Individual and Contextual Factors in the English Language Classroom

Individual and Contextual Factors in the English Language Classroom

Author: Rahma Al-Mahrooqi

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2022-03-22

Total Pages: 393

ISBN-13: 3030918815

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This edited volume examines a number of topics related to the roles of individual and contextual factors in English as second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) settings by presenting chapters across the three sections of theoretical and pedagogical approaches, teacher and learner research, and research into the roles of technology. The book has a focus on practical actions and recommendations related to individual and contextual factors in ESL/EFL, with a specific concern with issues of cognition, metacognition, emotion, and identity, and offers perspectives from a diverse range of international education settings. For teachers of ESL/EFL, the effective recognition and integration of individual and contextual factors into the classroom may represent a significant challenge. This is often the case in those settings where native English speaking teachers work in foreign language contexts where they may have limited understanding of local cultures and languages, or where language instructors have class groups that are culturally and linguistically diverse. In these, and similar, contexts, the types and extent of individual and contextual factors impacting on language learning may challenge both learner and instructor expectations of what an effective and supportive classroom is. While such a situation offers numerous opportunities for learners and teachers to expand their knowledge of themselves and each other, it also presents the possibility for ineffective teaching and learning to occur. It is within this framework that the book presents the latest theoretical, pedagogical, and research perspectives from around the world, thereby providing a resource for all stakeholders with an interest in the roles individual and contextual factors play in the English learning process.


Handbook of Research on Individual Differences in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Handbook of Research on Individual Differences in Computer-Assisted Language Learning

Author: Rahimi, Mehrak

Publisher: IGI Global

Published: 2015-08-03

Total Pages: 600

ISBN-13: 1466685204

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The latest advances and trends in technology have enabled rapid development in the field of language education. Students and teachers alike now benefit from the assistance of various technological innovations, thus increasing the overall effectiveness of the curriculum. The Handbook of Research on Individual Differences in Computer-Assisted Language Learning addresses the implementation of current research methodologies within EFL and ESL classroom settings and the variety of modifications employed by language experts. Focusing on quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies, this book is an essential reference source for applied linguists, CALL researchers, language teachers, and upper-level students within the field of foreign language education.


Willingness to Communicate in the Chinese EFL University Classroom

Willingness to Communicate in the Chinese EFL University Classroom

Author: Jian-E Peng

Publisher: Multilingual Matters

Published: 2014-02-24

Total Pages: 220

ISBN-13: 178309155X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book presents mixed-methods research into Chinese students' willingness to communicate (WTC) in an EFL classroom context. The interrelationships between WTC and motivation, communication confidence, learner beliefs and classroom environment are examined using structural equation modelling on data collected in a large-scale survey. These results are then complemented and expanded upon in a follow-up multiple case-study that identifies six themes which account for fluctuations of WTC over time and across situations. The qualitative and quantitative data provide the grounds for the proposition of an ecological model of WTC in the Chinese EFL university classroom, which reveals that WTC is socioculturally constructed as a function of the interaction of individual and environmental factors inside and beyond the classroom walls.


New Perspectives on Willingness to Communicate in a Second Language

New Perspectives on Willingness to Communicate in a Second Language

Author: Nourollah Zarrinabadi

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2021-05-03

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 303067634X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This edited collection provides a state-of-the art overview of research on willingness to communicate (WTC) in a second and foreign language. In particular, it includes innovative studies seeking to demonstrate the ways in which WTC can be examined within the framework of complex dynamic systems, how the construct is related to self-assessment, reticence and extroversion, and what is signifies in the case of immigrants. Another group of papers is related to the role of technology in fostering WTC in different contexts. The volume also comprises papers that touch on methodological issues in the study of WTC such as experience case sampling, the network approach or the integration of the macro- and micro-perspective. The book will be of values to researchers interested in the study of WTC but will also provide inspiration for students, teachers and materials writers.


The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Individual Differences

The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Individual Differences

Author: Shaofeng Li

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2022-05-30

Total Pages: 547

ISBN-13: 1000548406

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Routledge Handbook of Second Language Acquisition and Individual Differences provides a thorough, in-depth discussion of the theory, research, and pedagogy pertaining to the role individual difference (ID) factors play in second language acquisition (SLA). It goes beyond the traditional repertoire and includes 32 chapters covering a full spectrum of topics on learners’ cognitive, conative, affective, and demographic/sociocultural variation. The volume examines IDs from two perspectives: one is how each ID variable is associated with learning behaviors, processes, and outcomes; the other is how each domain of SLA, such as vocabulary or reading, is affected by clusters of ID variables. The volume also includes a section on the common methods used in ID research, including data elicitation instruments such as surveys, interviews, and psychometric testing, as well as methods of data analysis such as structural equation modeling. The book is a must-read for any second language researcher or applied linguist interested in investigating the effects of IDs on language learning, and for any educator interested in taking account of learners’ individual differences to maximize the effects of second language instruction.


Individual differences in early instructed language learning

Individual differences in early instructed language learning

Author: Raphael Berthele

Publisher: Language Science Press

Published:

Total Pages: 254

ISBN-13: 3961103240

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Variability in predispositions for language learning has attracted scholarly curiosity for over 100 years. Despite major changes in theoretical explanations and foreign/second language teaching paradigms, some patterns of associations between predispositions and learning outcomes seem timelessly robust. This book discusses evidence from a research project investigating individual differences in a wide variety of domains, ranging from language aptitude over general cognitive abilities to motivational and other affective and social constructs. The focus lies on young learners aged 10 to 12, a less frequently investigated age in aptitude research. The data stem from two samples of multilingual learners in German-speaking Switzerland. The target languages are French and English. The chapters of the book offer two complementary perspectives on the topic: On the one hand, cross-sectional investigations of the underlying structure of these individual differences and their association with the target languages are discussed. Drawing on factor analytical and multivariable analyses, the different components are scrutinized with respect to their mutual dependence and their relative impact on target language skills. The analyses also take into account contextual factors such as the learners’ family background and differences across the two contexts investigated. On the other hand, the potential to predict learner’s skills in the target language over time based on the many different indicators is investigated using machine learning algorithms. The results provide new insights into the stability of the individual dispositions, on the impact of contextual variables, and on empirically robust dimensions within the array of variables tested.


Engaging Students

Engaging Students

Author: Carolyn Temple Adger

Publisher: Corwin

Published: 1995-06-16

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In Engaging Students, four highly qualified educators provide classroom-tested, research-based instructional approaches that engage students in learning through thought and talk. They show ways to significantly improve students' abilities to solve problems and to think critically and creatively by using "Think Trix", a thinking typology that guides students' analytic reasoning. Readers will learn ways to teach and reinforce academic oral language skills, as well as how to support thinking and oral language skills in a cooperative learning environment. The authors give step-by-step guidance and illustrate the concepts through stories of teachers who have used these methods. The resource section contains helpful information and illustrative activities that combine Think Trix, graphic organizers, and cooperative learning.


Teacher and Student Perspectives on Bilingual and Multilingual Education

Teacher and Student Perspectives on Bilingual and Multilingual Education

Author: Bui, Hung Phu

Publisher: IGI Global

Published: 2024-03-07

Total Pages: 310

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The field of L2 English (English as a second language) education is rapidly evolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging due to technological advancements, changing student demographics, and evolving pedagogical approaches. Educators are faced with adapting their teaching practices to meet the diverse needs of learners while keeping up with the latest research and developments in the field. However, navigating this complex landscape can be daunting, especially for those seeking evidence-based strategies to enhance their teaching effectiveness and address the diverse needs of learners. Teacher and Student Perspectives on Bilingual and Multilingual Education offers a comprehensive solution to the challenges educators face. By bringing together leading scholars and researchers, this edited volume provides a cutting-edge exploration of critical issues in L2 English education, offering educators practical insights and evidence-based strategies. The book covers various topics, including L2 motivation, learner engagement, classroom assessment, corrective feedback, and technology integration. It provides a holistic field view and equips educators with the tools to enhance their teaching practice.