A case study on mathematics anxiety for mathematics of finance course

The DIIA （Diploma in Investment Analysis） students from the FBM （Faculty of Business Management） were required to undertake several MOF （Mathematic of Finance） courses. The passing rates for all of the MOF courses were good except for one course. There are many factors for this low passing rate phenomenon for this particular MOF course. One of the factors is mathematics anxiety as suggested by Richardson in 1971. As a result, this paper is carried out in order to measure the undergraduates＇ level of mathematics anxiety in general and between genders in this one particular course. The outcome is expected to fill in the gap as study of anxiety in MOF is still lacking. A 30-item MARS （Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale） is adapted and used in this study, because this course is predominant by complex computations. The Ss （samples） of the study are 119 students who undertook this MOF course during the study semester of December 2008 to April 2009 in UiTM （Universiti Teknologi MARA）. It is expected that the findings will show that the Ss have a considerably high mean for mathematics anxiety; and female students have a higher mean of mathematics anxiety as compared to their male counterparts. The study confirms the expectation of the researchers. In terms of the final and overall results, it was expected that the passing percentage be dominated by the male students. However, at the end of the study, the overall performance of the female students was much better compared to their male counterparts.     

The effect of information mapping strategy on mathematics conceptual knowledge of junior high school students

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of information mapping strategy on mathematics conceptual knowledge of junior high school students in Rokan Hulu Riau, Indonesia. The study also examined the relationship between mathematics conceptual knowledge and mathematics achievement. Using a quasi-experimental method, the study was carried out on 132 students from one junior high school in Rokan Hulu Riau, Indonesia. It was completed in 6 weeks. Instruments used in this study were mathematics conceptual knowledge test and mathematics achievement test. The results of this study indicated that there were significant differences in mathematics conceptual knowledge between the information mapping strategy group and the traditional group. It was concluded that using information mapping strategy may impact students＇ conceptual knowledge. There was a relationships between mathematics conceptual knowledge and mathematics achievement.     

Same vague expression, different conceptualizations

The study was to investigate the vague words measurement across native and non-native English speakers and gender differences. Ninety-two students from the University of Oklahoma participated in this study by filling out an internet-based questionnaire on the vague words. The researchers put each of the thirty-two vague words in a context, or the same word put into different contexts. The participants were asked to rate the degree or the numerical value that they thought was the most appropriate in the context of the vague word. It was found that ten out of the thirty-two words had a significant difference across the native and non-native English speakers, and two of thirty-two words had a significant difference across genders. The word ＂fairly＂ showed the most significant difference interactions of language speaking by gender.     

A Comment on Two Chinese Versions Of little Women

The differences between English and Chinese in terms of the adoption of subject,voice,and stative & dynamic styles are shown in this paper through a contrastive study between the two Chinese versions of Little Women.The discussion aims to deepen our understanding of the differences between the two languages so as to facilitate the formation of a creative method for English teaching and help students solve problems they encounter in the process of second language acquisition.     

Using Coh-Metrix to Automatically Access Discourse Coherence in EFL Learners’Writing:A Quantitative Analysis

The purpose of the present study was to use Coh-Metrix,a computational tool,to examine the relationship between discourse coherence and writing level,and analyze the coherence of high level writing and low level writing.The study uses 5 Coh-Metrix variables to analyze 40 college students’timed compositions from Chinese Learners English of Corpus(CLEC) and their corresponding readability scores.The study demonstrates that Coh-Metrix variables,number of words,words per sentences,the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level,LSA sentence all,and argument overlap can contribute to text coherence.Findings of the study indicate:there is a relationship between discourse coherence and writing level,but there is no significant difference between high level group and low level group in discourse coherence(p=.409>.05),and writing level can not distinguish discourse coherence in EFL learners’writing.     

A social distance study of American participants in a China study abroad program

As the world becomes increasingly interdependent, mutual understanding becomes increasingly important. Therefore, it is essential that people strive for reductions in social distance on an international level. Study abroad is one of the ways to approach internationalization and promote understanding among different peoples and cultures. The research reported in this paper empirically explored the efficacy of a China study abroad program for reducing the degree of social distance between a group of American undergraduate students and the Chinese people in China.     

University teachers＇ approaches to teaching and their pedagogical use of ICTs： A comparative case study of Finland,Japan and India

The purpose of this study was to explore what salient characteristics can be found in some university teachers＇ approaches to teaching in Finland, Japan and India, and in what ways university teachers in Finland, India and Japan use ICTs （information and communication technologies） in their own teaching. Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate what ICT applications these same teachers use in their teaching. The data were collected via an electronic survey and interviews. The participants （N=21） were university teachers from Finland （N=8）, Japan （N=I0） and India （N=3）. Their approaches to teaching were explored by applying the ATI （approaches to teaching inventory） and its modified version focusing on the use of ICTs in teaching. The study reported in this paper was a pilot study, thus the results are based on the limited number of respondents. The ATI and ATI ICT subscales and ICT inventory applied in this study have been confirmed to be valid. The university teachers in Japan and Finland differed in their approaches to teaching： The Finnish teachers scored higher on the CCSF （conceptual change orientated, student-focused） approach to teaching than the Japanese teachers, while the Japanese teachers scored higher on the ITTF （information transmitting, teacher-focused） approach to teaching. Two Indian teachers were classified as having a teacher-focused approach to teaching, while the third was classified as having a student-focused approach to teaching. The teachers＇ differences in their use of ICTs related more to their disciplinary status than to their cultural background.     

Rites of passage： A comparison of US,Malaysian and Brazilian adolescents

This study compares the life events perceived as ＂rites of passage＂ from adolescence to adulthood by respondents between the ages of 14 and 23 in 3 countries and discusses the possible influences of culture and globalization on these perceptions. Participants include： （1） 250 adolescents from the US （125 males and 125 females）; （2） 191 adolescents from southeastern Brazil （70 males and 121 females）; and （3） 163 adolescents from Malaysia （76 males and 87 females）. These adolescents ranked a variety of life events which may be perceived as indicative of adult status by completing a questionnaire about perceived rites of passage. Although there were similarities among the 3 groups, several differences also emerged. The most commonly noted indicator of adult status for Malaysian youth was physical maturity, followed by completing one＇s education. Participants from the US cited financial independence as the major indicator of adult status, while those from Brazil cited the ability to make important decisions independently from family and to take responsibility for others, such as children, aging parents or a spouse. Brazilian youth were significantly more likely to cite a love affair and voting in major elections as rites of passage than were participants from the other 2 countries. Participants from the US were significantly more likely to cite military service, and Malaysian youth were significantly more likely to consider completion of education and achieving physical maturity as rites of passage. Gender and age differences within groups were evident on some items, but these were not consistent across groups. Possible explanations for the differences between countries and implications for educators working with adolescents in rapidly changing societies are discussed.     

The effective teaching of comparing Orff music method with traditional music approach for music reading and melodic patterns singing for 3rd grade elementary students in Taiwan

The Orff music method has been internationally practiced and recognized as one of the leading music methods in the past fifty years. The success of this approach is that this method encourages all students participating in the designed music activities in the music class to interact with the teacher and other classmates using the Orff approach rather than the traditional one-way music learning approach in the traditional music classroom in Asia. While the children are situated within an environment where music activities and bodily movements are stimulated, the children＇s aesthetic music knowledge can be influenced significantly （Carlson, 1990）. In this study, there were a total number of 180 3rd graders from three elementary schools in Taiwan who participated in this research. The control group which consisted of three classes with a total number of 90 students was the class using the traditional music method taught by a regular classroom teacher, while the experimental group, which consisted of another three classes with a total number of 90 students, was the class taught using the Orff music method by the researcher. The study was controlled in the sense that the six music classes were ascertained to be of equal ability in their understanding of music before the experimental factor was applied. As well, there were no significant differences in age or mental capacity, while the difference in genders was only minimal. The results of this research revealed that not only did the students who had the Orff music method training perform better than the traditional music method on both melodic patterns dictation and music reading tests, but the Orff training also helped the experimental students to have a solid understanding of rhythmic structures and basic music knowledge.     

The effect of interpersonal relationships on psychosomatic symptoms： Moderating role of gender

The purposes of this study were twofold： （1） to verify whether or not gender and interpersonal relationships influence the variance of psychosomatic symptoms in Taiwanese adolescents; and （2） to examine the moderating role of gender between interpersonal relationships and psychosomatic symptoms in Taiwanese adolescents. The present study adopted data from the Taiwan Education Panel Survey （TEPS） using a stratified-random methodology. Results indicated that： （1） gender accounts for a significant amount of variance of psychosomatic symptoms; （2） interpersonal relationships account for a significant amount of variance in psychosomatic symptoms over and above gender; and （3） gender moderates the associations of mother-adolescent and teacher-student relationships and psychosomatic symptoms, whereas it does not moderate the associations between father-adolescent, sibling, or peer relationships or psychosomatic symptoms.     

A genetic diversity comparison between captive individuals and wild individuals of Elliot＇s Pheasant （Syrmaticus ellioti） using mitochondrial DNA

Maintaining genetic diversity is a major issue in conservation biology. In this study, we demonstrate the differences of genetic diversity levels between wild and captive individuals of Elliot‘s Pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti. Wild individuals showed a higher genetic diversity level than that of the captive individuals. Nucleotide diversity and haplotype diversity of wild individuals were 0.00628 and 0.993, while those of captive individuals were 0.00150 and 0.584 respectively. Only 3 haplotypes of mtDNA control region sequence were identified among 36 captive individuals, while 16 unique haplotypes were identified among the 17 wild individuals in this study. One captive haplotype was shared by a wild individual from Anhui Province. It is concluded that a low number of founders was the likely reason for the lower level genetic diversity of the captive group. Careful genetic management is suggested for captive populations, particularly of such an endangered species, to maintain genetic variability levels.     

An Investigation of Non-Thesis Master＇s Program Geography Teacher Candidates＇ Attitudes Towards Teaching Profession Regarding Several Socio-Cultural Features

The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes of non-thesis master＇s degree program： geography teacher candidates towards teaching profession regarding several socio-cultural features. The study was conducted in different universities with 218 geography teacher candidates enrolled in the geography education non-thesis master＇s degree program. The study was made by survey model. Data were collected by the ＂Attitude Scales Towards Teaching Profession＂ developed by ~etin （2006） and ＂Personal Information Form＂ developed by the authors. Data were analyzed by t-test, ANOVA （the one-way analysis of variance） （F） and LSD （least significant difference） techniques. The results are given as follows： （1） The average of candidates＇ attitude grades are in favor of female candidates; （2） There is no difference between whether candidates work at a job; （3） According to variables of the types of high school graduated, educational level of the parents, occupations, income level and living place, there is no difference in candidates＇ attitudes scores; and （4） Candidates＇ enrolled in the geography education non-thesis master＇s degree program reason of preference influence on attitudes to teaching profession.     

Teachers＇ Opinion Concerning Common Exams Administered in Elementary Schools

The common exams that have been administered in elementary school since 2007-2008 academic year are inter-classes mid-term evaluations. With these exams, measuring the teachers＇ performance as well as revealing the differences among the classes are aimed at. Therefore, evaluating these exams in terms of teachers＇ opinions is essentially important to realize the aim mentioned above. This study aims to get the teachers＇ considerations on common exams, if any, to determine the problems and their solutions related with common exams. Case study, one of the qualitative research methods, has been used in this research. The research group is consisted of 60 teachers working in a variety of elementary schools in Ankara province in 2009-2010 academic year. The interview form, prepared by the researcher, was administered to elementary school teachers in research group. The interview form was structured to explore teachers＇ views on common exams by using five questions. The content analysis was used in order to analyze, sort and quantify the written and verbal data. At the end of the study, it is stated that according to the teachers, the purpose of the common exams is to state the level of classes and the cooperation between classes and to determine whether the objectives of the courses has been achieved. It is concluded difficulties in giving lectures synchronously in school, non-existence of cooperation between teachers and having difficulties during the preparation of the exam questions are the main problems, which teachers faced with. Teachers participated in the interviews emphasized the advantages of the common exams rather than disadvantages of it.     

Exploring ICT Use and TPACK of Secondary Science Teachers in Two Contexts

The aims of the study were to census and compare the technological pedagogical and content knowledge （TPACK） of secondary science teachers and their most used information and communication technology （ICT） in two contexts, Taiwan and Shaanxi Province in China. A questionnaire was employed to examine secondary school science teachers＇ most used ICT and their TPACK in science teaching. Eight hundred and six secondary science teachers from Taiwan and 164 teachers from Shaanxi participated in the study. The analytical results showed that multimedia was the most used ICT in Taiwan, followed by PowerPoint （PPT）, Internet platforms, and interactive whiteboards （IWBs）. In Shaanxi, PPT was the most used ICT reported by science teachers, followed by multimedia, IWBs, and Intemet platforms. The findings indicated that in Taiwan, science teachers＇ TPACK was statistically significant in relation to different types of ICT, whereas in Shaanxi, science teachers＇ TPACK did not demonstrate significant difference. In Taiwan, science teachers who reported their most used ICT to be multimedia were found to show significant differences in TPACK according to gender and teaching experience. In Shaanxi, science teachers who reported their most used ICT to be PPT did not show any significant difference on TPACK by gender; however, they showed significant differences on TPACK in regard to teaching experience. The research implications of this study are provided below along with suggestions for future research.     

Linguistic Differences in Female and Male’s Speech

For years,there has been a considerable interest in linguistic differentiation associated with the speaker’s gender.Based on the researches and investigations of many linguists,this paper examines the linguistic gender differences from the following respects:gender difference in phonology,gender difference in lexicon,gender difference in syntax and gender differences in pragmatics.The awareness of these linguistic differences between different genders can facilitate people’s communication in their daily lives.     

Gender Differences in Communication among Undergraduates Students

With the development of intercultural communication,researchers not merely pay attention to dominant culture study but also focus on sub-culture and related culture,which exist in the same dominant culture.As a result,gender differences in communication have become a sub-field of the study of language and society.This paper investigates gender differences in communication among undergraduate students.The result of the study can help us to understand the miscommunication between male and female undergraduates and make a reference to effective class communication.     

A Brief Analysis on the Relationship between Context and Translation

The relationship between context and translation is among the basic fields of pragmatic research and an insight into the nature may contribute to a better understanding of language use. In this article, the writer will examine the impact of context on the field of translation. The three major contexts will be identified in order to contribute to the differences in translation. In this way, we obtain insight into the particular relationship between context and translation, and have a better understanding of language use. The purpose f this paper intends to make a brief analysis on the functions of context to the language and its influence in pragmatic translation.     

浅析中英问候语文化差异(英文)

Daily Greetings may be the commonest expressions between people.Recently,a lot of scholars have begun to analyze the differences in greetings between English and Chinese.But they seldom explore the cultural factors that influence the differences in greetings.From the cultural points of view,this paper had made a comparative study of greetings in English and Chinese.Discussion focuses on the differences and similarities existing in greetings of the two languages and the culture factors that influence the differences.     

Exploration of the learning expectations related to grades 1-8 algebra in some countries

This study analyzes the learning expectations related to grades 1-8 algebra across several U.S. states and high performing TIMSS Asian countries and regions, including Singapore, Taiwan and Japan. In order to narrow and focus the investigation, only one topic within the strand is carefully reported. Based on the official curriculum documents, results of this study indicate that the mathematics content, grade placement and cognitive level of learning expectations related to selected topic vary markedly across documents. Thus, these differences in learning expectations result in striking differences in students＇ opportunity to learn.