published_or_final_version / Language Studies / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

published_or_final_version / Language Studies / Master / Master of Arts

This dissertation reports on a multiple-case study documenting the experiences of 23 French as second language learners, most of whom were pre-service teachers, as they worked independently to improve their existing oral/aural competency through the use of the interactive videodisc program À la rencontre de Philippe. The program claims to invite learners into the fictive Parisian world of a young freelance journalist, providing them with the opportunity for immersion in the target language and culture as well as a degree of control over their learning. The study explores learners' experiences as they work with this program, investigates the impact this experience might have on their second language acquisition and reflects on the implications this information might have for second language pedagogy and research. Participants were asked to write a reflective personal language learning history and keep a journal documenting each work session. These work sessions were videotaped. The data collected served as a basis for interviews exploring the participants' interaction with the microworld presented by the program, the program's technological features, learner autonomy, and the learning process and outcomes as perceived by the learners. The experiences of the learners indicate that instead of using technology to bring the second language and culture to learners in the classroom, it is now both possible and desirable to use technology to "transport" learners from the classroom into the second language environment. In other words, participants reported having the experience of subjective personal presence in the microworld. Furthermore, their overall experience suggested that language learning is both an embodied and a situated endeavour, as well as a cognitive one. Therefore, computer technology can enhance second language acquisition by providing learners the opportunity to be immersed in sociolinguistically-rich, simulated communities in which they can engage in everyday activities and interact with target language speakers.

This thesis explores and discusses the current practice of English as a Second Language (ESL) evaluation primarily in terms of validity, authenticity, and experiential groundedness. The researcher endeavours to apply theories of ESL evaluation to actual practice, analyzing the differences or harmonization between with regard to validity, authenticity, experiential groundedness and some other factors identified as being important in evaluation in language acquisition situations, particularly CRTs, NRTs, foramtive and summative evaluations. Ethnographic inquiry is used for obtaining data. A program case study, a technique of qualitative research, is used for this study. The purpose is to gather some genuine data from the interviewees which are real and revealing, thus enabling the researcher to gain particular insights relative to the aims of his study. The analysis aspires to give voice to interviewee's on ESL evaluation in terms of validity, authenticity, and experiential groundedness, along with other factors noted above. This report sets out to determine how or if validity, authenticity, and experiential groundedness, along with some other factors identified above, are integrated elements of an efficient and effective ESL evaluation. Such was found to ve the case and it was also found that these can be reinforced by guaranteeing that an evaluation targets its population closely, adopting real-life approaches and, establishing linkages between evaluation and prior knowledge and skills. / xi, 156 leaves ; 28 cm.

Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / "This study attempts primarily to bring together some of the existing literature on text coherence, cohesion, and thematic structure and the influence of these text characteristics on reading comprehension and EAP material preparation, particularly in an EFL/ESL context. The textual features of coherence, cohesion and comprehensibility are of primary concern... The results of the analysis suggest that thematic elements and cohesive devices, which act as signposts in directing the readers’ attention in the meaning making process, are to be taken into account in teaching and testing reading and writing." -- From abstract. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1289484 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2007

Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / "This study attempts primarily to bring together some of the existing literature on text coherence, cohesion, and thematic structure and the influence of these text characteristics on reading comprehension and EAP material preparation, particularly in an EFL/ESL context. The textual features of coherence, cohesion and comprehensibility are of primary concern... The results of the analysis suggest that thematic elements and cohesive devices, which act as signposts in directing the readers’ attention in the meaning making process, are to be taken into account in teaching and testing reading and writing." -- From abstract. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1289484 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2007

Title page, abstract and table of contents only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / "This study attempts primarily to bring together some of the existing literature on text coherence, cohesion, and thematic structure and the influence of these text characteristics on reading comprehension and EAP material preparation, particularly in an EFL/ESL context. The textual features of coherence, cohesion and comprehensibility are of primary concern... The results of the analysis suggest that thematic elements and cohesive devices, which act as signposts in directing the readers’ attention in the meaning making process, are to be taken into account in teaching and testing reading and writing." -- From abstract. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1289484 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2007

Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, Division of Linguistics & Psychology, Department of Linguistics, 2006. / Bibliography: p. 372-438. / Introduction: the influence of second language teachers' conceptions and the role of interactions in language learning -- Literature review -- Theory and methodology -- Teachers' conceptions of in-class interactions -- Teachers' conceptions of out-of-class interactions -- Differences between EAP teachers' experiences and conceptual development: in-class and out-of-class interactions -- Two categorical frameworks for ICI and OCI context: similarities, differences and relations -- Discussion and conclusion. / Spoken interaction with others is one of the most powerful tools in learning and teaching a second language. This investigation is concerned with uncovering and categorising the ways a group of L2 teachers' describe their experiences and beliefs of two types of spoken interaction; those that occur in the classroom (ICI) and those that occur outside the classroom (OCI). Twenty-eight EAP teachers were interviewed using phenomenographic and ethnographic investigative approaches and asked to describe their experiences and how they thought about and used spoken interactions in the teaching and learning of a situated lesson. The conceptions that emerged as consistent (reported as experienced most frequently across the group and within individual transcripts) were identified and categorised into two sets of categories of description (COD) one for each type of interaction. Across the group of teachers, five stable ICI categories of conceptions were identified and four stable OCI categories of conceptions were identified. These categories describe the range of conceptions that emerged across the group as a whole and do not attempt to rate the understandings of individual teachers. -- The conceptions of interactions in both sets of categories followed a hierarchal pattern of development from less complete to more complete understandings of these interactions. These descriptions formed two frameworks that are supported by similar patterns describing less complete and more complete understandings of various concepts in sets of categories published in other education settings (Marton & Booth, 1997). Exploration into the teaching and learning approaches reported in the teachers' experiences of ICI and OCI indicated that the utilization of interactions was constrained by the ways these interactions were conceived. Relations between more developed conceptions of both phenomena emerged in situations where more developed conceptions were reported. In these situations both ICI and OCI were simultaneously present in the teachers' awareness and perceived as different aspects of the same teaching/ learning situations. Across the group the teachers reported less powerful ideas of how to utilize OCI than how to utilize ICI. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / xvii, 496 p. ill

Reading development in the Foundation Phase (FP) is central to children’s success as they progress through school. However, evaluations in South Africa such as the Annual National Assessments (ANAs) and the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) (2006) show that reading achievement in the Foundation Phase is low, especially for children learning with African languages as their home language. This thesis examines pacing and sequencing in three Grade 1 literacy classes where isiXhosa is the language of learning and teaching (LOLT). The research took the form of a case study, focusing on the teachers’ classroom practice and how they understand their practice. Documents related to reading development in the Foundation Phase are analysed with regard to pacing and sequencing, examining how the curriculum frames literacy for teachers in the Foundation Phase. The teachers’ understanding in relation to their social context is also an important part of this research. In the thesis the way in which the teachers sequence and pace learning is analysed, drawing on Bernstein’s notions of internal and external framing, and Bourdieu’s notion of the habitus. The intended curriculum and the implemented curriculum are then compared. The results confirm that in low socio‐economic status (SES) schools, the level of poverty has an impact on teaching practice. The results also show that pacing and sequencing are reliant on the degree of planning amongst teachers. The level of development amongst learners also plays a role in how teachers organise their practice in order to differentiate the teaching of reading for all learners. The understanding that teachers have about their teaching practice are layered and influenced by their experiences, history and memories as teachers. The thesis concludes that there is a need to develop teachers’ understanding of planning and organising the teaching of reading, especially when the learners are from poor communities and do not get support in the home. In order for teachers to improve their practice, it is important for them to have the opportunity to reflect on and understand their practice.