Translation – The fifth language skill? A comparison of the role of translation in Finnish lukio and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

This study attempts to answer the question “Should translation be considered a fifth language skill?” by examining and comparing the use of translation as a language learning and assessment method in the national Finnish lukio curriculum and the curriculum of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). Furthermore, the students’ ability to translate and their opinions on the usefulness of translation in language learning will be examined. The students’ opinions were gathered through a questionnaire that was given to 156 students studying in either lukio or the IBDP in Turku and Rovaniemi. I present and compare the role of translation in selected language teaching and learning methods and approaches, and discuss the effectiveness of translation as a language learning method and an assessment method. The theoretical discussion provides the basis for examining the role of translation as a language learning method and an assessment method in the curricula and final examinations of both education programs. The analysis of the two curricula indicated that there is a significant difference in the use of translation, as translation is used as a language learning method and as an assessment method in lukio, but is not used in either form in the IB. The data obtained through the questionnaire indicated that there is a difference in the level of language competence between the lukio and IB students and suggested that the curriculum in which the student studies has some effect on his/her cognitive use of translation, ability to translate and opinions concerning the usefulness of translation in language learning. The results indicated that both groups of students used translation, along with their mother tongue, as a cognitive language learning method, and, contrary to the expectations set by the analysis of the two curricula, the IB students performed better in the translation exercises than lukio students. Both groups of students agreed that translation is a useful language learning method, and indicated that the most common dictionaries they use are bilingual Internet dictionaries. The results suggest that translation is a specific skill that requires teaching and practice, and that perhaps the translation exercises used in lukio should be developed from translating individual words and phrases to translating cultural elements. In addition, the results suggest that perhaps the IB curriculum should include the use of translation exercises (e.g., communicative translation exercises) in order to help students learn to mediate between languages and cultures rather than learn languages in isolation from each other.

Recent educational changes at higher educational level in Pakistan: English language teachers' perceptions and practices

Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) of any country could be a source of providing professionals to the country in many fields. By doing so, HEIs could play a pivotal role in the economic growth of the country. In Pakistan, it seems that, in the wake of this realization, steps have been taken to reform Higher Education. Drawing on the Triple I model of educational change covering Initiation, Implementation and Institutionalization (Fullan, 2007) this study focuses on the planning and implementation of reforms in the Education system of Pakistan at higher education level that have been introduced by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) since its inception in 2002. Kennedy’s model of hierarchical subsystems affecting innovation and Chin and Benne’s (1985) description of strategies for implementing change also provided guidelines for analyzing the changes in education in the country to highlight the role that the authorities expect the language teacher to play in the process of implementing these changes. A qualitative method is followed in this study to gather data from English language teachers at three universities of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. A questionnaire was developed to look into the perceptions of English language teachers regarding the impact of these reforms. This was followed up by interviews. Responses from 28 teachers were received through questionnaire out of which 9 teachers were interviewed for detailed analysis of their perceptions. Thematic Content analysis was used to analyze and interpret the data. Some of the most significant changes that the respondents reported knowledge of included the introduction of Semester System, extending the Bachelors degree to four years from two years, promotion of research culture, and increased teachers’ autonomy in classroom practices. Implications of these reforms for English teachers’ professional development were also explored. The data indicate that the teachers generally have a positive attitude towards the changes. However, the data also show concerns that teachers have about the practical effectiveness of these changes in improving English language teaching and learning in Pakistani Universities. Some of the areas of concern are worries regarding resources, the assessment system, the number of qualified teachers, and instability in the educational policy. They are concerned about the training facilities and quality of the professional training available to them. Moreover, they report that training opportunities for their professional development are not available to all the teachers equally. Despite the HEC claims of providing regular training opportunities, the majority of the teachers did not receive any formal training in the last three years, while some teachers were able to access these opportunities multiple times. Through the recent reforms HEC has empowered the teachers in conducting the learning/teacher processes but this extra power has reduced their accountability and they can exercise these powers without any check on them. This empowerment is limited to the classroom and there appears to be no or minimal involvement in decision making at the top level of policy making. Such lack of involvement in the policy decisions seems to be generating a lack of sense of ownership among the teachers (Fullan 2003a:6). Although Quality Enhancement Cells have been developed in the universities to assure the desired quality of education, they might need a more active role to contribute in achieving the level of enhancement in education expected from them. Based on the perceptions of the respondents of this study and the review of the relevant literature, it is argued that it is unlikely for the reforms to be institutionalized if teachers are not given the right kind of awareness at the initiation stage and are not prepared at the implementation stage to cope with the challenge of a complex process. The teachers participating in this study, in general, have positive and enthusiastic attitudes towards most of the changes, in spite of some reservations. It could also be interesting to see if the power centers of the Pakistani Higher Education appreciate this enthusiasm and channel it for a strong Higher Education system in the country.

Towards an understanding of Pakistani undergraduates’ current attitudes towards learning and speaking English

The English language has an important place in Pakistan and in its education system, not least because of the global status of English and its role in employment. Realising the need to enhance language learning outcomes, especially at the tertiary level, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan has put in place some important measures to improve the quality of English language teaching practice through its English Language Teaching Reforms (ELTR) project. However, there is a complex linguistic, educational and ethnic diversity in Pakistan and that diversity, alongside the historical and current role of English in the country, makes any language teaching reform particularly challenging. I argue, in this thesis, that reform to date has largely ignored the issues of learner readiness to learn and learner perceptions of the use of English. I argue that studying learner attitudes is important if we are to understand how learners perceive the practice of learning and the use of English in their lives. This study focuses on the attitudes of undergraduate learners of English as a foreign language at two universities in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan in Pakistan. These provinces have experienced long struggles and movements related to linguistic and ethnic rights and both educate students from all of the districts of their respective provinces. Drawing on debates around linguistic imperialism, economic necessity, and linguistic and educational diversity, I focus on learners’ perceptions about learning and speaking English, asking what their attitudes are towards learning and speaking English with particular reference to socio-psychological factors at a given time and context, including perceived threats to their culture, religion, and mother tongue. I ask how they make choices about learning and speaking English in different domains of language use and question their motivation to learn and speak English. Additionally, I explore issues of anxiety with reference to their use of English. Following a predominantly qualitative mixed methods research approach, the study employs two research tools: an adapted Likert Scale questionnaire completed by 300 students and semi-structured interviews with 20 participants from the two universities. The data were analysed through descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis, with each set of data synthesised for interpretation. The findings suggest that, compared with the past, the majority of participants hold positive attitudes towards learning and speaking English regardless of their ethnic or linguistic backgrounds. Most of these undergraduate students do not perceive the use of English as a threat to their culture, mother tongue or religious values but, instead, they have a pragmatic and, at the same time, aspirational attitude to the learning and use of English. I present these results and conclude this thesis with reference to ways in which this small-scale study contributes to a better understanding of learner attitudes and perceptions. Acknowledging the limitations of this study, I suggest ways in which the study, enhanced and extended by further research, might have implications for practice, theory and policy in English language teaching and learning in Pakistan.

To Integrate Or Not: A Comparison of the English Skills of Finnish Students in Mainstream Education and Content and Language Integrated Learning

The objective of the thesis was to study the possible linguistic differences of English of Finnish mainstream students and Finnish students following content and language integrated learning (CLIL), in terms of the given language test. The difference of test results between the test groups was further analyzed in more detail. The research was carried out by comparing the 9th grade students of the Finnish comprehensive school (the mainstream group) and CLIL students of the 9th grade of the Finnish comprehensive school (the CLIL group). The comparison was based on the national language test for the 9th grade students of the Finnish comprehensive school 2006 (A-English), produced by Sukol-Palvelu, owned by the Federation of Foreign Language Teachers in Finland SUKOL. The mainstream group of the present study consisted of 30 students, whereas the CLIL group included 27 students. Testing was carried out in spring 2007. The test results of the mainstream group (average of 64.1% out of the maximum score) were consistent with the results of the national average (63.9%). The average score of the CLIL students for the present study was 83.3% out of the maximum score. The results of the two groups in question were rather similar in the tasks measuring the skill of listening comprehension, in addition to one of the reading comprehension tasks. Moreover, a particular task with requirements of cultural and reactional skills produced results rather similar between the test groups. The differences between the results of the mainstream group and the CLIL group were most evident in three particular tasks. In general, the CLIL group performed clearly better than the mainstream group in the task measuring the knowledge of the polite conversational manners of the English-speaking world and in the tasks with requirements of lexical and structural knowledge of English. However, the writing task resulted in the most evident difference of results between the groups. In other words, the CLIL students of the present study were clearly more capable of producing English language with more varied vocabulary and more complex structures than the mainstream students. Thus, it might be argued whether the CLIL programme is to enhance the students´ performance in the productive skill of writing in particular. As a result, it might be useful to consider the possibilities of the CLIL programme in developing certain linguistic skills of the mainstream students of English as well.

A interseccionalidade de gênero, raça e classe no Programa Ciência sem Fronteiras : um estudo sobre estudantes brasileiros com destino aos EUA

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação, Departamento de Pós-Graduação, Mestrado Profissional em Educação, 2015.

Política e planeamento linguístico da língua portuguesa na Namíbia : perspetivas de futuro

A importância da língua portuguesa, idioma representado nos cinco continentes, é uma realidade incontornável. Este prestígio linguístico é visível no aumento do número de falantes ao longo das últimas décadas. Hoje em dia, o português é usado como língua de comunicação de aproximadamente 250 milhões de pessoas. Para além da representatividade cultural, técnica, tecnológica e económica que possui nos países de língua oficial portuguesa, esta ocorrência é impulsionada também por países pertencentes a outros espaços linguísticos que se sentem atraídos economicamente por economias de países de língua portuguesa. Nesta dissertação apresenta-se o caso da Namíbia, país situado na África subsaarina que mantém relações político-económicas com países de língua portuguesa e que, por isso mesmo, integrou o português como língua curricular estrangeira no sistema de ensino. Questiona-se os motivos pelos quais o ensino formal de português tem cada vez mais aprendentes, isto é, pretende saber-se se a motivação dos alunos adultos está de facto relacionada com razões estritamente económicas ou não. Para o caso foi elaborado um questionário, aplicado em todos os locais onde o português é aprendido como PLE. Seguindo a mesma linha de dúvidas, pretendia-se também aferir se a política linguística que estava a ser implementada na Namíbia se estava a consolidar ou, se pelo contrário, não se estava a solidificar, e, assim sendo, deixar pistas no sentido de encaminhar o planeamento linguístico para as reais necessidades comunicativas dos informantes e potenciais falantes de português.

Português língua de herança em contexto plurilingue na Finlândia : aspetos de aquisição/aprendizagem da competência pragmática e expressão da delicadeza

Os fluxos migratórios das últimas décadas têm contribuído para que as comunidades de falantes de português se estabeleçam um pouco por todo o mundo, nomeadamente, nos países escandinavos. Um desses países de acolhimento, a Finlândia, tem desenvolvido esforços para a integração dos imigrantes que aí se estabelecem, designadamente, através da promoção de políticas de língua, que visam o ensino da língua de herança aos alunos em idade escolar. Tem sido neste contexto que as pequenas comunidades lusófonas, a viverem no país, têm podido facultar aos filhos, imigrantes de primeira e segunda gerações, acesso ao ensino formal da sua língua de herança, o português. Os sujeitos da nossa amostra fazem parte de uma dessas pequenas comunidades e residem em Tampere, na Finlândia, onde frequentam escolas cuja língua de ensino é o finlandês. O presente trabalho pretende, por um lado, dar conta da realidade sociocultural daqueles alunos de Português Língua Não-Materna, e, por outro, visa refletir sobre a aquisição/ aprendizagem da competência pragmática por parte destes sujeitos, falantes de herança, através da realização que fazem de atos ilocutórios diretivos – de pedido e de ordem –, bem como, sobre o grau de formalização das expressões de delicadeza que fazem. Por conseguinte, elaborámos uma Ficha Sociolinguística para recolha de dados referentes ao contexto familiar, sociocultural e linguístico dos alunos. Posteriormente, elaborámos e aplicámos um teste linguístico, de Tarefas de Elicitação do Discurso, com vista à recolha de dados para a construção de um corpus linguístico que nos permitisse desenvolver o presente estudo. A aplicação do teste linguístico e consequente tratamento dos dados recolhidos revelaram que as escolhas pragmáticas dos sujeitos são condicionadas pelo contexto sociocultural e linguístico em que estão imersos. Constatámos, igualmente, que a generalidade dos alunos recorre a duas estratégias de mitigação do discurso, pelo uso de duas expressões de delicadeza: a fórmula «se faz favor»/«por favor» e o verbo modal «poder».

THE ROLE OF RULES, EXAMPLES AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN THE ACQUISITION OF DECLARATIVE AND PROCEDURAL SECOND LANGUAGE KNOWLEDGE

The relevance of explicit instruction has been well documented in SLA research. Despite numerous positive findings, however, the issue continues to engage scholars worldwide. One issue that was largely neglected in previous empirical studies - and one that may be crucial for the effectiveness of explicit instruction - is the timing and integration of rules and practice. The present study investigated the extent to which grammar explanation (GE) before practice, grammar explanation during practice, and individual differences impact the acquisition of L2 declarative and procedural knowledge of two grammatical structures in Spanish. In this experiment, 128 English-speaking learners of Spanish were randomly assigned to four experimental treatments and completed comprehension-based task-essential practice for interpreting object-verb (OV) and ser/estar (SER) sentences in Spanish. Results confirmed the predicted importance of timing of GE: participants who received GE during practice were more likely to develop and retain their knowledge successfully. Results further revealed that the various combinations of rules and practice posed differential task demands on the learners and consequently drew on language aptitude and WM to a different extent. Since these correlations between individual differences and learning outcomes were the least observed in the conditions that received GE during practice, we argue that the suitable integration of rules and practice ameliorated task demands, reducing the burden on the learner, and accordingly mitigated the role of participants’ individual differences. Finally, some evidence also showed that the comprehension practice that participants received for the two structures was not sufficient for the formation of solid productive knowledge, but was more effective for the OV than for the SER construction.

Constructivism and ICTs to Improve Language Skills

Se examina la experiencia de los estudiantes y los profesores de dos grupos de un curso de Elocución con el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TICs), para mejorar sus habilidades de expresión oral en inglés. Se presenta el diseño del curso y la metodología en la cual se fundamentó, así como las apreciaciones de los trabajos de estos a lumnos a la hora de mejorar las habilidades comunicativas orales por medio del enfoque constructivista. Se incluyen recomendaciones para poner en práctica esta metodología.A description is provided here of the experience of the students and teachers of two Elocution courses in which Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) were used to improve oral communication skills in English. Reference is made to the design of the course and the methodology it is based on, together with some insights of the assignments that students did to improve their English speaking skills through the constructivism approach. Recommendations are also provided for others interested in using this type of methodology.

A Comparison of the Effects of Classroom and Multi-User Virtual Environments on the Perceived Speaking Anxiety of Adult Post-Secondary English Language Learners

The population of English Language Learners (ELLs) globally has been increasing substantially every year. In the United States alone, adult ELLs are the fastest growing portion of learners in adult education programs (Yang, 2005). There is a significant need to improve the teaching of English to ELLs in the United States and other English-speaking dominant countries. However, for many ELLs, speaking, especially to Native English Speakers (NESs), causes considerable language anxiety, which in turn plays a vital role in hindering their language development and academic progress (Pichette, 2009; Woodrow, 2006). Task-based Language Teaching (TBLT), such as simulation activities, has long been viewed as an effective approach for second-language development. The current advances in technology and rapid emergence of Multi-User Virtual Environments (MUVEs) have provided an opportunity for educators to consider conducting simulations online for ELLs to practice speaking English to NESs. Yet to date, empirical research on the effects of MUVEs on ELLs’ language development and speaking is limited (Garcia-Ruiz, Edwards, & Aquino-Santos, 2007). This study used a true experimental treatment control group repeated measures design to compare the perceived speaking anxiety levels (as measured by an anxiety scale administered per simulation activity) of 11 ELLs (5 in the control group, 6 in the experimental group) when speaking to Native English Speakers (NESs) during 10 simulation activities. Simulations in the control group were done face-to-face, while those in the experimental group were done in the MUVE of Second Life. The results of the repeated measures ANOVA revealed after the Huynh-Feldt epsilon correction, demonstrated for both groups a significant decrease in anxiety levels over time from the first simulation to the tenth and final simulation. When comparing the two groups, the results revealed a statistically significant difference, with the experimental group demonstrating a greater anxiety reduction. These results suggests that language instructors should consider including face-to-face and MUVE simulations with ELLs paired with NESs as part of their language instruction. Future investigations should investigate the use of other multi-user virtual environments and/or measure other dimensions of the ELL/NES interactions.

L’interaction comme méthode d’apprentissage du Français langue étrangère (FLE) en Suède

Mon travail s’inspire de l’idée de la Direction nationale de l’enseignement scolaire suédoise (Skolverket, 2011) qui suggère que « les élèves doivent avoir la possibilité de développer une capacité de communication et de compréhension de la langue ». Mon mémoire commence par une introduction générale, continue avec une analyse des manuels utilisés dans l’apprentissage du FLE et des activités favorisant l’interaction - échange réciproque verbale ou non verbale, pour terminer par une conclusion générale. Comme il n’existe pas d’enseignement sans méthodes appropriées, il existe des manuels qu’on peut utiliser afin de faciliter l’apprentissage par l’interaction de la langue cible. Les activités de communication orale et écrite d’ordre pédagogique sont indispensables. Tout comme l’écrit Revue française de pédagogie (1994 :133) « La classe est un système social complexe dont les parties sont en interaction dynamique, acteurs (enseignant et élève[s]), situation, matière selon des statuts sociaux. ». Pour effectuer mes recherches, j’ai porté mon attention sur l’analyse des manuels scolaires qu’il m’a été permis de consulter. Il s’agit des manuels d’entraide comme : Mais oui 3 et Escalade littéraire. Concernant l’analyse du matériel didactique favorisant l’interaction, ces deux manuels proposent des exercices de réflexion selon le niveau de l’apprenant. Dans mon travail, je m’intéresse à l’aspect didactique et linguistique de ces deux manuels scolaires.

Relatório no âmbito da unidade curricular prática de ensino supervisionada, realizada no Agrupamento de Escolas de Reguengos de Monsaraz

Este relatório surge no âmbito da unidade curricular Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, inserida no Mestrado em Ensino do Português no 3.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e Ensino Secundário e de Espanhol no Ensino Básico e Secundário, orientado pelo Professor Doutor Paulo Lampreia Costa. A nossa Prática de Ensino Supervisionada decorreu durante o ano letivo 2015-2016, no Agrupamento de Escolas de Reguengos de Monsaraz. Neste trabalho destacamos e refletimos sobre documentos e legislação fundamentais para a profissão docente, em Portugal. Relatamos as práticas operacionalizadas na planificação, condução de aulas e avaliação das aprendizagens, incidindo, sobretudo, em duas turmas, o 7.º E e o 11.º A/B, nas disciplinas de Português e Espanhol, respetivamente, e analisando-as criticamente. Descrevemos e comentamos a nossa participação na escola, relativamente à preparação e operacionalização de atividades extraletivas. Finalmente, refletimos sobre o nosso desenvolvimento profissional enquanto futuros professores; Abstract: Report within the scope of Supervised Teaching Practice curricular unit This report appears within the scope of Supervised Teaching Practice curricular unit, included in the Master’s Degree in Portuguese Language Teaching for the 3rd stage of Basic Education and Secondary Education and Spanish Language Teaching for Basic and Secondary Education, under the supervision of PhD Professor Paulo Lampreia Costa. Our Supervised Teaching Practice took place during the 2015-2016 school year, in the group of schools of Reguengos de Monsaraz. In this work we emphasize and reflect over fundamental documents and legislation that regulate the teaching activity in Portugal. We report our teaching activity practices which concerns planning, developing classroom activities, assessing learning, addressing, mainly, two classes, 7.th E and 11.th A/B, in Portuguese and Spanish as a Foreign Language II, respectively, and analyse them. We describe and comment our school participation, which concerns the planning and implementation of extra-curricular activities. Finally, we reflect over our professional development as future teachers.

Londres et les Britanniques dans l’ancienne grammaticographie du Portugais comme langue étrangère (XVIIe- XIXe siècles)

Observant le corpus des grammaires de portugais langue étrangère, depuis la deuxième moitié du XVIIe siècle, nous constatons que Londres a été une capitale éditoriale du monde grammatical portugais et les Britanniques (étudiants et commerçants) un public cible privilégié. L’œuvre A Portuguez Grammar : or, Rules shewing the True and Perfect way to learn the said language (1662) – la première publication grammaticale connue de portugais langue étrangère – a été publiée à Londres, lors du mariage royal de l’infante portugaise Catherine de Bragance et Charles II d’Angleterre, afin de servir, selon son auteur, le militaire français Monsieur de la Molière : “a deux sortes de personne en Angleterre, aux gens de commerce (…) & aux gens de Cour” (“to two sorts of Persons in England : to people of Traffique and Commerce (…) And to Persons of the Court”). La production et la circulation de grammaires de portugais comme langue étrangère écrites en anglais et publiées à Londres continuent pendant les XVIIIe et XIXe siècles ; ville où ont été commercialisées et exportées des œuvres grammaticales portugaises comme celles de J. Castro (1731), António Vieira (1786), Richard Woodhouse (1815), Luís Francisco Midosi (1832), Alfred Elwes (1876), Charles Henry Wall (1882). Notre propos dans cette étude est, d’abord, d’analyser ce mouvement grammatical luso-britannique, notamment un ensemble de grammaires de portugais produites dans l’espace anglophone. De plus, nous estimons contribuer à l’étude des anciennes grammaires de portugais comme langue étrangère dans le cadre de l’historiographie linguistique canonique, partant du fait que ces œuvres font partie de l’historie de la grammaire des vernaculaires européens.

Relatório no âmbito da unidade curricular prática de ensino supervisionada

Integrado na unidade curricular Prática de Ensino Supervisionada do Mestrado em Ensino de Português no 3.º ciclo do Ensino Básico e Ensino Secundário e de Espanhol nos Ensinos Básico e Secundário, este Relatório incide sobre os documentos legais e orientadores que envolvem e orientam a atividade docente e sobre a sua prática específica, considerando a planificação, a condução de aulas, bem como a avaliação de aprendizagens no âmbito do processo de ensino-aprendizagem do Espanhol como língua estrangeira. Assim, são duas as dimensões sobre as quais centramos este trabalho, uma teórica e outra prática, que relacionamos criticamente ao longo de todo o Relatório. A par destas dimensões, também o nosso percurso profissional é alvo de reflexão, procurando, a partir da mesma, perceber-se quais os desafios experienciados e as competências adquiridas, tendo sempre o aluno e as suas aprendizagens como destinatário e principal alvo das conclusões alcançadas; Abstract: Report within the course Supervised Teaching Practice Included in the course Supervised Teaching Practice of the Master Degree in Portuguese and Spanish Teaching in the middle and upper schools, this report focuses on the legal and guiding documents which involve and direct the teaching activity and on its specific practice, considering lesson planning, organization as well as learning assessment within the teaching-learning process of Spanish as a foreign language. Therefore, there are two aspects over which we focus this assignment, one theoretical and other practical, which we critically relate along all Report. Aside these two aspects, our professional development is also object of reflection, seeking, from that same reflection, to understand the challenges experienced and the skills acquired, having always the student and his learnings as the receiver and main target of the achieved conclusions.

BELIEFS ABOUT LEARNING ASSESSMENT: SAYING OF A SPANISH TEACHER OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL

The teachers' beliefs study has been a good resource for further reflection on the teaching practice. Beliefs, defined as constructions of reality, arise from the livings and experiences of teacher and encompass professional, personal, emotional and ideological aspects and influence on the practices in the classroom. Elucidating the teacher beliefs is a way of revealing what they think, how they feel and what are the limitations of these professionals. For this reason, considering the amount of value on the belief on the teacher's action and the importance (not always considered) of the evaluation of learning in the process of teaching, learning and evaluating, this work aims to present the beliefs about learning assessment of a Spanish teacher as a foreign language in a public school of Rio Grande do Sul. The results indicate that the beliefs of the teacher correspond to the contemporary theories of learning assessment and the guideline of the official documents for teaching languages.