Students with English as a Foreign Language: Their problems and solutions

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ABSTRACT

English has been widely acknowledged as an international language. English has all the key characteristics that make it likely to remain the dominant worldwide language. The importance of the English language has been established universally as a tool for social, economic, and political success. As a result, many non-English speaking countries promote English proficiency as an effort toward modernization and internalization. At present, we have a large proportion of students participating in the process of learning English as a second language. The problems that EFL area leaders have is that whether the outcomes measured are adequate for learners to study further in mainstream education establishments. In this research study, we will attempt to study the problems that students with EFL are facing using tools like questionnaire and interviews. We will attempt to devise some strategies that would help teachers in dealing with such students.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for the academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

Signed __________________ Date _________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTII

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTIII

DECLARATIONIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

1.1 Introduction1

1.2 Background of the study2

1.3 Research questions2

1.4 Problem Statement2

1.5 Significance of the study3

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW6

2.1 Human Learning Theories7

2.1.2 Behaviorist Psychological Principles7

2.1.2 Cognitive Learning Theory8

2.1.2 Constructive Philosophy10

2.2 Theories on Second/Foreign Language Reading11

2.2.1 Goodman's Reading: A Psycholinguistic Guessing Game11

2.2.2 Coady's Reading Theory12

2.3 Teachers and Students as "Strangers"13

2.4 Connection between perception of teachers & "adult" motivation for learning14

2.5 The Teacher as a leader16

2.6 Problems of EFL students16

2.6.1 Factors that may influence reading difficulties for EFL students17

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY19

3.1 Method for collecting data20

3.2 Data Security: Participant Anonymity and Document Retention21

3.3 Success Criteria22

3.4 Suggested Timeline23

3.5 Quality and Verification24

3.6 Reliability/Dependability25

3.7 Validity25

3.8 Ethical Considerations26

CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS27

5.1 Phonology27

5.2 Stress27

5.3 Rhythm28

5.4 Intonation28

CHAPTER 5: ANTICIPATED RESULTS29

5.1 Possible strategies for teacher29

5.1.1 Cooperative learning29

5.2.2 Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) approaches and related theories30

5.2.2.1 Task-Based Instruction (TBI)31

5.2.2.2 Content-Based Instruction (CBI)31

5.2.2.3 Naturalistic Approach32

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION33

5.1 Recommendations33

5.2 Conclusions33

REFERENCES34

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Introduction

English has been widely acknowledged as an international language. According to Anderson, Bachman, Perkin & Cohen (1991) “English has all the key characteristics that make it likely to remain the dominant worldwide language” (p.66). The importance of the English language has been established universally as a tool for social, economic, and political success. As a result, many non-English speaking countries promote English proficiency as an effort toward modernization and internalization. For example, in Hong Kong, many education stakeholders, such as parents, rejected the shift from English to Chinese language instruction because English continued to be seen as the language of economic opportunity.

Another example is Japan where the English language is strongly emphasized at the junior and high school as well as university levels in response to practical ...