Students’ attitudes towards the use of poetry in second language classrooms

Vol. 5  Issue 2
Year: 2015
Issue:Apr-Jun
Title:Students’ attitudes towards the use of poetry in second language classrooms
Author Name:Ardeshir Danesh and Servat Shirkhani
Synopsis:
This study investigates learners' attitudes towards poetry in foreign language learning. 63 Engineering Students at Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch attended the study. The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire designed by the researchers for the purpose of this study. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions regarding the subjects' attitudes towards poetry. The analysis of the data revealed that while the students are mostly interested in Persian poetry, only about one third are interested in English poetry. Therefore, their lack of interest in English poetry can be due to their problem in reading English poetry which has been confirmed by the analysis of their answers to a related item on the questionnaire. Based on the results of the study, the subjects do not strongly relate their inability in understanding English poetry to any of the reasons referred to in the questionnaire, i.e. containing a lot of new words, being based on a different culture, and not understanding Persian poetry. Despite their lack of interest and understanding in English poetry, a considerable percent of the students believe that English poetry helps the development of various aspects of the foreign language.

Indranath and Giribala - The young adult dystopian characters in The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker

Vol. 5  Issue 2
Year: 2015
Issue:Apr-Jun
Title:Indranath and Giribala - The young adult dystopian characters in The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker
Author Name:Malavika Sharma
Synopsis:
Indian women have always been viewed as the object of desire. In the advent of Technological Advancement women are still thought of as inferior to men. Though there is an increase in the literacy rate of the girl child, it does not imply the emancipation of the girl child. Women are bound by the social customs and traditions. In this sense women are not empowered. The word empowerment is misrepresented as the increase in working women. In such a scenario Indian women writers in English have portrayed the challenges women confront at home, in the workplace as well as in their social interactions. Indira Goswami in her Novel The Moth Eaten Howdah of the Tusker boldly describes the plight of the women especially the widows and hopes to instill change in the minds of the society. The present paper aims to analyse the characters of Indranath and Giribala from the perspective of Young Adult Dystopian protagonist.

Acquisition of Vocabulary by dint of Unique Strategies: Indispensible for Fostering English Language Skills

Vol. 5  Issue 2
Year: 2015
Issue:Apr-Jun
Title:Acquisition of Vocabulary by dint of Unique Strategies: Indispensible for Fostering English Language Skills
Author Name:G. Rexlin Jose 
Synopsis:

Vocabulary is the gateway to knowledge that unlocks the doors of sublime ideas to the readers. The competency on the lexical items of language plays a significant role in learning a new concept. Any learner who has excellent command over the use of vocabulary excels in his/her study of different subjects. Vocabulary learning is one of the important features of language learning and language use. In fact, it is what makes the essence of a language.

Learning vocabulary is a natural and lifelong phenomenon. Throughout the life span, individuals develop their vocabulary effectively and almost effortlessly as long as they see words in meaningful contexts. Children in school will encounter plethora of words in their reading. In schools they may continue to learn vocabulary without much direct and explicit help from Teachers. For the most part, vocabulary growth in school occurs informally and incidentally rather than formally and intentionally. Students should be helped to understand the meaning of each word both contextually and non-contextually. The teachers teaching second language must follow varieties of effective strategies for teaching vocabulary. As the strategies are very easy, interesting and effective, learning of any word retains in the memory of the students for a long-term. Only innovative strategies will enable the students enrich their power of vocabulary. This article highlights unique strategies for learning vocabulary in the ambiance of Indian English classrooms.

Six Easy and Beneficial Strategies for an Interculturally Responsive (IR) Classroom

Vol. 5  Issue 2

Year: 2015
Issue:Apr-Jun
Title:Six Easy and Beneficial Strategies for an Interculturally Responsive (IR) Classroom
Author Name:Dr. Kathryn Jones and Dr. Jason R. Mixon
Synopsis:
This scenario is a reflection of many classrooms throughout the United States. This heterogeneous population of students is Linguistically, Culturally, and Educationally Diverse. Some are Native Born, and others have immigrated for various reasons. These reasons include new Employment Opportunities, a United States Education, Political Refuge, and Family Relocation to name a few. Our schools must learn to respond to this diversity by providing an Interculturally Responsive (IR) Classroom (Jones, 2013) and Linguistically appropriate methods for Language Learners. The following strategies will assist in creating an Inter culturally Responsive Classroom and they are (a) provide side-by-side dual language opportunities, (b) assist with language transfer, (c) loosen up dialogues, (d) make language learning interesting, (e) Utilize Graphic Organizers, and (f) Doodle. The aforementioned six strategies are easy and beneficial for any teacher to utilize and these strategies will assist the language learning situations in the classroom.

Effectiveness Of Mind Mapping In English Teaching Among VIII Standard Students

Vol. 5  Issue 1
Year: 2015
Issue:Jan-Mar
Title:Effectiveness Of Mind Mapping In English Teaching Among VIII Standard Students
Author Name:D. Hallen and N. Sangeetha
Synopsis:
The aim of the study is to find out the effectiveness of mind mapping technique over conventional method in teaching English at high school level(VIII), in terms of Control and Experimental group. The sample of the study comprised, 60 VIII Standard students in Tiruchendur Taluk. Mind Maps and Achievement Test (Pre-test & Post-test) were developed by the investigator. Two equivalent group Pretest-Posttest Experimental Design was employed for this study. In analysis Mean, S.D. and 't'values were computed and the present study reveals, that the Mind Mapping Technique is more effective than the Conventional method.

The Semantic Implications Of Media Reports On Violence In Nigeria

Vol. 5  Issue 1
Year: 2015
Issue:Jan-Mar
Title:The Semantic Implications Of Media Reports On Violence In Nigeria
Author Name:Abochol, Simon Itine and Adegboye, Oluseye Olusegun 
Synopsis:
This article is on semantics of words and expressions of various grammatical constructions that make reference to violence as reported in the Nigerian media, particularly, the newspaper where such words and sentences about violence are prominent. Twenty-four (24) headlines/captions on violence were randomly selected from Nigeria dailies for data analysis. Semantic roles were used to analyse the different words and expressions that made up the headlines/captions. Halliday's Scale and Category theory showing how text boundaries can be split have been employed to facilitate the analysis. The items (instruments) used for violence are meant to cause damage, havoc and loss of lives. The events (eventive) of violence are devastating and can enhance more restiveness in any society. The analysis of the data, show that semantic implications for the media, journalists and the Nigerian State is that most of the citizens in the Nigerian state become afraid or worried at the sight of newspaper captions/headlines carrying violent expressions. Also, other people in other countries who read Nigerian dailies carrying violent expressions/words are discouraged to visit Nigeria because of safety concerns. Lastly, certain locations in Nigeria which are prone to violent activities are avoided by both Nigerians and visitors to Nigeria.

Comparing Hypertext Reading In L1 And L2: The Case Of Filipino Adults

Vol. 5  Issue 1
Year: 2015
Issue:Jan-Mar
Title:Comparing Hypertext Reading In L1 And L2: The Case Of Filipino Adults
Author Name:Gruspe Michael Angelo M, Mariñas Christian Joshua L., Villanueva Ariel Josephe Therese R., Villasin, Marren Nicole F. And Vizconde, Camilla J.
Synopsis:
This research probed into the reading experiences of adult readers in their first language (L1) and second language (L2). Qualitative in nature, the investigation focused on twelve (12) adult readers , six (6) males and six (6) females, whose first language is Filipino. Data were gathered through interviews and focus-group discussions. Based on the data gathered, the participants are motivated to read when the materials given are in line with their interest (e.g. self-help and current events). They are also inclined to read L2 materials over L1. The participants' interests are not simply limited to the topics but also to the language of the material. They feel strongly that a material written in L2 is more accessible and reliable. Although the reading process is highly personal, the participants showed that they adapt similar reading strategies when reading hypertexts which they modify to fit their needs, interest, exposure, and strategies.