problem for students in mainstream classes where fluent English speaking teachers are using English to teach content areas of Mathematics, Science and History. Not only do students have to comprehend the low-frequency, academic and technical vocabulary pertaining to the subject, but they also need to know the higher frequency vocabulary that makes up general English usage. If students’ vocabulary levels fall too far below the vocabulary levels with which their teachers are speaking, then their chance of comprehending the topic is small, as is their chance of succeeding in their subjects.
This study has two broad aims. Firstly, I have set out to assess the English vocabulary levels of students at an international school where English is the language of learning and teaching. The majority of students at this school do not have English as their first language. The second aim of this study is to explore the vocabulary profile of the teachers’ spoken discourse at the research school. By gaining a better understanding of the nature of teacher discourse – specifically the percentage of high, mid and low-frequency vocabulary, as well as academic vocabulary that they use – English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers will be in a stronger position to identify what the vocabulary learning task is and be able to assist students in reaching the vocabulary levels necessary to make sense of their lessons. This study revealed a large gap between the generally low vocabulary levels of ESL students and the vocabulary levels spoken by their teachers. As a result the need for explicit vocabulary instruction and learning is shown to be very important in English medium (international) schools, where there are large numbers of students whose first language is not English. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Applied Linguistics)
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Semiotic anomalies in English, as second language learners of immigrant parents acquire first time literacySnelgar, Elizabeth Claire Gien 11 1900 (has links)
Research has shown that literacy acquisition and the ultimate realisation of literacy, comprehension
of the written text requires more than the ability to decode individual words. This study brings
together a synthesis of current research on early language acquisition, language structure,
vocabulary development and its intrinsic underpinning of comprehension in monolinguals thereby
providing a theoretical framework for a comparative study of limited English proficient learners
(LEP’s)/English language learners (ELLs) acquiring first time literacy with the attendant vocabulary
deficits and age appropriate decoding skills. A quantitative and qualitative study examines the
statistical differences between reading, vocabulary, rapid automatic naming (RAN/decoding) and
comprehension when a learner born of foreign parents acquires first time literacy in a language
other than the language spoken at home. The study isolates and specifies an at risk educational
minority through the identification of a hidden comprehension deficit (HCD).
In summarising the main findings from the literature review and the empirical investigation, an “at
risk educational minority” was identified and isolated through the identification of the HCD. The
envisioned outcome was achieved and the hypothesis accepted. / Educational Studies / M. Ed. (Inclusive Education)
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