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- Volume 31, Issue, 2008
Australian Review of Applied Linguistics - Volume 31, Issue 2, 2008
Volume 31, Issue 2, 2008
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Exploring the acquisition of German verb morphology by instructed learners
Author(s): Bettina Bosspp.: 14.1–14.13 (1.0300000000000011)More LessResearch into the acquisition of L2 German word order has provided strong evidence for a sequence of incremental stages of development. Studies of the acquisition of German verb morphology so far have focused on establishing a correlation between the acquisition of word order and of verb morphology, neglecting the question how verb morphology per se is acquired. This article discusses the latter question on the basis of a qualitative analysis of longitudinal written data produced by 15 anglophone university students. It confirms some of the results of earlier studies involving tutored learners of German, such as Pienemann (1987) and Diehl et al. (2000), and provides evidence for a sequence of acquisition, as well as for a more holistic development for certain verb classes. Although most of the subjects produce perfect tense before preterite, the article suggests that teaching the preterite before the perfect tense may be feasible. It also draws attention to the importance of morphosyntactic features affecting subject-verb agreement, and calls for more research in that area.
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Antecedents and consequences of TESOL student expectations
Author(s): Sarbari Bordia, Lynn Wales, Cindy Gallois and Jeffery Pittampp.: 15.1–15.18 (1.08)More LessAffective variables can help understand differences in student performance. This paper presents student expectations as an affective variable that has so far received little research attention. Students have expectations from educational providers, the fulfilment of which can create a positive learning environment leading to better performance. This study investigates students’ expectations from programs, the sources of these expectations and the outcomes of unmet expectations. A questionnaire was administered to learners of English as an additional language (n=65) in Brisbane, Australia. Factor analyses were conducted, and the results indicated that expectations are affected by levels of competitiveness, the educational and cultural gap between the home country and Australia, future orientation, and social value in the homeland. Unmet expectations affect performance, emotions, learning behaviour and cause rebelliousness. Followup interviews of teachers (n=10) at the same institutions were conducted to validate the results of the study. Students are likely to exhibit poorer performance and experience negative affective outcomes, thus hindering learning, if expectations are unmet. They may consider changing institutions and providing negative recommendations to prospective students. This research extends the understanding of affective variables in second language acquisition and has practical implications for educational providers.
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The effects of music, relaxation and suggestion on tertiary students’ affect and achievement in learning Japanese as a foreign language
Author(s): Kuninori Shimbopp.: 16.1–16.22 (1.1199999999999974)More LessThis study investigates the effects of the three major factors of Suggestopedia – music, relaxation and suggestion – on the students’ affect and development of communicative competence in tertiary Japanese language classes. A review of literature on Suggestopedia, the original form of Accelerated Learning (AL), shows that its effects are controversial, surrounded by misunderstanding and lack of appropriate evaluation. There is a need to clarify the nature of AL and the effects of its factors. Two existing classes were randomly assigned as a control group (n = 29) and an experimental group (n = 25). This quasi-experimental study lasted for 12 weeks with 3 stages of 4 weeks each. The results of t-tests showed that there existed no major significant differences between the two groups. When differences between each stage were examined carefully, however, it was found that self-concept increased significantly with the introduction of suggestion. The findings did not support the general claims that AL has positive effects on language learning, but it was found that among the three independent variables suggestion influenced students’ affect positively. The finding implies that the teacher’s positive messages are powerful tools to enhance students’ affect in learning a foreign language.
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Motivational and cultural correlates of second language acquisition
Author(s): Baohua Yu and David A. Watkinspp.: 17.1–17.22 (1.1199999999999974)More LessThe present study investigates the relationships among motivational factors, cultural correlates and second language proficiency. The participants, from both Western and Asian backgrounds, were learning Chinese at university level in the People’s Republic of China. 115 students (35 Western students and 80 Asian students) ranging from beginning to advanced levels of proficiency were surveyed.
The results of the study indicated that the degree of integrativeness into Chinese culture and motivation was significantly and positively related to Chinese language proficiency, while language anxiety was significantly and negatively correlated to such proficiency. However instrumental orientation was found to have no statistically significant relationship with such proficiency. Multiple regression analysis indicated that integrativeness and gender were major variables predicting Chinese language proficiency. Significant differences between Western and Asian student groups were found in terms of motivational variables and Chinese language proficiency. Compared with the Asian student group, the Western student group tended to perform better in spoken Chinese proficiency as evaluated by their teachers and seemed to have higher levels of motivation and integrativeness but lower levels of instrumental orientation and language anxiety. Recommendations are made to enhance motivation and second language acquisition.
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Code choice in Hong Kong
Author(s): Judy Woon Yee Hopp.: 18.1–18.17 (1.0700000000000003)More LessChina resumed its sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997. Since then drastic changes in this former British colony have occurred. One of these changes is a shift in language policy, from bilingualism (Cantonese and English) to trilingualism (Cantonese, English and Putonghua). The present study is aimed at investigating tertiary students’ use of Cantonese, English and Putonghua on a daily basis, analysing the roles and functions of each language and discussing how these may impact on language policy and language education.
Research instruments included 52 students’ language diaries and written analyses, 51 hours of audio-recordings of verbal exchanges, and focus group semi-structured interviews. Results show that the students’ speech repertoire mainly consists of two languages: Cantonese and English and their various mixes. Cantonese is used to ensure understanding, consolidate solidarity and maintain social cohesion. The English-Cantonese mix has become a more powerful identity marker for educated people in Hong Kong than pure Cantonese. English and its supplement with Cantonese are often used in the domain of education. The majority of students seldom use Putonghua in everyday life, but there is a strong instrumental motivation to learn it. Measures are suggested to facilitate a more successful move from bilingualism to trilingualism.
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Delivering subject choice and quality assurance in specialised disciplines
Author(s): Kerry Dunnepp.: 19.1–19.11 (1.009999999999998)More LessUsing a new model of subject delivery, the University of New England (UNE–Armidale, Australia) offers specialist subjects at partner or host institutions. The model is a modified version of distance education. It is designed to meet the needs of on-campus students who wish to study a subject that their university is unable to offer as a full internal program. Students are enrolled as students of the partner institution, but the content of the courses, the teaching and assessment are the responsibility of UNE staff. The model is attractive to students and to tertiary administrators of both the host and provider universities. For students the model offers greater subject choice and flexibility; for tertiary administrators at the host institution there is built-in quality assurance and continuity of subject offerings, and for UNE an opportunity to develop a new market for distance education and to ensure the survival of low enrolment specialist language subjects
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Literacy skills of bachelor of education (primary) students
Author(s): Anne Thwaitepp.: 20.1–20.15 (1.0499999999999972)More LessThis article describes a project which identified the skills and abilities in written literacy of preservice teachers, as well as their needs in this area. An intervention to address their needs is evaluated and its outcomes assessed, using a combination of quantitative and qualitative analyses. Results show that it is possible to improve these students’ literacy skills and awareness even with such a short intervention as is described here. However, the intervention was most successful in dealing with lower-level linguistic variables such as punctuation and spelling, in contrast to higher-level text and paragraph structures.
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Review of Marriott, H., T. Moore & R. Spence-Brown, eds (2007) Learning Discourses and the Discourses of Learning
Author(s): Rachel Varshneypp.: 21.1–21.3 (1.1999999999999993)More Less
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Review of Duff, Patricia A. (2007) Case study research in applied linguistics
Author(s): Brigitte Lambertpp.: 22.1–22.4 (1.2999999999999972)More Less
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Review of Woodward-Kron, R., J. Hamilton, I. Rischin & L. Remedios (2008) I’m feeling a bit crook
Author(s): Rachel Varshneypp.: 23.1–23.3 (1.1999999999999993)More Less
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Review of Christie, F. & J.R. Martin, Eds (2007) Language, Knowledge and Pedagogy
Author(s): Pauline Jonespp.: 24.1–24.5 (1.3999999999999986)More Less
Volumes & issues
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Volume 47 (2024)
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Volume 46 (2023)
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Volume 45 (2022)
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Volume 44 (2021)
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Volume 43 (2020)
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Volume 42 (2019)
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Volume 41 (2018)
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Volume 40 (2017)
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Volume 39 (2016)
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Volume 38 (2015)
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Volume 37 (2014)
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Volume 36 (2013)
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Volume 35 (2012)
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Volume 34 (2011)
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Volume 33 (2010)
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Volume 32 (2009)
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Volume 31 (2008)
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Volume 30 (2007)
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Volume 29 (2006)
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Volume 28 (2005)
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Volume 27 (2004)
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Volume 26 (2003)
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Volume 25 (2002)
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Volume 24 (2001)
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Volume 23 (2000)
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Volume 22 (1999)
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Volume 21 (1998)
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Volume 20 (1997)
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Volume 19 (1996)
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Volume 18 (1995)
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Volume 17 (1994)
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Volume 16 (1993)
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Volume 15 (1992)
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Volume 14 (1991)
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Volume 13 (1990)
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Volume 12 (1989)
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Volume 11 (1988)
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Volume 10 (1987)
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Volume 9 (1986)
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Volume 8 (1985)
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Volume 7 (1984)
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Volume 6 (1983)
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Volume 5 (1982)
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Volume 4 (1981)
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Volume 3 (1980)
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Volume 2 (1979)
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Volume 1 ([1978, 1977])
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Volume 1 ([1978, 1977])
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The focus group interview
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The changing face of motivation
Author(s): Elizabeth Campbell and Neomy Storch
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