This paper aims at investigating the teletandem learning interactions between a group of Brazilian students from Instituto Federal de Educagao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Goias, Brazil, and a group of foreign s...This paper aims at investigating the teletandem learning interactions between a group of Brazilian students from Instituto Federal de Educagao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Goias, Brazil, and a group of foreign students from two German universities. In this study, the Brazilian students helped their foreign partners with Portuguese learning and were helped by them in the English learning. The participants used a synchronous computer software called Openmeetings and also an electronic dictionary as a complementary tool. Adopting a qualitative perspective in the data collection and analysis, this case study was conducted in the second semester of 2010. The data were collected by means of conversation sessions through Openmeetings and were analyzed in the light of studies on sociocultural theory as well as on tandem/teletandem language learning researches. The data analyses showed that the participants used English as an anchoring language to work with Portuguese and English itself, and German was introduced in the teletandem sessions. The data also showed that the whiteboard and the electronic dictionary were used as complementary resources to the use of audio and video for the language learning process the participants engaged in.展开更多
This study explored the perceptual learning style preferences in L2 （second language） Spanish. A group of first-semester and fifth-semester university students participated. The aim was to verify whether time studyi...This study explored the perceptual learning style preferences in L2 （second language） Spanish. A group of first-semester and fifth-semester university students participated. The aim was to verify whether time studying of Spanish would strengthen learning preferences making senior students more cognizant of their preferred styles. Senior students were, therefore, more expected to self-report major （i.e., strong） style preferences than novice students. The participants completed a style questionnaire and named preferred in-class language activities. Results showed that the novice rather than the senior students, self-reported strong style preferences. The senior students consistently reported minor preferences and named activities that favored peer collaboration over perceptual styles. It is likely that after several semesters of learning Spanish, senior students were less certain as to whether language learning relies on strong style preferences. Instead, they probably learned to acknowledge the benefits of a flexible disposition, integrating several minor style preferences for a successful learning of Spanish.展开更多
In recent years, liberal education has been a focus of English majors＇ education in China. Although it was wished and emphasized, there are many problems and difficulties when liberal education is asked to be achieve...In recent years, liberal education has been a focus of English majors＇ education in China. Although it was wished and emphasized, there are many problems and difficulties when liberal education is asked to be achieved in the real sense. English majors＇ liberal education is yet at its primary stage. An analysis of the existing problems is made on the basis of the situation and characteristics of current English majors＇ education展开更多
English is used an important course of higher vocational colleges, which can greatly improve stuctents＂ language application ability to a great extent and it can also make students understand western culture knowledg...English is used an important course of higher vocational colleges, which can greatly improve stuctents＂ language application ability to a great extent and it can also make students understand western culture knowledge through foreign language learning. But in current higher vocational colleges, it faces many dilemmas. Only by correctly analyzing these dilemmas will it propose corresponding reasonab!e solutions, which is good for English education development of higher vocational colleges and improving English level of higher vocational college students.展开更多
文摘This paper aims at investigating the teletandem learning interactions between a group of Brazilian students from Instituto Federal de Educagao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Goias, Brazil, and a group of foreign students from two German universities. In this study, the Brazilian students helped their foreign partners with Portuguese learning and were helped by them in the English learning. The participants used a synchronous computer software called Openmeetings and also an electronic dictionary as a complementary tool. Adopting a qualitative perspective in the data collection and analysis, this case study was conducted in the second semester of 2010. The data were collected by means of conversation sessions through Openmeetings and were analyzed in the light of studies on sociocultural theory as well as on tandem/teletandem language learning researches. The data analyses showed that the participants used English as an anchoring language to work with Portuguese and English itself, and German was introduced in the teletandem sessions. The data also showed that the whiteboard and the electronic dictionary were used as complementary resources to the use of audio and video for the language learning process the participants engaged in.
文摘This study explored the perceptual learning style preferences in L2 （second language） Spanish. A group of first-semester and fifth-semester university students participated. The aim was to verify whether time studying of Spanish would strengthen learning preferences making senior students more cognizant of their preferred styles. Senior students were, therefore, more expected to self-report major （i.e., strong） style preferences than novice students. The participants completed a style questionnaire and named preferred in-class language activities. Results showed that the novice rather than the senior students, self-reported strong style preferences. The senior students consistently reported minor preferences and named activities that favored peer collaboration over perceptual styles. It is likely that after several semesters of learning Spanish, senior students were less certain as to whether language learning relies on strong style preferences. Instead, they probably learned to acknowledge the benefits of a flexible disposition, integrating several minor style preferences for a successful learning of Spanish.
文摘In recent years, liberal education has been a focus of English majors＇ education in China. Although it was wished and emphasized, there are many problems and difficulties when liberal education is asked to be achieved in the real sense. English majors＇ liberal education is yet at its primary stage. An analysis of the existing problems is made on the basis of the situation and characteristics of current English majors＇ education
文摘English is used an important course of higher vocational colleges, which can greatly improve stuctents＂ language application ability to a great extent and it can also make students understand western culture knowledge through foreign language learning. But in current higher vocational colleges, it faces many dilemmas. Only by correctly analyzing these dilemmas will it propose corresponding reasonab!e solutions, which is good for English education development of higher vocational colleges and improving English level of higher vocational college students.
