This thesis is a study of the learning of English grammatical morphemes (copula, possessive, ING, plural, progressive auxiliary, irregular-past, regular-past, definite article, indefinite article, and the third-person-singular-present) by 31 Japanese high school students. The data were based on the results of the subjects' spoken language, which were tape-recorded and carefully investigated. The results indicated some similarities and differences between the present study and the previous L1 and L2 studies. The present study showed more similarities to the studies which dealt with Japanese subjects by both the Spearman rank order correlation coefficients and the Implicational Scaling Analysis based on Group Range. This indicates strong transfer from the Japanese language. But language transfer is not such a simple phenomena as the researchers in the Behaviorism era thought. Some methodological problems concerning the grammatical morpheme studies and possible determinants of the accuracy order of the morphemes were also discussed.

The Huang and Van Naerssen (1987) survey in Southern China proved conclusively that the more fluent Chinese L2 learners ofEnglish used more communicative strategies than their not :fluent counterparts. This study was an attempt to repeat the Huang and Van Naerssen study in a different setting with L2 learners of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. L2 learners of English at secondary level were chosen from four countries in which I had recently lived and worked. In addition an attempt was made to empirically test the validity of Schumann•s (1978) acculturation hypothesis on models for which it was not originally intended. A correlation was being sought between the level of acculturation ofL2 learners and their fluency in English. A cloze test was given to the one hundred and twenty-five L2 learners in the study in order to gauge their level of proficiency in English. A survey was then presented to L2 learners in all four countries, Chile, Paraguay, South Africa and Botswana. Part One of the survey asked questions related to acculturation. Part Two asked the same communicative questions used in the South China study. The results from the survey were inconclusive though the raw data for the communicative strategies and acculturation helped to show that the more proficient the student in English, the more likely he or she was to use communicative strategies or show a higher level of acculturation. The results were not statistically significant. / English Studies / M.A. (English)

This study investigated the oral proficiency of ESL teacher trainees in different discourse domains. The sample for the study consisted of twenty ESL teacher trainees in their final year at a College of Education. Different methods were used to measure the teacher trainees' oral proficiency in the English Communication Skills class while engaging in less formal conversations and in more formal teaching of content subjects during Practice Teaching. Three categories of constructs for oral proficiency were measured: Accuracy and fluency, classroom language and non-verbal communication. The findings supported the hypothesis: The oral proficiency of ESL teacher trainees is more satisfactory in some discourse domains,e.g. casual conversation, than in others, e.g. formal teaching. Although these findings cannot be regarded as conclusive they raise awareness of the problem. Recommendations were made on how to address the problem of poor oral performance of ESL teachers and teacher trainees teaching content subjects. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (Specialisation in Applied Linguistics)

Since gaining academic status in South African schools, the Arabic language has always been under the spotlight. In Gauteng schools, the focus of discussion is the validity of the Nāšiٓēn as a prescribed text book and the methodology best suited to achieve linguistic competence in the language. In order to teach the language, an accurate observation of the Arabic language by means of phonetics and psychology is a prerequisite, hence the practical study of language or the study of philology is scrutinized. In the literature study, the research discusses different interconnected themes i.e. how the brain acquires language; developments into teaching methods; it asks can language be learnt by imitating native speakers; are we born with the innate ability to learn a second language. A review of current methodology is undertaken. Suggestions are pragmatically motivated rather than being theoretically motivated. The eclectic approach is preferred with the intention of providing the most efficient access to Arabic forms and structures. The educational implications are discussed with a view to formulate language principles on which recommendations and suggestions can be formulated. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Arabic)

Thesis (MPhil (Modern Foreign Languages))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This thesis presents the planning and development of a multimedia application appropriate for Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in a self-access environment for German Second Additional Language Grade 10. It entails learning through listening and viewing comprehension and other tasks for CALL. The application is based on a communicative language teaching and learning framework as well as deriving its theoretical principles from Cognitive and Constructivist Learning Theories. It is set against a background of research into the complexities of listening and viewing, individual learner differences and learning styles, characteristics of self-directed and autonomous learning and user-friendly instructional software design.

Thesis (MA) -- Stellenbosch University, 1989. / Contents: Bd. 1. Darstellung -- Bd. 2. Dokumentation. / No Abstract Available

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / Full text to be digitised and attached to bibliographic record. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study explores a framework for the implementation of task-based instruction for Xhosa second language at tertiary level. Central to the task-based approach to second language learning are the goals of complexity, accuracy and fluency as outcomes. The principles of task-based instruction to syllabus design are examined as this approach to syllabus design is believed to provide an effective base for successful second language acquisition. Theoretical assumptions as propounded by vanous researchers are discussed paymg particular reference to the nature of second language learning and teaching pedagogy. Most linguists agree on the view that Universal Grammar is a constant background against which any language learning process takes place. Universal Grammar is also viewed as the faculty which influences second language acquisition. The study will explore the relationship between second language theory and pedagogy. The Communicative Language Teaching is advanced in this study as an appropriate method for teaching language. The task-based syllabus is discussed with reference to different syllabus types which exhibit tasks as a unit of analysis. The relationship between grammar pedagogy and taskbased methodology is illustrated. A range of communication tasks for Xhosa is presented as an example of a task-based course design and analysed according to a task typology to investigate the communicative value of each task type. Salient functions, notions and language structures are identified based on Xhosa communicative task dialogues. It is hoped that Xhosa second language teachers and researchers will pursue the approach that are advanced here and that they will be able to make a contribution to Xhosa second language course design. It is also hoped that this study has succeeded in dealing with aspects of Xhosa second language learning and that Xhosa teaching will benefit in a variety of respects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ondersoek 'n raamwerk vir die implementering van taakgebaseerde onderrig vir Xhosa tweedetaal op tersiêre vlak. Die doelstellings van kompleksiteit, akkuraatheid en vlotheid is sentraal aan die taakgebaseerde benadering tot tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal die beginsels van taakgebaseerde onderrig tot sillabusontwerp ondersoek aangesien hierdie benadering algemeen beskou word as 'n doeltreffende basis vir suksesvolle tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal voorts die teoretiese aannames bespreek wat deur verskillende navorsers gemaak is met betrekking tot die aard van tweedetaalleer en onderrigmetodologie. Die meeste taalkundiges is dit eens dat Universele Grammatika 'n konstante basis is waarop tweedetaalleer plaasvind. Universele Grammatika word beskou as die mentale fakulteit wat tweedetaalleer beïnvloed. Die studie salook die verwantskap tweedetaalteorie en onderrig bespreek. Die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenadering word aangevoer in die studie as die mees gepaste metode vir taalonderrig. Die taakgebaseerde sillabus sal bespreek word met verwysing na verskillende sillabustipes wat die taak as eenheid vir analise vertoon. Die verwantskap tussen grammatika-onderrig en taakgebaseerde metodologie sal geïllustreer word. 'n Verskeidenheid kommunikatiewe take in Xhosa sal bespreek word as 'n voorbeeld van eenhede in kommunikatiewe kursusontwerp, en die take sal geanaliseer word om die kommunikatiewe aard van elke taak te ondersoek. Prominente taalfunksies, -begrippe en taalstrukture sal geïdentifiseer word vanuit die Xhosa kommunikatiewe taak-dialoë. Die hoop word uitgespreek dat onderwysers en navorsers van Xhosa tweedetaal die benadering wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is verder salontgin, en dat hulle in staat sal wees om 'n bydrae te maak tot kommunikatiewe Die studie ondersoek 'n raamwerk vir die implementering van taakgebaseerde onderrig vir Xhosa tweedetaal op tersiêre vlak. Die doelstellings van kompleksiteit, akkuraatheid en vlotheid is sentraal aan die taakgebaseerde benadering tot tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal die beginsels van taakgebaseerde onderrig tot sillabusontwerp ondersoek aangesien hierdie benadering algemeen beskou word as 'n doeltreffende basis vir suksesvolle tweedetaalleer. Die studie sal voorts die teoretiese aannames bespreek wat deur verskillende navorsers gemaak is met betrekking tot die aard van tweedetaalleer en onderrigmetodologie. Die meeste taalkundiges is dit eens dat Universele Grammatika 'n konstante basis is waarop tweedetaalleer plaasvind. Universele Grammatika word beskou as die mentale fakulteit wat tweedetaalleer beïnvloed. Die studie salook die verwantskap tweedetaalteorie en onderrig bespreek. Die kommunikatiewe taalonderrigbenadering word aangevoer in die studie as die mees gepaste metode vir taalonderrig. Die taakgebaseerde sillabus sal bespreek word met verwysing na verskillende sillabustipes wat die taak as eenheid vir analise vertoon. Die verwantskap tussen grammatika-onderrig en taakgebaseerde metodologie sal geïllustreer word. 'n Verskeidenheid kommunikatiewe take in Xhosa sal bespreek word as 'n voorbeeld van eenhede in kommunikatiewe kursusontwerp, en die take sal geanaliseer word om die kommunikatiewe aard van elke taak te ondersoek. Prominente taalfunksies, -begrippe en taalstrukture sal geïdentifiseer word vanuit die Xhosa kommunikatiewe taak-dialoë. Die hoop word uitgespreek dat onderwysers en navorsers van Xhosa tweedetaal die benadering wat in hierdie studie ondersoek is verder salontgin, en dat hulle in staat sal wees om 'n bydrae te maak tot kommunikatiewe kursusontwerp. Die studie poog om ook aspekte van Xhosa tweedetaalleer te identifiseer wat die onderrig van Xhosa tot voordeel kan strek in verskillende opsigte.

published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Education / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Curriculum Studies / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy