This study advocates for the central quality of the language tests and their validity and aims to investigate the content validity of the use of the English part of the achievement tests administered to the first- and second-year students of General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. The tests were given in the form of the final examination of the English language course in order to find out if the papers' content corresponded to the descriptors of the European language levels specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the Europass on which the course syllabus was based. Seeking to examine the content validity, the study analyses the papers in terms of the task types and linguistic – grammatical and lexical – knowledge tested. The analyses of the papers revealed that although both open and semi-open tasks and closed tasks were present in the papers and specifications, the former were dominating for being more effective. Some of the papers lacked certain grammatical and lexical aspects to be tested which were mentioned in the specifications, such as pronouns, relative clauses, conditional clauses, modals, derivatives and collocations. The syntactic competence was tested in all the papers. As a result, the content validity of these papers can be partially supported, though in a general view, it can be inferred that the papers had the content validity, i.e. they measured what is supposed to be measured. Therefore, these findings suggest that the content of the achievement tests might be revised and may contribute to further research of validity in language testing.
This study advocates for the central quality of the language tests and their validity and aims to investigate the content validity of the use of the English part of the achievement tests administered to the first- and second-year students of General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. The tests were given in the form of the final examination of the English language course in order to find out if the papers' content corresponded to the descriptors of the European language levels specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the Europass on which the course syllabus was based. Seeking to examine the content validity, the study analyses the papers in terms of the task types and linguistic – grammatical and lexical – knowledge tested. The analyses of the papers revealed that although both open and semi-open tasks and closed tasks were present in the papers and specifications, the former were dominating for being more effective. Some of the papers lacked certain grammatical and lexical aspects to be tested which were mentioned in the specifications, such as pronouns, relative clauses, conditional clauses, modals, derivatives and collocations. The syntactic competence was tested in all the papers. As a result, the content validity of these papers can be partially supported, though in a general view, it can be inferred that the papers had the content validity, i.e. they measured what is supposed to be measured. Therefore, these findings suggest that the content of the achievement tests might be revised and may contribute to further research of validity in language testing.
This study advocates for the central quality of the language tests and their validity and aims to investigate the content validity of the use of the English part of the achievement tests administered to the first- and second-year students of General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. The tests were given in the form of the final examination of the English language course in order to find out if the papers' content corresponded to the descriptors of the European language levels specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the Europass on which the course syllabus was based. Seeking to examine the content validity, the study analyses the papers in terms of the task types and linguistic – grammatical and lexical – knowledge tested. The analyses of the papers revealed that although both open and semi-open tasks and closed tasks were present in the papers and specifications, the former were dominating for being more effective. Some of the papers lacked certain grammatical and lexical aspects to be tested which were mentioned in the specifications, such as pronouns, relative clauses, conditional clauses, modals, derivatives and collocations. The syntactic competence was tested in all the papers. As a result, the content validity of these papers can be partially supported, though in a general view, it can be inferred that the papers had the content validity, i.e. they measured what is supposed to be measured. Therefore, these findings suggest that the content of the achievement tests might be revised and may contribute to further research of validity in language testing.
This study advocates for the central quality of the language tests and their validity and aims to investigate the content validity of the use of the English part of the achievement tests administered to the first- and second-year students of General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania. The tests were given in the form of the final examination of the English language course in order to find out if the papers' content corresponded to the descriptors of the European language levels specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and the Europass on which the course syllabus was based. Seeking to examine the content validity, the study analyses the papers in terms of the task types and linguistic – grammatical and lexical – knowledge tested. The analyses of the papers revealed that although both open and semi-open tasks and closed tasks were present in the papers and specifications, the former were dominating for being more effective. Some of the papers lacked certain grammatical and lexical aspects to be tested which were mentioned in the specifications, such as pronouns, relative clauses, conditional clauses, modals, derivatives and collocations. The syntactic competence was tested in all the papers. As a result, the content validity of these papers can be partially supported, though in a general view, it can be inferred that the papers had the content validity, i.e. they measured what is supposed to be measured. Therefore, these findings suggest that the content of the achievement tests might be revised and may contribute to further research of validity in language testing.
The relevance of the topic nowadays. Knowledge of the foreign languages is a relevant and an important factor, which lets for people to take part in European education, economic, social and cultural expansion. It encourages us to find out the problems of learning English language and to find the ways, which ensure possibilities of successful English language learning. So it is very important to find out the factors, which influence quality of the learning. Relevant factors are: psychological, pedagogical and social. These factors influence not only learning at school, but learning at home too. Pupil's ability to learn determines personal characteristic, surroundings (of school and home), student's, his parents' and teacher's attitude to the learning. Seeking of good education results is concerned with combine of democracy and formal education. Then it can be achieved good education results and acquired fully-fledged, well-rounded, manifold personality. That's why in this work it is written about child's education in democracy culture, about education based on love and goodness, about experiential learning; traditional English teaching and teaching based on child's experience is compared. According A. Lepeskiene (1996), child, who is open to new experience, learns mostly. The problem. Teaching is based on a subject at school, not on child's experience. Formal education nor always is concerned with child's experience, so children are lack of informal learning experience, the knowledge which is acquired in informal surrounding is not applied at school. According R. Weskamp (1999), in these latter years, in didactics of foreign language marked change happened – from scientific- technological teaching moved up to learning based on child's experience. However the question appears – is really teaching based on experienced learning and practically applied in processes of teaching, education and training? And how to do it? That's why it is very important to encourage teachers to wonder about informal, based on child's experience teaching. It is very important to research and analyse the combination conditions of formal and informal learning, and in this way to manage the quality of foreign language learning. The purpose of the research. To explore factors affecting quality management of early English language learning in primary school ( in formal and informal teaching). The goals of the research: 1. To study and to research pedagogical, social and psychological literature and validate the relevance of children's from primary school learning in formal and informal surrounding. 2. Research empirically and establish factors, which affect the quality of English language learning in primary school. 3. Provide with references how to improve early English language teaching, how to combine formal and informal learning in primary school. The research methods: 1. The analysis of pedagogical, social and psychological literature. 2. The anonymous written questionnaires used in order to research the attitude of teachers, students, parents to factors affecting early English language teaching in primary school 3. The data of the research is analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. For the analysis of data is used the SSPS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). For the arrangement, systematization and graphic design of the researched data are used Windows Microsoft Word and Windows Microsoft Excel programs. The scope of the research. 107 pupils, 74 parents, 12 teachers from Šilalė's district (Šilalė, Pajūris, Laukuva) participated in the questionnaire. In total 193 people took part in this questionnaire. The conclusions. • On parents opinion, factors affecting the quality of English language are: the English language knowledge of family members (79.5%), and watching English TV programmes (70.8%). • The results of the research shows that children from primary school rapidly learn English language. As parents say, it is associated with using of active learning methods in the lessons (84.5%) and using of dialogs with situations from children's life and experience (77.2%) • Parents agree that their children learn English language on their own playing English games on the internet (74%), watching English films and TV programmes (75%) and reading English books (54%) • According teachers, the quality of learning is affected by students motivation and when in the learning process the student is activated (100%). • Factors affecting learning in the informal surrounding are: reading of English books (100%) and watching of English TV programmes (100%). • Parents (79.5%) and teachers (100%) agree that very important factor affecting the quality of English learning is family and English language knowledge of family members. • It is very important to know, what teachers know about factors that affect learning. The analysis of the research and of academic literature shows that teachers not only know about these factors, but also they use them practically. • Types of children's informal learning were represented in the research. Children agree that it is easier for them to learn English because they watch English films (82.2%), listen to English songs (88.7%), play English games (79.3%) and watch English TV programmes. • To children's opinion, they can use their English knowledge ( that they gain in the informal surrounding) in the English lessons. 70% of children say that they have possibilities to use more English words in the lessons. 62% agree that they can easily talk in pairs, because they know more English phrases and sentences. 80.3% say that they can easily use English dictionary on the internet.
The relevance of the topic nowadays. Knowledge of the foreign languages is a relevant and an important factor, which lets for people to take part in European education, economic, social and cultural expansion. It encourages us to find out the problems of learning English language and to find the ways, which ensure possibilities of successful English language learning. So it is very important to find out the factors, which influence quality of the learning. Relevant factors are: psychological, pedagogical and social. These factors influence not only learning at school, but learning at home too. Pupil's ability to learn determines personal characteristic, surroundings (of school and home), student's, his parents' and teacher's attitude to the learning. Seeking of good education results is concerned with combine of democracy and formal education. Then it can be achieved good education results and acquired fully-fledged, well-rounded, manifold personality. That's why in this work it is written about child's education in democracy culture, about education based on love and goodness, about experiential learning; traditional English teaching and teaching based on child's experience is compared. According A. Lepeskiene (1996), child, who is open to new experience, learns mostly. The problem. Teaching is based on a subject at school, not on child's experience. Formal education nor always is concerned with child's experience, so children are lack of informal learning experience, the knowledge which is acquired in informal surrounding is not applied at school. According R. Weskamp (1999), in these latter years, in didactics of foreign language marked change happened – from scientific- technological teaching moved up to learning based on child's experience. However the question appears – is really teaching based on experienced learning and practically applied in processes of teaching, education and training? And how to do it? That's why it is very important to encourage teachers to wonder about informal, based on child's experience teaching. It is very important to research and analyse the combination conditions of formal and informal learning, and in this way to manage the quality of foreign language learning. The purpose of the research. To explore factors affecting quality management of early English language learning in primary school ( in formal and informal teaching). The goals of the research: 1. To study and to research pedagogical, social and psychological literature and validate the relevance of children's from primary school learning in formal and informal surrounding. 2. Research empirically and establish factors, which affect the quality of English language learning in primary school. 3. Provide with references how to improve early English language teaching, how to combine formal and informal learning in primary school. The research methods: 1. The analysis of pedagogical, social and psychological literature. 2. The anonymous written questionnaires used in order to research the attitude of teachers, students, parents to factors affecting early English language teaching in primary school 3. The data of the research is analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. For the analysis of data is used the SSPS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). For the arrangement, systematization and graphic design of the researched data are used Windows Microsoft Word and Windows Microsoft Excel programs. The scope of the research. 107 pupils, 74 parents, 12 teachers from Šilalė's district (Šilalė, Pajūris, Laukuva) participated in the questionnaire. In total 193 people took part in this questionnaire. The conclusions. • On parents opinion, factors affecting the quality of English language are: the English language knowledge of family members (79.5%), and watching English TV programmes (70.8%). • The results of the research shows that children from primary school rapidly learn English language. As parents say, it is associated with using of active learning methods in the lessons (84.5%) and using of dialogs with situations from children's life and experience (77.2%) • Parents agree that their children learn English language on their own playing English games on the internet (74%), watching English films and TV programmes (75%) and reading English books (54%) • According teachers, the quality of learning is affected by students motivation and when in the learning process the student is activated (100%). • Factors affecting learning in the informal surrounding are: reading of English books (100%) and watching of English TV programmes (100%). • Parents (79.5%) and teachers (100%) agree that very important factor affecting the quality of English learning is family and English language knowledge of family members. • It is very important to know, what teachers know about factors that affect learning. The analysis of the research and of academic literature shows that teachers not only know about these factors, but also they use them practically. • Types of children's informal learning were represented in the research. Children agree that it is easier for them to learn English because they watch English films (82.2%), listen to English songs (88.7%), play English games (79.3%) and watch English TV programmes. • To children's opinion, they can use their English knowledge ( that they gain in the informal surrounding) in the English lessons. 70% of children say that they have possibilities to use more English words in the lessons. 62% agree that they can easily talk in pairs, because they know more English phrases and sentences. 80.3% say that they can easily use English dictionary on the internet.
The object of the present article is the implementation of collaborative learning during English classes. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of implementing collaborative learning strategies during English classes of second-year cadets at General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania in 2017-2018. The results of the research demonstrate that the greater majority of the cadets successfully achieved level 2 based on the achievement test. The collaborative learning method was integrated into the learning process in the two, out of five, groups as well as into the course description. It was pivotal to organize the study according to the paradigm of free education which is closely connected to the theory of constructivism. The latter, based on the assumption that knowledge is a construct, accentuates the active involvement of the learner whose learning paradigm should become multifunctional and multifaceted. It is the area of foreign language education that becomes the meeting point of collaborative learning and the constructivist theory. Thus, the study was organized in the way to enable the implementation of the collaborative learning strategies in the form of questions and either written or oral answers, different reading strategies, public speaking, discussion and argumentation as being crucial in writing and speaking; as well as through inducing creativity and critical thinking, communication, information collecting, selecting and systematizing skills. The project method was pointed out as a universal method that both requires self-regulation and responsibility for the results of one's individual assignment and simultaneously diversifies the learning process.
The object of the present article is the implementation of collaborative learning during English classes. The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of implementing collaborative learning strategies during English classes of second-year cadets at General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania in 2017-2018. The results of the research demonstrate that the greater majority of the cadets successfully achieved level 2 based on the achievement test. The collaborative learning method was integrated into the learning process in the two, out of five, groups as well as into the course description. It was pivotal to organize the study according to the paradigm of free education which is closely connected to the theory of constructivism. The latter, based on the assumption that knowledge is a construct, accentuates the active involvement of the learner whose learning paradigm should become multifunctional and multifaceted. It is the area of foreign language education that becomes the meeting point of collaborative learning and the constructivist theory. Thus, the study was organized in the way to enable the implementation of the collaborative learning strategies in the form of questions and either written or oral answers, different reading strategies, public speaking, discussion and argumentation as being crucial in writing and speaking; as well as through inducing creativity and critical thinking, communication, information collecting, selecting and systematizing skills. The project method was pointed out as a universal method that both requires self-regulation and responsibility for the results of one's individual assignment and simultaneously diversifies the learning process.
The current paper presents the analysis of pronouns as means of impersonal presentation in English quality press. The article gives the definition of the pronoun as a grammatical category and describes the use and purpose of impersonalization strategies. The data for the investigation was taken from the international English quality newspapers: The Financial Times (UK) and The Wall Street Journal (US), which are the leading daily broadsheet newspapers in the UK and the USA having millions of both print and online subscribers worldwide. The articles on political, economic, and social issues were chosen on a random basis and scrutinized for pronouns as means of impersonal presentation of fact. The body of 187 cases of impersonalization chosen for the analysis were divided into groups with focus on the grammatical category they belong to. The most and least often used classes of pronouns were identified and compared. The results of the current study may be useful for editors, journalists, writers, as well as for further study of impersonalization strategies in the English language.
The current paper presents the analysis of pronouns as means of impersonal presentation in English quality press. The article gives the definition of the pronoun as a grammatical category and describes the use and purpose of impersonalization strategies. The data for the investigation was taken from the international English quality newspapers: The Financial Times (UK) and The Wall Street Journal (US), which are the leading daily broadsheet newspapers in the UK and the USA having millions of both print and online subscribers worldwide. The articles on political, economic, and social issues were chosen on a random basis and scrutinized for pronouns as means of impersonal presentation of fact. The body of 187 cases of impersonalization chosen for the analysis were divided into groups with focus on the grammatical category they belong to. The most and least often used classes of pronouns were identified and compared. The results of the current study may be useful for editors, journalists, writers, as well as for further study of impersonalization strategies in the English language.
The versatile research carried out in political linguistics has revealed the peculiarities of political texts thereby opening vast possibilities for a fruitful application of the findings to the curriculum of an ESP course of English for Politics corresponding to C1/C2 level of CEFR (2001). The present study analyses the knowledge and experience of students of political science in identifying, using and analyzing metaphor and metonymy in political discourse in the English language. Methodologically, the study is a small scale analysis carried out with the use of a questionnaire delivered to 55 students, where students are asked to answer questions with respect to their general knowledge and understanding of the use of metaphor and metonymy. They are further asked to identify metaphorical and metonymical expressions in a piece of political discourse. Finally, they are requested to express their opinion about the role of metaphor and metonymy in the creation of political texts. The results show that students demonstrate quite good theoretical knowledge of figurative language, namely metaphor and metonymy, however, their discourse analytical skills are rather poor. This conclusion can be made on the basis of students answer to the self-evaluative questions placed to them and on the basis of the given practical task.
The versatile research carried out in political linguistics has revealed the peculiarities of political texts thereby opening vast possibilities for a fruitful application of the findings to the curriculum of an ESP course of English for Politics corresponding to C1/C2 level of CEFR (2001). The present study analyses the knowledge and experience of students of political science in identifying, using and analyzing metaphor and metonymy in political discourse in the English language. Methodologically, the study is a small scale analysis carried out with the use of a questionnaire delivered to 55 students, where students are asked to answer questions with respect to their general knowledge and understanding of the use of metaphor and metonymy. They are further asked to identify metaphorical and metonymical expressions in a piece of political discourse. Finally, they are requested to express their opinion about the role of metaphor and metonymy in the creation of political texts. The results show that students demonstrate quite good theoretical knowledge of figurative language, namely metaphor and metonymy, however, their discourse analytical skills are rather poor. This conclusion can be made on the basis of students answer to the self-evaluative questions placed to them and on the basis of the given practical task.
The versatile research carried out in political linguistics has revealed the peculiarities of political texts thereby opening vast possibilities for a fruitful application of the findings to the curriculum of an ESP course of English for Politics corresponding to C1/C2 level of CEFR (2001). The present study analyses the knowledge and experience of students of political science in identifying, using and analyzing metaphor and metonymy in political discourse in the English language. Methodologically, the study is a small scale analysis carried out with the use of a questionnaire delivered to 55 students, where students are asked to answer questions with respect to their general knowledge and understanding of the use of metaphor and metonymy. They are further asked to identify metaphorical and metonymical expressions in a piece of political discourse. Finally, they are requested to express their opinion about the role of metaphor and metonymy in the creation of political texts. The results show that students demonstrate quite good theoretical knowledge of figurative language, namely metaphor and metonymy, however, their discourse analytical skills are rather poor. This conclusion can be made on the basis of students answer to the self-evaluative questions placed to them and on the basis of the given practical task.
The versatile research carried out in political linguistics has revealed the peculiarities of political texts thereby opening vast possibilities for a fruitful application of the findings to the curriculum of an ESP course of English for Politics corresponding to C1/C2 level of CEFR (2001). The present study analyses the knowledge and experience of students of political science in identifying, using and analyzing metaphor and metonymy in political discourse in the English language. Methodologically, the study is a small scale analysis carried out with the use of a questionnaire delivered to 55 students, where students are asked to answer questions with respect to their general knowledge and understanding of the use of metaphor and metonymy. They are further asked to identify metaphorical and metonymical expressions in a piece of political discourse. Finally, they are requested to express their opinion about the role of metaphor and metonymy in the creation of political texts. The results show that students demonstrate quite good theoretical knowledge of figurative language, namely metaphor and metonymy, however, their discourse analytical skills are rather poor. This conclusion can be made on the basis of students answer to the self-evaluative questions placed to them and on the basis of the given practical task.
The versatile research carried out in political linguistics has revealed the peculiarities of political texts thereby opening vast possibilities for a fruitful application of the findings to the curriculum of an ESP course of English for Politics corresponding to C1/C2 level of CEFR (2001). The present study analyses the knowledge and experience of students of political science in identifying, using and analyzing metaphor and metonymy in political discourse in the English language. Methodologically, the study is a small scale analysis carried out with the use of a questionnaire delivered to 55 students, where students are asked to answer questions with respect to their general knowledge and understanding of the use of metaphor and metonymy. They are further asked to identify metaphorical and metonymical expressions in a piece of political discourse. Finally, they are requested to express their opinion about the role of metaphor and metonymy in the creation of political texts. The results show that students demonstrate quite good theoretical knowledge of figurative language, namely metaphor and metonymy, however, their discourse analytical skills are rather poor. This conclusion can be made on the basis of students answer to the self-evaluative questions placed to them and on the basis of the given practical task.