Upper Secondary Students’ Beliefs About Learning English as a Foreign Language : A contrast between the students’ beliefs and the Swedish curriculum

Learning English as a foreign language (EFL) entails different factors. Language learners use different strategies in order to make their language acquisition successful. Motivation and self-regulated learning are other factors that influence how successful the EFL learner is. This paper aims to analyze the beliefs of upper secondary students in a Swedish school about learning EFL, as well as how their beliefs relate to what is specified in the Swedish curriculum. An analysis of the differences between students’ beliefs and what is stated in the curriculum was done. A survey was conducted on a total of 54 students who were enrolled in the social sciences program. The results showed that students believed that motivation and self-regulated learning were important factors for a successful learning. For them, the language skill of reception is more important than production, which does not correspond with what it is stated in the national curriculum. First and second year students’ beliefs were similar in most of the cases, but not all of them.

Communication in Smoking Cessation and Self-management : a study at Nurse-led COPD-clinics in Primary Health Care

ABSTRACTThe general aim of this thesis was to investigate behavioral change communication at nurse-led chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinics in primary health care, focusing on communication in self-management and smoking cessation for patients with COPD.Designs: Observational, prospective observational and experimental designs were used.Methods: To explore and describe the structure and content of self-management education and smoking cessation communication, consultations between patients (n=30) and nurses (n=7) were videotaped and analyzed with three instruments: Consulting Map (CM), the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI) scale and the Client Language Assessment in Motivational Interviewing (CLAMI). To examine the effects of structured self-management education, patients with COPD (n=52) were randomized in an intervention and a control group. Patients’ quality of life (QoL), knowledge about COPD and smoking cessation were examined with a questionnaire on knowledge about COPD and smoking habits and with St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, addressing QoL. Results: The findings from the videotaped consultations showed that communication about the reasons for consultation mainly concerned medical and physical problems and (to a certain extent) patients´ perceptions. Two consultations ended with shared understanding, but none of the patients received an individual treatment-plan. In the smoking cessation communication the nurses did only to a small extent evoke patients’ reasons for change, fostered collaboration and supported patients’ autonomy. The nurses provided a lot of information (42%), asked closed (21%) rather than open questions (3%), made simpler (14%) rather than complex (2%) reflections and used MI non-adherent (16%) rather than MI-adherent (5%) behavior. Most of the patients’ utterances in the communication were neutral either toward or away from smoking cessation (59%), utterances about reason (desire, ability and need) were 40%, taking steps 1% and commitment to stop smoking 0%. The number of patients who stopped smoking, and patients’ knowledge about the disease and their QoL, was increased by structured self-management education and smoking cessation in collaboration between the patient, nurse and physician and, when necessary, a physiotherapist, a dietician, an occupational therapist and/or a medical social worker.Conclusion The communication at nurse-led COPD clinics rarely involved the patients in shared understanding and responsibility and concerned patients’ fears, worries and problems only to a limited extent. The results also showed that nurses had difficulties in attaining proficiency in behavioral change communication. Structured self-management education showed positive effects on patients’ perceived QoL, on the number of patients who quit smoking and on patients’ knowledge about COPD.

Livskvalitet i familjer med barn och ungdomar med astma : en systematisk litteraturstudie

Syftet med litteraturstudien var att beskriva vilken livskvalitet barn och ungdomar med astma och deras föräldrar hade. Till resultatet användes tretton vetenskapliga artiklar publicerade tidigast år 2000. Databaserna Elin, Blackwell Synergy och Ebsco Host användes vid artikelsökningen och en manuell sökning gjordes via www.asthma.se. Sökorden asthma, child, parents, quality of life, experience och coping användes i olika kombinationer. Artikelurvalet gjordes för att passa litteraturstudiens syfte och frågeställningar och det vetenskapliga värdet i artiklarna skattades med hjälp av modifierade granskningsmallar. Resultatet visade att barn och ungdomar med astma hade relativt högt skattad livskvalitet och hade lärt sig att hitta strategier för att hantera sin sjukdom och därmed kunna leva ett så normalt liv som möjligt. Många av barnen och ungdomar testade gränser för hur mycket kroppen tålde genom påfrestande fysiska aktiviteter. För de ungdomarna som hade lågt skattad livskvalitet kunde orsakerna härledas till dålig kontrollerade astmasymtom eller då omgivningen påverkade barnet negativt. Flickor hade lägre livskvalitet än pojkar i studierna. Föräldrarna till barn och ungdomar med astma var generellt mer påverkade av barnets sjukdom än barnen själva. De fanns vissa skillnader mellan föräldrarna, mödrarna var mer bekymrade och oroade medan fäderna hade ett mer avslappnat förhållande till barnet och sjukdomen.

Kvalitetsuppföljningar och sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsprioriteringar i särskilt boende : En kvalitativ intervjustudie

Syfte: Att undersöka hur sjuksköterskor inom särskilt boende resonerar kring kvalitetsuppföljningar och dess eventuella konsekvenser för omvårdnaden. Metod: Semistrukturerade intervjuer efter öppen intervjuguide med sex sjuksköterskor. Kvalitativ innehållsanalys enligt Graneheim och Lundmans metod. Huvudresultat: I vilken grad kvalitetsregistren och kvalitetsuppföljningarna integreras i omvårdnadsarbetet och dess utveckling är centralt för om dessa uppfattas som stöd eller hinder för god kvalité i omvårdnaden. Dubbel dokumentation bidrar till att sjuksköterskorna omprioriterar arbetstiden och arbetar mer konsultativt och administrativt. Detta minskar tiden för omvårdnadsobservationer och handleding av omvårdnadspersonal samt gör att kvalitetsregistreringar snarast uppfattas som ett hinder. Sjuksköterskorna använde sin professionella kunskap och kliniska erfarenhet i högre grad än registerdata vid omvårdnadsbedömningar. Dessa sågs som alltför komplexa för att kunna fångas i kryssfrågeformulär. Mer kliniska observationer efterfrågas i kvalitetsuppföljningarna för ökad medvetenhet om hög arbetsbelastning och dess eventuella konsekvenser samt för att garantera de boende god omvårdnadskvalité. Konklusion: Sjuksköterskorna upplever att de arbetar under svår tidspress. Tiden anges som essentiell för vilken omvårdnadskvalité som erbjuds. Vid beslut om registreringar av kvalitetsindikatorer bör sjuksköterskornas totala arbetsbörda beaktas. Registreringarna bör integreras i befintliga journalsystem så att sjuksköterskornas omprioriteringar inte får negativa konsekvenser för omvårdnadskvaliten.

Djurterapins inverkan på människor med demenssjukdom och andra kognitiva sjukdomar- en litteraturöversikt

Bakgrund: I Sverige insjuknar varje år ungefär 25 000 människor i någon form av demenssjukdom, en sjukdom som ökar världen över och troligtvis kommer att fördubblas inom de närmsta 20 åren. Demenssjukdom drabbar hjärnan vilket påverkar minnet och den kognitiva förmågan och kan ge beteendemässiga och psykiska symtom (BPSD). Studier visar att nio av tio personer någon gång kommer att visa symtom som ångest, oro, vandrande och aggressiva beteenden. Läkemedelsadministrering för att behandla symtom som oro, ångest och agiterande beteenden är inte ovanligt. Dock kan läkemedel ofta orsaka biverkningar hos äldre människor. Att istället använda djurterapi för att behandla symtom som kan uppstå vid demenssjukdomar kan ses som ett positivt alternativ då studier visat att djurterapi har en positiv inverkan på människan med demenssjukdom och andra kognitiva sjukdomar. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva vilken inverkan djurterapi har på människor med demenssjukdom och andra kognitiva sjukdomar. Metod: Studien är en litteraturöversikt baserad på artiklar med kvantitativ och kvalitativ ansats (n=15). Resultat: Resultatet av denna litteraturstudie visar att djurterapi ger minskad stressnivå, minskat uppvisande av aggressiva beteenden, färre vanföreställningar, minskad ångest, nedstämdhet, sorgsenhet, depressiva symtom och apatiska beteenden samt ökning av glädje, lycka, engagemang, vakenhet, medvetenhet, verbala uttryck samt ökat minne. Konklusion: Resultatet tyder på att djurterapi med fördel kan användas som alternativ eller kompletterande behandling för människor med demenssjukdom. Dock ser författarna att utökad forskning behövs för att se långvarig inverkan av djurterapins effekter.

Cytostatikabehandling vid cancersjukdom : Upplevelse av livskvalitet samt omvårdnadsåtgärder

Syftet med denna systematiska litteraturstudie var att beskriva patienters upplevelse av livskvalitet samt sjuksköterskans omvårdnadsåtgärder i samband med cytostatikabehandling vid cancersjukdom. För att besvara studiens syfte har sökning efter artiklar (n=17) genomförts i databaserna Blackwell Synergy samt Elin@Dalarna. Följande sökord har använts i olika kombinationer; cancer, patients, experience, nurse care, quality of life, scale, instrument, chemotherapy och care. Resultatet visade att cytostatikabehandlingen hade både positiv och negativ inverkan på patienternas livskvalitet. Livskvaliteten ökade då symtom lindrades. Försämrad livskvalitet var alltid associerad till biverkningar av cytostatikabehandlingen. De vanligaste biverkningarna som inverkade på livskvaliteten var illamående och kräkningar, fatigue, hårförlust samt neutropeni. Biverkningarna påverkade patienternas livskvalitet negativt då de försämrade deras välmående samt förändrade deras situation i vardagslivet. Information och undervisning var viktiga omvårdnadsåtgärder för att förbereda patienterna inför behandlingen och för att underlätta deras situation under behandlingstiden. Även att få stöd från sjuksköterskan ansågs vara viktigt under behandlingstiden.

"La leyenda tiene una base real" : Análisis crítico del discurso de un artículo de El País

This paper carries out a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the article "¿Chinofobia?” published by the Spanish newspaper El País. It applies the theory of racist discourse in the media as formulated by Teun A. van Dijk. Its hypothesis is that the article, which supposedly analyses discrimination against the Chinese minority in Spain, covertly blames the Chinese minority itself for the discrimination. Applying CDA methodology as exemplified in previous studies by van Dijk, the paper analyses the article on global and local levels, and delineates its mental model. The global level analysis describes the article in terms of macropropositions and proposes a macrostructure: the self-alienation of the Chinese minority. The paper then analyses how the macrostructure is reinforced on the local level through micropropositions by examining 1) how vocabulary serves the negative presentation and othering of the Chinese minority, 2) how strategies of mitigation minimise discrimination by employing imprecise and vague language, 3) how quotes are used to give coherence and force to the macrostructure, 4) how implications associate the Chinese minority with criminality, and 5) how stereotyped beliefs about the Chinese minority are presented as common sense (presuppositions) and fallaciously argued. Finally, the paper delineates the mental model: the presuppositions about integration, and the implicit warning that minorities should integrate or they will be discriminated against.

On Aspects of Mathematical Reasoning : Affect and Gender

This thesis explores two aspects of mathematical reasoning: affect and gender. I started by looking at the reasoning of upper secondary students when solving tasks. This work revealed that when not guided by an interviewer, algorithmic reasoning, based on memorising algorithms which may or may not be appropriate for the task, was predominant in the students reasoning. Given this lack of mathematical grounding in students reasoning I looked in a second study at what grounds they had for different strategy choices and conclusions. This qualitative study suggested that beliefs about safety, expectation and motivation were important in the central decisions made during task solving.  But are reasoning and beliefs gendered? The third study explored upper secondary school teachers conceptions about gender and students mathematical reasoning. In this study I found that upper secondary school teachers attributed gender symbols including insecurity, use of standard methods and imitative reasoning to girls and symbols such as multiple strategies especially on the calculator, guessing and chance-taking were assigned to boys. In the fourth and final study I found that students, both male and female, shared their teachers view of rather traditional feminities and masculinities. Remarkably however, this result did not repeat itself when students were asked to reflect on their own behaviour: there were some discrepancies between the traits the students ascribed as gender different and the traits they ascribed to themselves. Taken together the thesis suggests that, contrary to conceptions, girls and boys share many of the same core beliefs about mathematics, but much work is still needed if we should create learning environments that provide better opportunities for students to develop beliefs that guide them towards well-grounded mathematical reasoning. 

Organisationer, ojämlikhet, migration : förändringar av den etniska arbetsdelningen i svensk byggnadssektor

Organizations, Inequality, Migration – Changes of the Ethnic Division of Labour in the Swedish Construction Sector During the 1990s the number of migrants from Eastern Europe increased in the Swedish construction sector. This article examines how this change was initiated by changes in the organizational population in the construction sector. The gradual enlargement of the European Union changed the institutional framework for organizations in Sweden. This created increased opportunities for new organizational forms in the construction sector. The specific niche of the new organizations was to recruit and hire out workers from Eastern Europe that were paid lower wages than Swedish workers. The diffusion of this organizational form contributed to a change of norms and beliefs about what was legitimate and illegitimate when employing migrants. This implies that the inequalities that this organizational form introduces have gained increased legitimacy in Sweden. Or in other words, it has become increasingly socially acceptable to pay migrants lower wages than Swedish workers

Teaching grammar: A study of the common English grammar errors and grammar teaching methods that can be relevant for Swedish upper secondary schools

Grammar has always been an important part of language learning. Based on various theories, such as the universal grammar theory (Chomsky, 1959) and, the input theory (Krashen, 1970), the explicit and implicit teaching methods have been developed. Research shows that both methods may have some benefits and disadvantages. The attitude towards English grammar teaching methods in schools has also changed and nowadays grammar teaching methods and learning strategies, as a part of language mastery, are one of the discussion topics among linguists. This study focuses on teacher and learner experiences and beliefs about teaching English grammar and difficulties learners may face. The aim of the study is to conduct a literature review and to find out what scientific knowledge exists concerning the previously named topics. Along with this, the relevant steering documents are investigated focusing on grammar teaching at Swedish upper secondary schools. The universal grammar theory of Chomsky as well as Krashen’s input hypotheses provide the theoretical background for the current study. The study has been conducted applying qualitative and quantitative methods. The systematic search in four databases LIBRIS, ERIK, LLBA and Google Scholar were used for collecting relevant publications. The result shows that scientists’ publications name different grammar areas that are perceived as problematic for learners all over the world. The most common explanation of these difficulties is the influence of learner L1. Research presents teachers’ and learners’ beliefs to the benefits of grammar teaching methods. An effective combination of teaching methods needs to be done to fit learners’ expectations and individual needs. Together, they will contribute to the achieving of higher language proficiency levels and, therefore, they can be successfully applied at Swedish upper secondary schools.

English-medium instruction in Sweden : Perspectives and practices in two upper secondary schools

This thesis presents English-medium instruction (EMI) in the Swedish context, focusing on perspectives and practices in two schools. The research question is as follows: How and why is EMI offered, chosen, and practiced in the Swedish upper secondary school today? The aim is to explore the status of the educational option, the reasons for offering EMI to stakeholders, the stakeholders’ beliefs about and goals of EMI, and the implementation of EMI in the classroom. A survey of all upper secondary schools in Sweden was conducted to ascertain the spread of content teaching through a foreign language. The educational context was studied from an ecological perspective using methods based in linguistic ethnography. Language alternation, academic language, and language hierarchy were all considered. Interviews were analysed for content; and classroom language use was analysed for language choice and function. The concepts of affordance and scaffolding together with translanguaging were key. The de facto policies of the micro contexts of the schools were examined in light of the declared national policy of the macro context of Sweden. The results indicate that the option in Swedish schools has not increased, and also tends to only be EMI—not Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) or instruction through other languages. EMI is offered for prestige, an international profile, marketing potential and personal interest. EMI students are academically motivated and confident, and see the option as “fun”. 100% EMI in the lessons is not the goal or the practice. Translanguaging is abundant, but how language alternation is perceived as an affordance or not differs in the two schools. One focuses on how the languages are used while the other focuses on how much each language is used. In conclusion, the analysis suggests that a development of definitions and practices of EMI in Sweden is needed, especially in relation to language policy and language hierarchy.