Exploring student hand-raising across two school subjects using mixed methods: An investigation of an everyday classroom behavior from a motivational perspective

Student hand-raising is an everyday behavior in classroom interactions with teachers. This research presents two studies that examine the variance in hand-raising and its relation to student motivation in two school subjects, Mathematics and Language Arts. Student hand-raising is introduced as an indicator of behavioral engagement. Study 1 investigated N = 397 high school students in 20 classrooms during a videotaped lesson in each subject. Multilevel regression analysis suggests that student motivation accounts for significant variance in hand-raising. The results show subject-specific differences: Student self-concept predicts hand-raising in Mathematics, while students' situational interest predicts their hand-raising in Language Arts. Students’ externally regulated motivation is predictive across both subjects. In Study 2, N = 14 high school students were interviewed about their hand-raising behavior. The results validate and extend the findings from Study 1. Finally, this research emphasizes the importance of fostering student hand-raising and discusses the implications for future research.     

Investigation of a Nonparametric Procedure for Assessing Goodness-of-Fit in Item Response Theory

There have been many studies of the comparability of computer-administered and paper-administered tests. Not surprisingly (given the variety of measurement and statistical sampling issues that can affect any one study) the results of such studies have not always been consistent. Moreover, the quality of computer-based test administration systems has changed considerably over recent years, as has the computer-experience of students. This study synthesizes the results of 81 studies performed between 1997 and 2007. The estimated effect size across all studies was very small (–.01 weighted, .00 unweighted). Meta-analytic methods were used to ascertain whether grade (elementary, middle, or high school) or subject (English Language Arts, Mathematics, Reading, Science, or Social Studies) had an impact on comparability. Grade appeared to have no affect on comparability. Subject did appear to affect comparability, with computer administration appearing to provide a small advantage for English Language Arts and Social Studies test (effect sizes of .11 and .15, respectively), and paper administration appearing to provide a small advantage for Mathematics tests (effect size of??.06).     

从汉语国际推广到国际汉语教育——21世纪国际汉语教育研究述评

文章对＂对外汉语教学＂、＂汉语国际推广＂及＂国际汉语教育＂之间的关系进行了剖析,认为今后在国际汉语教育研究中,应该结合具体的问题,运用文献研究法、定量分析法、定性分析法、描述分析法、实证分析法、功能分析法,观察法以及个案研究法对进行研究。而在研究内容上,则可以着重研究下列问题：国际汉语教育学科体系构建、教学模式、语言交际能力、海外国际汉语教育、现代教育技术与国际汉语教育结合,以及专门用途汉语的研究。     

论语言科学与语言技术的新思维

当代语言学已经凸显“语言科学”与“语言技术”的二分互补格局，语言技术包括语言本处理技术和语言系统模拟技术。计算语言学是利用计算机作为语言研究工具和探索语言的可计算性问题，同时建构基于计算机科学等相关学科基础之上的语言理论的新学科。面向语言系统模拟的计算语言学研究可比喻为“电脑模拟语言能力工程”或“语言能力移植电脑工程”。第五代计算机研制的搁浅表明，建立在“人一人对话”行为基础上的语形语法学难以完成这一任务。人类语言的本质共性是语义性，语言能力移植电脑工程的基础研究是语义结构网络研究，这一研究可比喻为“语言基因图谱分析工程”。研究对象的语义性转移和研究成果的技术性趋势将成为21世纪的语言学精神。     

二语课堂教学中和谐学习环境的构建

本文在第二语言习得理论中有关动机和课堂气氛等理论的指导下,对大学英语课堂中英语教学进行观察、调查和研究,通过面向学生和老师的问卷,指出了二语课堂上经常出现的一些问题以及教师经常使用的一些解决此类问题的办法,同时针对这些问题提供更多的有效地解决方案,为在二语教学课堂上如何创造让学生自主学习的和谐环境提供了可行方案。     

Assessment of Language Skills in Young Children with Profound Hearing Loss under Two Years of Age

This article presents an initial evaluation of a technique known as the Diary of Early Language (Di-EL), designed to obtain data about early lexical development in young children with profound hearing loss using cochlear implants, hearing aids, or both. The validity of the Di-EL, a parent report technique, was examined through comparisons with other measures of language development. Lexical data reported by parents using the Di-EL was found to agree with that reported by the same parents for the same children using the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (CDI), although some differences in the lexical items were noted. Rate of lexical acquisition on the Di-EL was found to correlate highly with that measured by the CDI and with expressive language skills as measured by the Rossetti Infant Toddler Language Scale, suggesting that the Di-EL is a valid measure of early lexical progress. These results are discussed with reference to other diary studies, along with research and clinical applications of the Di-EL.     

How pre-service teachers construct Quad Text Sets for use in secondary classrooms

As a multi-disciplinary team of teacher educators (in English Language Arts, English as a Second Language/Foreign Language, science, and social studies), we consider how secondary pre-service teachers (PSTs) perceive content-area literacy integration through practitioner-research study of how PSTs constructed Quad Text Sets (QTS). Results indicated that PSTs envisioned QTS as a means to teach content-specific background knowledge, and to a lesser extent content-specific literacy and general literacy. Despite positive perceptions of QTS, some PSTs, particularly science PSTS, struggled to recognize literacy’s role in content-area classrooms. We explore how teacher educators can help PSTs incorporate literacy strategies into secondary classrooms.     

论英语习语中的英美文化内涵——以体育和娱乐为视角

语言是人类用来交际的工具,语言与文化是不可分割的。语言中的词汇受文化的影响最大,而习语是词汇的重要组成部分,它能清楚地反映民族文化的特色。试以体育和娱乐为视角,探讨英语习语中的英美文化内涵。     

《第二语言句子加工》述评

本文评介了 Alan Juffs和G. Rodriguez合著的《第二语言句子加工》。文章首先指明该书对于二语研究领域的意义及其适用对象,然后对本书的主要内容和结构进行了介绍,尤其注重介绍争议问题和实验,最后结合国内研究现状进行了评论。该书对二语加工的主要理论和研究方法作了全面、清晰的介绍,为二语习得研究者提供了参考。     

Best practices in L2 English source use pedagogy: A thematic review and synthesis of empirical studies

There is an urgency to improve source use among non-native speakers of English in the globalized era. This review examines problems and causes of second language (L2) English source misuse in the English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) environments, and proposes remedies for the problems. Thematic analysis resulted in issues related to L2 English misuse under the categories of (a) source use norms, (b) source use acquisition, and (c) ethical practice in L2 academic writing from 53 empirical studies. Furthermore, nine recommendations for L2 English source use pedagogy were derived to (a) ensure transparency in definitions, guidelines, and expectations, (b) build source use knowledge, and (c) engage L2 English writers in continuous practice and autonomous development of plagiarism avoidance. Finally, the authors provide an inter-relational network among the nine themes as well as suggestions for enhancing L2 source use policies and education among institutions and practitioners aiming to improve source use for L2 English writers.     

Predictors of first year retention rates at the university of the West Indies,Jamaica

This study examines first year retention rates of First degree entrants in the academic year 2014-15. Level of academic preparation was operationalized as pass/failure on the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) and matriculation status (normal/lower entry). Variables that were strong predictors of retention were scholarship status and matriculation status. Residential status proved to be statistically significant, while sex, total courses passed in high school, and English Language Proficiency status were statistically non-significant. Future studies need to examine retention of non-traditional students and predictor variables reflective of attribution theory and locus of control.     

A Review of Contents and Methods of Cultural Teaching Research in China

Language is the carrier of culture as well as the main forms of culture.Language can not be separated from culture while culture depends on language.English teaching is the language teaching.It,of course,includes cultural teaching.In recent twenty years,Chinese scholars have made a lot studies about cultural teaching,which mainly involves in the content of cultural teaching and the methods of culture teaching.This paper centres on these two subjects,collects all articles about them written by Chinese researcher from important English journals as well as monographs,and makes a review of them so as to get a clear picture about the focus as well as the shortcomings of these studies.This provides a backcloth for future researchers.     

Teaching sign language to hearing children as a possible factor in cognitive enhancement

We describe an educational experience designed to teach Italian Sign Language (LIS) to a group of hearing children. The hypothesis underlying this experience was that learning a visual-gestural language such as LIS may improve children's attentional abilities, visual discrimination, and spatial memory. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted two studies. The first involved an educational experience lasting two years with a group of hearing children attending a Sign Language class from first to second grade. The Raven PM 47 TEST was administered at the beginning and at the end of each school year to children attending the LIS classes and to a control group of children enrolled in the same school but not exposed to LIS. The second study involved an educational experience in first grade. The Raven PM 47 and Corsi's block tapping tests were administered at the beginning and at the end of the school year to the children attending the LIS classes, to children enrolled in the same school but at tending an English class, and to children not exposed to a second language. We found that in both studies the LIS group performed better than the other groups. These results suggest that learning a sign language may lead to a cognitive advancement in hearing children.     

浅论成人在二语习得中的母语负迁移现象

母语迁移对二语或外语学习的影响历来是语言学家们研究的重点,也是引起争论的焦点之一。我国成人在学习二语时经常出现的错误大都源于母语的负迁移作用。拟从语音、词汇、句法、语用等四个层面出发,以英语学习为例,通过比照汉语和英语的不同语言特性,分析由此引起的母语对成人二语习得过程中的负迁移作用,并提出相应的策略以促进第二语言的学习。     

The Language Proficiency Profile-2: Assessment of the Global Communication Skills of Deaf Children Across Languages and Modalities of Expression

Data are presented from two studies that investigate the developmental trends and concurrent validity of a measure of language and communication skills for deaf children, the Language Proficiency Profile-2 (LPP-2), developed by Bebko and McKinnon (1993). The LPP-2 was designed to evaluate the overall linguistic/communicative skills of deaf children, independent of any specific language or modality of expression. It focuses on the totality of the children's communication skills. Experiment 1 investigated developmental trends of the LPP-2 for both deaf and hearing children, studying a combined sample of deaf and hearing children from the United States and Canada. Experiment 2 investigated the relationship between the LPP-2 and two commonly used measures to assess deaf children on language development (Preschool Language Scale-3) and early reading skills (Test of Early Reading Ability-Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing). Results from the two studies indicate that the LPP-2 has good utility not only as a measure of overall language development but also as a predictor of achievement for English language and early reading skills.     

汉语字词与男尊女卑

语言是一种制度文化 ,是一种记录文化的符号系统 ,语言与文化相互影响 ,相互制约。文章从汉字的构造与释义 ,词句的排序与组合 ,生育、姓名与称呼等三方面论证了汉语字词中蕴涵的男尊女卑的封建礼教意识     

远程英语学习焦虑与对策

焦虑作为影响外语学习的主要情感因素之一,三十年来一直是研究的热点。然而,相关研究基本上是以常规外语学习者作为对象,而对远程外语学习焦虑的研究则凤毛麟角。本文是远程英语学习的情感因素的部分研究成果。本研究采用问卷调查和访谈相结合的方法,旨在了解电大英语专业学生的学习焦虑,包括影响学习动力的因素、学生的自我效能感、学习焦虑的具体表现以及学生应对焦虑的做法,并讨论了研究结果对进一步提高电大远程英语教学质量的启示。研究发现,有近一半的学生在电大学习期间由于课程学习任务重、考试难度大、不适应远程学习教材的编写形式和教师方面的原因而学习动力下降,学习效能感普遍较低,尤其是在元认知技能方面。他们的主要焦虑表现集中在与词汇、语法和文体/体裁方面相关的产出性技能上。学生能通过多种途径应对学习焦虑,但是他们似乎更加偏爱自我求助,不喜欢求助他人。本文还从办学机构、教师和学生的角度探讨了如何有效控制或消除学生的学习焦虑的初步设想。     

课堂互动理论与ESL学习关系浅析

本文探讨了课堂互动与英语作为二语(ESL)学习的关系，介绍了国外对课堂互动研究的成果以及实施课堂互动的任务型教学的成效，指出了课堂互动教学实施的条件极其局限、以及具体实施的困难。     

语境在语用学研究中的作用

本文以英语为例,从语言运用学的角度探讨了语境在语言运用中的作用。     

高职院校理工类学生语言焦虑现状的实证研究

本文以某高职院校两种理工类专业学生为研究对象,利用Horwitz et al（1986）的外语课堂学习焦虑度测量表（FLCAS）,深入研究高职学生外语学习焦虑情况。研究表明,高职理工类学生的焦虑度偏低,英语课堂学习焦虑与专业有统计意义上的显著性差异。