Classroom Second Language Processes: Theory, Research, Practice (SLAT7807)

This assessment contains two sections: Reflection and Reading assignment.

 Task 1 - Reflection

The purpose of this task is to make a link between the theories and concepts of second language acquisition discussed in the course with your own understanding and beliefs about how a second language is learnt in the classroom context.

Each week we would like you to spend about 10 minutes after class answering a question specific to the course. Also, you can ask any questions you may have and feedback on the activities.

Use the guiding question to write a critical reflection of 150-200 words. You should:

• Explain your thoughts and feelings about your experiences;
• Analyse and evaluate why you had these responses;
• Draw conclusions about what influences your thinking, and
• Create a plan of action for the future.

Task 2 – Reading assignment

The purpose of this task is to prepare for class each week. You are required to watch the online lecture and complete assigned reading(s) and answer a few questions about the key concepts/main points in the lecture and reading. The questions will help you to find where you should focus on when preparing for class and understand the research presented in the article presentation (Week 3-13).

Each assignment is available weekly, for seven days, from 5 pm on Wednesday.

Marking

1. If you complete both Reflection and Reading Assignments with high quality, you will receive the full 10 marks (3 marks for Reflection, and 7 marks for the Reading Assignment).
2. For the Reflection assignment, your entry is assessed according to the rubric available in Blackboard.
3. For the Reading assignment, if you do not answer all reading questions in the Reading Assignment, you only get a portion (e.g.,1). If the similarity score is too high, your score will be penalised.
4. For summary and critique of the article (the second part of the Reading Assignment), sufficient details and critical analysis earn a full 3 mark, but if the summary is not well composed (in terms of content, language, length, comprehension) and critical analysis does not show your the summary is given 2 mark, and if the summary is poorly composed (in terms of language, length and comprehension) it earns 0 mark.
5. If the similarity score of your answers to the reading questions and summary of the article, you will be penalised. Please check the similarity score before you submit it by submitting your answers to Turnitin.
6. There are 12 assignments in total. You will get the 10 best scores out of 12 assignments. If you receive 10 each week, you won't have to complete the final two assessments. Or your score for all 12 weeks' assignments will NOT be totalled, but only the 10 best scores will be considered for the final marks. Your entry of the two tasks (i.e., reflection and answers to the questions) will be credited to your assessment. You are expected to submit 10 reflections and reading assignments at a minimum (out of 12). The maximum assignment score for each week is 10. The maximum of the total 10 assignments is 100 which will be converted to 15.

Statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) 

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.

Mini-Research Project

Choose one of the following options for a small research project and report on the results.

Option 1 Classroom observation

Make arrangements to observe an L2 classroom. Note the language interaction (1) between learners and (2) between learners and teacher in terms of the following: language code (L1 or L2), teacher talk versus learner talk, correction of structural errors, the authenticity of language in terms of its use to convey meaning.

Option 2 Effect of different types of feedback in dyadic conversation

Recruit four NNS students and carry out a communication task with them. Provide two different types of feedback on non-target-like features in their speech as they describe a picture to you. Report on the effect of different types of feedback on their performance after the conversation session. More instructions on this project will be given later.

Option 3 Develop your own mini-research activity

Choose a topic of interest and collect data in a language class or from a group of learners.

 The content of the report (2500 words ranging from 2,250 to 2,750 words)

• Purpose of your study and research question(s)
• Methodology - how you collected the data (Data collection method); information about the instrument (tasks) and the participants (gender, proficiency, L1 etc.), the context where the data were collected and analysis - how you analysed the data
• Results and interpretation of the results
• Implications for teaching
• References

Style and presentation guidelines

• Font and Font size – Times New Roman/Arial, 12 point
• Margin – 2.5cm for all (left, right, top and bottom)
• Referencing – Please consult APA style (7th).
• Space – 1.5 or double space
• Length (2250-2750 words excluding reference list) (Write the number of words at the end of your assignment)

Submission:

• Write the number of words at the end of your essay.
• Fill in the self-assessment sheet (given in class and available in BB) and submit it online.
• No hard copy is required.
• Check the similarity score by submitting your draft essay to Turnitin TRIAL before submitting your final copy.
• You must submit your final essay to Turnitin FINAL site.

Some helpful information is available from https://padletuq.padlet.org/daichikobayashi/2u7m5a3yx5eigpxa

Mini-Research Project Poster

Prepare a poster of your mini-research project. More details will be given in class. Submit the poster together with the mini-research report.

Some helpful information is available from https://padletuq.padlet.org/slcdigital/poster

Statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) 

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.

Presentation (during class time):

1. Form a group of two to three.
2. Choose one article of your interest in the list (the list will be provided in class).
3. Prepare PowerPoint slides for 10 mins presentation followed by 5 mins discussion

In reading the article, you need to consider the four points:

1. What this study was about and why it is important;
2. What the researchers did;
3. What the researchers found;
4. Things to consider;

In your 10 mins presentation, you need to include:

1. Overall summary of the study
2. Your critique of the article (Please see how to critique article).
3. Discussion question

Submit documents to:

Article Presentation and Peer Assessment in Blackboard Assessment folder:

Turnitin link: PowerPoint slides.

Assignment link: PowerPoint slides and group declaration of equitable contribution.

(Note: if a member did not contribute to the project, this will impact her/his total mark).

Due - on the day of your presentation. (Only one person in each group needs to submit the documents)

Peer assessment

You will assess your classmates' presentations using the criteria provided. In addition to the mark, you are also expected to give some brief written comments. Your comments will be sent anonymously to the presenter later. You can assess group presentations only in class.

The mark of this assessment comprises your lecturer's assessment (5%) and your participation in the peer assessment (5%). In total, there are 10 peer assessments (i.e., 11 article presentations including your own. You will NOT assess your presentation). Your peer assessment participation score will be calculated out of 5.

Statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) 

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.

A. Topic

Choose one of the lecture topics and choose at least 5 research articles on the topic, and then discuss the topic referring to a relevant SLA theory and reviewing the articles.

1. Effects of different types of instruction
2. Teaching as input and interaction
3. A role of L1 in SLA
4. Error correction and corrective feedback
5. Peer interaction
6. A role of collaborative writing and Computer mediated communication (CMC) in SLA
7. Motivation and engagement
8. Ethnography and second-language classroom
9. Teacher belief and learner perceptions

B. Argumentative Essay

“to use what is known about a subject to prove an argument or point of view. Not all of the knowledge of a topic may be used in an essay, but only what is relevant to the argument. In an essay, mentioning the people who discovered or developed the knowledge is generally only for referencing purposes.”

Relying upon literature, theories introduced in the course, and your experiences, your essay should include:

• Discussion on the relevant theory.
• The type of research that has been done to investigate the topic you chose.
• Critical analyses of the research studies with regard to your chosen topic.
• The conclusions or results obtained from these studies and how they might relate to the theories discussed in the course as well as your own understanding and experience of the topic.
• Suggestions and discussions of options and alternatives that may have practical applications, for example in the classroom. When you include your own personal understanding and experiences, you should go beyond just your “personal thoughts” but rather explore and examine the topic as you have come to understand it from the materials provided in the course in addition to your own journey in learning your L1, L2, or L3, and teaching etc. When appropriate, provide examples to support your arguments.

Research literature on your chosen topic, complemented by course material, lecture notes, discussions, tutorials, and own experience

Example:

Topic “Individual differences – Intelligence”. You can build your argument based on what the literature says about the topic. If you decided to discuss the subject based on whether you agree or disagree with the premise, you are welcome to do that. Whichever way you chose to discuss and analyse, it should be well supported by literature and course materials, and your own observations and experiences. The arguments should cohere and follow logically.

More on the assessment

• An argumentative essay should include different points of view regarding the topic.
• You support one view referring to the literature.
• The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by
• a clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay;
• clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion;
• body paragraphs that include evidential support;
• a conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

Style and presentation guidelines

• Font and Font size – Times New Roman/Arial, 12 point
• Margin – 2.5cm for all (left, right, top and bottom)
• Referencing – Please consult APA style (7th)
• Space – 1.5 or double space
• Length (2250-2750 words excluding reference list)

This assessment is marked out of 35 points.

Your essay should be around 2,500 words (+/- 250 words, not including references). Please write the total number of words at the end of your assignment and check the similarity score via Turnitin before making your final submission. Don't forget to attach the self-assessment sheet to your document.

Submission

Turnitin FINAL - You must submit your final draft to Turnitin FINAL. If you submitted to the wrong place (e.g., Turnitin DRAFT), your assignment will NOT be assessed.

Turnitin DRAFT – You must check the similarity score of your assignment. You can submit as many as you like, but after submitting three times, you have to wait for 24 hours before you receive a report for your fourth and subsequent submission.

Statement on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) 

This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.