Extraction of Robot Primitive Control Rules from Natural Language Instructions

A support vector rule based method is investigated for the construction of motion controllers via natural language training. It is a two-phase process including motion control information collection from natural language instructions, and motion information condensation with the aid of support vector machine （SVM） theory. Self-organizing fuzzy neural networks are utilized for the collection of control rules, from which support vector rules are extracted to form a final controller to achieve any given control accuracy. In this way, the number of control rules is reduced, and the structure of the controller tidied, making a controller constructed using natural language training more appropriate in practice, and providing a fundamental rule base for high-level robot behavior control. Simulations and experiments on a wheeled robot are carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the method.

Reuse of clips in cartoon animation based on language instructions

This paper describes a new framework for reusing hand-drawn cartoon clips based on language understanding ap- proach. Our framework involves two stages: a preprocessing phase, in which a hand-drawn clip library with mixed architecture is constructed, and the on-line phase, in which the domain dependent language instructions parsing is carried out and clips in the clip library are matched by use of some matching values calculated from the information derived from instruction parsing. An im- portant feature of our approach is its ability to preserve the artistic quality of clips in the produced cartoon animations.

The Influence of Combining Computer-Assisted Language Learning With Instruction on Chinese College Students’L2 Pragmatic Ability

In the area of computer-assisted language learning(CALL),although a number of studies have adopted various CALL-based devices(e.g.,blogs,gaming,and synthetic environments)to foster second language(L2)acquisition,the vital component of instruction has received little attention.The present study explored the usefulness of CALL-based communication in conjunction with instruction on EFL learners’L2 pragmatic development.Sixty-two EFL students from a university in China were recruited for the current research.The experimental group communicated with a native English speaker through synchronous messaging via Skype and had two instructional sessions pertinent to compliment responses,while the control group interacted with a native English speaker via Skype without having the teaching intervention.Findings from an independent samples t-test demonstrated that the experimental group produced significantly more proper compliment responses in the immediate posttest than the control group(p<.001).Moreover,a significant difference(p<.001)was found for the experimental group between the preintervention and delayed post-intervention mean scores,suggesting that CALL coupled with teaching intervention had a long-term impact on learners’L2 pragmatic development.These findings enrich our understanding of the beneficial and lasting influence of combining CALL with instruction on EFL students’pragmatic development.In addition,pedagogical implications for deploying CALL paired with L2 pragmatics instruction are provided.

Goal for language instruction： EFL learners＇ interlanguage

The goal of language instruction for EFL （English as a Foreign Language） learners has always been a hot topic in SLA （Second Language Acquisition）. First, Alan Davies＇s view to regard native speaker＇s proficiency as the goal of both L2 and EFL learners is retorted. And then another complete and realistic goal for EFL learners, that is, understandable and acceptable interlanguage of EFL learners themselves is sought out. Furthermore, the four characteristics of EFL learners＇ IL are to be summarized. Finally, one needs to notice the fact that interlanguage is dynamic and has a close relation to SLA and EFL study.

Using Focus-on-Form Instruction in the Second Language classroom

As applied teaching,it refers to focus-on-form instruction and focus-on-meaning instruction which have been used in the second language classroom.By analyzing what the effectiveness of focus-on-form instruction is,what the disadvantages of focus-on-meaning instruction are? Therefore,it makes the conclusion:focus-on-form instruction is better than focus-onmeaning instruction within the second language classroom.

The Effects of Integrating Language Learning Strategy into EFL Instruction for Non-English Major Students in Vocational Technical Colleges

Language learning strategies play an important role in language learning. Students in vocational technical colleges have been regarded as low English proficiency learners due to their weak foundation in learning English. To explore the solution, the present study employed a specific survey of language learning strategy use and tried to conduct a one-semester language learning strategy training, aiming to investigate the effects of integrating language learning strategy into EFL instruction for non-English major students in vocational technical colleges. We found after the instruction, the difference in the frequency of overall strategy use between the experimental group and the control group was significant indicating that the students could be trained with language learning strategies to enhance the frequency of their strategy use. After language learning strategy instruction, the experimental group didn＇t perform significantly better than the control group in terms of their English language proficiency. However, the results of this present study still supported this viewpoint that the strategy instruction had positive impacts to some extent if properly conducted, for it had positive effects on enhancing students＇ language learning strategy use.

An Assessment of English Instruction for Elementary-Level Students in Jeddah Governorate, as Perceived by English Supervisors and Educators

This study investigated the perceptions of English educators and supervisors in Jeddah Governorate regarding the process of teaching English to elementary students.A survey was conducted using a sample size of 94 educators and 10 supervisors.The data indicate that respondents considered English instruction at the elementary level essential for expanding kids’perspectives,improving academic performance,and promoting international involvement.The main advantages cited are the development of English language skills and the promotion of early education.Although not as easily noticeable,the disadvantages include potential negative impacts on an individual’s proficiency in Arabic and their sense of national identification.The highlighted challenges encompass insufficient teacher training,student reluctance towards English,limited resources,and school disparities.The proposed techniques focused on prioritizing English instructors’training,ensuring the use of appropriate content,utilizing technology,and promoting awareness of students and educators.The current research found different obstacles in teaching English at elementary stages.To overcome these obstacles,it will be essential to enhance teacher competencies,develop efficient teaching methods,get the backing of stakeholders,assign adequate resources,and carry out continuous evaluations.Further research can also contribute to a better understanding of how early English learning impacts on Arabic identity and proficiency.

Research on Instruments of Formative Assessment for Differentiated Language Teaching

Formative assessment is crucial to differentiated language teaching.To ensure the quality of differentiated teaching,some assessment instruments should be adopted during formative assessment,such as differentiated learning portfolios and group activity journal.The effective application of these instruments can also improve the students' autonomous language learning ability.

A Study on the Teachers'Code-switching in Vocational College Non-Eng lish Majors'English Instruction

This paper is designed to investigate the teachers'code-switching used in English instruction in vocational colleges and wants to make some efforts to the better understanding and use of code-switching and develop a positive attitude towards the code-switching in English teaching classroom.

Discussion on Form Focused Instruction

The pedagogy of language teaching has moved from one extreme-Grammar Translation Method to the other-Communicative Language Teaching.Today Form Focused Instruction(FFI) has emerged,intending to bring language forms instruction back to the communicative language classroom.Despite of the approval of this new approach,there is a hot dispute on its two types of application:Focus on Form or Focus on FormS.This article briefly analyzes FFI in recent research studies with focus on the choice between the two types of application.The tentative conclusion is FFI does show some explicit and reliable effects on accuracy and error elimination in language teaching;however,the investigation into its application is not simply either Focus on Form or Focus on FormS,but focuses on the optimal combination of the two in teaching.

Reading “the Word” and “the World”: Promoting Learner Agency through an Engagement Model of Literacy Instruction

Learning to read in English is not just about learning to decode words, but about learning to make sense of the world through the language. However, EFL reading instruction tends to focus on developing decoding and word knowledge in an isolated manner, neglecting learners’ sense making beyond the text. This text-based approach of reading instruction often leads to students’ low interest and engagement in English learning and low profi ciency in English achievement. Drawing on examples from current research and practices in K-12 schools in the U.S. and Canada, this paper introduces an engagement model of literacy instruction, INSPIRE, that focuses on involving students in reading and writing for meaningful purposes beyond learning to decode. This integrated model of literacy instruction capitalizes on students’ personal interests and lives of school, allows choices in materials, and follows students’ lead to promote learner agency for deeper learning and comprehension. When students are more engaged in learning the world through the words, they achieve better learning outcomes in both language skills and attitudes.

Research on the Generation Path of Heuristic Teaching Language Based on Positive Psychology Theory

As the essence of traditional Chinese educational thought,heuristic teaching has gradually enriched and devel-oped its ideas through the continuous efforts of educational researchers of the past dynasties.In front-line teach-ing,heuristic teaching,as a teaching principle that can help teachers and students to interact and learn,undoubtedly plays an important role in students’acquisition of knowledge and scientific thinking activities.But teachers’understanding of heuristic teaching is not the same.In actual teaching,there are obvious gaps in language ability among different teachers.This research aims to enrich the heuristic teaching theory based on the perspective of psychology,and provide a certain theoretical basis for teacher training.Through the research and analysis of the generation path of the heuristic teaching language,this paper helps more teachers realize the advantages of the heuristic teaching language,improve their own heuristic teaching language level,and provide reference for the scientific teaching evaluation standard.We apply the heuristic instruction language approach proposed in this study and apply it to real classrooms.In the application,it can be clearly found that the students’thinking and participation have been strengthened,and the teaching effect has been significantly improved com-pared with the past,which indicates that the heuristic teaching language generation path in this study has certain practical application value.

A study on needs analysis of learners of Turkish language

This paper reports a small-scale study of needs analysis of leamers of Turkish as a foreign language at University of Florida. Needs analysis is described in the context of foreign language learning as ＂a systematic and ongoing process of gathering information about students＇ needs and preferences, interpreting the information and then making course decisions in order to meet those needs＂ （Graves, 2000, p. 74）. Because foreign language instruction has become much more learner-centered in recent years, needs analysis is a must for effective learning processes to occur （LONG, 1999, 2005; Kikuchi ＆ Apple, 2006）. In this context, the purpose of this pilot study is to gather information about the students＇ needs in learning Turkish at Center for European Studies, where less commonly taught languages, including Czech, Greek, Hungarian and Polish are offered. Drawing on interview data compiled from a number of studies （Tarone ＆ Yule, 1989; LI ＆ Richards, 1995）, the findings indicate that the students＇ needs may be grouped under four categories including their linguistic needs, their objectives in learning Turkish, learning resources, psychological and sociological factors that may impact their learning experiences. In the light of the interview findings, certain suggestions as to how to teach Turkish effectively are made.

Is Comprehension Adequate for a Reading Class: An Expanded View of Reading Instruction

A teaching activity usually found in English reading class is that teacher tells students to read a comprehension passage within a timeframe and then checks their comprehension by going through their answers. This teaching activity can be called comprehension-based instruction. Although it is favored by many English teachers, its effectiveness is open to question. This paper mainly evaluates this teaching activity critically by drawing on some reading theories and some research findings and discusses the inadequacy of it. what's more, this paper suggests an expanded view of reading instruction which not only emphasize comprehension but also help develop students' strategic competence and overall language proficiency.

A Case Study of Language Policies in Hong Kong

Hong Kong belongs to China. However, Hong Kong has been a colony of the British Empire for 154 years and 11 months and it has been under Japan rule for three years and eight years. Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. Its special history has significant influence on the language development in Hong Kong. During the period of British Empire, the popularity of Christianity, the commercial usefulness of English and high prestige in the society have resulted in the widely spread of English.In addition, English-medium education is in a relatively high state under the colonial regime while Chinese-medium education to some extent is not emphasized. The government has ruled that if parents would like their children to be educated in a good government school, they need to receive English-medium education. Consequently, the majority of parents would like their children to be educated by English. Apart from that, English has a legal status as an official language during British Colonialism period in Hong Kong. Lastly, some scholars supported the existence of a new English variety in Hong Kong(Hong Kong English), but others do not believe that. The requirements of language policies and the process of language spread in Hong Kong could be explained using some theories such as‘linguistic imperialism',‘Kachru's concentric circles' and‘Schneider's five stages'. For instance, from Kachru's perspective, the development of English in Hong Kong could be placed at the beginning of the third stage.It will firstly demonstrate some primary language policies in Hong Kong before its‘Handover'to China. And then, it will show several significant language spread theories and focus on relating them to the requirements of language policies and the process of language spread in Hong Kong.

Technology-Assisted Reading Instruction for English Language Learners:A Methodological Review

Purpose:By methodologically reviewing the literature on Technology-Assisted Reading Instruction(TARI)for English Language Learners(ELLs)in K-12 settings,this study aims to advance the knowledge of TARI research and guide future research directions.Design/Approach/Methods:This study examines 32 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2000 and 2020.Each article was analyzed for research objectives,reading skills,learner demographics and contexts,theoretical frameworks,research designs,and outcomes.Findings:A review of the literature reveals a strong focus on evaluating the efficacy of TARI through summative assessments,but limited attention to learners'literacy practices and interactive engagement in digital contexts.Additionally,there is a marked lack of alternative approaches to assessing the effectiveness of technology in promoting ELLs'reading progression and a continued emphasis on developing traditional literacy over multimodal literacy.TARI can enhance reading motivation,foster collaborative learning,provide scaffolding,improve reading performance,andexpand semiotic resources.Originality/Value:As one of the first comprehensive methodological reviews of TARl,this study elucidates ELL reading education in the era of multiliteracy.Results have implications for technology-mediated education,which expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Differentiated Use of the Cross-Lingual Strategy in Foreign Language Teaching： A Grounded Theory

Despite its potential in foreign language education, the cross-lingual strategy has been marginalized and stigmatized in many EFL contexts including language education in private language schools of Iran. This study aims to uncover the facilitative role of the cross-lingual strategy in foreign language instruction by theorizing experienced language teachers＇ practice. To this end, some experienced teachers were selected in line with the sampling procedures of Grounded Theory from famous English language institutes of Tehran, the capital city of lran. Iterative data collection and analysis revealed that first language use can be differentiated based on learners＇ level of proficiency. For the beginners, it can be used to present classroom management rules, provide learners with the necessary classroom language and establish rapport. Similarly, at intermediate level LI can be used to check mastery over the teaching points, give vocabulary equivalents, and explain writing rules. As for advanced learners, it can be used to explain the subtleties of grammar and provide learners with ideas to participate in classroom discussion and text processing.

Teachers' Perspective on Language Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition

"Teaching how to learn"has become very popular nowadays,and it is also very important to explore language learn ing strategies(LLS) in second language acquisition(SLA). Teachers' perspective will greatly affect the result of strategy instruction and training and how to help students acquire second language effectively is worthy researching.

Language Learner Strategies in Second Language Teaching

Language learner strategies, which are closely associated with second language teaching, have experienced great devel?opment in the fields of theory-building and instructional practices since the 1970s. By reviewing previous research, pedagogical enlightenments can be drawn to the current English language teaching.

Pragmatic Transfer and Foreign Language Proficiency A Study Based on Chinese EFL Learners ＇ Refusal

The present study is designed to investigate the relationship between pragmatic transfer and foreign language proficiency so as to test the hypotheses of previous researchers on this issue.The result indicates that evidence of pragmatic transfer exists in the refusals of learners’English at all three proficiency levels.Furthermore,pragmatic transfer increases as learners’proficiency increases.This phenomenon is possibly related to the traditional English teaching mode in China which put much attention to grammar and form instead of communicative and pragmatic competence development.To solve such problem,pragmatic instruction of English need be advocated:learners’pragmatic awareness should be developed as early as possible and pragmatic knowledge need be added all through the process of language teaching.