Based on these results, task-readiness is suggested as a theoretical extension to the concept of planning to catch both task-external readiness (different types of planning: rehearsal, strategic planning, and on-line planning) and task-internal readiness (content familiarity, schematic familiarity, and task type familiarity). A general framework of task-readiness is proposed as the basis of theorization of task planning and task familiarity. / Research into task-based language teaching (TBLT) has yielded fruitful results with regards to pre-task and during-task preparation activities, with some consensus being reached in a number of areas. Pre-task planning and task repetition usually give rise to fluency and complexity, whereas on-line planning is likely to help with complexity and accuracy. In general, pre-task planning, task repetition, and on-line planning are all task-external manipulations in which extra preparation time is provided so that learners can focus their attention on improving some performance areas. The present study is an attempt to extend the notion of planning from a task-external to a task-internal perspective. / Results showed that both topic familiarity and strategic planning help learners with more fluent language, but the effect sizes indicate that strategic planning was more powerful in this regard. Topic familiarity pushed learners for slightly more accurate performance with very significant gains in lexical diversity and lexical sophistication. In contrast, planning was associated with significantly higher complexity and lexical density. Proficiency seemed to be concerned with forms rather than meaning expression as higher proficiency participants always scored higher in accuracy and sometimes in complexity, but not so much in fluency or lexis. / The design of the study is empirical and quantitative in nature. The effects of strategic planning (task-external) and topic familiarity (task-internal) on participants with different proficiency levels are explored and compared. Eighty L2 English participants (forty medicine majors and forty computer majors from a major university in Hong Kong) performed different experimental tasks, in which topic familiarity types, planning conditions and proficiency levels constitute a 2 x 2 x 2 design. Topic familiarity was realized by giving each participant a natural virus topic and a computer virus topic. The topic that matched the participant's academic training was regarded as "familiar", and visa versa. There were two types of planning conditions, namely a non-planning (control) group and a ten-minute strategic planning group. Within each planning condition, the participants were further dichotomized into two different proficiency groups by a proficiency test that was administered prior to the tasks. / Bei, Xiaoyue = 探索任務內與任務外預備 : 主題熟悉程度和策略性構想對不同英語水準學習者話題性任務表現的效應研究 / 貝曉越. / Adviser: Peter Skehan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 72-04, Section: A, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 189-206). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, MI : ProQuest Information and Learning Company, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese. / Bei, Xiaoyue = Tan suo ren wu nei yu ren wu wai yu bei : zhu ti shu xi cheng du he ce lüe xing gou xiang dui bu tong Ying yu shui zhun xue xi zhe hua ti xing ren wu biao xian de xiao ying yan jiu / Bei Xiaoyue.

M.A. (Applied Linguistics) / Language is dynamic. It must keep pace with new experiences and developments in the growth of a nation. otherwise it cannot be used as a means of communication. According to Chomsky (Lyons: 1980. Derwing: 1973. Klein: 1986) and other linguists who believe in the innatist hypothesis. every normal human being has an inborn ability to acquire his mother tongue in a relatively short space of time. However. research seems to indicate that unless the child is in a normal environment at the critical stage for language acquisition. he will not acquire his mother tongue. The innate ability thus requires stimulation from the environment: plenty of exposure to the language in informal social situations in a supportive atmosphere. Research into mother-tongue acquisition has distinct implications for second language acquisition in early childhood. The second-language teacher can take advantage of the language-acquisition ability of the child and re-create in the classroom the conditions described above under which the child acquires his mother tongue

This in-depth study investigates the acquisition of the passive construction by Setswana-speaking pre-schoolers. My original contribution to knowledge is that Setswana-speaking preschoolers acquire the passive early on some tasks but not others. This shows that acquisition is a multifacted task that needs to be fine-tuned. These are important facts that need to be considered by Speech-Language Therapists in order to accurately identify language-impaired children. Setswana is the fourth most commonly spoken language in South Africa. However, only four linguistic studies have been conducted on Setswana since 2000 and none of these investigated acquisition of Setswana processes in children. Setswana is a language that belongs to the South-eastern Bantu Zone of languages. Languages in this group are structurally closely related to one another and mutually intelligible. Studies of the acquisition of the passive in Sesotho and Zulu have shown that the passive develops much earlier (3 years) than in Indo-European languages (5 years). More tools are needed to explore language acquisition and language impairment in South Africa. It is essential that these tools focus on issues of poverty and diversity. The research methods used should be suitable for the communities being explored and should inform the delivery of appropriate services. Endeavors should be made to provide information that improves scientific research in terms of language acquisition and access to speech-language therapy services. The passive voice is considered to be one of the most well researched yet controversial linguistic structures. In Setswana the construction of the passive occurs when the subject of the active clause is expressed in the passive in the form of an agentive adverb with the prefixal formative ké- which forms an optional by-phrase. The verb is marked as passive using a passive extension by suffixing –w or –iw. How this is acquired is the focus of this study. A total of 114 children divided into 3 age groups 2.6 – 3.5 years, 3.6 – 4.5 years and 4.6 – 5.5 years were the participants in this study. Their performance was compared to that of a group of 11 adult verifiers. The aim of this study was to investigate Setswana-speaking children’s comprehension and production of the passive in terms of age, passive categories and length variables. Tasks used to examine these variables were Comprehension 2 and 3 Character tasks and Elicited Production and Imitation tasks. The participants were divided into two different participant groups. There were 52 participants on the Elicited Imitation tasks and 62 on the Comprehension and Elicited Production tasks. Participants were tested at 3 crèches in the peri-urban area of Pankop, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. On the Comprehension 2 character tasks significant differences between age groups (age group 1, 34% and 3, 49%) were noted. However, no significant developmental trends were found on Comprehension 3 character or Elicited Production tasks amongst the children. On Elicited Imitation tasks there was a significant difference between the youngest group (69%) compared to the middle (83%) and oldest age group (81%). . The results showed much variability among tasks. The results for Comprehension 2 and 3 Character tasks were at above chance level. The Elicited Production task was unsuccessful as children found great difficulty with this task with 2.6 to 3.6 year old children scoring 7% and the oldest group 14%. However, the Elicited Imitation task was extremely successful and confirmed the diagnostic value of such a measure. The type of passive did influence performance but this was task dependent. The participants’ knowledge of the passive categories, for Comprehension 2 character and Elicited Imitation tasks followed the same order, with best performance on inanimate categories followed by negatives, reversible and then non-actional passives. On Elicited Production tasks children also scored the best on inanimate tasks. A weakness of this study is that Elicited Imitation tasks were not administered at the same time as the other tasks and therefore a different group of participants was used even though subject selection criteria was the same. The impact of sentence length on performance also showed much variability. For the non-actional negative category on Set A Comprehension 2 Character tasks participants’ scored significantly better for short sentences than long sentences and vice versa for Comprehension 3 Character tasks. On Elicited Production tasks children scored better on long passive sentences. On Elicited Imitation tasks short sentences were easier than long passives. The results of this study confirms the important effect of task-type in assessing passive comprehension and production. Also, the results of this study suggest that the passive is not an early acquired structure in Setswana with the exception of the Elicited Imitation task. The results therefore support the A-chain Deficit Hypothesis, i.e., that the passive is a late acquired structure with difficulties with non-actional categories except when an Elicited Imitation task was used. Explanations may link to the complex sociolinguistic context of developing children in South Africa. This study confirms the important effect of task when testing child language, and the potential value of Elicited Imitation as a viable and relevant measure of assessing language in the South African context.

In 2 experiments, I analyzed relations between the presence of Bidirectional Naming (BiN) and the establishment of arbitrary and non-arbitrary relational responses. In Experiment I, I analyzed the presence and strength of correlations between Bidirectional Naming and the establishment of derived relations for 31 preschool students. For Bidirectional Naming, the participants’ responses to both familiar and unfamiliar stimuli were measured; familiar stimuli were defined as spoken and visual stimuli that may be commonly present in the participants’ environment, while unfamiliar stimuli were contrived spoken and visual stimuli that were not customarily present in the participants’ environment. For relational responses, a non-arbitrary relation was defined as a relation that can be made based on the formal characteristics of the stimuli, while an arbitrary relation would be based on verbally mediated contextual cues. Data from this experiment showed there was an overall positive correlation between the demonstration of Bidirectional Naming and the establishment of derived relations, r = .847, p < .001. Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between Bidirectional Naming with unfamiliar stimuli and arbitrarily derived relations, r = .823, p < .001. In Experiment II, I studied the establishment of arbitrary visual-visual and auditory-visual relations for 18 preschool students. The participants were split into 3 equal groups based on their degree of Bidirectional Naming; the groups consisted of 6 participants that demonstrated Bidirectional Naming, 6 participants that demonstrated Unidirectional Naming (UniN), and 6 participants that demonstrated a low degree of Bidirectional Naming. A comparison of the mean correct responses, between experimental groups, showed a significant difference for auditory-visual relations, F(2,15) = 36.63, p < .001, as well as visual-visual relations, F(2,15) = 4.11, p = .038. These data suggest that simpler (i.e., auditory-visual) derived relations are present with Unidirectional Naming; however, the joining of the listener and speaker repertoires (i.e., Bidirectional Naming) may be necessary for the development of more complex (i.e., visual-visual) derived relations. The results of these experiments suggest strong associations between the incidental acquisition of words and the incidental acquisition of language relations. The results also provide more evidence for how the establishment of Bidirectional Naming may lead to an individual learning at accelerated rates and in new ways.

No description available.

Man, Ming Yu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 163-173). / Abstracts in English and Chinese; appendix also in Chinese. / ABSTRACT (ENGLISH) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (CHINESE) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background to This Study --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Purpose of This Study --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance of This Study --- p.3 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization --- p.4 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2 --- Pre-Firth and Wagner (1997) --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- The Social Psychological Perspective --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- The Cognitive-situated Perspective --- p.8 / Chapter 2.3 --- Post-Firth and Wagner (1997) --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Post-structuralist Perspective --- p.9 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- The Process-oriented Perspective --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- SLA Motivation Research in FL Context --- p.14 / Chapter 2.5 --- Language Learning Context in Hong Kong --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- English Learning Context in Hong Kong --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Japanese Learning Context in Hong Kong --- p.20 / Chapter 2.6 --- Empirical Studies on Language Learning in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Empirical Studies on English Learning in Hong Kong --- p.22 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Empirical Studies on Japanese Learning in Hong Kong --- p.25 / Chapter 2.7 --- Summary --- p.28 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2 --- Research Design --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3 --- Participants --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Selection Criteria for the Questionnaire Survey Participants --- p.31 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Selection Criteria for the Semi-Structured Interview Participant --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Demographic and Language Background --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Instrumentation --- p.40 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Questionnaire Survey --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Semi-structured Interviews --- p.43 / Chapter 3.5 --- Procedures --- p.44 / Chapter 3.6 --- Data Processing and Analysis --- p.46 / Chapter 3.7 --- Validity and Reliability --- p.47 / Chapter 3.8 --- Ethics --- p.48 / Chapter 3.9 --- Limitation --- p.49 / Chapter 3.10 --- Summary --- p.50 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- FINDINGS´ؤSURVEYS --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1 --- The Demographic Profiles of the Participants --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2 --- Linguistic Profiles of the Participants --- p.54 / Chapter 4.3 --- The Participants´ة Travel Experiences --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4 --- Scale Reliability --- p.60 / Chapter 4.5 --- The Mean Scores for the Scales --- p.62 / Chapter 4.6 --- Correlations between the Scales --- p.64 / Chapter 4.7 --- Adjectives Used to Describe English and Japanese Languages --- p.74 / Chapter CHAPTRE 5 --- FINDINGS´ؤINTERVIEWS --- p.76 / Chapter 5.1 --- The English Language --- p.76 / Chapter 5.1.1 --- Linguistic Onset --- p.76 / Chapter 5.1.2 --- Integrativeness --- p.77 / Chapter 5.1.3 --- Attitudes towards the L2 Speakers / Community --- p.78 / Chapter 5.1.4 --- Instrumentality --- p.85 / Chapter 5.1.5 --- Attitudes towards the L2 --- p.86 / Chapter 5.1.6 --- Milieu --- p.86 / Chapter 5.1.7 --- The Classroom Learning Experience --- p.88 / Chapter 5.1.7.1 --- ELTU Courses --- p.88 / Chapter 5.1.7.2 --- Secondary School Learning Experience --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1.8 --- Cultural Interest --- p.99 / Chapter 5.1.8.1 --- Songs --- p.99 / Chapter 5.1.8.2 --- TV Programs --- p.100 / Chapter 5.1.8.3 --- Films --- p.100 / Chapter 5.1.8.4 --- Books --- p.101 / Chapter 5.1.8.5 --- Cartoons --- p.102 / Chapter 5.1.8.6 --- Other Aspects --- p.102 / Chapter 5.2 --- The Japanese Language --- p.103 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Linguistic Onset --- p.104 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Integrativeness --- p.105 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Attitudes towards the L2 Speakers / Community --- p.107 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Milieu --- p.110 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Classroom Learning Experience --- p.112 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Cultural Interest --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.6.1 --- Songs --- p.118 / Chapter 5.2.6.2 --- Animation / TV drama / Comics / Films --- p.119 / Chapter 5.2.6.3 --- Electronic Games --- p.122 / Chapter 5.2.6.4 --- Web Sites --- p.122 / Chapter 5.3 --- Global Orientation --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- "Willingnes to Travel, Work, or Study in Another Country" --- p.123 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Exchange Programs --- p.127 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Current Affaires --- p.128 / Chapter 5.4 --- Summary --- p.129 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- DISCUSSION --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1 --- Pre-actional Stage --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Ideal L2 Self and Integrativeness --- p.135 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Ought-to L2 Self and Instrumentality --- p.139 / Chapter 6.2 --- Actional Stage --- p.143 / Chapter 6.3 --- Post-actional Stage --- p.148 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Motivation Maintenance --- p.148 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Demotivation --- p.150 / Chapter 6.4 --- Motivational Change --- p.152 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- CONCLUSION --- p.155 / Chapter 7.1 --- Research Questions --- p.155 / Chapter 7.1.1 --- Research Question One --- p.155 / Chapter 7.1.2 --- Research Question Two --- p.157 / Chapter 7.1.3 --- Research Question Three --- p.158 / Chapter 7.2 --- Implications --- p.159 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- For English Teachers --- p.159 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- For Japanese Teachers --- p.160 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Limitations of the Present Study and Implications for Future Studies --- p.161 / References --- p.163 / APPENDIX A: ENGLISH L2 LEARNING MOTIVATION QUETSIONNAIRE --- p.174 / APPENDIX B: JAPANESE L2 LEARNING MOTIVATION QUETSIONNAIRE --- p.181 / APPENDIX C: GUIDED QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEW ONE --- p.188 / APPENDIX D: APPLICATION LETTER TO THE JAPANESE SUMMER COURSE TEACHERS --- p.193 / APPENDIX E: PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT FORM --- p.194 / APPENDIX F: QUESTIONNIARE CONSENT FORM FOR THE PARTICIPANTS --- p.195 / APPENDIX G: INTERVIEW CONSENT FORM FOR THE PARTICIPANTS --- p.196 / APPENDIX H: TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR FIRST-ROUND INTERVIEWS --- p.197 / Amanda´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.197 / Candy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.220 / Elaine´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.242 / Katy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.256 / Matt´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.277 / Ricky´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.292 / Sean´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.309 / Tim´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.330 / APPENDIX I: TRANSCRIPTIONS FOR SECOND-ROUND INTERVIEWS --- p.347 / Amanda´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.347 / Candy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.357 / Elaine´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.365 / Katy´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.374 / Matt´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.384 / Ricky´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.393 / Sean´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.403 / Tim´ةs Interview Transcription --- p.413

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of first language literacy and educational backgrounds on literacy and academic performance in a second language and, to learn more about students' perceptions of their linguistic, academic and social development in schooling in which the language of instruction is English. Fifty-five students were selected from seven high schools in the Vancouver School District, Vancouver, British Columbia. Information about students' first language (L1) literacy and educational experiences, including previous instruction in English was obtained on arrival. Proficiency in second language (L2) reading and first and second language writing was observed on arrival and in the spring of 1996, after a minimum of four years of English-only schooling, using standardized and holistic measures. Grade Point Averages (GPA) were calculated for students' achievement in four academic subjects. Analysis by ANOVA showed a significant difference in the length of time spent in ESL due to years of previous English study (F (7,43) = 4.26, p = .0012). Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to observe relationships between L1 literacy and time spent in ESL, L1 education and time spent in ESL, and L2 reading and writing and achievement in English, social studies, science and math. Significant relationships were found between proficiency in L2 reading and writing and academic achievement, as measured by GPA. Significant findings were also obtained for L1 literacy and time spent in ESL (-.33, p < .05). Orthographic similarity was not a predictor of L2 reading, as measured on a standardized test of reading comprehension (t = .105, p = .747). Results of the study showed that L1 literacy development, L1 schooling, and previous English study enhanced acquisition of English, as measured by time spent in ESL. The researcher concluded that L1 literacy and education are important factors affecting the rate and level of L2 proficiency attained and academic achievement. Implications from findings suggest that in schooling where the language of instruction is English, students who have not acquired literacy skills in L1 have different needs and face a greater challenge than students who are literate in L1 .

M.Ed. (Subject Didactics) / The focus in this study is on roleplay as a technique for second language education, wi the specific reference to oral communication. The field study as well as the theoretical framework is placed against the background of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) as language education approach or; The theoretical research encompasses role-play as Anthropological phenomenon and especially also as a didactic principle. This framework is complemented by a brief exposition of LT as language education paradigm. The field work is based on qualitative observation. The researcher had participant observation st.atus at a school for a month. A multi-faceted analysis of two oral communication lessons were made. The qualitative observation is triangulated with structured interviews (questionnaire type), open-ended interviews, document analysis as well as structured systematic analysis of two recorded lessons. It was found that there was a significant difference in interpersonal social language usage in the two lessons. The lessons in which role-play was implemented as a technique showed a qualitative increase in language production. It is to be concluded that role-play accommodates oral communication in second language context meaningfully as a mode of pedagogic discourse, supported by a simulated naturalistic milieu.

M.Ed. (Teaching Language) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of first language literacy and educational backgrounds on literacy and academic performance in a second language and, to learn more about students' perceptions of their linguistic, academic and social development in schooling in which the language of instruction is English. Fifty-five students were selected from seven high schools in the Vancouver School District, Vancouver, British Columbia. Information about students' first language (L1) literacy and educational experiences, including previous instruction in English was obtained on arrival. Proficiency in second language (L2) reading and first and second language writing was observed on arrival and in the spring of 1996, after a minimum of four years of English-only schooling, using standardized and holistic measures. Grade Point Averages (GPA) were calculated for students' achievement in four academic subjects. Analysis by ANOVA showed a significant difference in the length of time spent in ESL due to years of previous English study (F (7,43) = 4.26, p = .0012). Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to observe relationships between L1 literacy and time spent in ESL, L1 education and time spent in ESL, and L2 reading and writing and achievement in English, social studies, science and math. Significant relationships were found between proficiency in L2 reading and writing and academic achievement, as measured by GPA. Significant findings were also obtained for L1 literacy and time spent in ESL (-.33, p < .05). Orthographic similarity was not a predictor of L2 reading, as measured on a standardized test of reading comprehension (t = .105, p = .747). Results of the study showed that L1 literacy development, L1 schooling, and previous English study enhanced acquisition of English, as measured by time spent in ESL. The researcher concluded that L1 literacy and education are important factors affecting the rate and level of L2 proficiency attained and academic achievement. Implications from findings suggest that in schooling where the language of instruction is English, students who have not acquired literacy skills in L1 have different needs and face a greater challenge than students who are literate in L1 . / Education, Faculty of / Language and Literacy Education (LLED), Department of / Graduate