As second language learning becomes popular,various strategies to improve the learning process have been suggested.One of them includes the implantation of audiovisual materials(video authentic materials),which then l...As second language learning becomes popular,various strategies to improve the learning process have been suggested.One of them includes the implantation of audiovisual materials(video authentic materials),which then leads to a discussion of subtitle usage and the value of subtitles in second language learning.This essay focuses on searching for literature that suggests the value of subtitles,especially teletext subtitles,in improving second language learning.This was achieved by reviewing relevant research and experiments.The results suggested that even though uncertainty remained on what kind of materials fit what level of learners,in general,subtitles,especially teletext subtitles,were seen as a beneficial tool in developing learners' listening abilities and skills.展开更多
Embodied cognition theories propose that language comprehension triggers a sensorimotor system in the brain.However,most previous research has paid much attention to concrete and factual sentences,and little emphasis ...Embodied cognition theories propose that language comprehension triggers a sensorimotor system in the brain.However,most previous research has paid much attention to concrete and factual sentences,and little emphasis has been put on the research of abstract and counterfactual sentences.The primary challenges for embodied theories lie in elucidating the meanings of abstract and counterfactual sentences.The most prevalent explanation is that abstract and counterfactual sentences are grounded in the activation of a sensorimotor system,in exactly the same way as concrete and factual ones.The present research employed a dual-task experimental paradigm to investigate whether the embodied meaning is activated in comprehending action-related abstract Chinese counterfactual sentences through the presence or absence of action-sentence compatibility effect(ACE).Participants were instructed to read and listen to the action-related abstract Chinese factual or counterfactual sentences describing an abstract transfer word towards or away from them,and then move their fingers towards or away from them to press the buttons in the same direction as the motion cue of the transfer verb.The action-sentence compatibility effect was observed in both abstract factual and counterfactual sentences,in line with the embodied cognition theories,which indicated that the embodied meanings were activated in both action-related abstract factuals and counterfactuals.展开更多
This research was carried out in Iranian EFL (English as a foreign language) reading comprehension classes in an attempt to answer three research questions: (1) Does collaborative reading lead to greater comprehe...This research was carried out in Iranian EFL (English as a foreign language) reading comprehension classes in an attempt to answer three research questions: (1) Does collaborative reading lead to greater comprehension of a text than private reading?; (2) If so, what strategies are used by the students during collaborative reading?; and (3) In what ways might these strategies contribute to the higher level of comprehension?. A quasi-experimental design was used to answer the first question. The participants were pre-tested and streamed into two classes of equal reading comprehension abilities. The intervention consisted of four texts of equal length, comprising two rated in a pilot study as conceptually difficult/linguistically easy, and two rated as conceptually easy/linguistically difficult. The subjects in each class were involved in reading the two types of texts collaboratively and privately for four sessions. After reading the text, the subjects were asked to answer in writing 10 comprehension questions. Collaborative reading resulted in consistently and significantly higher scores than private reading for all four texts. Qualitative methods were employed to answer the last two questions. Group interactions during collaborative reading were tape recorded and transcribed, and 10 students selected at random from the two classes were interviewed in depth. Analysis of the group interaction transcripts revealed that the participants were using five major strategies in co-constructing meaning from the texts. These strategies included brainstorming, clarifying the language, summarizing, paraphrasing, and interaction management. Other minor (i.e., infrequent) strategies were also identified, such as making PCU/NCU (positive/negative claim to understand), eliciting confirmation, and confirming.展开更多
With the increasing amount of college graduates every year, the employer needs structural contradiction, traditional college graduates employment difficulties. Chinese Language and Literature is as a strong tradition ...With the increasing amount of college graduates every year, the employer needs structural contradiction, traditional college graduates employment difficulties. Chinese Language and Literature is as a strong tradition of employment facing unprecedented challenges. Based on the severe employment situation, Teacher Education in Local Comprehensive Universities need to start improving their own quality of graduates, and actively guide the graduates to change jobs ideas, updating the concept of employment, and use existing resources, and actively expand employment channels, and explore new ideas and open up new market, employment path is becoming more diverse to ensure employment stability and sustainable development.展开更多
College English teaching aims to cultivate the students' language applying competence, to help them broaden their mind, to absorb in foreign cultural essence and to improve cultural accomplishment. For college studen...College English teaching aims to cultivate the students' language applying competence, to help them broaden their mind, to absorb in foreign cultural essence and to improve cultural accomplishment. For college students, acquiring reading comprehension ability plays an essential part in understanding cultural distinctions and communicating effectively. However, the truth is that their reading comprehension ability and language applying competence prove not very optimistic. Therefore, the Present paper gives some insight to teachers on how reading English should be taught more effectively to college students.展开更多
This paper is prompted by a "strange phenomenon" in L2 teaching and learning as related to listening: it is regarded as "easy" by teachers, but "difficult" by students. The paper tries to analyze the difficulti...This paper is prompted by a "strange phenomenon" in L2 teaching and learning as related to listening: it is regarded as "easy" by teachers, but "difficult" by students. The paper tries to analyze the difficulties encountered by the L2 learners in the process of acquiring listening skills and competence in an attempt to find out how these problems are related to classroom teaching, and their implications for pedagogical classroom practice.展开更多
Introduction For many years, listening comprehension has been taken for granted as a course and has simply been continuous and constant listening given to the students regardless of the strategies employed, the stages...Introduction For many years, listening comprehension has been taken for granted as a course and has simply been continuous and constant listening given to the students regardless of the strategies employed, the stages needed to achieve the goal and the appropriateness of the materials. Teachers teach their students listening in the way they themselves were taught. This empirical perspective of teaching, which lacks a sufficiently scientific basis, has been challenged in recent years by evidence from psycholinguistic research. This influential field of study has provided many fresh insights into the nature of the human mind and broadened our view of language teaching.展开更多
文摘As second language learning becomes popular,various strategies to improve the learning process have been suggested.One of them includes the implantation of audiovisual materials(video authentic materials),which then leads to a discussion of subtitle usage and the value of subtitles in second language learning.This essay focuses on searching for literature that suggests the value of subtitles,especially teletext subtitles,in improving second language learning.This was achieved by reviewing relevant research and experiments.The results suggested that even though uncertainty remained on what kind of materials fit what level of learners,in general,subtitles,especially teletext subtitles,were seen as a beneficial tool in developing learners' listening abilities and skills.
文摘Embodied cognition theories propose that language comprehension triggers a sensorimotor system in the brain.However,most previous research has paid much attention to concrete and factual sentences,and little emphasis has been put on the research of abstract and counterfactual sentences.The primary challenges for embodied theories lie in elucidating the meanings of abstract and counterfactual sentences.The most prevalent explanation is that abstract and counterfactual sentences are grounded in the activation of a sensorimotor system,in exactly the same way as concrete and factual ones.The present research employed a dual-task experimental paradigm to investigate whether the embodied meaning is activated in comprehending action-related abstract Chinese counterfactual sentences through the presence or absence of action-sentence compatibility effect(ACE).Participants were instructed to read and listen to the action-related abstract Chinese factual or counterfactual sentences describing an abstract transfer word towards or away from them,and then move their fingers towards or away from them to press the buttons in the same direction as the motion cue of the transfer verb.The action-sentence compatibility effect was observed in both abstract factual and counterfactual sentences,in line with the embodied cognition theories,which indicated that the embodied meanings were activated in both action-related abstract factuals and counterfactuals.
文摘This research was carried out in Iranian EFL (English as a foreign language) reading comprehension classes in an attempt to answer three research questions: (1) Does collaborative reading lead to greater comprehension of a text than private reading?; (2) If so, what strategies are used by the students during collaborative reading?; and (3) In what ways might these strategies contribute to the higher level of comprehension?. A quasi-experimental design was used to answer the first question. The participants were pre-tested and streamed into two classes of equal reading comprehension abilities. The intervention consisted of four texts of equal length, comprising two rated in a pilot study as conceptually difficult/linguistically easy, and two rated as conceptually easy/linguistically difficult. The subjects in each class were involved in reading the two types of texts collaboratively and privately for four sessions. After reading the text, the subjects were asked to answer in writing 10 comprehension questions. Collaborative reading resulted in consistently and significantly higher scores than private reading for all four texts. Qualitative methods were employed to answer the last two questions. Group interactions during collaborative reading were tape recorded and transcribed, and 10 students selected at random from the two classes were interviewed in depth. Analysis of the group interaction transcripts revealed that the participants were using five major strategies in co-constructing meaning from the texts. These strategies included brainstorming, clarifying the language, summarizing, paraphrasing, and interaction management. Other minor (i.e., infrequent) strategies were also identified, such as making PCU/NCU (positive/negative claim to understand), eliciting confirmation, and confirming.
文摘With the increasing amount of college graduates every year, the employer needs structural contradiction, traditional college graduates employment difficulties. Chinese Language and Literature is as a strong tradition of employment facing unprecedented challenges. Based on the severe employment situation, Teacher Education in Local Comprehensive Universities need to start improving their own quality of graduates, and actively guide the graduates to change jobs ideas, updating the concept of employment, and use existing resources, and actively expand employment channels, and explore new ideas and open up new market, employment path is becoming more diverse to ensure employment stability and sustainable development.
文摘College English teaching aims to cultivate the students' language applying competence, to help them broaden their mind, to absorb in foreign cultural essence and to improve cultural accomplishment. For college students, acquiring reading comprehension ability plays an essential part in understanding cultural distinctions and communicating effectively. However, the truth is that their reading comprehension ability and language applying competence prove not very optimistic. Therefore, the Present paper gives some insight to teachers on how reading English should be taught more effectively to college students.
文摘This paper is prompted by a "strange phenomenon" in L2 teaching and learning as related to listening: it is regarded as "easy" by teachers, but "difficult" by students. The paper tries to analyze the difficulties encountered by the L2 learners in the process of acquiring listening skills and competence in an attempt to find out how these problems are related to classroom teaching, and their implications for pedagogical classroom practice.
文摘Introduction For many years, listening comprehension has been taken for granted as a course and has simply been continuous and constant listening given to the students regardless of the strategies employed, the stages needed to achieve the goal and the appropriateness of the materials. Teachers teach their students listening in the way they themselves were taught. This empirical perspective of teaching, which lacks a sufficiently scientific basis, has been challenged in recent years by evidence from psycholinguistic research. This influential field of study has provided many fresh insights into the nature of the human mind and broadened our view of language teaching.