Comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative research papers in second language education

Introduction The aim of this paper is to critically review and compare two research papers in the field of language education that adopted different methodological approaches – quantitative and qualitative. My analysis focuses on their key objectives, the methodology employed to achieve those objectives, the research scope within which the papers are located and the … Continue reading Comparative analysis of qualitative and quantitative research papers in second language education

Simple and practical ways to develop an introductory paragraph of an essay

Paragraph, if you will, is the macro building block of an essay, which makes success in composition writing comprehensively dependent on good paragraph development. An introductory paragraph, in particular, is so important because besides being the springboard upon which your readers take off, it also contains the theme and structure that set the tone of … Continue reading Simple and practical ways to develop an introductory paragraph of an essay

Developing and sustaining students’ motivation in a language class

A lot of people around the world have begun to develop interests in learning a second language. This is not unconnected to the fast and innovative development in science and technology as well as in communication, transportation, migration, internet and computer sensitisation. By learning a second – or even third – language, people can not … Continue reading Developing and sustaining students’ motivation in a language class

10 easy steps for writing a college paper

Writing a college paper can be a challenging task, especially given the many academic tasks a student has to accomplish within an often limited time. Following the ten easy steps below will not only help reduce the amount of time students spend in writing a research paper but will also increase the quality of research. … Continue reading 10 easy steps for writing a college paper

Understanding various kinds of essay

An essay is a precise writing on a particular subject, which is composed of paragraphs, usually the introduction, the discussion and the conclusion. (Read my article on how to write a good paragraph here) Different types of essay have different sets of rules which, if not followed, makes the writing dull and pointless.  On the other … Continue reading Understanding various kinds of essay

Developing students’ critical thinking skills in writing at a Saudi Arabian writing centre

Working for more than three years with amazing colleagues to experiment the Writing Center at Yanbu Colleges and Institutes has been both a challenging and rewarding experience. What you are about to read is one of those success stories. We worked for almost a year with the immediate past Director of Yanbu English Language Institute, … Continue reading Developing students’ critical thinking skills in writing at a Saudi Arabian writing centre

How to write a simple and compelling paragraph

Simplicity is the key to perfection. Thought process involved around composing a perfect paragraph can be quite intimidating for many writers. However, to write a good paragraph, it’s important to inculcate the basics of paragraph writing and experiment around it. Hesitant writers should practice this craft so that their thoughts and ideas can easily be … Continue reading How to write a simple and compelling paragraph

Sociology of scientific knowledge: Towards understanding sciences through language

Enhancing the acquisition of the knowledge of sciences has been for long a concern of educationists. The issue has been investigated from different perspectives. One of the most recent, which this paper explores, is a modern linguistic approach that views scientific knowledge as a representation of social reality; thus, understanding this knowledge should be based … Continue reading Sociology of scientific knowledge: Towards understanding sciences through language

Infants need free tongue movement to distinguish speech sounds

A team of researchers led by Dr Alison Bruderer, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of British Columbia, has discovered a direct link between the tongue movements of infants and their ability to distinguish speech sounds. “Until now, research in speech perception development and language acquisition has primarily used the auditory experience as the driving … Continue reading Infants need free tongue movement to distinguish speech sounds

1st global conference on technology in language learning 2015

The 1st Global Conference on Technology in Language Learning 2015 (GLIT2015) focuses on the application of technology in language learning, particularly computer-assisted language learning (CALL)/technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) and language use in online media. This conference provides a platform for researchers, academicians and students to present, debate and exchange ideas on issues relevant to the … Continue reading 1st global conference on technology in language learning 2015