Taiwan college students' self-efficacy and motivation of learning in online peer assessment environments

Online peer assessment is an innovative evaluation method that has caught both educators' and practitioners' attention in recent years. The purpose of this study was to develop relevant questionnaires for teachers to understand student self-efficacy and motivation in online peer assessment learning environments. A total of 205 college students with experience in online peer assessment participated in this study. Two questionnaires measuring students' online peer assessment self-efficacy (OPASS) and their motivations in online peer assessment learning environments (MOPAS) were developed. The former included three self-efficacy scales: evaluating, receiving and reacting. The latter included two scales: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Through factor analysis, both revealed highly satisfactory validity and reliability in assessing students' self-efficacy and motivation in online peer assessment learning environments. Moreover, the students' responses also showed that they were highly confident and strongly intrinsically motivated when participating in an online peer assessment learning environment. Finally, the interplay between the scales of OPASS and those of MOPAS was explored and the reciprocal relationship between students' self-efficacy and motivation in an online peer assessment learning environment was also highlighted.     

Reading motivation in two languages: an examination of EFL college students in Korea

This study was designed to identify underlying factors that motivate language learners to read in a foreign language (L2) context. It also examined the relationships between L1 and L2 reading motivation and any differences in reading motivation based on the learners?? academic majors and L2 reading proficiency. 259 Korean EFL college students participated in this study. Participants?? L1 and L2 reading motivation was measured using a Likert scale questionnaire and their L2 proficiency was estimated by test scores in their reading classes. This study yielded a four-factor solution for L2 reading motivation: learning goal-oriented motivation, intrinsic motivation, avoidance of reading, and utility value of L2 reading. The results indicated that learning goal-oriented motivation and utility value of L2 reading were the two primary indicators for the participants?? desire to read in English. The study also demonstrated that the factor-based L2 reading motivation scales correlated with some of the L1 reading motivation scales in the relatively low range but statements about the connection or transfer issue of reading motivation between the two languages must be tentative. All L2 reading motivation scales revealed significant differences between English and non-English majors except in utility value of L2 reading. Furthermore intrinsic and avoidance scales also differed significantly depending on the participants?? L2 reading proficiency.     

Mastery motivation and expressive language in young children with hearing loss

We studied the relation between mastery motivation and expressive language in 200 young children with hearing loss. Hearing mothers assessed their children's expressive language (Minnesota Child Development Inventory; Ireton & Thwing, 1974) and several aspects of mastery motivation including mastery pleasure and three components of mastery persistence (gross motor, object oriented, and social/symbolic) using the Dimensions of Mastery Motivation Questionnaire (Morgan et al., 1992). Simple correlations revealed significant relations between expressive language and all mastery motivation scales. When demographic and hearing loss variables were entered into a regression equation, only increased social/symbolic persistence was significantly related to, and increased object-oriented persistence was marginally related to, increases in expressive language quotients. Expressive language quotients also increased significantly as child age and degree of hearing loss decreased and as mothers' ratings of their child's general competence increased. In addition, decreases in the age at which the child was enrolled in intervention were marginally related to increases in expressive language quotients (f =.06).     

The predicting roles of approaches to learning,L2 learning motivation,L2 learning strategies and L2 proficiency for learning outcomes: a comparison between Mainland and Hong Kong Chinese students

This study examined (1) differences in background, integrative/instrumental motivation, learning approach, leaning strategy and proficiency in second language (L2) and (2) the determinants of learning outcomes between Hong Kong and Mainland (Chinese) students. To achieve this, a questionnaire survey was distributed to 773 s language learners across four universities in Hong Kong and Mainland China to students in Bachelor of Education (English Language) programmes. The results showed that L2 proficiency was the strongest predictor of learning outcomes for Hong Kong and Mainland students, while integrative motivation was also a significant predictor of learning outcomes in both sample groups. In addition, instrumental motivation, deep approaches, and learning strategies were found to be significant predictors of learning outcomes for Mainland students. Mainland students demonstrated lower levels of motivation, learning approaches, learning strategies, L2 proficiency, as well as learning outcomes relative to Hong Kong students. Implications for curriculum design, classroom teaching and assessment, and future research are discussed in the paper.     

Enhancing language learning through creation: the effect of digital storytelling on student learning motivation and performance in a school English course

This study explored how a free-space digital storytelling approach that advocates autonomy and creativity can be implemented in a formal elementary classroom and how it impacts students’ language learning motivation and performances. Participants of the study were 64 sixth grade students in Taiwan. Following an experimental design, the data collected from three data sources, including motivation surveys, achievement test scores, and digital stories, were analyzed and triangulated. Two performance indicators of the digital storytelling, levels of language usage and levels of creativity, were found to have significant but different impacts on language learning. While the students’ language usage performance in digital storytelling was significantly related to their achievement test scores, their creativity performance were significantly related to multiple motivation components, including extrinsic motivation, task value and elaboration. It was also found that the proposed digital storytelling approach had a positive impact on students’ language performance and contributed to an increase to students’ motivation in two dimensions: extrinsic goal orientation and elaboration, rather than intrinsic goal orientation. The results suggest that the positive impact of the proposed storytelling pedagogy resides in allowing students to stretch their creativity while demonstrating their language productivity, with the leverage of a holistic assessment scheme.     

Motivation and Second Language Acquisition

In this paper,first the author provides a brief review of contemporary psychological views on motivation and motivation in SLL.The author then discusses Williams and Burden’ s (1997) cognitive model of motivation,which suggests that both internal and external factors are significant in motivation.And next the author selects two internal factors (attitudes to language learning in general and attitudes to target language community and culture) and two external factors (parents and teachers),discussing their relevance to motivation in language learning.After that the author refers in her answer both to the wider literature on motivation and her own experience of motivation as a language teacher and learner.The author concludes the paper by drawing some practical implications from employing this model.     

大学生外语阅读动机的多维比较

本研究以大学二年级学生为样本,以外语和母语阅读动机问卷和阅读能力测试卷为调查工具,以SPSS for Windows13.0软件为分析工具,对大学生外语阅读动机进行实证性的比较研究：外语和母语阅读动机比较,非英语专业和英语专业学生外语阅读动机的比较,不同阅读能力学生的阅读动机比较。研究得出的结论如下：外语阅读动机以外部动机为主,而母语阅读动机则内外部动机兼有;外语专业学生的外语阅读动机整体上来看较非外语专业学生强;无论是英语专业学生还是非英语专业学生,具有不同阅读能力的学生在部分外语阅读动机上有显著性的差异。     

Classical Chinese reading instruction: Current practices and their relationship with students' strategy use and reading motivation

The study examined current practices in Classical Chinese (CC) reading instruction in Hong Kong and the relationship between different instructional practices and students' strategy use and motivation in CC reading. A total of 519 secondary students voluntarily responded to a questionnaire that measured their perception of CC reading instruction, strategy use, and motivation. The findings indicate while teachers frequently teach both the language and content aspects of CC reading, the teacher-centered approach they are now adopting is ineffective in facilitating students' CC reading development. Relations between different instructional approaches and students’ strategy use and motivation in CC reading are discussed.     

从RR模型理论看语感认知机理

语感这一概念一诞生就被套上神秘的色彩。关于其特点和认知机理的讨论更是见仁见智、模糊不清。尽管有众多语言学家谈及过这一问题,但都限于讨论语感的特征,或语感在语言教学中的地位等话题,很少有人纯粹从心理认知角度、以一种心理模型为理论框架、就语感的认知机制及相关问题进行详细讨论。文章拟以RR模型为理论基础,从语言认知的角度,探讨语感在语言认知上的机理、语感在认知机理上的特点以及语感在作用范围、功能、内容、方式及其发展等方面的特点。     

Can Early Foreign Language Learning Contribute to the Shared Emotional and Motivational Landscape of a Primary School?

The government's stated intention is that all KS2 learners will have an entitlement to foreign language learning by 2010. Disquiet about motivation for language learning in the secondary sector led to the reduction in status of ML in 2003 to an option subject in KS4. We should not simply consider how best to assure motivation among primary learners of MFL but, in addition, explore what early foreign language learning can contribute to the whole school. There are grounds for claiming that learning a foreign language can contribute to children's overall enjoyment of, motivation for and self-esteem in learning. In its early implementation, it can create a shared curricular experience for a whole school, which can be built upon subsequently. The strength of language learning is sometimes seen as being because it is different, but this article also explores the framework and approach needed to ensure that it is strongly embedded in the whole-school curriculum. In addition to a literature-based rationale for this proposal, the article also contains quotations from four interviews conducted at a primary school in the East Midlands with a headteacher and three small groups representing pupils in Reception, Y3 and Y6 classes.     

Learning English as a second language at the university level in Jordan: motivation,self-regulation and learning environment perceptions

The overarching aim of this study was to investigate students’ perceptions of the learning environment and whether these influenced their motivation and self-regulation in learning English as a second language at the university level in Jordan. Our sample involved 994 students, drawn from 13 schools, within three faculties (humanities, health sciences and engineering) of one university. The collection of data involved the administration of two surveys: one to assess students’ perceptions of the learning environment and another to assess students’ motivation and self-regulation in learning English as a second language. The results of analyses strongly supported the reliability and validity of the surveys when used at the university level in Jordan, thereby providing confidence in the results of the present study. Simple correlation and multiple regression analysis were used to examine the influence of students’ perceptions of the learning environment of English language classes on self-reports of motivation and self-regulation. Statistically significant (p < 0.05) simple correlations were found between students’ perceptions of their learning environment and their motivation and self-regulation. The regression weights (β) indicated that scales of the learning environment were positively, statistically significantly (p < 0.05) and independently related to the motivation and self-regulation outcomes.     

A Brief Review of Motivation for Second Language Learning

It is an increasingly popular trend in the language field that people become bilingual or even multilingual,which exposes the fact that people are strongly motivated to learn another language in addition to their mother tongue.A large-scale of research has confirmed that motivation,serving as the internal impulse and initiative taste for second language learning,is among on of the key factors in second language acquisition and learning.The paper reviews the recent available literature on motivation of second language learning from both theoretical and empirical perspectives,with the purpose of neatening the important theories and relevant empirical studies in the field of second language motivation.     

Psychodidactic approach in the development of language competences in university students within blended learning

Abstract

The paper discusses the deployment of cognitive and affective components for teaching languages in a blended learning university setting. A modified expectancy model of motivation was designed and applied. The usability testing of a language education website was used as a framework with affective and cognitive features. The selection of the education website was based on findings gained from the language needs analysis. The level of students’ language competence representing the cognitive component was diagnosed based on their results in the placement tests in the DIALANG language website. Many students showed progress in language knowledge by the end of the semester. Results were higher than students had expected and enough to encourage further research. The affective part is discussed in the modified expectancy model of motivation that was designed and applied. The psychodidactic approach used in the research met students’ motivational and emotional needs without sacrificing their improved competence in language development.     

Z．Dornyei的外语学习动机和策略对教师教学的启示

学习动机与外语学习、学业成就之间有密切的联系,学习动机在很大程度上影响着学生能否有效利用一切机会使用或操练外语,决定着学生参与外语学习的主动程度以及克服学习苦难的信心。该文以Domyei的过程式模式学习动机理论为基础,从它的三个阶段讨论了教师在教学中可以考虑采取的应对的动机策略。     

中美虚拟外语学习社区比较研究

中外社会性外语学习网站和虚拟外语学习社区已经成为推动外语学习的重要力量。通过调查．了解中美具有代表性的虚拟外语学习社区的发展现状,从成员构成、交互方式、资源建设、激励机制几方面进行对比．提出我国虚拟外语学习社区建设需要多样化的学习平台和资源整合。     

Teacher-perceived temperament and educational competence as predictors of school grades

Associations between teacher-perceived temperament, educational competence (EC), and school grades in mother language (ML) and mathematics (Math) were assessed in 3212 students (1619 girls) in Secondary School (aged 13–19) taken from a nationally representative Finnish sample. Temperament was assessed with scales from the TABC-R and DOTS-R batteries. EC consists of cognitive ability, motivation, and maturity. Activity, persistence, distractibility, inhibition, and negative emotionality were significantly associated with both ML and Math grades. EC turned out to mediate the relationship between temperament and school performance and moderated the relationship of activity to Math. The findings show a high association between teacher-rated temperament and school performance and indicate a strong “halo effect” between temperament, EC, and school grades.     

A Structural Equation Model of Second Language Acquisition for Adult Learners

Abstract

This study constructs and empirically evaluates a model of second language acquisition for adult learners. The proposed structural equation model describes the relationships between latent variables representing sociocultural background, cognitive ability (in the first language), functional language proficiency, cognitive language proficiency, attitudes, motivation, and instructional approach. Tentative empirical estimates, which are somewhat unreliable due to a small sample size, were obtained using a methodology developed by JÖreskog known as the linear structural relationship (LISREL) model. The data used for estimation are drawn from a Chicago bilingual teacher training program that utilized two radically different English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching methods. Though primarily illustrative in nature, the results showed that an “integrative” approach to second language instruction was shown to be more effective than a strictly “behaviorist” approach, and functional language ability was shown to be an important component of the language acquisition process.     

Systematic academic instruction for students with EBD: the construction and use of a tool for teachers

Educating students with behavioural, emotional and social difficulties requires a thorough systematic approach with the focus on academic instruction. This study addresses the development of a tool, consisting of two questionnaires, for measuring systematic academic instruction. The questionnaires cover the Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act cycle and academic versus behavioural instruction. The questionnaires are both practically oriented as well as theoretically well founded. The reliability turned out to be acceptable (0.76) to high (0.89). Observation scales were developed to determine the validity of both questionnaires. Moderate correlations between questionnaires and observation scales were found (0.31, 0.32). Bland–Altman plots offered us valuable information about the differences between questionnaires and observation scales, supplying us with important issues for further research. It is concluded that the questionnaires might be a valuable tool for assessing teachers' systematic academic instruction.     

语言理据研究中的几个理论问题

理据性和任意性都是语言的重要属性,一起构成＂和而不同＂的对立统一关系;理据论是理据性的理论升华,是人们借用心理学中的＂动因＂概念并从认知、功能、文化等角度来解释语言符号发生和发展的一种理论;语言表述是捕捉理据的唯一方式,离开语言表述,理据研究将成为空谈;理据（理据义）是每一个具体的语言符号的能指和所指结合在一起的动因,而理据性是对这种结合关系在性质上的描写与判断,二者形成具体与抽象的关系。     

英语学习动机的性别差异与融入型动机的化解

男女在生理特点和心理活动上存在着巨大的差异,这种差异导致男女在英语学习动机上的不同,从而影响了学习态度和学习策略的选择,使得男女生语言学习的效果有明显区别。融合型动机是指个人学习外语时对语言本身产生了强烈的兴趣,并希望可以融入所学语言的文化为改善大学生因性别差异造成的不良学习后果。鉴于此,在对男女大学生的语言学习动机状况进行调查的基础上,科学分析了差异存在的合理性,并利用融入型动机理论,提出激发学生的融入型动机水平的具体解决措施。