Research on the Status Quo and Improvement Needs of Foreign Language Teachers’ Teaching Competence in Curriculum-Based Ideological Education in Xinjiang Colleges and Universities

This study investigated the status quo and further improvement needs of foreign language teachers’teaching competence in curriculum-based ideological education(CIE)in Xinjiang colleges and universities.The results show that the teachers’teaching competence in CIE is generally good,with the“cultivating quality”being the highest and the“scientific research quality”the lowest;there still exist several problems,such as teachers’lack of theoretical knowledge in CIE,lack of teaching resources,and insufficient abilities in teaching design and research.It is hoped that with the support and efforts from university administrations,teachers can improve their teaching competence in CIE through various approaches adopted and multiple measures taken,thus optimizing their teaching effectiveness,promoting the construction of CIE in Xinjiang colleges and universities in the new era,and contributing to Xinjiang’s high-quality development.

How Teachers' Attitudes During Error Treatment May Influence Students' Oral English Competence

Usually, Chinese EFL students make satisfactory progress in reading, grammar and writing. However, it is very difficult for them to transmit messages, exchange thoughts in English. I conducted a questionnaire in Inner Mongolia Teachers’ University and found out that when the students come to speak English, they tend to appear frustrated, lack confidence on the grounds of fear of making errors, which may be closely related to the teachers’ attitudes towards students’ errors. Therefore, it is essential for English teachers to have proper attitudes to errors in English teaching. The paper discusses some important strategies on whether, when and how speaking errors should be corrected based on some researchers’ views and on a small scale of experiment for the purpose of helping teachers deal with students’ errors effectively in communication.

Investigating L2 Request Strategies: A Case Study of Chinese English teachers' L2 Pragmatic Competence

Empirical descriptions of how the teacher performs requests in English can make them realize the importance of improving pragmatic competence, so that they could help students develop more native-like pragmatic behaviors and enhance cultural competence. This case study is to explore the pragmatic competence of a Chinese EFL teacher by investigating the patterns of realization strategies and the ways of reacting to the different social and contextual variables in her requests. It was found out that the teacher investigated in the study had good pragmatic awareness and pragmatic competence to produce the speech act of requests and develop students' pragmatic competence, but more explicit instructions should be provided to help students develop more native-like speech acts by providing more explicit instructions.

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.

Competence of clinical teachers:A survey on perception of masters of nursing specialist postgraduates, their clinical teachers, and head nurses

Objectives:To explore the current admittance situation of clinical teachers for masters of nursing specialist(MNS)postgraduates and to test the competence of clinical teachers in self-evaluation and other evaluations.Methods:In this cross-sectional study,using a random number table,we chose 80 MNS postgraduates under clinical practice,their clinical teachers,and head nurses each from six hospitals in Hunan and Guangdong.The participants were tested on the basis of the Clinical Teachers'Competence Inventory of MNS Postgraduates.The competences of clinical teachers were evaluated by the three groups of participants.Results:The aggregated scores of teacher competence as evaluated by the MNS postgraduates(181.33±24.95)were lower than those assigned by both clinical teachers(190.75±24.30)and their head nurses(198.53±18.90),with significant differences in all dimensions except for clinical managing ability.The five highest rated items from all participants focused on the teachers'clinical nursing ability,and the five lowest rated items were mainly about their clinical research ability.Conclusion:The evaluation from MNS postgraduates is obviously lower than the self-evaluation of clinical teachers,and all participants are aware of the deficiency in research ability of the teachers.Thus,the admittance and examination of clinical teachers should be controlled strictly.Training should be carried out immediately to strengthen their comprehensive abilities,especially their research ability.

Chinese EFL Teachers' Pragmatic Competence in China

The focus of this study is to outline the survey results carried out on the pragmatic competence of the High School Chinese EFL Teachers in China. The research participants in this study comprised of 40 teachers. The tools used to carry out the research included: a) a questionnaire made up of two parts: the background information of the respondents, and the Multiple Choice Discourse Completion Test(MDCT).b) the retrospective interview questions. The main purpose of the MDCT is to examine the level of pragmatic competence of the teachers by analyzing their practical shortcomings. On analyzing the results on the data collected from the teachers, the extent of the Chinese EFL teacher's pragmatic competence was observed. Analysis of the answers obtained from the teachers also implied how the High School EFL teachers can help in developing the level of the student's pragmatic competence. The analysis of the results showed the various responses to the questionnaire questions based on the items of the speeches showing the different points of weakness that need to be improved.

Reflection on Core Competence of College Teachers Under the New Situation

＂Core competence＂ has been introduced to the field of education in the early twenty-first century and directly points to teachers. In college, teacher＇s core competence is their ability to integrate different aspects of knowledge and capacities, as well as keep continuous advantages in competitions. Core competence is the core and nature of teacher＇s professional competition. Therefore, cultivating and strengthening their core competence is the key to promote their professional development.

Pre-service Teachers’ Beliefs of Competence With Teaching Socially Sensitive Issues

This paper is part of a larger cross-sectional, phenomenological study that examined pre-service teachers’ belief of the competencies they possess to teach socially sensitive issues at secondary level in Trinidad and Tobago. Purposive sampling resulted in 39 pre-service social studies teachers (Years 2 to 4) who were exposed to a methodology course in a social studies specialisation programme and nine social studies lecturers, at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. The study is located in the mixed methods paradigm, with a quan/QUAL design. This paper represents discussions and findings from two questionnaires and four focus groups analysed through the IBM SPSS Statistics 22 software for the quantitative analysis and content and micro-interlocutor analyses for the qualitative analysis. The findings show that pre-service teachers believe they have the competencies to teach socially sensitive issues;yet they had not obtained these from the designated methodology course. Further that both contextual and personal factors affect the teaching of socially sensitive issues. Six themes, with accompanying competencies emerge from the data and frame affective teaching of socially sensitive issues. Arising out of the findings, the author developed a competency-based framework that has implications for curriculum development and transformational pedagogy.

On Competences Required for EFL Teachers in Secondary School

With the implementation of English Curriculum Standard for Senior High School,core competence,a vital construct in deepening curriculum reforms,has been brought into the spotlight,which attaches importance to cultivating students’key competences so as to realize the value of people cultivation.In another angle,the continuous intensification of education reform poses more demands on the faculty.What competences required for EFL teachers worth taking into consideration seriously.The paper elaborates required competences for EFL teachers hoping to offer pragmatic suggestions for EFL teachers in the perspective of professional development.

A Study on the Theory and Application of English Teachers’Cross-Cultural Competence in Private Colleges and Universities in the Context of“Internet+”

In China’s higher education system,the faculty and teaching quality of private colleges and universities have been consistently enhanced,as they play an essential role in the training of professional talents.In the context of“Internet+”and through a detailed analysis of the cross-cultural competence of English teachers in private colleges and universities in China,this paper discusses the necessity and feasibility of cultivating college teachers’cross-cultural thinking to constantly optimize and perfect the strategies for cross-cultural competence,as well as improve the practical application level of English teachers’cross-cultural knowledge theory,so that English teachers can be exposed to the latest educational ideas,constantly broaden their cultural horizons,strengthen professional sensitivity and environmental adaptability,pay attention to local culture,optimize critical thinking,and improve cultural literacy,thus laying a solid foundation for an all-round experience of cross-cultural communication.

On the Development of Teachers’ Competence in Local Open Universities under the Impact of MOOCs

With the rapid development of network technology and digital construction,the era of“Internet+”has come,and“MOOCs”has brought a new revolution to education circles.The Open University,which takes modern distance education as its basic education model,has put forward higher requirements for its teachers’competence.This paper analyzes the difficulties of teachers’competence under the impact of“Internet+”in order to improve the development of teachers’competence in local Open University.

Development and validation of a novel questionnaire regarding vision screening among preschool teachers in Malaysia

AIM:To develop and evaluate the validity and reliability of a knowledge,attitude,and practice questionnaire related to vision screening(KAP-VST)among preschool teachers in Malaysia.METHODS:The questionnaire was developed through a literature review and discussions with experts.Content and face validation were conducted by a panel of experts(n=10)and preschool teachers(n=10),respectively.A pilot study was conducted for construct validation(n=161)and test-retest reliability(n=60)of the newly developed questionnaire.RESULTS:Based on the content and face validation,71 items were generated,and 68 items were selected after exploratory factor analysis.The content validity index for items(I-CVI)score ranged from 0.8-1.0,and the content validity index for scale(S-CVI)/Ave was 0.99.Internal consistency was KR^(2)0=0.93 for knowledge,Cronbach’s alpha=0.758 for attitude,and Cronbach’s alpha=0.856 for practice.CONCLUSION:The KAP-VST is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing knowledge,attitude,and practice in relation to vision screening among preschool teachers in Malaysia.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Overweight and Obesity among Public Secondary School Teachers in Parakou, Benin, in 2021

Introduction: Overweight and obesity represent a public health problem in Africa due to the epidemiological transition. The objectives of this work were to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and to identify associated factors among public secondary school teachers in Parakou, Benin in 2021. Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. Teachers working in public secondary schools in Parakou during the 2020-2021 academic year, present at work and who gave their written informed consent, were included. A two-stage random sampling was carried out. Data were collected during an individual interview using a questionnaire followed by the measurement of anthropometric parameters and blood pressure. Overweight and obesity were defined by a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify associated factors. Results: A sample of 325 teachers, including 88.6% of men, was recruited with an average age of 36.2 ± 6.8 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 43.7% (95% CI [38.1%-44.8%]). It increased significantly with income (p Conclusion: The results show a high prevalence of overweight and obesity. Actions are necessary to prevent overweight and obesity among secondary school teachers in Parakou, in Benin.

The Influence of Preschool Teachers’Social Skills on Job Burnout:A Moderated Mediation Model

Background:Teacher burnout is a serious issue in the field of education,particularly in early childhood education,where teachers face high levels of work stress and emotional labor,leading to emotional exhaustion and job burnout.However,past research has not sufficiently explored the mechanisms of social skills,empathy,and mindfulness in mitigating teacher burnout.Therefore,this study aims to investigate the relationship between preschool teachers’social skills,empathy,and mindfulness with job burnout,in order to provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for reducing teacher burnout.Methods:This research utilized a convenience sampling approach to target preschool teachers for a questionnaire survey.A total of 1109 questionnaires were collected.To ensure the quality of the data,we excluded questionnaires that were not carefully filled out in terms of lie scale questions,those with abnormal demographic variables,and outliers identified based on response time.Ultimately,901 valid questionnaires were obtained,achieving a valid response rate of 81.2%.Participants’levels of social skills,empathy,mindfulness,and job burnout were assessed using the Social Skills Scale(SKS),Empathy Scale(Measure of Empathy,ME),Mindful Attention Awareness Scale(MAAS),and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey(MBI-ES),respectively.Data analysis was conducted using SPSS.Results:After controlling for gender,age,teaching experience,educational level,grade taught,and location of the kindergarten,the study found:(1)There is a negative correlation between preschool teachers’social skills and the level of job burnout(r=−0.238);(2)Empathy has a dual-track effect on job burnout,where cognitive empathy negatively affects job burnout(r=−0.245),while emotional empathy has a positive effect(r=0.045);(3)Cognitive empathy partially mediates the relationship between social skills and job burnout(β=−0.124);(4)Mindfulness significantly impacts social skills,cognitive empathy,and job burnout(r=0.278;r=0.286;r=−0.539),and plays a moderating role in the mediation model(β=0.003;β=−0.023).Conclusion:These findings provide theoretical support for the development of burnout prevention and intervention strategies targeted at preschool teachers.They also point out new directions for future research and potential intervention targets,suggesting that enhancing preschool teachers’social skills and cognitive empathy,as well as increasing their mindfulness level,can help them cope with work-related stress and emotional labor,thereby alleviating job burnout.

Geriatric nursing competence of clinical nursing staff at different hospital levels in Chongqing,China:A cross-sectional study

Objectives:This study aimed to survey the geriatric nursing competencies of clinical nursing staff in Chongqing City,China,and provide suggestions to enhance these competencies.Methods:This study was conducted in 204 hospitals in Southwest China from December 24,2022 to January 7,2023.The“Geriatric Nursing Competence of Clinical Nurse Investigation Tool”was used to explore factors that influence geriatric nurses’competencies via stratified sampling.The survey was conducted by distributing and collecting questionnaires through the online platform Wenjuanxing.Results:A total of 10,692 nurses answered the questionnaires.Of these questionnaires,9,442 were valid.The total geriatric nursing competence score of the clinical nursing staff was 2.29±0.81,the secondary hospital score was 2.23±0.78,and the tertiary hospital’s overall mean score was 2.33±0.83.The factors that influenced secondary hospitals included the department of medicine,age of nurses and total length of career(P<0.05).The factors that influenced tertiary hospitals included the department of medicine,age of nurses,nurses’professional title,and geriatric practical advanced nurses’certification(P<0.05).Conclusions:Geriatric nursing competence among clinical nursing staff is imbalanced at a lower-middle level and is influenced by various factors.Thefindings highlight the need for further clinical training in geriatric nursing.The training of geriatric nurses should focus on necessary clinical skills and on preparing them to adequately manage comprehensive geriatric syndromes.

LDAS&ET-AD:Learnable Distillation Attack Strategies and Evolvable Teachers Adversarial Distillation

Adversarial distillation(AD)has emerged as a potential solution to tackle the challenging optimization problem of loss with hard labels in adversarial training.However,fixed sample-agnostic and student-egocentric attack strategies are unsuitable for distillation.Additionally,the reliability of guidance from static teachers diminishes as target models become more robust.This paper proposes an AD method called Learnable Distillation Attack Strategies and Evolvable Teachers Adversarial Distillation(LDAS&ET-AD).Firstly,a learnable distillation attack strategies generating mechanism is developed to automatically generate sample-dependent attack strategies tailored for distillation.A strategy model is introduced to produce attack strategies that enable adversarial examples(AEs)to be created in areas where the target model significantly diverges from the teachers by competing with the target model in minimizing or maximizing the AD loss.Secondly,a teacher evolution strategy is introduced to enhance the reliability and effectiveness of knowledge in improving the generalization performance of the target model.By calculating the experimentally updated target model’s validation performance on both clean samples and AEs,the impact of distillation from each training sample and AE on the target model’s generalization and robustness abilities is assessed to serve as feedback to fine-tune standard and robust teachers accordingly.Experiments evaluate the performance of LDAS&ET-AD against different adversarial attacks on the CIFAR-10 and CIFAR-100 datasets.The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves a robust precision of 45.39%and 42.63%against AutoAttack(AA)on the CIFAR-10 dataset for ResNet-18 and MobileNet-V2,respectively,marking an improvement of 2.31%and 3.49%over the baseline method.In comparison to state-of-the-art adversarial defense techniques,our method surpasses Introspective Adversarial Distillation,the top-performing method in terms of robustness under AA attack for the CIFAR-10 dataset,with enhancements of 1.40%and 1.43%for ResNet-18 and MobileNet-V2,respectively.These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method in enhancing the robustness of deep learning networks(DNNs)against prevalent adversarial attacks when compared to other competing methods.In conclusion,LDAS&ET-AD provides reliable and informative soft labels to one of the most promising defense methods,AT,alleviating the limitations of untrusted teachers and unsuitable AEs in existing AD techniques.We hope this paper promotes the development of DNNs in real-world trust-sensitive fields and helps ensure a more secure and dependable future for artificial intelligence systems.

The Emergence of Loving Pedagogy in the L2 Affective Domain:How Affective Pedagogy Accounts for Chinese EFL Teachers’Professional Success and Job Satisfaction?

The success of teachers in professional environments has a desirable influence on their mental condition.Simply said,teachers’professional success plays a crucial role in improving their mental health.Due to the invaluable role of professional success in teachers’mental health,personal and professional variables helping teachers succeed in their profession need to be uncovered.While the role of teachers’personal qualities has been well researched,the function of professional variables has remained unknown.To address the existing gap,the current investigation measured the role of two professional variables,namely job satisfaction and loving pedagogy,in Chinese EFL teachers’professional success.To do this,three validated scales were provided to 1591 Chinese EFL teachers.Participants’answers to the questionnaires were analyzed using the Spearman correlation test and structural equation modeling.The data analysis demonstrated a strong,positive link between the variables.Moreover,loving pedagogy was found to be the positive,strong predictor of Chinese EFL teachers’job satisfaction and professional success.The findings of the current inquiry may help educational administrators enhance their instructors’professional success,which in turn promotes their mental and psychological conditions at work.

A Comparative Study of the L2 Pragmatic Competence of University Students in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland:The Contributions of Sociocultural Context and Linguistic Proficiency

This study investigates the differences in pragmatic competence between Hong Kong and Chinese mainland university students.Participants included 19 native speakers of English,115 Chinese mainland students,divided into those who had spent time abroad in an English-speaking country(CM A)and those who had not(CM NA),and 97 Hong Kong students,divided into those from an English-medium secondary school(Hong Kong EMI)and those from a Chinese-medium school(Hong Kong CMI).Linguistic proficiency was measured by a C-test,and pragmatic competence by a Metapragmatic Knowledge Test,an Irony Test and a Monologic Role Play.Group scores were compared using ANCOVAs to control for differences in proficiency.The results point to a continuum of pragmatic competence—EMI>CMI>CM A>CM NA—reflecting the groups’access to English in real-life contexts.The differences between the Hong Kong groups and the Chinese mainland groups were clearest in those tests measuring processing capacity(i.e.,Irony Response Time and the Monologic Role Play).CM A,but not CM NA,performed as well as the Hong Kong groups on measures of metapragmatic awareness.The results are discussed in terms of Bialystok’s(1993)distinction between analyzed representation and control of processing.

Teachers’Perception for Evaluation of the Primary School Students With Final Grade

The most difficult and delicate part of the learning process is assessment.Assessment is difficult because during his/her accomplishment the teacher has to consider not only the acquisition of knowledge from students,but also the overall degree of development of their competencies.It is delicate,because through assessment we can influence the emotional side of students and their“willingness”to learn.Despite these facts,teachers need to evaluate students during the learning process.The purpose of the research is to find out what is the perception of teachers about the level of evaluation of students with final grade.The overall results showed that 89%of teachers agree,9%of them have a neutral attitude,and 2%do not agree that the evaluation of students with a final grade is done taking into account many aspects and using many methods,the overall average of the results,M=4.36.Based on the empirical results,it was found that teachers who have completed assessment training have a more positive approach to student assessment,as the average score is higher than teachers who have not completed assessment training.From the qualitative results it was understood that the Teachers did not encounter any difficulties during the assessment of the students.