Current practice in language teaching based on communicative approaches emphasizes the development of language skills. Opportunities are created for students to develop their language skills through social interaction based on pair and group work. Such interaction requires the use of interpersonal skills. If students do not feel confident about their interpersonal skills, they may be reluctant to take part in communicative activities, which require social interaction. Interpersonal skills are also important if students are to use their language skills in real life situations effectively and confidently. Gender and cultural differences related to interpersonal communication may have an impact on how successful students learn a foreign language. The study explores student confidence in interpersonal skills, the role that gender may play in interpersonal relationships, and also in fostering cultural activities that are aimed at the development of interpersonal communication. Such relationships have potential implications on the teaching of a foreign language in the classroom situation. This research was conducted at a Japanese university where the researcher is a lecturer and had full access to all the resources he needed. The same research was also conducted at Chinese, Russian, and Ghanaian universities, as well as at an international school in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using questionnaires. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the problem, and to probe the issues involved more extensively. Quantitative data was collected by means of a questionnaire that consisted of multiple-choice questions. Qualitative data was gathered by means of open-ended questions. Questionnaire results were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The research findings indicate that some students may lack confidence in social situations where the use of interpersonal skills is neglected. This research also found that females may be more comfortable and adept in interpersonal exchanges owing to some biological and cultural reasons. Findings also indicate that cultural differences that impact on interpersonal communication situations did not entirely support the findings from the literature review, particularly concerning the use of nonverbal communication by Japanese students. Recommendations based on research findings, are given concerning the development of interpersonal skills. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics and Curriculum Studies)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie studie is om die gebruik van die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenaderingswyse in die onderrig van Afrikaans as vreemde taal aan eerstejaar onderwysstudente op tersiere vlak, naamlik die Technikon Noord-Gauteng, te ondersoek. Die ondersoek, in die vorm van 'n beskrywende analise, is op verskillende terreine van die taalonderrigwetenskapsveld gedoen. ie kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenaderingswyse is bestudeer teen die agtergrond van verskeie antler taalonderrigbenaderingswyses wat deur die loop van die afgelope eeu gebruik is, Die verskillende sillabustipes is vergelyk met die kommunikatiewe onderrigbenaderingswyse en uitkomsgebaseerde onderrig ten einde 'n moontlike leerprogram vir die onderrig van Afrikaans as vreemde taal op tersiere vlak saam te ontwikkel. Die nasionale voorgeskrewe sillabus vir onderwysstudente aan technikons, naamlik die onderrig en leer van die taalvaardighede praat, slayf, lees en luister is analities beskryf. Hierdie taalvaardighede is ten slotte vanuit die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenaderingswyse binne die uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigraamwerk geplaas as 'n voorstel vir die onderrig van onderwysstudente in Afrikaans as vreemde taal op tersiere vlak. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of the communicative language teaching approach in the teaching of Afrikaans as a foreign language to first year education students at tertiary level, namely the Technikon Northern Gauteng .. The study, a descriptive analysis, took a variety of language teaching aspects into account. Communicative language teaching is described against the background of the different language teaching approaches used in the past century. The different types of syllabuses were compared to communicative language teaching and outcomes-based education in order to develop a possible learning programme for the teaching of Afrikaans as foreign language at tertiary level. The national prescribed syllabus for technicon education students, namely the teaching and learning of the language skills speaking, writing, reading and listening is described analytically. These language skills are communicatively described within the outcomes based framework as a suggested learning programme for the teaching of Afrikaans as a foreign language to education students at tertiary level. / Education / M. Ed.

The rapid pace with which internet technology has entered our daily lives provides an opportunity for English language teachers to incorporate some such platforms in their teaching. This study investigates the attitudes of Saudi Arabian learners towards online communication in EFL. It takes place in a university preparatory program at Taibah University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data pertaining to the attitudes’ of Saudi Arabian learners to online communication in EFL. In order to achieve its aims, this study uses both quantitative and qualitative data to inform EFL practitioners of learners’ attitudes towards English, online communication in general and online communication for EFL purposes. / Educational Studies / M.A. (TESOL)

Es una tesis analítico-descriptiva, con finalidad diagnóstica, en la que se describe el enfoque didáctico que debe aplicarse en la enseñanza de la lengua inglesa, según las directrices curriculares: el enfoque comunicativo. Se describe la metodología empleada para la investigación: observación en el aula. Por otro lado, se describe y analiza un corpus de actividades recopilado a partir de la observación de clases de inglés, presentando los datos en tablas en aras de mayor objetividad y para facilitar su sistematización, y también en formato descriptivo. Finalmente, tras la descripción y el análisis de los datos, se presentan las conclusiones, en las cuales se comprueba que la metodología empleada no es la comunicativa. Además, se ponen de manifiesto aspectos de la realidad del aula que contribuyen a explicar por qué no se aplica esa metodología y por qué el aprendizaje de la lengua extranjera no es tan fructífero como cabría esperar. / This is an analytico-descriptive thesis, written for diagnosis purposes, which investigates the relationship between the curricular guidelines for the teaching of English at the secondary level in the Spanish education system (communicative approach) and the actual application of those guidelines in real language classrooms. The methodology used for the the investigation is the so-called classroom observation. Also, a corpus of 1º Bachillerato English language lessons is described and analyzed, in two main formats: in tables (for the sake of objectivity and to facilitate data systematization) and in written analysis (descriptions). Next, conclusions are drawn where it clearly shows that the methodology employed in those lessons is not communicative. Finally, aspects of the day-to-day in language classrooms come out that contribute to explain why the communicative methodology is not used in the lessons observed and why foreign language learning in our country is not as fruitful as it would be desirable.

This report surveys existing literature in order to determine how best to implement target language captioned video in a classroom of a particular context: a Korean church in the U.S. whose members desire to improve their English language ability for the purpose of sharing the gospel of resurrection in English. In order to gain insight into the benefits and limitations of target language captioned video on second language listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition and thus how to use the learning tool optimally, literature is reviewed regarding word knowledge, processing strategies, and reported gains or effects of the use of captioned video. Then, incorporating the information gleaned from the literature, two sample lesson plans are presented utilizing the C-Channel English testimony videos as the primary tool for instruction. / text

在過去幾十年的時間，西方國家逐漸興起華文熱。拉丁美洲則到2000年代才漸漸開始看到越來越多的華語課程，因此如今華語教學在此地區仍處於一個不斷變化的階段。在阿根廷，由於華語教師以及華語教材的需求日益增長，當地的華語教師經常必須自備教材或是遷就於不適合的教材。筆者在阿根廷實際從事過華語職業教師數年，於此時期內發現當地使用的對外華語教學教材之理念與教學的實際做法之間存在明顯的差異性。筆者在教學中發現阿根廷學習者具有獨特的語言學習需求與習慣，因此教學法應該迎合學習者的特色與需求。如今阿根廷的華語教學界裡所面臨的問題涉及以下三方面：一是要如何滿足學員的需求、再者是要如何迎合當地學員的語言學習習慣與當地華語教師所使用的教學法、三是要如何突破教目前所使用的教材之無相關性和無效性。目前阿根廷的華語學習者所使用的教材中，有一半是以英語編寫，主要對象是以英語為母語者。另一半是來自中華人民共和國，並以西班牙文編寫的教材。在2009年間，當地的教師出版了一本號稱針對拉丁美洲華語學習者所寫得教材，但是本教材在教學品質及內容相關性皆有缺失。雖然這些教材在阿根廷被廣泛使用，然而對於當地學習者而言卻稱不上是最理想的教材。阿根廷目前所使用的教材主要的缺失，首先在於議題和語言內容與學習者的生活毫無相關。再者，此類教材的設計與教學法不符合當地學習者的需求。最後，教材所採用的練習題無法激勵學習者的思考和溝通能力。本研究的目的為初步分析阿根廷目前所使用的華語教材，並探討其實用性(或有效性)及相關性。藉由了解學習者的需求和當地教師們對於教材的意見，筆者將提出較有效的教學法和相稱的教材。本論文結合了筆者本人在阿根廷教學的實務經驗和當地學習者之意見。在經過教材分析後，筆者以最適合當地華語學習者的溝通教學法(特別採用溝通性教學法)設計出一個課程單元教案，希冀能提升往後西班牙語為母語者的華語學習效果，並對推動區域化華語文教材的編制能有些許貢獻。 / In the past decade, most countries of the Western hemisphere witnessed the surge of the “Chinese Language Fever”. Such a wave arrived in Latin America in mid 2000, with the emergence of Chinese language courses. At present, the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language in this part of the world is still at an early stage of development. In Argentina, the need for qualified Chinese teachers as well as adequate teaching materials is nowadays most urgent, as local teachers find themselves having to adjust to available teaching materials, or in need of preparing additional teaching material to compensate for the shortcomings of currently used course books. During my years as a teacher of Chinese in Argentina, I realized that the underpinnings of the Chinese pedagogical materials are in stark contrast with the practices in the actual classroom. Through my teaching it became apparent that Argentine learners possess distinctive language learning habits and needs, which had to be catered for by means of a suitable teaching methodology. In order to improve the current situation, teachers of Chinese in Argentina must seriously address the following three questions: How should learners’ needs be addressed? How should we reconcile the discrepancy between teaching methodologies and students’ language learning habits? And lastly, how should we reconcile the lack of relevance and effectiveness of Chinese teaching materials? At the moment, half of the materials used by local learners are written in English, i.e. with an English speaking learner in mind. The other half is published in the People’s Republic of China with explanations and instructions written in Spanish. Although circa 2009 a book published by local teachers emerged claiming to be designed specifically for the Latin American learner, the pedagogical quality and relevance of the content are highly questionable. Although these materials are widely used in Argentina, they are far from being ideal for the local learner. The main flaws of Chinese teaching materials currently used in Argentina are namely, the lack of relevance of the themes and linguistic content with respect to the learner’s world experience, and last, but not least, the failure of the practice activities to encourage significant intellectual processes and the development of communicational skills. The aim of this research is, therefore, to analyze the pedagogical materials currently in use in Argentina, in order to evaluate their effectiveness and relevance. In view of the needs revealed by local learners and the opinions of Chinese teachers in said country, I intend to propose a more adequate methodology, as well as a set of sample materials. Thus the present paper is the result of my personal experience as a teacher of Chinese in Argentina and the integration of the opinions of local Chinese language learners. After having analyzed the materials currently available, I will present a set of sample materials, in the hope that it will contribute to the improvement of the quality of the Chinese learning process for Spanish speakers, as well as to promote the future development of localized Chinese teaching materials.

The problem this study addresses is the continuing ineffective teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL) despite the popularity of in-service (INSET) programmes. As a means of situational analysis, ethnographic approaches were used to investigate the INSET participants in the four-year degree programme at the University of Botswana. Responses to one inventory containing second language teaching activities showed that the activities respondents know to characterize ESL classrooms do not facilitate much verbal teacher-pupil/pupil-pupil interaction. Responses to another inventory containing idealised course content showed evidence of needs the preparation programme was ignoring. This confirmed one of two study hypotheses that: there are specific second language teaching needs being ignored by preparation programmes for primary school language teachers. Document analysis verified the assumptions about what classroom English Language Teaching (ELT) was expected to achieve. However, lesson observation revealed that the products of the programme still taught and perceived English as a mental exercise, with the following results: the lessons were complicated, uninspiring, unenjoyable, restrictive, and ineffective. Questionnaire and interview results confirmed the second study hypothesis that: the confidence of non-native English-speaking teachers (non-NESTs) with regard to competence in English, which affects the effectiveness and efficiency of their teaching, is low. As a solution a model specifying the essential programme components for preparing ELT specialists in the primary school is proposed. The proposed model is however not prescriptive and the proposed content is neither exhaustive nor limiting, but only broadly suggestive of the content of each instructional component. It is hoped that the product of the proposed model will become not only a well-educated person in the arts but also a highly proficient and self-confident person in ELT. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

The aim of the dissertation is to define the requisite social skills of the English language teacher as a part of his/her professional competence, in the context of communicative language teaching in classroom interactions at secondary schools. The theoretical part is divided into four chapters. The first chapter addresses the processes involved in foreign language learning and acquisition. It first defines the linguo-didactic framework of the dissertation in terms of the functional communicative approach to language and communicative language teaching. The second chapter deals with the processes of interaction and communication at school with an emphasis on foreign language teaching. Attention is paid to functions and content of educational interactions as practised by the main stakeholders - the teachers and their adolescent pupils. The specifics of foreign language educational interaction and its social features are illustrated. The third chapter seeks to define social skills and their relationship to other skills in the professional competence of the English teacher. In the final chapter the theoretical discussion is summarized and social-skill aspects of foreign language educational interactions are defined. Specifically, these aspects are defined in terms of affect, classroom climate,...

This study investigates awareness and use of communicative language teaching methodology (CLT) in a foundation programme at an institution of higher learning in the Sultanate of Oman, where rapid expansion and a reliance on expatriate skills has resulted in the employment of predominantly native English teachers, many with inadequate formal teacher training. The qualitative research methodology employed involved a core of five teachers using three data-gathering instruments and ten additional English language teachers who responded to a questionnaire. The study finds that the majority of teachers have inadequate knowledge of the CLT approach and do not use it in the classroom. The findings suggest that an adapted version of CLT which embraces local contextual and sociocultural conditions may be pedagogically viable. The study draws comparisons between the idea of a hypothetical, “adapted” version of CLT and the notions of “particularity, practicality and possibility” as suggested by Kumaravadivelu (2006). / English Studies / M.A. (Specialisation in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, TESOL)

Text in Afrikaans / Die doel van hierdie studie is om die gebruik van die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenaderingswyse in die onderrig van Afrikaans as vreemde taal aan eerstejaar onderwysstudente op tersiere vlak, naamlik die Technikon Noord-Gauteng, te ondersoek. Die ondersoek, in die vorm van 'n beskrywende analise, is op verskillende terreine van die taalonderrigwetenskapsveld gedoen. ie kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenaderingswyse is bestudeer teen die agtergrond van verskeie antler taalonderrigbenaderingswyses wat deur die loop van die afgelope eeu gebruik is, Die verskillende sillabustipes is vergelyk met die kommunikatiewe onderrigbenaderingswyse en uitkomsgebaseerde onderrig ten einde 'n moontlike leerprogram vir die onderrig van Afrikaans as vreemde taal op tersiere vlak saam te ontwikkel. Die nasionale voorgeskrewe sillabus vir onderwysstudente aan technikons, naamlik die onderrig en leer van die taalvaardighede praat, slayf, lees en luister is analities beskryf. Hierdie taalvaardighede is ten slotte vanuit die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenaderingswyse binne die uitkomsgebaseerde onderrigraamwerk geplaas as 'n voorstel vir die onderrig van onderwysstudente in Afrikaans as vreemde taal op tersiere vlak. / The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of the communicative language teaching approach in the teaching of Afrikaans as a foreign language to first year education students at tertiary level, namely the Technikon Northern Gauteng .. The study, a descriptive analysis, took a variety of language teaching aspects into account. Communicative language teaching is described against the background of the different language teaching approaches used in the past century. The different types of syllabuses were compared to communicative language teaching and outcomes-based education in order to develop a possible learning programme for the teaching of Afrikaans as foreign language at tertiary level. The national prescribed syllabus for technicon education students, namely the teaching and learning of the language skills speaking, writing, reading and listening is described analytically. These language skills are communicatively described within the outcomes based framework as a suggested learning programme for the teaching of Afrikaans as a foreign language to education students at tertiary level. / Education / M. Ed.