The paper reports the results of a field study which was carried out at the Language Centre of the University of Naples and originated in the observation that learning the Italian language was not perceived by ab init...The paper reports the results of a field study which was carried out at the Language Centre of the University of Naples and originated in the observation that learning the Italian language was not perceived by ab initio students as connected to their personal and academic experiences. The claim of this research is that a procedural syllabus based on texts and tasks facilitates both the acquisition of Italian as a foreign language and the integration of language and content. Each text proposed to the learners was accompanied and enhanced by pre-, while-, and production-tasks. A particular emphasis was assigned to noticing and attention management tasks in the pre and while phase Production tasks in a later phase favoured interlanguage development by combining representational structures with controlled attention. The method of the study was a combination of qualitative and quantitative approach at any stage. Measures for written production during the course and to assess final exams were： Holistic Rating （fluency and creativity）, Accuracy Ratios （intelligibility index and error index）, and Complexity Ratios （dependent and coordinate clauses per t-units ratio and re-elaboration of a model or text type）. At the final exams, Texts and tasks learners outperformed non-texts and tasks learners. In conclusion, an input related to personal and/or academic interests, to be processed through tasks, allowed learners a rapid interlanguage change and development展开更多
Hate crimes are a culture phenomenon which is perceived by most as an occurrence that should be uprooted from the society. Yet, to date, we have been unable to do so. Hate crimes are the subject of research and commen...Hate crimes are a culture phenomenon which is perceived by most as an occurrence that should be uprooted from the society. Yet, to date, we have been unable to do so. Hate crimes are the subject of research and comments by experts in various fields. In this regard, most scholars agree that a hate based crime is distinguished from a ＂regular＂ criminal offence by the motive--the attack is aimed at a victim who is part of a differentiated minority group. However, when reading the relevant documents in the area, it seems that the differences between the experts start at the most basic point--what constitutes hate crimes？ This article analyses the concept of ＂hate crimes＂ via an interdisciplinary approach aimed at flashing out the fundamental gaps in the research. We have found that the problems include, inter alia, discrepancies in the definition of hate crimes, methodological difficulties regarding validity and legitimacy （mainly due to the absence of information based on the attacker＇s point of view） and the lack of agreement on the appropriate legal methods required to deal with the ramifications of hate crimes. While part I of this paper revolves around the theoretical aspects of the questions put forth at the centre of this article, part II looks at the same questions from a legal viewpoint. The correlation between the two chapters shows the impact the methodological difficulties have on enforcement endeavors. This relation is further advanced through the examination of test cases from different countries, among them--lsrael. Finally, the article concludes by suggesting a few thoughts on the way to overcome the theoretical problems and making the enforcement efforts more efficient.展开更多
Teaching literary classics has always been a burden for the teacher; since the language is archaic, and neither the themenor structure appeal to the students, because they are not trivial and do not deal with their im...Teaching literary classics has always been a burden for the teacher; since the language is archaic, and neither the themenor structure appeal to the students, because they are not trivial and do not deal with their immediate problems like puberty or relationships with parents. Nevertheless, it is essential that students will be exposed to the treasures of their culture. The author proposes that we introduce the classics through their literary adaptations into children＇s book, comics, and so on. Adaptation as well as translation involves interpretation. Therefore, through the adaptation, we show the students that classic texts are complicated and potent of many meanings. As an introduction to the works of S. Y. Agnon, the author chose his story ＂From a Foe to a Friend＂ （1992）. ＂From a Foe to a Friend＂ by S. Y. Agnon, is considered to be simple, na＇fve story, the plot is linear and accumulative, almost like a folktale or a children＇s story. And indeed, this story was published （2008） as a children＇s book with illustrations, and also as a comic book （2012）. The author will show how we can use these books, along with the folktale of＂The Three Little Pigs＂ （1890）, which the story＇s plot is based on, to prepare students to the challenge of Agnon＇s literary work. The conceptual framework of this paper is based on Polysystem Theory （Even-Zohar, 1990）, Translation Theory （Toury, 1995）, and adaptation as an interpretation （Shenberg, 1997, 1998）.展开更多
This study consists of two questionnaire surveys conducted in two stages to investigate factors that high-stakes exam essay raters believe to affect their rating behavior. Raters were all university Chinese teachers o...This study consists of two questionnaire surveys conducted in two stages to investigate factors that high-stakes exam essay raters believe to affect their rating behavior. Raters were all university Chinese teachers of English majors. Seventy-three participants in stage one and 75 in stage two responded to the same questionnaire. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used in data analysis. Results showed that there were generally six broad factors interfering with the rating process： rating scale, rater training, rating supervision, rater characteristics, eye-catching text features and rating condition. The interaction of those factors reflected the tension between the constraints executed by the test institution and raters＇ own knowledge and understanding of essay rating. This study may shed light on measures taken to improve essay rating quality.展开更多
文摘The paper reports the results of a field study which was carried out at the Language Centre of the University of Naples and originated in the observation that learning the Italian language was not perceived by ab initio students as connected to their personal and academic experiences. The claim of this research is that a procedural syllabus based on texts and tasks facilitates both the acquisition of Italian as a foreign language and the integration of language and content. Each text proposed to the learners was accompanied and enhanced by pre-, while-, and production-tasks. A particular emphasis was assigned to noticing and attention management tasks in the pre and while phase Production tasks in a later phase favoured interlanguage development by combining representational structures with controlled attention. The method of the study was a combination of qualitative and quantitative approach at any stage. Measures for written production during the course and to assess final exams were： Holistic Rating （fluency and creativity）, Accuracy Ratios （intelligibility index and error index）, and Complexity Ratios （dependent and coordinate clauses per t-units ratio and re-elaboration of a model or text type）. At the final exams, Texts and tasks learners outperformed non-texts and tasks learners. In conclusion, an input related to personal and/or academic interests, to be processed through tasks, allowed learners a rapid interlanguage change and development
文摘Hate crimes are a culture phenomenon which is perceived by most as an occurrence that should be uprooted from the society. Yet, to date, we have been unable to do so. Hate crimes are the subject of research and comments by experts in various fields. In this regard, most scholars agree that a hate based crime is distinguished from a ＂regular＂ criminal offence by the motive--the attack is aimed at a victim who is part of a differentiated minority group. However, when reading the relevant documents in the area, it seems that the differences between the experts start at the most basic point--what constitutes hate crimes？ This article analyses the concept of ＂hate crimes＂ via an interdisciplinary approach aimed at flashing out the fundamental gaps in the research. We have found that the problems include, inter alia, discrepancies in the definition of hate crimes, methodological difficulties regarding validity and legitimacy （mainly due to the absence of information based on the attacker＇s point of view） and the lack of agreement on the appropriate legal methods required to deal with the ramifications of hate crimes. While part I of this paper revolves around the theoretical aspects of the questions put forth at the centre of this article, part II looks at the same questions from a legal viewpoint. The correlation between the two chapters shows the impact the methodological difficulties have on enforcement endeavors. This relation is further advanced through the examination of test cases from different countries, among them--lsrael. Finally, the article concludes by suggesting a few thoughts on the way to overcome the theoretical problems and making the enforcement efforts more efficient.
文摘Teaching literary classics has always been a burden for the teacher; since the language is archaic, and neither the themenor structure appeal to the students, because they are not trivial and do not deal with their immediate problems like puberty or relationships with parents. Nevertheless, it is essential that students will be exposed to the treasures of their culture. The author proposes that we introduce the classics through their literary adaptations into children＇s book, comics, and so on. Adaptation as well as translation involves interpretation. Therefore, through the adaptation, we show the students that classic texts are complicated and potent of many meanings. As an introduction to the works of S. Y. Agnon, the author chose his story ＂From a Foe to a Friend＂ （1992）. ＂From a Foe to a Friend＂ by S. Y. Agnon, is considered to be simple, na＇fve story, the plot is linear and accumulative, almost like a folktale or a children＇s story. And indeed, this story was published （2008） as a children＇s book with illustrations, and also as a comic book （2012）. The author will show how we can use these books, along with the folktale of＂The Three Little Pigs＂ （1890）, which the story＇s plot is based on, to prepare students to the challenge of Agnon＇s literary work. The conceptual framework of this paper is based on Polysystem Theory （Even-Zohar, 1990）, Translation Theory （Toury, 1995）, and adaptation as an interpretation （Shenberg, 1997, 1998）.
基金supported by the Youth Foundation of Ministry of Education of China for Humanity and Social Science Research(15YJC740004)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in China(16LZUJBWZY032+1 种基金LZUJBWZY069)Fund of School of Foreign Languages of LZU(16LZUWYXSTD002)
文摘This study consists of two questionnaire surveys conducted in two stages to investigate factors that high-stakes exam essay raters believe to affect their rating behavior. Raters were all university Chinese teachers of English majors. Seventy-three participants in stage one and 75 in stage two responded to the same questionnaire. Both exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used in data analysis. Results showed that there were generally six broad factors interfering with the rating process： rating scale, rater training, rating supervision, rater characteristics, eye-catching text features and rating condition. The interaction of those factors reflected the tension between the constraints executed by the test institution and raters＇ own knowledge and understanding of essay rating. This study may shed light on measures taken to improve essay rating quality.
