Little is known about how the assessment modality,i.e.,computer-based(CB)and paper-based(PB)tests,affects language teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences and,therefore,the validity and fairness of classroom wr...Little is known about how the assessment modality,i.e.,computer-based(CB)and paper-based(PB)tests,affects language teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences and,therefore,the validity and fairness of classroom writing assessments.The present mixed-methods study used Shaw and Weir’s(2007)sociocognitive writing test validation framework to examine the scoring and consequential validity evidence of CB and PB writing tests in EFL classroom assessment in higher education.Original handwritten and word-processed texts of 38 EFL university students were transcribed to their opposite format and assessed by three language lecturers(N=456 texts,152 per teacher)to examine the scoring validity of CB and PB tests.The teachers’perceptions of text quality and preferences for assessment modality accounted for the consequential validity evidence of both tests.Findings revealed that the assessment modality impacted teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences.The teachers awarded higher scores to original and transcribed handwritten texts,particularly text organization and language use.The teachers’perceptions of text quality differed from their ratings,and physical,psychological,and experiential characteristics influenced their preferences for assessment modality.The results have implications for the validity and fairness of CB and PB writing tests and teachers’assessment practices.展开更多
At the intermediate and advanced stage of the international Chinese education, Chinese writing is one of the important skill courses, one of the difficulties of learning Chinese. For a long time, because its acquisiti...At the intermediate and advanced stage of the international Chinese education, Chinese writing is one of the important skill courses, one of the difficulties of learning Chinese. For a long time, because its acquisition is so difficult, but it cannot get rid of the inefficiencies and a lack of attraction of the traditional pen and paper training, it has become one of the teaching problems to be solved urgently in teaching research community. In the non-target language environment, the use of limited time and space in the classroom to training students＇ Chinese writing skill is an important task of the intermediate and advanced Chinese teaching. At the cultural environment in Westem Europe, learners＇ awareness of democracy and freedom are very strong, they are active, rich in their thinking, the interesting, challenging, and immersive of training activities are more attractive to students Immersion teaching design of the Chinese writing course is such a lively, fun, and interactive new design. This paper discusses the design method and a characteristic of immersion teaching Chinese writing course in the non-target language environment, analyzes its design basis and practice principles, and puts forward some suggestions on the application of this type of design.展开更多
Communicative Language Teaching approach is widely accepted in English-speaking countries. This article briefly introduces What is Communicative Language Teaching and its influence on the instruction of English compos...Communicative Language Teaching approach is widely accepted in English-speaking countries. This article briefly introduces What is Communicative Language Teaching and its influence on the instruction of English composition. After that, it puts forward some principles that teachers of English writing should adhere to when trying to employ this teaching method in China.展开更多
With growing numbers of Chinese students entering Western universities, cultural understanding is of increasing importance, not least in higher education. Without a good understanding of the academic conventions of We...With growing numbers of Chinese students entering Western universities, cultural understanding is of increasing importance, not least in higher education. Without a good understanding of the academic conventions of Western universities, Chinese students, and undergraduates in particular, are at a disadvantage in the multi-cultural classroom. Lack of knowledge of structural influences on higher education, including teacher-student relations, reference management practices, and assessment procedures, are likely to lead to failure and disappointment. This paper, which is based on writing workshops conducted at Beijing University and in Sweden （Kristianstad University and Linnaeus University） in 2014, focuses primarily on writing practices and conventions because written texts are the main means of assessment in higher education. Addressing four key problems encountered by Chinese undergraduate writers in Western universities, namely lack of familiarity with the structure of academic papers, lack of focus on relevant issues, copying and pasting without giving proper reference, and inadequate understanding and mastery of the conventions of academic English, this paper argues for greater awareness of cultural differences between the Chinese and Western systems of education. Not until this has been achieved can Chinese students realize their full potential at Western universities.展开更多
The present project provides information about a service-learning project in an undergraduate technical writing course assigned in the Fall Semester of2011 at a small public university in Oklahoma. Students in the cou...The present project provides information about a service-learning project in an undergraduate technical writing course assigned in the Fall Semester of2011 at a small public university in Oklahoma. Students in the course were assigned to ＂performance teams＂ and tasked with interviewing faculty advisors and officers of international student organizations on campus. Based upon the results of these interviews, the members of each team were asked to compose documents or deliver presentations that met the expressed needs of the student organizations. The assignment was designed to allow students an authentic experience in assessing the needs of a particular audience and in working with students from a different cultural group. The outcomes of the assignment and the challenges expressed by the students were discussed. The participation of students in the international student organizations was discussed in terms of university retention展开更多
The reform of college English should focus on the ways to improve the practicing ability. This ability should be based on the improvement of students, which is the fundamental aim of reform on the college English. In ...The reform of college English should focus on the ways to improve the practicing ability. This ability should be based on the improvement of students, which is the fundamental aim of reform on the college English. In order to cope with this problem, ＂flipped classroom＂has many advantages. By Giving definitions to the ＂flipped classroom＂, this dissertation analyzed the differences between the regular class and the ＂flipped classroom＂ and carried out a new way to improve the reading and writing course： we can take advantage of multimedia and new internet technology.展开更多
This research project analyzes the reading and writing practices used in five first and second year undergraduate courses of different disciplines at a Colombian university. During one semester, we conducted polls, cl...This research project analyzes the reading and writing practices used in five first and second year undergraduate courses of different disciplines at a Colombian university. During one semester, we conducted polls, class observations, and interviews with teachers. The data collected contain information about the strategies that teachers use to guide, clarify, and evaluate the readings they assigned. It also informs about the ways in which teachers classify texts and participate in the process of composing, editing, and evaluating the students＇ writing. Finally, the data inform about the role that teachers assign to the practices of reading and writing in their courses. The results of the study prove that there is a misconception based on the idea that there is a unique way of understanding and practicing reading and writing in the academia, and that there is a set of unique strategies that are transferable to any discipline or field of study. The cases analyzed in this study suggest that it would be much more effective to incorporate intensive reading and writing strategies in disciplinary courses, than to concentrate on first year writing courses.展开更多
In today＇s globalized world with English as the lingua franca, many countries, including the United Arab Emirates （UAE）, are focusing on English as a medium of instruction （EMI）. Due to the many expatriates resid...In today＇s globalized world with English as the lingua franca, many countries, including the United Arab Emirates （UAE）, are focusing on English as a medium of instruction （EMI）. Due to the many expatriates resident in the UAE English has become the main language of business, industry, and higher education. This paper looks at one of those English medium universities with an American curriculum. Since most American curriculums require substantial amounts of writing, it is important that students become competent at writing in their second language at this particular institution. This paper discusses how a novel assignment, allowing English as a foreign language （EFL） students to present readings in the classroom at an EMI university in the UAE, has helped them become both better readers and writers. Since the majority of the students are native speakers of Arabic, the project was designed with their oral traditions and proficiency in mind.展开更多
As the number of Chinese international students studying in the U.S. has grown dramatically in recent years, there has been increasing attention to how English Composition instructors approach these students＇ writing...As the number of Chinese international students studying in the U.S. has grown dramatically in recent years, there has been increasing attention to how English Composition instructors approach these students＇ writings. Using a dialogue format representing ＂narratives of classroom life＂ （Nelson, 2011a）, this paper demonstrates two polemic views held by teachers and researchers： one view sees students＇ language use as problematic as it differs from the expected standards required for academic success in the U.S., while the other calls for more tolerance of the students＇ linguistic and cultural diversity and accordingly, more strategic ways to give ＂error feedback.＂ By opening up the debate, the paper explores possibilities for teachers in the U.S. and around the world to help their students address the gap between academic expectations, and what they are currently capable of.展开更多
Enlightened by Politzer's (1972) assertion that 'language materials must be presented in spoken form before they are introduced in written form'(Els et al. 1984:256), the author of this paper holds that sp...Enlightened by Politzer's (1972) assertion that 'language materials must be presented in spoken form before they are introduced in written form'(Els et al. 1984:256), the author of this paper holds that speaking is likely to be in the juxtaposition of reading in its contribution to better English writing. Course investigation of learners needs reveals their strong wish to improve English writing and classroom atmosphere. 113 sophomores were involved in a series of classroom activities forming the preparing stage for English writing. The variety of activities offers a large platform for the participants to share opinions and exchange information. The investigations of learners' attitudes carried out during the program towards each activity show their preferences concerning majors. [HJ][WTH3]展开更多
文摘Little is known about how the assessment modality,i.e.,computer-based(CB)and paper-based(PB)tests,affects language teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences and,therefore,the validity and fairness of classroom writing assessments.The present mixed-methods study used Shaw and Weir’s(2007)sociocognitive writing test validation framework to examine the scoring and consequential validity evidence of CB and PB writing tests in EFL classroom assessment in higher education.Original handwritten and word-processed texts of 38 EFL university students were transcribed to their opposite format and assessed by three language lecturers(N=456 texts,152 per teacher)to examine the scoring validity of CB and PB tests.The teachers’perceptions of text quality and preferences for assessment modality accounted for the consequential validity evidence of both tests.Findings revealed that the assessment modality impacted teachers’scorings,perceptions,and preferences.The teachers awarded higher scores to original and transcribed handwritten texts,particularly text organization and language use.The teachers’perceptions of text quality differed from their ratings,and physical,psychological,and experiential characteristics influenced their preferences for assessment modality.The results have implications for the validity and fairness of CB and PB writing tests and teachers’assessment practices.
文摘At the intermediate and advanced stage of the international Chinese education, Chinese writing is one of the important skill courses, one of the difficulties of learning Chinese. For a long time, because its acquisition is so difficult, but it cannot get rid of the inefficiencies and a lack of attraction of the traditional pen and paper training, it has become one of the teaching problems to be solved urgently in teaching research community. In the non-target language environment, the use of limited time and space in the classroom to training students＇ Chinese writing skill is an important task of the intermediate and advanced Chinese teaching. At the cultural environment in Westem Europe, learners＇ awareness of democracy and freedom are very strong, they are active, rich in their thinking, the interesting, challenging, and immersive of training activities are more attractive to students Immersion teaching design of the Chinese writing course is such a lively, fun, and interactive new design. This paper discusses the design method and a characteristic of immersion teaching Chinese writing course in the non-target language environment, analyzes its design basis and practice principles, and puts forward some suggestions on the application of this type of design.
文摘Communicative Language Teaching approach is widely accepted in English-speaking countries. This article briefly introduces What is Communicative Language Teaching and its influence on the instruction of English composition. After that, it puts forward some principles that teachers of English writing should adhere to when trying to employ this teaching method in China.
文摘With growing numbers of Chinese students entering Western universities, cultural understanding is of increasing importance, not least in higher education. Without a good understanding of the academic conventions of Western universities, Chinese students, and undergraduates in particular, are at a disadvantage in the multi-cultural classroom. Lack of knowledge of structural influences on higher education, including teacher-student relations, reference management practices, and assessment procedures, are likely to lead to failure and disappointment. This paper, which is based on writing workshops conducted at Beijing University and in Sweden （Kristianstad University and Linnaeus University） in 2014, focuses primarily on writing practices and conventions because written texts are the main means of assessment in higher education. Addressing four key problems encountered by Chinese undergraduate writers in Western universities, namely lack of familiarity with the structure of academic papers, lack of focus on relevant issues, copying and pasting without giving proper reference, and inadequate understanding and mastery of the conventions of academic English, this paper argues for greater awareness of cultural differences between the Chinese and Western systems of education. Not until this has been achieved can Chinese students realize their full potential at Western universities.
文摘The present project provides information about a service-learning project in an undergraduate technical writing course assigned in the Fall Semester of2011 at a small public university in Oklahoma. Students in the course were assigned to ＂performance teams＂ and tasked with interviewing faculty advisors and officers of international student organizations on campus. Based upon the results of these interviews, the members of each team were asked to compose documents or deliver presentations that met the expressed needs of the student organizations. The assignment was designed to allow students an authentic experience in assessing the needs of a particular audience and in working with students from a different cultural group. The outcomes of the assignment and the challenges expressed by the students were discussed. The participation of students in the international student organizations was discussed in terms of university retention
文摘The reform of college English should focus on the ways to improve the practicing ability. This ability should be based on the improvement of students, which is the fundamental aim of reform on the college English. In order to cope with this problem, ＂flipped classroom＂has many advantages. By Giving definitions to the ＂flipped classroom＂, this dissertation analyzed the differences between the regular class and the ＂flipped classroom＂ and carried out a new way to improve the reading and writing course： we can take advantage of multimedia and new internet technology.
文摘This research project analyzes the reading and writing practices used in five first and second year undergraduate courses of different disciplines at a Colombian university. During one semester, we conducted polls, class observations, and interviews with teachers. The data collected contain information about the strategies that teachers use to guide, clarify, and evaluate the readings they assigned. It also informs about the ways in which teachers classify texts and participate in the process of composing, editing, and evaluating the students＇ writing. Finally, the data inform about the role that teachers assign to the practices of reading and writing in their courses. The results of the study prove that there is a misconception based on the idea that there is a unique way of understanding and practicing reading and writing in the academia, and that there is a set of unique strategies that are transferable to any discipline or field of study. The cases analyzed in this study suggest that it would be much more effective to incorporate intensive reading and writing strategies in disciplinary courses, than to concentrate on first year writing courses.
文摘In today＇s globalized world with English as the lingua franca, many countries, including the United Arab Emirates （UAE）, are focusing on English as a medium of instruction （EMI）. Due to the many expatriates resident in the UAE English has become the main language of business, industry, and higher education. This paper looks at one of those English medium universities with an American curriculum. Since most American curriculums require substantial amounts of writing, it is important that students become competent at writing in their second language at this particular institution. This paper discusses how a novel assignment, allowing English as a foreign language （EFL） students to present readings in the classroom at an EMI university in the UAE, has helped them become both better readers and writers. Since the majority of the students are native speakers of Arabic, the project was designed with their oral traditions and proficiency in mind.
文摘As the number of Chinese international students studying in the U.S. has grown dramatically in recent years, there has been increasing attention to how English Composition instructors approach these students＇ writings. Using a dialogue format representing ＂narratives of classroom life＂ （Nelson, 2011a）, this paper demonstrates two polemic views held by teachers and researchers： one view sees students＇ language use as problematic as it differs from the expected standards required for academic success in the U.S., while the other calls for more tolerance of the students＇ linguistic and cultural diversity and accordingly, more strategic ways to give ＂error feedback.＂ By opening up the debate, the paper explores possibilities for teachers in the U.S. and around the world to help their students address the gap between academic expectations, and what they are currently capable of.
文摘Enlightened by Politzer's (1972) assertion that 'language materials must be presented in spoken form before they are introduced in written form'(Els et al. 1984:256), the author of this paper holds that speaking is likely to be in the juxtaposition of reading in its contribution to better English writing. Course investigation of learners needs reveals their strong wish to improve English writing and classroom atmosphere. 113 sophomores were involved in a series of classroom activities forming the preparing stage for English writing. The variety of activities offers a large platform for the participants to share opinions and exchange information. The investigations of learners' attitudes carried out during the program towards each activity show their preferences concerning majors. [HJ][WTH3]
