Teachers’ beliefs toward multilingual awareness in target language learning play a significant role in shaping learners’ attitudes to language awareness, affect learners’ linguistic behavior and teachers’ teaching...Teachers’ beliefs toward multilingual awareness in target language learning play a significant role in shaping learners’ attitudes to language awareness, affect learners’ linguistic behavior and teachers’ teaching practice. Therefore, the present study was aimed to explore English teachers’ beliefs about Inner Mongolian university students’ multilingual awareness in L3 learning and their teaching practice in Chinese EFL context. One hundred English teachers from six universities in Inner Mongolia, China, participated in this investigation. The data was collected through a questionnaire and teacher interviews. The results indicate that English teachers hold positive attitudes to multilingual awareness in general;however, there are belief differences between Mongolian and Han teachers;there exist discrepancies between English teachers’ beliefs about multilingual awareness and their teaching practice, and social-cultural environment, family language policy,teacher identity, learning experience, teaching materials, and, more importantly, teachers’ lack of awareness of fostering learners’ multilingual awareness lead to the discrepancies. The present research highlights the necessity of raising teacher awareness of cultivating multilingual awareness in future teacher development and emphasizes the significance of exploring the potential cognitive advantages of multilingualism in promoting L3 learning and developing English learners’ multilingual competence in the EFL context in China.展开更多
The perception and use of loanwords in most literature, more specifically, online newspapers and magazines based on British, American, and Georgian media discourse, focus on the origin and the fundamental development ...The perception and use of loanwords in most literature, more specifically, online newspapers and magazines based on British, American, and Georgian media discourse, focus on the origin and the fundamental development of language content and the essentiality of luxury and necessary loanwords. Due to the fact that most magazines are created with an intention of convincing readers of various ideologies, most linguists would consider the use of loanwords to give a comprehensive presentation of ideas. Incorporating English loanwords is not only a requisite tool for integrating and addressing the cultural differences between various communities across the globe, but also acts as a bridge that fills the conceptual gaps that exist in various languages. This is no longer the job of a linguist, because there are many other ways through which the people of a particular country can adopt a loanword （e.g., social media）. Also, it enriches the recipient language and puts its citizens up to date with the latest developments and inventions.展开更多
The paper examines how language ideology in English education affects its curriculum development. By exploring the topic from an autoethnographic perspective, the researcher describes how his transnational learning an...The paper examines how language ideology in English education affects its curriculum development. By exploring the topic from an autoethnographic perspective, the researcher describes how his transnational learning and teaching experience informed his perception of language ideological changes in English curriculum development. The researcher＇s lived experiences from China to the United States witness how English curriculum develops in an ideological continuum from functional ideology to critical ideology, with cultural ideology and progressive ideology existing between the two extremes. The author then concluded： While language ideology has evolved from stage to stage, due to effects of factors like student acceptance and political ideology, English curriculum in China is still dominated by functional ideology. The paper finally proposes how English language curriculum development should go at the current stage of internationalization.展开更多
This study explores the origins and current status of the Gallo language at school--a minority language spoken in the eastern part of Brittany--among older speakers （group 1-41 informants） and students of Gallo （gr...This study explores the origins and current status of the Gallo language at school--a minority language spoken in the eastern part of Brittany--among older speakers （group 1-41 informants） and students of Gallo （group 2-17 informants）. The paper discusses different pedagogical methods, learning materials, and learners＇ status. The most important mission of schools is to increase public awareness about their linguistic environment which helps reassert minority identity through language acquisition and linguistic maintenance. Implementing an educational language curriculum for regional languages constitutes a main step towards the preservation of linguistic minorities. According to the informants interviewed during the fieldwork, both groups express positive reactions towards the presence of Gallo at school （group 1--80%; group 2--92.9%）. However, in follow-up discussions, a certain number of older speakers seem to be more reluctant, because the variety of Gallo taught at school is different from the one which was transmitted to them. In conclusion, bilingual and immersion programs are increasingly successful in Brittany and could lead to a wider recognition of Eastern Brittany＇s language and culture.展开更多
The ability to communicate effectively in English is increasingly being viewed as an expectation of individuals who wish to engage with the global community. Mindful of these needs, the goals of the Global Citizenship...The ability to communicate effectively in English is increasingly being viewed as an expectation of individuals who wish to engage with the global community. Mindful of these needs, the goals of the Global Citizenship Program （GCP） at Soka University, Tokyo, Japan, focus not only on increasing English proficiency, but also on developing independent study skills, raising awareness of global issues, and enhancing the abilities of students to integrate information from multiple sources in meaningful ways. In the GCP, students enroll in English for Academic Purposes （EAP） courses which focus on developing critical thinking and research skills as well as English fluency. Through activities that require students to critically evaluate and synthesize information, opportunities are provided to engage in independent research focusing on the development process and global initiatives. This paper describes how the GCP curriculum develops academic skills and English proficiency, incorporates critical thinking activities, emphasizes global awareness, and integrates content-knowledge in order to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to interact successfully in the global community.展开更多
The English language is seen by the Chinese as a tool of significant pragmatic value, both by the individual and the state. Discourse on English language education within China has, both historically and at present, p...The English language is seen by the Chinese as a tool of significant pragmatic value, both by the individual and the state. Discourse on English language education within China has, both historically and at present, pitted the pragmatic value of English against concerns of cultural and linguistic erosion and imposition. Concerns over the corrupting impact the English language may have on the Chinese language, and further on Chinese culture, uneasily coexist with an acceptance of the English language＇s role as the key to modernization and economic development. Voices of past and present, have at their core a desire for the protection of a reified cultural identity or essence. However, cultural and linguistic influence has not merely been imposed upon China from external forces, but has been actively drawn in by domestic forces. Such domestic forces range from foreign language education policies that meet the demands of a globalized market-driven economy, to a market demand for English language media such as TV programs, movies and literature. Ultimately, the presence and significance of these domestic forces undermines a view of the English language as a vehicle of cultural imperialism in China.展开更多
文摘Teachers’ beliefs toward multilingual awareness in target language learning play a significant role in shaping learners’ attitudes to language awareness, affect learners’ linguistic behavior and teachers’ teaching practice. Therefore, the present study was aimed to explore English teachers’ beliefs about Inner Mongolian university students’ multilingual awareness in L3 learning and their teaching practice in Chinese EFL context. One hundred English teachers from six universities in Inner Mongolia, China, participated in this investigation. The data was collected through a questionnaire and teacher interviews. The results indicate that English teachers hold positive attitudes to multilingual awareness in general;however, there are belief differences between Mongolian and Han teachers;there exist discrepancies between English teachers’ beliefs about multilingual awareness and their teaching practice, and social-cultural environment, family language policy,teacher identity, learning experience, teaching materials, and, more importantly, teachers’ lack of awareness of fostering learners’ multilingual awareness lead to the discrepancies. The present research highlights the necessity of raising teacher awareness of cultivating multilingual awareness in future teacher development and emphasizes the significance of exploring the potential cognitive advantages of multilingualism in promoting L3 learning and developing English learners’ multilingual competence in the EFL context in China.
文摘The perception and use of loanwords in most literature, more specifically, online newspapers and magazines based on British, American, and Georgian media discourse, focus on the origin and the fundamental development of language content and the essentiality of luxury and necessary loanwords. Due to the fact that most magazines are created with an intention of convincing readers of various ideologies, most linguists would consider the use of loanwords to give a comprehensive presentation of ideas. Incorporating English loanwords is not only a requisite tool for integrating and addressing the cultural differences between various communities across the globe, but also acts as a bridge that fills the conceptual gaps that exist in various languages. This is no longer the job of a linguist, because there are many other ways through which the people of a particular country can adopt a loanword （e.g., social media）. Also, it enriches the recipient language and puts its citizens up to date with the latest developments and inventions.
文摘The paper examines how language ideology in English education affects its curriculum development. By exploring the topic from an autoethnographic perspective, the researcher describes how his transnational learning and teaching experience informed his perception of language ideological changes in English curriculum development. The researcher＇s lived experiences from China to the United States witness how English curriculum develops in an ideological continuum from functional ideology to critical ideology, with cultural ideology and progressive ideology existing between the two extremes. The author then concluded： While language ideology has evolved from stage to stage, due to effects of factors like student acceptance and political ideology, English curriculum in China is still dominated by functional ideology. The paper finally proposes how English language curriculum development should go at the current stage of internationalization.
文摘This study explores the origins and current status of the Gallo language at school--a minority language spoken in the eastern part of Brittany--among older speakers （group 1-41 informants） and students of Gallo （group 2-17 informants）. The paper discusses different pedagogical methods, learning materials, and learners＇ status. The most important mission of schools is to increase public awareness about their linguistic environment which helps reassert minority identity through language acquisition and linguistic maintenance. Implementing an educational language curriculum for regional languages constitutes a main step towards the preservation of linguistic minorities. According to the informants interviewed during the fieldwork, both groups express positive reactions towards the presence of Gallo at school （group 1--80%; group 2--92.9%）. However, in follow-up discussions, a certain number of older speakers seem to be more reluctant, because the variety of Gallo taught at school is different from the one which was transmitted to them. In conclusion, bilingual and immersion programs are increasingly successful in Brittany and could lead to a wider recognition of Eastern Brittany＇s language and culture.
文摘The ability to communicate effectively in English is increasingly being viewed as an expectation of individuals who wish to engage with the global community. Mindful of these needs, the goals of the Global Citizenship Program （GCP） at Soka University, Tokyo, Japan, focus not only on increasing English proficiency, but also on developing independent study skills, raising awareness of global issues, and enhancing the abilities of students to integrate information from multiple sources in meaningful ways. In the GCP, students enroll in English for Academic Purposes （EAP） courses which focus on developing critical thinking and research skills as well as English fluency. Through activities that require students to critically evaluate and synthesize information, opportunities are provided to engage in independent research focusing on the development process and global initiatives. This paper describes how the GCP curriculum develops academic skills and English proficiency, incorporates critical thinking activities, emphasizes global awareness, and integrates content-knowledge in order to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary to interact successfully in the global community.
文摘The English language is seen by the Chinese as a tool of significant pragmatic value, both by the individual and the state. Discourse on English language education within China has, both historically and at present, pitted the pragmatic value of English against concerns of cultural and linguistic erosion and imposition. Concerns over the corrupting impact the English language may have on the Chinese language, and further on Chinese culture, uneasily coexist with an acceptance of the English language＇s role as the key to modernization and economic development. Voices of past and present, have at their core a desire for the protection of a reified cultural identity or essence. However, cultural and linguistic influence has not merely been imposed upon China from external forces, but has been actively drawn in by domestic forces. Such domestic forces range from foreign language education policies that meet the demands of a globalized market-driven economy, to a market demand for English language media such as TV programs, movies and literature. Ultimately, the presence and significance of these domestic forces undermines a view of the English language as a vehicle of cultural imperialism in China.
