Sources of self-efficacy beliefs of students in a technology-intensive asynchronous college algebra course

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of the four traditionally hypothesized sources of self-efficacy on learners' self-efficacy beliefs regarding learning mathematics in an asynchronous environment. The context of the study was a college algebra and trigonometry course offered in an asynchronous, technology-intensive emporium model at a large, public university in the southeastern United States. Participants (N = 99) completed surveys assessing their self-efficacy to learn mathematics in this environment as well as to assess their mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and physiological state. Regression analysis indicated that in this environment, the most important factors are vicarious experiences, followed by affective/physiological influences.     

大学生自主学习策略的调查与分析

采用＂自主学习策略量表＂、＂成就目标定向量表＂、＂学业自我效能感量表＂和＂大五人格量表＂对河南省三所本科院校在校生进行随机调查,结果表明,成就目标定向、学业自我效能感、大五人格与自主学习策略存在显著相关,学业自我效能感和成就目标定向是自主学习策略运用的有效预测指标,大五人格中的神经质因子对自主学习策略的运用有负向预测作用。了解大学生自主学习状况,可为高校教学工作的有效开展提供依据。     

Weak and strong novice readers of english as a foreign language: Effects of first language and socioeconomic status

This study examined individual differences among beginning readers of English as a foreign language (EFL). The study concentrated on the effects of underlying first language (L1) knowledge as well as EFL letter and vocabulary knowledge. Phonological and morphological awareness, spelling, vocabulary knowledge, and word reading in Hebrew L1, in addition to knowledge of EFL letters and EFL vocabulary, were measured. The study also investigated the effect of socioeconomic background (SES) on beginning EFL readers. Participants included 145 fourth graders from three schools representing two socioeconomic backgrounds in the north of Israel. The results indicate that knowledge of English letters played a more prominent role than knowledge of Hebrew L1 components in differentiating between strong and weak EFL readers. The Linguistic Coding Differences Hypothesis was supported by L1 phonological awareness, word reading, and vocabulary knowledge appearing as part of discriminating functions. The presence of English vocabulary knowledge as part of the discriminant functions provides support for English word reading being more than just a decoding task for EFL beginner readers. Socioeconomic status differentiated the groups for EFL word recognition but not for EFL reading comprehension.     

The mainstream primary classroom as a language-learning environment for children with severe and persistent language impairment – implications of recent language intervention research

Many UK children with severe and persistent language impairment (SLI) attend local mainstream schools. Although this should provide an excellent language-learning environment, opportunities may be limited by difficulties in sustaining time-consuming, child-specific learning activities; restricted co-professional working, and the complex classroom environment.
Two language intervention studies in mainstream Scottish primary schools showed children with SLI receiving intervention from speech and language therapists (SLTs) or their assistants made more progress in expressive language than similar children receiving intervention from education staff. Potential reasons for this difference are sought in the amount of tailored language-learning activity undertaken; how actively school staff initiated contact with SLTs; and the language demands of the classroom. Tailored language learning appears to be a differentiating factor.
A language support model, reflecting views of teachers and SLTs about encouraging language development for children with SLI within the ecology of the mainstream primary classroom, is also outlined.     

Intercultural learning in English as foreign language instruction: The importance of teachers’ intercultural experience and the usefulness of precise instructional directives

The development of intercultural competence, especially in foreign language instruction, is considered a key goal of teaching in German schools. The present article sheds light on the teaching of intercultural topics in the context of English as a foreign language (EFL). It presents the results of an analysis of data from a larger study (DESI study – Assessment of Student Achievements in German and English as a Foreign Language) bringing the intercultural experience of teachers and observable aspects of instruction into focus. Videotapes of EFL-classroom instruction of 9th and 10th grade students are analyzed in order to assess characteristic of the implementation of intercultural topics. The study reveals the impact of teachers’ intercultural experience on the quality of their intercultural instruction. Furthermore, the results indicate that precise external directives for particular lessons can help teachers put intercultural topics into practice.     

探究小语种在高校大学生中的普及情况以及求职中的优势——以德语为例

以珠三角高校学生为研究对象,调查并分析所在高校的非英语语种的专业开设及教学情况,以德语为例,探究其教学现状及问题,并提出合理的对策。     

师范英语本科生专业知识与技能培养标准研究

师范英语本科生是未来的英语教师,多数学生将成为中小学英语教师的中坚力量。随着中学英语新课程的深入实施和高考英语改革的逐步推进,师范英语本科生的英语专业知识和技能应该达到一个基本标准,以适应新课程的教学。文章主要讨论师范英语本科生的英语专业知识和技能培养的现状——缺乏标准,提出了师范英语本科生英语专业知识和技能培养的目标——建立标准,培养建议——达成标准。在此基础上,文章最后讨论了对＂对外汉语教学＂的几点启示。     

高职高专外语电化教学初探

随着我国高等学校大学英语教学改革的深化,借助源于西方“建构主义理论”(Constructivetheory)的教育心理学理论基础,外语电化教学成为大学英语教学改革的重要手段。本文中,笔者一改常态,不是去重复一个恒久不变的话题外语电化教学在大学英语教学改革中的重要意义和作用,而是就外语电化教学在大学英语教学特别是在高职高专大学英语教学改革中值得我们去冷静的思考的问题提出了本人的浅见,望各位同仁评正。     

做好第二次突破的奠基工作--评介《21世纪大学生毕业论文写作要义》

《21世纪大学生毕业论文写作要义》一书,具有三个特点:全方位、多角度立体化;针对性强、可操作性强;学术性、可读性统一,实用性强。它为即将毕业的大学生和工作岗位上的专业技术人员撰写学术论文提供了指导和帮助。     

从阐释翻译理论谈译者主体性及文学理论在文学翻译中的作用

斯坦纳阐释翻译理论的四个步骤即信赖、侵入、吸纳、补偿凸显了译者的主体性。在翻译文学作品的时候,译者的主体性比在翻译其他体裁的文本时表现得更为明显。然而,译者主体性是否能够发挥到最佳状态受诸多因素的影响,其中一个很重要的因素是译者是否具备足够的文学理论知识。本文首先阐述了译者主体性在翻译过程中的体现,并以此为基础进一步探讨了在文学翻译活动中文学理论知识对译者合理发挥其主体性所起的作用。     

‘Why did I do nothing?’ Poetry and the experiences of bilingual pupils in a mainstream inner‐city secondary school

This paper investigates the opportunities for bilingual children to explore and construct literacy practices in an inner‐city secondary school and the relationship of bilingual writers/readers to texts. It seeks to increase our understanding and awareness of bilingual learners from different social, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This case study focuses on ‘poetry and the bilingual child’ and examines the language development of two refugee children who came from Afghanistan and Somalia with their families three years ago.     

The role of the Connexions service in supporting the transition from school to post-16 education, employment training and work for young people with a history of specific speech and language difficulties or learning difficulties

The transition from school to the world of post-compulsory education is a major landmark in the lives of young people with special educational needs (SEN). In England the Connexions service set up to support young people during transition was planned to provide both a universal service and one that provided special support to vulnerable young people, particularly those at risk of not being in education, employment or training (NEET). The present paper reports the findings of a study of 46 Connexions personal advisers (PAs) who were supporting young people with specific speech and language difficulties (SSLD) or general learning difficulties, as part of a longitudinal study of these young people's development. Interviews were held with the PAs to identify patterns of organisation, the nature of services delivered to these young people and the factors that influenced successful support. The findings highlight the diversity among Connexions services, the limited expertise with young people with SEN and the structural barriers that may limit effectiveness. In addition, the Assessment, Planning, Implementation and Review Framework was not consistently used. The Connexions service has the potential to provide important support to young people with SEN at this key transition point but our study indicates the need for modifications to its operation.     

成人高校向普通高校转轨时期的学情分析及对策研究(二)——以新疆教育学院的转型为个案分析

在新的教育形势下,全日制成人高等院校面临着调整与转型。为了把握普高生与成人脱产生的差异,本文以新疆教育学院为个案,对普高生与成人脱产生在学习方法、学习过程、考试心态等方面的差异进行了调查与分析,并提出相应对策,以期为提高普高生的教学质量提供参考。     

Learning for an unknown context: a comparative case study on some Swedish and Polish Political Science students' experiences of the transition from university to working life

This comparative small‐scale (Swedish and Polish sample) longitudinal qualitative study investigates political science students' conceptions of their studies, their future profession and their workplace learning. The students (10 in Sweden and 11 in Poland) were interviewed twice, first when they were at the end of their studies and a second time when they had worked for approximately one year. The questions asked were designed to try to understand the transition from higher education to work life. The results indicate that they bring with them a set of academic generic skills from their education when they enter working life. Furthermore, the students in the two countries have very different perceptions of the subject Political Science, and the expectations they have regarding their studies and future working life also differ considerably.     

‘Building brighter futures for all our children’– a new focus on families as partners and change agents in the care and development of children with disabilities or special educational needs

This paper looks at recent trends in Government policy and practice around supporting and involving parents of children with disabilities and special educational needs (SEN) in their care, development and education. In particular, the paper examines the opportunities offered in the Children's Plan ( DCSF, 2007 ) and Aiming High ( HM Treasury/DfES, 2007 ), and the strong emphasis on earlier intervention and a range of new services to facilitate better partnership with parents (including those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds). Note: In using the term ‘disabled children’, the author is using the broad definition of disability within the Disability Discrimination Acts (DDA) 1995 and 2005. The DDA definition includes the majority of children with identified and significant levels of SEN.