Effects of Collocational Congruency,Frequency and L2 Proficiency on the Processing of English Adjective-Noun Collocations

The present study investigates the effects of congruency and frequency on adjective-noun collocational processing for Chinese learners of English at two proficiency levels based on the data obtained in an online acceptability judgment task.The subject pool of this research included 60 English majors studying at a university in China;30 were selected as a higher-proficiency group and 30 as a lower-proficiency group according to their Vocabulary Levels Test(Schmitt et al.,2001)scores and their self-reported proficiency in English.The experimental materials were programmed to E-prime 2.0 and included six types of collocations:(1)15 high-frequency congruent collocations,(2)15 low-frequency congruent collocations,(3)15 high-frequency incongruent collocations,(4)15 low-frequency incongruent collocations,(5)15 Chinese-only items,and(6)75 unrelated items for baseline data.The collected response times(RTs)and accuracy rates data were statistically analyzed by the use of an ANOVA test and pairwise comparisons through SPSS 16.0 software.The results revealed that:(1)the adjective-noun collocational processing of Chinese English learners is influenced by collocational frequency,congruency and L2 proficiency;(2)the processing time is affected by the interaction of congruency and frequency;and(3)the interactive effect of L2 proficiency in conjunction with congruency and frequency also influences the processing quality.

On the Teaching Design of Graduates’EAP Course:Enhancing Language Proficiency and Critical Thinking Skills

This paper explores the integration of the bridge-in,objectives,pre-assessment,participatory activities,post-assessment and summary(BOPPPS)teaching model within the context of the post-graduates Academic English course.It discusses how this structured approach can effectively enhance students’language proficiency,foster critical thinking skills,and align with the multifaceted objectives of advanced English language education.The study provides a detailed examination of each BOPPPS component as applied to the post-graduates Academic English curriculum,supported by theoretical underpinnings and practical implications.

Exploration of the Impact of Language Proficiency on Vocabulary Association Patterns in English Language Education

This paper explores the lexical association patterns of English as a second language and their relationship with language proficiency.Through the vocabulary association test,the study analyzes the differences in vocabulary association between learners with different language levels.The participants were 100 non-native English-speaking un-dergraduate students from a top 200 university,such as the University of Nottingham,and a university outside the top 200,such as the University of Aberdeen;the two groups of learners differed in their vocabulary size and learning style.It was found that the two groups of learners differed significantly in vocabulary size,language background,and learning experience.In addition,the study raises three core questions:first,learners’lexical association patterns,second,dif-ferences in association among learners with different language proficiency levels,and third,other variables that affect vocabulary association ability.The limitations of the study are that reaction time was not measured and the influence of native language background on word association was not fully considered;future research should further explore these aspects.

Enhancing Proficiency in Quadratic Equations and Functions Through the MILAPlus Strategy

This study investigates the efficacy of the Mathematics Independent Learning Activity Practice and Play Unite Scheme(MILAPlus)as an instructional strategy to improve the proficiency levels of Grade 9 students in quadratic equations and functions through a study carried out at Quezon National High School.The research involved 116 Grade 9 students and utilized a quantitative approach,incorporating both pre-assessment and post-assessment measures.The research utilizes a quasi-experimental design,examining the academic performance of students before and after the introduction of MILAPlus.The pre-assessment establishes a baseline,and the subsequent post-assessment measures the impact of the instructional strategy.Statistical analyses,including t-tests,assess the significance of differences in mean scores and mean percentage scores,providing quantitative insights into the effectiveness of MILAPlus.Findings from the study revealed a statistically significant improvement in both mean scores and mean percentage scores after the utilization of MILAPlus,indicating enhanced proficiency in quadratic equations and functions.The Mean Proficiency Scores(MPS)also showed a substantial increase,demonstrating a marked improvement in overall proficiency levels among Grade 9 students.In light of the results,recommendations were given including the continued utilization of MILAPlus as an instructional strategy and aligning its development with prescribed learning competencies.Emphasizing the consistent adherence to policies and guidelines for MILAPlus implementation is suggested for sustaining positive effects on students’long-term performance in mathematics.This research contributes valuable insights into the practical application and effectiveness of MILAPlus within the context of Grade 9 mathematics education at Quezon National High School.

Importance of Proficiency Testing in Water Quality Monitoring

The monitoring data is undoubtedly important to the water quality monitor- ing department. The proficiency testing is an important way to improve the monitor- ing capacity and enhance the quality management of laboratories. It plays an impor- tant role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity and comparability of monitoring data. In this paper, the positive role of proficiency testing in the water quality monitoring was analyzed. In addition, how to improve the water quality monitoring capacity and the quality management level of laboratories through the proficiency testing was also discussed.

Exploring the Relationship between Learning Styles and Proficiency in Verbal Communication

In the light of need to use learning styles to enhance verbal proficiency,this paper will explore the interconnectedness of learning styles and proficiency in verbal communication.It will first introduce the background of the study.This will be followed by an overview of the research on related literature and studies in the field.Lastly the paper concludes that foreign language teachers should give attention to the styles for languages learning and verbal proficiency since they are closely correlated.

A Study of the Relationship between L2 Proficiency and Mother-tongue-reliance Strategies

By investigating the types of 371 non-English major freshmen's use of mother-tongue-reliance strategies in English languagelearning,the study showed that students' use of mother-tongue-reliance strategies would vary significantly with their different L2 profi-ciency.And it was negatively correlated with L2 proficiency.And the study discussed the implications to guide English language teach-ing and learning.

How to Create a Low-anxiety Environment for Chinese Learners of EFL to Enhance Oral Proficiency in Speaking Lessons

The goal of teaching English speaking is to improve students' communicative efficiency, or make students speak the target language clearly, coherently, accurately and fluently (Xu, 2005). However, in China, a number of students in an English speaking class tend to be passive and reluctant to speak out or be singled out publicly mainly due to their high anxiety, which, of course, becomes a significant constraint on improving their English proficiency. Therefore, how to create a relaxed atmosphere with a sense of security in the English speaking class to alleviate Chinese learners' anxiety and to provide them with as many opportunities as possible to practice speaking English and improve their English proficiency is one of the central tasks for language teachers.his paper will firstly outline my teaching context in China in physical, pedagogical, institutional and personal aspects. This will be followed by the definition and classification of language learning anxiety, and the analysis of various factors contributing to foreign language learners' anxiety as well as some suggestions of how to reduce the learners' anxiety in the oral class according to the current literature. Finally, some applications will be presented in my teaching context in the hope of decreasing Chinese students' anxiety to enhance their English speaking proficiency.

An investigation of the effect of L2 proficiency and topic familiarity on L2 Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition： An empirical study based on theory of interactive reading

Based on the interactive theory of reading, this study mainly explored the etlects ot topic familiarity and second language proficiency on IVA （Incidental Vocabulary Acquisition） of second language through reading. By using two different measures （translation production and selection）, this study found： （1） Vocabulary can be acquired incidentally in reading passages; （2） There are no significant interactive effects of topic familiarity and second language proficiency on vocabulary acquisition, but the two independent variables of topic familiarity and second language proficiency exerted their positively significant effect on incidental vocabulary acquisition, and （3） As for the two vocabulary measures, learners can acquire more words in translation selection than in translation production.

A Study on the Correlation Between the Employment of Listening Strategies and Listening Proficiency of Non-English Majors

Based on related theory and the analysis of the research findings,the present study is conducted,aiming at discovering the possible relationship between listening strategy use and listening proficiency.The thesis also presents some implications for teaching listening and learning skills of listening.

A Key Factor Affecting L2( English) Vocabulary Acquisition: L2( English) Proficiency

There are some certain factors affecting L2(English)vocabulary acquisition such as L2(English)proficiency,readers’purpose and the habit of reading,and the difficulty of target words and context,among which the first plays a key role.The paper,through a review of the relevant experimental researches,reaches a conclusion that L2(English)proficiency does influence much upon L2vocabulary acquisition.

A Survey on the Correlation between College English Majors' Listening Strategies Use and Listening Autonomy Proficiency

This study explored the correlation between listening strategies use and listening autonomy proficiency, and aimed to find the listening strategies that can predict a higher listening autonomous achievement. 133 English majors of Yangtze University, College of Arts and Science participated in this survey. The general situation of English majors'using of listening strategies and the correlation between different listening strategies and listening autonomy proficiency were analyzed. Based on the findings, some pedagogical implications were proposed to professional English listening teaching in higher education.

Self-perceived burden and influencing factors in patients with cervical cancer administered with radiotherapy

BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is the fourth commonest malignancy in women around the world.It represents the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in South East Asian women,and an important cancer death cause in women of developing nations.Data collected in 2018 revealed 5690000 cervical cancer cases worldwide,85%of which occurred in developing countries.AIM To assess self-perceived burden(SPB)and related influencing factors in cervical cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.METHODS Patients were prospectively included by convenient sampling at The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University,China between March 2018 and March 2019.The survey was completed using a self-designed general information questionnaire,the SPB scale for cancer patients,and the self-care self-efficacy scale,Strategies Used by People to Promote Health,which were delivered to patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy.Measurement data are expressed as the mean±SD.Enumeration data are expressed as frequencies or percentages.Caregivers were the spouse,offspring,and other in 46.4,40.9,and 12.7%,respectively,and the majority were male(59.1%).As for pathological type,90 and 20 cases had squamous and adenocarcinoma/adenosquamous carcinomas,respectively.Stage IV disease was found in 12(10.9%)patients.RESULTS A total of 115 questionnaires were released,and five patients were excluded for too long evaluation time(n=2)and the inability to confirm the questionnaire contents(n=3).Finally,a total of 110 questionnaires were collected.They were aged 31-79 years,with the 40-59 age group being most represented(65.4%of all cases).Most patients were married(91.8%)and an overwhelming number had no religion(92.7%).Total SPB score was 43.13±16.65.SPB was associated with the place of residence,monthly family income,payment method,transfer status,the presence of radiotherapy complications,and the presence of pain(P<0.05).The SPB and self-care self-efficacy were negatively correlated(P<0.01).In multivariate analysis,self-care self-efficacy,place of residence,monthly family income,payment method,degree of radiation dermatitis,and radiation proctitis were influencing factors of SPB(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Patients with cervical cancer undergoing radiotherapy often have SPB.Self-care self-efficacy scale,place of residence,monthly family income,payment method,and radiation dermatitis and proctitis are factors independently influencing SPB.

Motivations of Code-switching among People of Different English Proficiency:A Sociolinguistics Survey

Code-switching is a linguistic behavior that arises as a result of languages coming into contact. The idea of codeswitching was proposed since the 1970 s and has been heatedly discussed. This study will particularly focus on the motivations for code-switching on campus, especially for the reason of college students and teachers as frequent users. The study aims to find out if there is any relevance between one's English proficiency and motivation for code-switching.

Reaching proficiency in laparoscopic splenectomy

AIM:To investigate the proficiency level reached in laparoscopic splenectomy using the learning curve method.METHODS:All patients in need of splenectomy for benign causes in whom laparoscopic splenectomy was attempted by a single surgeon during a time period of 6 years were included in the study (n=33). Besides demographics, operation-related variables and the response to surgery were recorded. The patients were allocated to groups of five, ranked according to the date of the operation. Operation duration, complications, postoperative length of stay, conversion to laparotomy and splenic weight were then compared between these groups.RESULTS: There was a significant difference regarding operation times between the groups (P = 0.001). An improvement was observed after the first 5 cases. The learning curve was flat up to the 25th case. Following the 25th case the operation times decreased still further. There was no difference between the groups regarding the other parameters.CONCLUSION: Unlike the widely accepted "L" shape, the learning curve for laparoscopic splenectomy is a horizontal lazy "S" with two distinct slopes. Privileges may be granted after the first 5 cases. However proficiency seems to require 25 cases.

Personality factors and self-perceived health in Chi-lean elderly population

Empirical evidence suggests that the stability of personality itself contributes to successful ageing and is associated with longer life. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between personality traits and the self-perceived health status, stratified by medical conditions in a representative sample of non-institutionalized elderly people in Chile. The data used for this study come from the fourth waves (2009) of the Chilean Social Protection Survey (SPS-2009). Included were a total of 2655 subjects aged 65 and over. The results showed that higher scores of all five personality factors were associated with good health. Those with the perception of poor health were more likely to be female, with lower education level and older than those with good health. With the exception of agreeableness, strong and significant associations with self-perceived health were demonstrated for extraversion, conscientiousness, emotional stability and openness, among elderly with medical conditions. Among elderly without medical problems, significant associations with self-perceived health were demonstrated only for extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability. This study has shown that there is a consistent association between personality factors and self-perceived health throughout the older population. Our results suggest that extraversion and openness traits could be acting as “protector” factors and agreeableness and conscientiousness traits as “resilient” factors, facing to the health problems among elderly people.

Analysis of the present situation and influencing factors of self-perceived burden in primary glaucoma patients

Objective:To explore the status of self-perceived burden(SPB)in primary glaucoma patients and to analyze its influencing factors.Subject and setting:A questionnaire survey was administered to 236 inpatients from a tertiary general hospital and a eye hospital in Tianjin.The investigation was conducted after obtaining informed consent from each participant.Instruments:They were investigated using general data questionnaire,Self-Perceived Burden Scale(SPBS),Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire(MCMQ).Design:A descriptive cross-sectional design was used to gather data in this study.Results:The total SPBS score of primary glaucoma patients was(31.10±9.34)was medium.Regression consults showed that avoidance and surrender coping style,medical burden and right eye vision were the influencing factors of patients’SPB(P<0.05).Conclusion:Patients with primary glaucoma have a relatively heavy SPB,so medical staff should encourage them to actively face it.Tailored strategies in line with the patient’s economic and visual conditions to reduce the SPB.

On Factors That Affect College Students' English Reading Proficiency

There are many factors that drag the feet of reading proficiency.After discussing how these factors work,this paper puts the factors into two categories of language and non-language,which,to some extent,helps readers to realize their deficiency and conduct self-adjustment.

A functional approach to improving non-English majors＇ writing proficiency

Problems in generating and organizing ideas, in coherence and language competence are common in non-English majors＇ writings. To improve their writing proficiency, the writing course should have real-life purposes, balance between real and display writing, between product and process approaches, vary writing activities, train strategies in improving coherence, balance the content of feedback and use various forms of feedback.

Introduction of creep-rupture testing capability and proficiency at Baosteel

To characterize the long-term service performance and predict the lifetime of heat-resistant steel applications,more than 300 test pieces can be loaded simultaneously at Baosteel to determine the relationship between stress and rupture duration at specific temperatures. In addition, versatile testing methods have been established that evaluate creep-rupture, stress-relaxation, and creep-fatigue, as well as state-of-the-art tensile testing at hyper-high temperatures exceeding 2 100 ~2. Based on the Larson-Miller method, according to API 530, the accumulation of large volumes of data with respect to stress, temperature, and rupture time of actually tested steels ensures the reliability of predicting the allowable working stress over 100 000 h at any given temperature. For examples ,the stress tendencies against rupture time of T/P91 and T/P92 steel tubes, as obtained by Baosteel, are consistent with those from NIMS and ECCC. As an accredited provider of the Proficiency Testing schemes in ISO/ IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17043, Baosteel has periodically organized national proficiency testing with respect to creep and rupture, thereby providing an efficient way for all parties to assess their technical competence when performing uniaxial creep testing by the methods in ISO 204 and ASTM E139.