Specialised Language Content and Professional Communicative Competence in the Teaching of DaF

The teaching of German as a Foreign Language(DaF)aims to prepare students who study German and take the DaF exam for their professional studies in German universities.Therefore,it is important to integrate the elements of specialised language knowledge and develop the students’professional communicative competence in the Test DaF curriculum.This paper identifies the specialized language knowledge and professional communicative competence that should be incorporated in German language teaching,based on the objectives of the DaF examination.

Effects of Mobile-Assisted Language Learning on Young Learners’Linguistic Skills

Mobile-assisted language learning(MALL)has been regarded as an excellent tool in the field of language acquisition as modern technology develops.The popularity of using mobile devices in education makes it possible for people to learn languages through platforms like tablets and smartphones from anywhere and at any time.However,the application of MALL in a collaborative student-centered environment has received comparatively little attention.Since spoken fluency and vocabulary size are the two crucial components of language proficiency,this study aims to investigate if young learners can improve their native language level through learning online beyond the classroom.The quantitative data reveal that MALL does make a difference in students’linguistic skills.The results show that the incorporation of mobile applications into language learning could better help learners achieve the learning outcomes and improve their communication skills than simply using conventional methods.In addition,the data of the questionnaire exposed some issues that need to be continuously improved.The viable suggestions are also discussed to share ideas about building a more sustainable learning environment in a data-driven age.

Research on the Role of Guiding Students to Participate in Skills Competitions on the Development of Young Teachers in Vocational Colleges

This paper explores the role of guiding students to participate in skills competitions on the development of young teachers in vocational colleges.We investigate the impact of skills competitions on the consolidation of professional knowledge,development of innovation capabilities,improvement of hands-on abilities,and enhancement of communication skills with students.The results of this research demonstrate that skills competitions have a positive influence on the professional growth of young teachers.The consolidation of professional knowledge,development of innovation capabilities,improvement of hands-on abilities,and enhancement of communication skills collectively contribute to the effectiveness of young teachers in vocational colleges.It is recommended that vocational colleges prioritize and support the participation of young teachers in skills competitions to foster their professional development.

Nurses'critical thinking disposition and professional commitment:a cross-sectional study

Objective:High-quality and successful nursing care delivery in a variety of situations requires critical thinking training and professional commitment.The present study aimed to investigate critical thinking disposition,professional commitment,and the relationship between these 2 variables among nurses.Methods:As a result of stratified random sampling,201 nurses were enrolled in the present cross-sectional study.Data were gathered using a socio-demographic form,the Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory(CTDI),and the Nurses'Professional Commitment Scale(NPCS).Results:Although the critical thinking disposition scores were at a moderate level(115.70±13.55),the mean score for professional commitment was high(91.37±11.77).A positive correlation was found between critical thinking disposition and professional commitment(r=0.67,P=0.001).Conclusions:Nursing managers are urged to employ strategies to enhance nurses'critical thinking disposition and professional commitment.

Knowledge and skills of neonatal resuscitation of health professionals at a university teaching hospital of Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND:Competency in neonatal resuscitation is critical in the delivery rooms,neonatology units and pediatrics intensive care units to ensure the safety and health of neonates. Each year,millions of babies do not breathe immediately at birth,and among them the majority require basic neonatal resuscitation. Perinatal asphyxia is a major contributor to neonatal deaths worldwide in resource-limited settings. Neonatal resuscitation is effective only when health professionals have sufficient knowledge and skills. But malpractices by health professionals are frequent in the resuscitation of neonates. The present study was to assess the knowledge and skills of health professionals about neonatal resuscitation.METHODS:An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in our hospital from February15 to April 30,2014. All nurses,midwives and residents from obstetrics-gynecology(obsgyn),midwifery and pediatric departments were included. The mean scores of knowledge and skills were compared for sex,age,type of profession,qualification,year of service and previous place of work of the participants by using Student's t test and ANOVA with Scheffe's test. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS:One hundred and thirty-five of 150 participants were included in this study with a response rate of 90.0%. The overall mean scores of knowledge and skills of midwives,nurses and residents were 19.9(SD=3.1) and 6.8(SD=3.9) respectively. The mean knowledge scores of midwives,nurses,pediatric residents and obs-gyn residents were 19.7(SD=3.03),20.2(SD=2.94),19.7(SD=4.4) and 19.6(SD=3.3) respectively. Whereas the mean scores of skills of midwives,nurses,pediatric residents and obs-gyn residents were 7.1(SD=4.17),6.7(SD=3.75),5.7(SD=4.17) and 6.6(SD=3.97) respectively.CONCLUSIONS:The knowledge and skills of midwives,nurses and residents about neonatal resuscitation were substandardized. Training of neonatal resuscitation for midwives,nurses and residents should be emphasized.

Curriculum Innovation in Language Teacher Education:Reflections on the PGDELT Program’s Contributions to EFL Teachers’Continuing Professional Development

Initial teacher preparation and teachers’ continuing professional development are two significant pillars of the teacher education enterprise. The former encompasses a wide range of teachereducation initiatives at the levels of diploma, bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma, and even master’s degree for teacher licensure purposes. These are widely documented in the literature.What is important is how teacher professional development contributes to bolstering the teachereducator force, which is relatively insufficiently documented due to the very fact that different educational systems have somewhat different expectations of such programs in relation to the ideologies and theories underpinning the teacher professional development program design and curriculum offering. Taking stock of a postgraduate diploma program in English language teaching(PGDELT) for teachers’ continuing professional development with a 31-year history housed at a premier teacher education institution in Singapore, which has successfully graduated over 1, 000 English language teachers for colleges and universities in China, I intend to highlight some of its key features, as a former student and then a lecturer on the program, in order to draw implications for sustainable growth of language teacher education programs, especially those whose main purposes are to prepare teachers of English as a second or foreign language(ESL/EFL) and provide continuing professional development opportunities for such inservice teachers.

Effectiveness of Using Project Method in Teaching Professional Foreign Language

The purpose of the paper is to demonstrate the effectiveness of using project method in teaching professional English in non-linguistic colleges. The main principles of project teaching, the technology of its adoption in teaching process, and some kinds of projects used in studying are reviewed. During the research the following methods were used： theoretical analysis, empirical, and statistical. While studying the course ＂Professional foreign language＂, the monitoring of effectiveness of project method use in teaching a foreign language was made. Monitoring was conducted under the following criteria： percent of progress, percent of quality of knowledge, and the level of motivation in studying English. The experience showed that in the process of project work learners＇ general educational abilities, special abilities, and communication abilities are developed.

Using critical thinking activities as tools to integrate language skills

Every day communication is an event in which there is an interactional relationship between interlocutors. This interaction needs whole language in which language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing; associated knowledge of vocabulary, meaning, syntax, etc.; and also, thinking skills are interwoven. This means that language should be kept whole and ＂if language isn＇t kept whole, it isn＇t language anymore＂ （Rigg, 1991, p. 522, cited in Richards ＆ Rodgers, 2001, p. 109）. In English as a Second Language/English Foreign Language （ESL/EFL） learning settings, improvement in one skill can affect the development of other skills. A particular course may highlight certain skills, but if the teacher is creative or specific tasks and problems are used in language learning settings, learners are provided with the opportunity to improve multiple, integrated skills. This paper aims at elaborating on critical thinking approach to language learning and introducing practical ideas for helping teachers to integrate language and thinking skills. It introduces 3 critical thinking activities （Dialogue journals, reading logs and literacy portfolios）, and also discusses how implementing them can serves as a way to integrate language skills. It also maintains that engaging learners in these activities helps them use authentic materials and solve problems of their own interest that in turn has a positive effect on student＇s motivation.

How to Develop Accuracy and Fluency in Speaking Skills in Second Language Classroom

This paper firstly defines the key concepts of accuracy and fluency in relation to the development of speaking skills. Then, consider the challenges presented to language teachers of ensuring that learners develop accuracy and complexity in their speaking, as well as fluency. Finally according to the teaching materials supplied, identify and evaluate the opportunities provided for the development of spoken accuracy and fluency, and explain how to exploit the materials to the fullest extent.

Effects of music therapy on mood,language,behavior,and social skills in children with autism：A meta-analysis

Objective：To investigate the effects of music therapy on mood,language,behavior,and social skills in children with autism.Methods：A literature search was conducted using the following Chinese databases：the China National Knowledge Infrastructure（CNKI）,Wanfang Data,the Chinese Biomedical Literature（CBM） Database,and the VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodicals Database.The search terms were ＂autistic children＂ or ＂children with autism＂ and ＂music therapy＂ or ＂music treatment.＂ Studies of randomized controlled trials（RCTs） were included,and each publication included was assessed for quality.A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1.Results：Publications were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.Six research articles describing RCTs were included;the total sample size was 300 patients.The results of meta-analysis showed that music therapy improved mood[Risk ratio（RR） = 3.02,95%confidence interval（CI）=1.93-4.11,Z=5.45,P〈 0.000 01]and behavior（RR=7.36,95%CI=4.28-10.44,Z=4.69,P=0.00001） in children with autism.Additionally,music therapy improved language（RR=4.05,95%CI=3.38-4.73,Z=11.71,P=0.000 01）,sensory perception（RR=4.62,95%CI=1.55-7.69,Z=2.95,P=0.003）,and social skills（RR=4.66,95%CI=1.90-7.42,Z=3.31,P=0.000 9） in children with autism.Conclusions：Music therapy can improve mood,language,sensory perception,behavior,and social skills in children with autism.

Promotion of Project-Based Learning Aimed at Professional Skills

Project-based learning theory is applied in Software English course. The aim is to develop students＇ professional skill. A professional skill scale of software engineer is introduced with Software English communicative skill （reading skill, writing skill, listening skill, and communicative skill）, engineering thinking habit （skill of design the plan and problem-solving skill）, engineering thinking skill, knowledge of software engineering, and Emotion Quotient to deal with problems （Team spirit and communicative skill and self-assessment skill）. For software majors, students learn about five stages and job responsibilities in software making process.

A Review and Reflection on the Cultivation of Normal Students’ Vocational Skills in Local Normal Universities under the Background of Teacher Training Professional Certification

Professional certification for students of educational majors provides a crucial guideline for the cultivation of teachers.The cornerstone of development for local normal universities is to uphold the characteristics of teacher education and highlight the history and tradition of teacher education,because the level of teacher vocational skills of students in normal universities has a direct impact on faculty strength of basic education.Consequently,based on an analysis of necessity and feasibility of teacher vocational skill training for students in normal universities amid the professional certification for students of educational majors in a new era,four approaches are proposed in this article as follows:(1)upholding the characteristics of cultivation of students of educational majors while optimizing curriculum planning;(2)innovating training methods for better guiding capacity;(3)coordinating training management for guaranteed education quality;(4)improving performance evaluation mechanism for a training path towards an assessment system.

Research on the Approaches of Improving Computer Majored Students Professional Skills under Human-priority Concept Perspective

In this paper, we conduct research on the approaches of improving the computer majored students professional skills under human-priority concept perspective. Along with the social economy high speed development, our country has entered the informationization, the networking, digital age, more and more people rely on computers to carry out the activities, the computer has completely integrated into the people work, study and life. At the same time, the rapid development of general information society makes the connection between the science and technology is more and more closely. From education itself level, skills contest for the establishment of the talents training goal of vocational education and general correction, through the interaction between higher vocational colleges to establish the corresponding talent training basic scheme. Our research starts from the core analysis of the human-priority concept to propose the approaches of improving the computer majored students professional skills that will promote the further development of the related students.

Using Facebook to Develop Grammar Discussion and Writing Skills in English as a Foreign Language for University Students

This study aimed at investigating the effect of Facebook on grammar discussion and writing skill in English as a foreign language for university students, The study sample consisted of 60 students at Oklt AI Sqoor College of Science and Arts in Saudi Arabia and was divided into two groups： 30 students for the experimental group and 30 students for the control group. The instrument of the study was an EFL grammar and writing test. Students in both the experimental and the control group were pre-tested using the EFL （English as a Foreign Language） grammar and writing test, After that the experimental group was taught using Facebook while the control group was taught using the traditional method. Finally, students in both groups were post-tested using the EFL grammar and writing test. Results of the study showed that the experimental group outperformed the control group in the post-test of EFL grammar and writing. This difference can be attributed to using Facebook.

Reflections on Language Testing——From the Perspective of Professional Training for Test Writers

This paper aims to talk about the superficial reflections on language testing from the perspective of professional training for test writers,to qualify test writers with basic testing theories,to make the test valid and reliable,to help improve educational reform and language teaching,to fully conform to the standards set by syllabus.

Curriculum Discourse and Foreign Language Teachers'Professional Development

The significance and status of the teachers'professional development make the education system and the society pay more and more attentions.The article elaborates the internal contact of curriculum discourse and teachers'professional development from a few respects such as the rationality of curriculum discourse,the long-term nature of the teachers'professional development and many factors affecting the teachers'professional development.The article also analyzes the external and internal factors influencing Tibet foreign language teachers'professional development,and puts forward the corresponding countermeasures in the light of these problems.

Rethinking Speaking Skills in EFL （English as a Foreign Language） Settings

The teaching of speaking has been neglected in EFL （English as a Foreign Language） settings throughout language history which led to negative effects on EFL teachers＇ and learners＇ attitudes. While teachers exhibit hesitation having no preset teaching paradigms at their disposal, learners experience withdrawal in speaking situations that demand interactional ease and socio-pragmatic awareness. Indeed, both the type of instruction and the complexity of this skill make of the teaching of spoken language a highly controversial issue especially with the implicit dichotomy that speaking entails and which opposes accurate mastery of linguistic patterns to ease or facility in meaning transmission. This paper aims at reconsidering the way this dormant skill has been tackled and the interfering variables that should be rethought and revisited while dealing with it.

Clinical Supervision and Non-Technical Professional Development Skills in the Context of Patient Safety—The Views of Nurse Specialist Students

The aim of the study was to evaluate nurse specialist students’ views of clinical supervision (CS) and its influence on their professional competence development. An additional aim was to interpret the results and link them to non-technical skills and Patient Safety (PS) topics. The research question was: What are the benefits of clinical supervision focusing on non-technical skills in the area of PS? A cross-sectional study of 46 nurse specialist students was conducted by means of questionnaires and exploratory factor analysis. Factors that influenced the nurse specialist students’ competencies were: interpersonal, professional and communication skills in addition to awareness of ethical skills, the importance of teamwork and the benefit of involving patients and their family members in safe care. The results were linked to non-technical skills and PS competencies. Clinical supervision is crucial for the development of non-technical skills and PS competencies among nurse specialist students. However, finding time to reflect and learn from the supervision was reported to be a problem. Over half of the students stated they did not have enough time for supervision. Thus, there is a potential for quality improvement. We recommend that universities should provide formal educational programmes for supervisors focusing on the professional development of students, especially in the area of non-technical skills. In conclusion, CS should be prioritised by management and clinical leaders as it enhances PS.

Chinese Language Teacher Professional Growth: A Case Study

Chinese language teachers grow with certain characteristics in their professional development.Knowing these characteristics can reveal a teacher’s developmental needs which can inform the teachers and the teacher development facilitators.This case study examines the professional development of one Chinese language teacher that works in a high school in the United States.The Five-Stage Theory is employed to direct the examination of the teacher’s growing path.Findings cover the challenges,efforts to cope with the changes,successes,and failures.

City Professionals Bring Their Skills to Countryside

In October 1995 eight departments of the central government and the Party central committee, including the Ministry of Culture and the CPC Publicity Department, jointly launched a national program to send culture （principally entertainment） to the countryside. In 1996, under the joint sponsorship of ten departments of the central authorities, the national program broadened to include science/technology and medical services. The program, known as ＂Three Things for the Countryside,＂ has been executed for ten years. How good is their effect？ What are peasants＇ reactions to the program？ To find an answer, these reporters have recently visited Tianjin, Hunan and Shandong.