Submitted by Aelson Maciera (aelsoncm@terra.com.br) on 2017-04-26T19:51:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNMA.pdf: 39682521 bytes, checksum: 232e6ea0cb601b07a4f025f8efa4e8b2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-02T18:42:03Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNMA.pdf: 39682521 bytes, checksum: 232e6ea0cb601b07a4f025f8efa4e8b2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ronildo Prado (ronisp@ufscar.br) on 2017-05-02T18:42:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNMA.pdf: 39682521 bytes, checksum: 232e6ea0cb601b07a4f025f8efa4e8b2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-02T18:49:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissNMA.pdf: 39682521 bytes, checksum: 232e6ea0cb601b07a4f025f8efa4e8b2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-23 / The aim of this work is to verify if and to what extent the pragmatic aspects of grammar (pragmalinguistics) are covered in some units of an English Language Teaching textbook used in Brazil. We also aim to delineate the role of grammar in this material and, based on the analyzed units, present reflections on the possibilities of contributing to the teaching-learning of pragmalinguistics. We consider the proposal of the material as we verify the activities according to theories that approach grammar as a skill (BATSTONE, 1994 and LARSEN-FREEMAN, 2003), pragmatics (KASPER and ROSE, 2001) and principled materials development (TOMLINSON, 2010, HARWOOD, 2010). It is observed that the present textbook does not approach pragmalinguistics. Instead, it focuses on grammar as product. Due to this factor, learners are not presented with opportunities to reflect upon language usage. / O objetivo deste trabalho é verificar se, e em caso afirmativo como, os aspectos pragmáticos da gramática (pragmalinguística) são contemplados em um livro didático de inglês como LE comercializado internacionalmente e utilizado no Brasil. Objetivamos também retratar o papel designado à gramática neste material e apresentar reflexões sobre possibilidades de contribuir com o ensino-aprendizagem de pragmalinguística, a partir das unidades analisadas. Analisamos a proposta apresentada pelo livro estudando as atividades propostas à luz das teorias que postulam o ensino de gramática como habilidade (BATSTONE, 1994, LARSENFREEMAN, 2003), a pragmática (KASPER e ROSE, 2001) e o desenvolvimento de materiais didáticos baseados em princípios (TOMLINSON, 2010, HARWOOD, 2010). Observamos que o material didático analisado não apresenta o ensino da dimensão pragmalinguística, focando o ensino da dimensão da forma e não possibilitando que os aprendizes, apenas com o suporte do material didático, sejam incentivados a refletir acerca do funcionamento da língua.

The current movement towards multilingualism and multiculturalism in South Africa has placed language at the centre of all educational activity. With the implementation of the outcomes-based Curriculum 2005, the emphasis is on appropriate learning support material, and the learning programmes are seen as guides that allow teachers to be innovative and creative in designing instructional and learning material. The fact that Afrikaans was one of three compulsory language subjects at a school in the Soweto area motivated researchers of Technikon South Africa to embark upon an outreach project. The latter entailed a remedial programme to address the lack of Afrikaans language proficiency of the Grade 12 learners at this school. My role as the remedial teacher and my subsequent responsibility for the development of appropriate and relevant learning material for the intervention provided the impetus and motivation for this research. The aim of the study was to determine the criteria for developing materials, in order to develop the proficiency in Afrikaans of Grade 12 additional language learners. The intervention took the form of an ongoing action research cycle. The magnitude of the proficiency dilemma in this study was revealed by a pre-intervention assessment. Apart from the learners’ poor functional Afrikaans literacy, it also became apparent that the influence of affective variables in additional language learning should be considered. The literature survey undertaken to articulate the relevant information about Communicative Language teaching (CLT) emphasised the kind of teaching necessary to develop proficiency in an additional language. In addition, the exploration of the influence of affective factors on additional language teaching and learning allowed a better understanding of the learners’ needs and ensured a learning-centered approach. In the process of materials selection, adaptation and development, it was necessary to relate learning principles and procedure to theory, research methods and classroom practice. Reviewing the literature on issues such as designing and developing materials contributed to a pragmatic approach to materials development, and assisted in establishing the criteria for the development of appropriate materials. The study has attempted to show how to design appropriate and relevant teaching materials guided by a set of criteria. The implementation of the materials in the classroom integrated theory and practice. Thus in practice, through different action research cycles, the developed materials were shown to comply with the theoretical criteria to establish their effectiveness, and refined to suit the proficiency level of the particular learners. Finally, critical reflection resulted in a redesigned set of materials for Afrikaans as an additional language. The post-intervention assessment showed that there was indeed an improvement in the learners’ proficiency levels and that the average grade of their proficiency levels improved. Other findings suggested the probability of a positive attitude change in the learners. Thus, it can be concluded that the intervention may be judged as having been relatively successful. / Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Unit for Academic Literacy / DPhil / Unrestricted

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Reading and understanding science text is the principal means by which students at tertiary level access scientific information and attain scientific literacy. However, understanding and learning from science texts require cognitive processing abilities which students mayor may not have. If students fail to understand scientific text, their acquisition of subject knowledge and expertise will be impeded and they will fail to develop into thinking and independent learners, so crucial for academic progress and achievement. A major assumption in this study is thus that in order to increase access to science subjects there is a need to explicitly teach the thinking abilities involved in learning science from text. A review of the literature showed that while reading to learn from scientific text poses special challenges to students faced with this unfamiliar genre, little is known about reading (and thinking) for science learning. A synthesis of current research which describes the neglected interface between science learning, science reading and cognition is given in the literature review of this study. This synthesis highlights, in particular, the parallel developments in research into science learning and reading; the lack of integration of research in these areas; the absence of investigations on science reading located within the cognitive domain; and the absence of research into reading as it affects cognition and cognition as it affects reading in subject-specific areas such as physiology Possibilities for improving students' cognitive performance in reading to learn through intervention were considered from a cognitive perspective. From this perspective, students' observable intellectual performance can be attributed to their underlying knowledge, behaviour, and thought processes. Accordingly, the mental processes involved in comprehending scientific concepts from text and the cognitive processes which the students bring to the learning situation become highly relevant to efforts to improve cognitive skills for learning science Key questions which were identified to serve as a basis for intervention included: a) What cognitive abilities are needed for competent reading comprehension as demanded by physiology text?; b) How adequate is the cognitive repertoire of students in dealing with physiology text? With regard to these questions a catalogue of cognitive functions as formulated by Feuerstein et al (1980) was identified as optimally suited for establishing the cognitive match between reading tasks and students. Micro-analyses of the cognitive demands of students' textbook material and the cognitive make-up of second-year university students revealed a profound mismatch between students and their learning material. Students lacked both comprehension fostering and comprehension monitoring abilities appropriate to the demands of the learning task. The explication of the cognitive requirements which physiology text demands served as a basis for systematically designing instruction whereby appropriate intellectual performance for scientific comprehension from text may be attained Subsequent intervention was based on the explicit teaching of thinking abilities within the context of domain-specific (physiology) knowledge. An instructional framework was developed that integrated cognitive learning theories and instructional prescriptions to achieve an effective learning environment and improve students' cognitive abilities to employ and extend their knowledge. The objective was that the instructional model and resultant instructional methods would ensure that students learn not only the desired kinds of knowledge by conceptual change, but also the thought processes embedded and required by reading scientific material for appropriate conceptual change to take place. Micro-analysis of the cognitive processes intrinsic to understanding physiology text illuminated cognitive demands such as, for example, the ability to: transform linearly presented material into structural patterns which illuminate physiological relationships; analyse conceptually dense text rich in "paradoxical jargon"; activate and retrieve extensive amounts of topic-specific and subject-specific prior knowledge; to visualise events; and contextualise concepts by establishing an application for it. Within the above instructional setting, the study shows that the notion of explicitly teaching the cognitive processes intrinsic to physiology text is possible. By translating the cognitive processes into cognitive strategies such as assessing the situation, planning, processing, organisation, elaboration, monitoring and reflective responses, the heuristic approach effectively served to guide students through various phases of learning from text. Systematic and deliberate methods of thought that would enhance students problem-solving and thinking abilities were taught. One very successful strategy for learning from physiology text was the ability to reorganise the linearly presented information into a different text structure by means of the construction of graphic organisers. The latter allowed students to read systematically, establish relationships between concepts, identify important ideas, summarise passages, readily retrieve information from memory, go beyond the given textual information and very effectively monitor and evaluate their understanding In addition to teaching appropriate cognitive strategies as demanded by physiology text, this programme also facilitated an awareness of expository text conventions, the nature of physiological understanding, the value of active strategic involvement in constructing knowledge and the value of metacognitive awareness. Also, since the intervention was executed within the context of physiology content, the acquisition of content-specific information took place quite readily. This overcame the problem of transfer, so often experienced with "content-free" programmes. In conclusion, this study makes specific recommendations to improve science education. Inparticular, the notion of teaching the appropriate cognitive behaviour and thought processes as demanded by academic tasks such as reading to learn physiology seems to be a particularly fruitful area into which science educational research should develop and be encouraged.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T18:24:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roberta Lopes.pdf: 7197254 bytes, checksum: be2567375335595b725a2eca5d10cbe2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-23 / Secretaria da Educação do Estado de São Paulo / This study aims to verify the perception of students about their learning in English during the application of a teaching unit designed for Elementary School (Ensino Fundamental) in a public school in the state of São Paulo, as part of the educational plan established by Proposta Curricular (SÃO PAULO, 2008a) and presented in Caderno do Professor 3.o bimestre from the 7th grade. The questions that guide this research are: How do students from the 7th grade in a public school of São Paulo perceive their learning during the application of a teaching unit of Caderno do Professor? and How do students and the teacher evaluate Caderno do Professor? . The theoretical bases for this study were the Parâmetros Curriculares (BRAZIL, 1998a), the guidelines established in Proposta Curricular (SÃO PAULO, 2008a) and teaching-learning approaches, such as: behavioral, cognitive, and interactionist ones and the concept of literacy established in Proposta Curricular (SÃO PAULO, 2008a). In addition, this study was also based on some criteria for materials evaluation and development for the teaching and learning of foreign languages (CUNNINGSWORTH, 1995; GRAVES, 2000; TOMLINSON, 2003; RAMOS, 2009). This case study took place in a public school located in the east part of the city of São Paulo. The participants were nine students in the 7th.grade of the Elementary School. The data were collected through questionnaires and interviews, during the months of October and November 2008. The results showed that during the implementation of the teaching unit part of Caderno do Professor 3.o bimestre, the students perceived some improvements on their knowledge, as well as the developments of the subject matter (eating habits) and textual knowledge related to genres (menu, infographic and nutritional table) used in the teaching unit / Este trabalho tem como objetivo verificar a percepção de alunos sobre sua aprendizagem em Inglês no decorrer da aplicação de um material didático desenvolvido para as escolas públicas de Ensino Fundamental II, material esse que faz parte do plano educacional estabelecido pela Proposta Curricular (SÃO PAULO, 2008a) e apresentado no Caderno do Professor do 3.º bimestre de 7.ª série (SÃO PAULO, 2008d). As perguntas que norteiam o trabalho são: Como alunos de 7.ª série de uma escola estadual de São Paulo percebem sua aprendizagem no decorrer da aplicação de uma unidade didática do Caderno do Professor?e Como os alunos e a professora-pesquisadora avaliam o Caderno do Professor? . A fundamentação teórica deste estudo foi baseada nos Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionais (BRASIL, 1998a) e nas diretrizes estabelecidas na Proposta Curricular (SÃO PAULO, 2008a). Critérios para avaliação e elaboração de materiais didáticos para o ensino de Língua Estrangeira (CUNNINGSWORTH, 1995; GRAVES, 2000; TOMLINSON, 2003; RAMOS, 2009) também fundamentam esta investigação. A pesquisa, caracterizada como estudo de caso, foi desenvolvida em uma escola da rede pública estadual de ensino localizada na zona leste da cidade de São Paulo. Seus participantes foram nove alunos da 7.ª série do Ensino Fundamental II. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionários e entrevistas, nos meses de outubro e novembro de 2008. Os resultados obtidos mostram que, no decorrer da aplicação da unidade didática que compõe o material do Caderno do Professor do 3.º bimestre da 7.ª série, os alunos perceberam um aumento em sua aprendizagem, principalmente em relação ao conhecimento lexical. Também, houve desenvolvimento dos conhecimentos de mundo sobre o tema abordado (hábitos alimentares) e do conhecimento textual relacionado aos gêneros cardápio, infográfico e tabela nutricional, utilizados durante a aplicação do material didático

In Winter semester of 2005 the English Language Center (ELC) began plans to implement a content-based program for students at its highest proficiency level in order to provide them with more effective preparation for academic studies in English. Since that time, the program has undergone various changes to provide a more stable, cohesive, and responsive curriculum. There is a need, however, for greater teacher support and training. This paper outlines the process I underwent to create a handbook that would provide needed guidance and training for teachers in this program. This project involved an in-depth needs analysis of teachers and students in the program. Results from this analysis led to the selection of three basic principles that were used in the design and development of this project: (1) practicality, (2) instructiveness, and (3) sustainability. The resulting project is a binder organized into four tabs: (1) Program Overview, (2) The Basics of Content-based Instruction at the ELC, (3) Challenges and Strategies in CBI, and (4) Additional Resources. This resource was developed using Microsoft Word 2007 and includes a variety of graphics, text boxes and layouts to provide a professional and user-friendly product. An evaluation of the project based on the responses of three teachers who used the handbook during Winter semester 2009 revealed that it was a useful and needed resource for teaching content-based classes at the ELC. Further piloting is needed to verify these findings. It is recommended that in the future this resource be maintained by the ELC Coordinator assigned to oversee the content courses. As the ELC continues to refine the content curriculum, evaluation and revisions of this handbook should be carried out at regular intervals to ensure its continued relevance and accuracy over time.

Die weltweite Veränderung der klimatischen Bedingungen macht eine deutliche Verringerung des globalen Ausstoßes von Treibhausgasen unumgänglich. Der Bausektor und insbesondere die Zementherstellung sind von diesen Entwicklungen nicht ausgenommen, weshalb die Suche nach alternativen, nachhaltigen Baumaterialien verstärkt in den Fokus der Industrie und der Wissenschaft rückt. Im vorliegenden Artikel sollen einige Entwicklungstendenzen aufgezeigt und gewisse Potentiale und besondere Eigenschaften dieser Materialien hervorgehoben werden. Dabei erheben die Autoren mit diesem Aufsatz keinesfalls den Anspruch auf eine vollständige Darstellung aller bekannten Optionen, sondern er soll vielmehr zu neuen Denkansätzen motivieren und Forschungsbedarf aufzeigen.

This project details the designing and implementation of an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) Curriculum to prepare English learners to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center (UVRMC) in Provo, Utah. UVRMC, which is owned by Intermountain Health Care (IHC), employs a group of about 40 non-native speakers of English. They work as housekeepers and have interest in learning English and consequently acquiring new skills they could use in better jobs to improve the quality of their lives. UVRMC would like these employees to obtain additional education in order to provide them with better employment opportunities. UVRMC allowed two graduate students at the Department of Linguistics and English Language at Brigham University to design and implement an ESP course to help UVRMC housekeepers improve their language skills in preparation to apply and participate in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) course offered through IHC University. This report covers the linguistic needs analysis of the participants, situational analysis of UVRMC in terms of the support given to the curriculum, the designing of goals and objectives, the syllabus, the teaching of the syllabus, some material development, and the assessment of language learning. It also describes the instruments used to obtain information during each step of the designing of the curriculum and its implementation, analyzes that information, presents results, assesses the curriculum's efficacy, and explains the implications for other ESP curricula in the field of nursing and other scientific fields.