International Journal of Linguistics and Translation Studies

Navigating Implicit Meanings: The Pragmatic Function of Presuppositions in Communication

Nagamurali Eragamreddy — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The present research delves into the function of presuppositions in communication, emphasizing how social, cultural, and situational elements impact their application and comprehension. The presupposition is a phenomenon in which speakers presume that the audience already knows or accepts particular information before making an utterance. Although earlier studies have looked at the grammatical characteristics of presuppositions, further study is needed to fully grasp how they interact with contextual factors. This research attempts to offer a greater understanding of presuppositions' pragmatic functions by examining how they work in various social and cultural situations. The study uses a qualitative approach that combines a survey of the literature with case study analysis to investigate actual cases of presupposition usage. The results emphasize the significance of cultural sensitivity in communication as cultural origins have a big impact on how presuppositions are interpreted. Furthermore, to clarify how presuppositions in nonliteral language—like metaphor and sarcasm—work to transmit implicit meanings, the study looks at their function. The findings have consequences for fostering better understanding in a variety of social contexts and enhancing cross-cultural communication.

The Acoustics of Sibilant Fricatives in Urban Hijazi Arabic

Majed Al Solami — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines the spectral characteristics of sibilants [s], [z], [ʃ], and [ʒ] in the Urban Hijazi Dialect. The analysis investigates intensity, noise duration and center of gravity (COG). These acoustic cues vary based on gender, places of articulation and voicing as reported in other studies. The aims of the study are to fill a gap in the literature of Arabic fricatives and to see whether these characteristics are influenced by places of articulation, voicing or gender in the aforementioned dialect. The dataset includes word-initial fricatives followed by the short vowels [ɪ], [a], and [ʊ]. The results suggest that intensity is not very informative as an acoustic cue in differentiating these sibilants. The other two spectral measurements, noise duration and COG, are more reliable. The female speakers produced fricatives with longer durations and higher COG values compared to the male speakers. In addition, for the male speakers, voiced fricatives are shorter in duration and have less acoustic energies compared to the voiceless fricatives. As for the female speakers, voiceless sibilants have longer durations, similar to the male speakers, but COG values are not influenced by voicing. In both genders, the place of articulation influences COG values, where alveolars have higher COG compared to post-alveolars.

Sailing or Stumbling: How Do Adult Learners Navigate the Realm of Online Maltese Language Learning?

Jacqueline Żammit — Sun, 02 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Due to the COVID-19 epidemic, there has been a necessary transition to online learning. This study aimed to ascertain the distinct factors that contribute to the preference for online learning among a cohort of 42 adult learners who are studying Maltese as a second language. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews that included open-ended questions, enabling participants to express their viewpoints. The responses underwent thematic analysis, which involved using NVivo software to examine trends and classify the data into appropriate topics. The participants provided diverse justifications for their inclination towards online learning. Many participants valued the flexible feature of online learning since it enabled them to acquire knowledge at their preferred pace without experiencing any pressure to hurry. Some individuals appreciated the chance to review recorded sessions, as it enhanced their comprehension of the topic. Several participants emphasised the advantage of being able to acquire knowledge from any location, which resulted in saving commuting time and the ability to learn in a pleasant setting. Additionally, some individuals noted that online learning allowed them to access a wide range of online resources and digital tools, thereby improving their proficiency in digital literacy. Nevertheless, the study also identified obstacles such as technological glitches, absence of in-person communication, and struggles with maintaining motivation. Notwithstanding these difficulties, most of the participants saw online learning as an advantageous substitute, particularly when in-person academic activities were suspended. The study provides ideas for enhancing the online learning experience, considering the distinct preferences and obstacles highlighted by the participants.

The Analogous usage of pathos in al-Musāmiḥ Karīm TV program

Imen Chaari — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Social TV programs like al-Musāmiḥ Karīm TV program and ‘Andī Mānqulik receive a huge success. Sigma’s statistics shows the high percentage of viewing of ‘Andī Mānqulik (11.7%) and al-Musāmiḥ Karīm (24.7%). Aiming to shed light on the factors that contribute to this high percentage, this piece of research attempts to enter the TV program al-Musāmiḥ Karīm into the domain of linguistic analysis. Al-Musāmiḥ Karīm proportion of viewing, which is the highest proportion, mirrors the success of this program in affecting its viewers (African Manager).

Through targeting the emotions of the viewers, al-Musāmiḥ Karīm manages to attract the attention of the audience. This paper argues that in al-Musāmiḥ Karīm TV program there is the use of analogy. In this respect, the TV presenter and the guest use the same rhetorical strategies to affect the audience. In other words, they choose certain rhetorical strategies that pertain to the realm of pathos to make the audience sympathize with their stories. It should be noted that in this article the term analogy is not used in the deep sense. In other words, this paper is supposed to analyze the surface meaning of analogy. In this regard, analogy is defined as “a comparison of two things based on their being alike in some way” (Meriam-Webster dictionary)

Revisiting Cultural and Discursive Practices through Translating Ahmed Lamsyeh’s Anthology Bladi

OTMANE DERKAOUI, Kebir Sandy — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Zajal poetry has been associated with music and entertainment since it emerged in the twelfth century. It may have been shared orally in the past but not documented by critics and anthologists due to its vernacular use of the language. This led to its obscurity until a new wave of zajal poets emerged in the late twentieth century in Morocco and in other parts of the Arab world. They revitalized this tradition with fresh viewpoints that addressed various cultural, social, and ideological aspects. However, it did not obtain the appropriate scholarly recognition. This work aims to reveal some cultural and discursive practices by translating a poem from Lamsyeh’s zajal anthology Bladi. The translation in this study utilizes a meaning-based approach to analyze the source material from linguistic, cultural, and postcolonial perspectives. It has been determined that certain culturally loaded terms and proverbs are somewhat un-translatable. Furthermore, this text reveals ideologies that raise problems and contradictions faced by the East in regard to both the West and the East itself.

Death – An Inevitable Fact of Life: A Comparative Study of the Portrayal of Death in Emily Dickinson’s and Jalaluddin Rumi’s Selected Poems

Jawad Afghan — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The undeniable certainty of death and the uncertain fate of humans after death have been the greatest concerns of humanity from the beginning of existence until now. No one is untouched by the profound event of death, and most have not refrained from creating often horrifying images of it in their minds. Death is one of the most significant stages and events in human life, and the manner of facing it and the attitude towards it have always been crucial issues in the history of human intellectual life. The way one dies, the purpose of death, and the timing and circumstances of death all have a profound impact on the human perspective on mortality. For some, death is the most terrifying moment in the cycle of human life, seen as the endpoint of existence and a descent into nothingness. Yet, for others, it marks the beginning of a new life. The approach to death is a fundamental theme in literature, as the inevitability of death intertwines with life, providing a prevalent topic in the works of poets and writers. The following study, using the textual analysis method, tries to depict the varied themes of death portrayed in two poets’ selected works; Emily Dickinson, an American poet, and Rumi, a poet from the east part of the world with thoughts inspired by Quranic verses. In Emily Dickinson's selected poems, “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died,” and “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain,” the theme of death emerges as a central and pervasive element, reflecting the poet's unique perspective on mortality. Dickinson's treatment of death is characterized by a tragic and pessimistic outlook, marked by an abundance of pain and suffering. The fear of death consistently haunts her mind, profoundly shaping her perception of life. On the contrary, the imagery of embracing death and the belief in eternal life with the divine Lord underscore Rumi's fearless attitude toward mortality in his poem “When I Die.”

The impact of L1 and L2 Glosses on EFL Learners' Incidental Vocabulary Learning Through Reading: A Systematic Literature Review

Brahim outamgharte, Mohamed Yeou, Hicham Zyad — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This systematic literature review investigates the impact of L1 and L2 glosses on EFL learners' incidental vocabulary learning via reading. The review aims to synthesize and analyze existing empirical research on the topic, identify the most effective glossing method, and highlight reasons why some glosses may be more effective. The review's research questions are: (1) How is incidental vocabulary operationalized in these studies? (2) Do L1 and L2 glosses differ in their effect on incidental vocabulary learning? and (3) Why do some learners benefit from one type (L1/L2) of gloss more than the other? The review follows a systematic methodology, involving a comprehensive search using SCOPUS databases, rigorous inclusion/exclusion criteria, and data extraction and synthesis methods. The results suggest that L1 and L2 glosses have a positive effect on EFL learners' incidental vocabulary learning through reading, but there is a lack of consensus on which language is more effective. The review highlights the lack of gloss studies among Arabs.

A Pragmatic Study: Investigating The Meaning of Social Deixis in Spoken Discourse

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research aims to investigate the types of social deixis and analyze their social meaning in a speech context. This research used a qualitative method. The participant of this research is Retno Marsudi’s utterances, who the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The data was collected from YouTube and a transcript from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia’s website. The data collected was analyzed using qualitative analysis, where the data was divided into five types of deixis and then narrowed down into two types of social deixis. After the data narrowed down, the researchers analyzed the meaning of the social deixis based on contextual and sociocultural theory. The results of the analysis conclude that there are two types of social deixis: 1) relational social deixis and 2) place social deixis with three data of relational and one data of place social deixis. The social meaning of social deixis imply profesionalism, social status, familiarity, and formality.

Investigating Moroccan EFL 3rd Year University Students’ Critical Thinking Skills in Analysing Advertisements

Marwa Merabti, Mohamed Benmhamed — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

TV commercials are ubiquitous, with people worldwide continuously exposed to various forms of commercial communication. This study aimed to assess the extent to which Moroccan university students utilize critical thinking skills when watching advertisements. Specifically, it sought to determine whether these students could analyse and evaluate the content they encounter and the impact of commercials on their purchasing behaviour. A survey was conducted with a sample of 70 third-year university students from Moulay Ismail University. Given the study’s quantitative nature, data from the survey were analysed using SPSS. The results indicated that the university students are adept critical thinkers, capable of analysing and evaluating the advertisements they viewed. A significant number of students could identify persuasive strategies employed by advertisers. Additionally, there was no notable difference between male and female students in their application of critical thinking skills; both groups could critically analyse a Maroc Telecom advertisement. Moreover, their purchasing behaviour was not influenced by viewing TV advertisements.

A Quasi-Experimental Study Investigating the Effect of Written Corrective Feedback on Students' Writing Accuracy

Abdelaziz OUCHAIB — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

It has been widely recognized that writing is one of the most critical micro-skills in language teaching and learning. Consequently, numerous researchers in English Language Teaching (ELT) have investigated the impact of written corrective feedback (WCF) on students' writing proficiency. The research on this topic has produced mixed and inconclusive results, indicating a lack of consensus on the efficacy of WCF. This study examines WCF's impact on the writing accuracy of S4 students at the School of Arts and Humanities in Meknes. To achieve this objective, a quasi-experimental case study design was employed. Research instruments included pre-tests and post-tests administered to control and experimental groups to measure students' writing achievements with and without WCF. Additionally, a questionnaire was distributed to 64 students and 30 teachers to explore their preferences for WCF techniques. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with teachers to identify challenges that prevent them from providing direct WCF. The results indicated that the control group showed lower achievement scores than the experimental group, suggesting a disadvantage in learning writing without WCF. The questionnaire results revealed a mismatch between teachers' and students' preferences for WCF techniques; students preferred direct WCF, while teachers favoured indirect WCF. Insights from the interviews indicated that most teachers are reluctant to provide direct WCF due to large class sizes. In conclusion, this paper offers several pedagogical implications for stakeholders, teachers, and students at the School of Arts and Humanities in Meknes to improve writing skills' teaching and learning.

Full Vowel/Schwa Alternations in the Perfective of Moroccan Arabic Hollow Verbs

M'barek El-farhaoui, Laaboudi Daouia , Marouane Mohamed — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper purports to investigate full vowel/schwa (V/ə) alternations in the perfective of Moroccan Arabic (MA) hollow verbs. Earlier treatments on this issue show that the perfective schwa is derived from full vowels by a special reduction rule applying before /CC/ cluster within the core stem. These accounts fail to give convincing analyses since they make recourse to unmotivated rules and neglect to consider the bimoraicity prosodic requirement in the perfective of MA hollow verbs. The main aim of the present paper is to address this gap in the literature by conducting an Optimality Theory (OT) analysis of V/ə alternations as a result of Foot-Binarity (FT-BIN) in terms of bimoraicity. To achieve this objective, we rely on secondary data, which is taken from published grammar works. The major finding of the paper is that full vowels alternate with schwa in the perfective of MA CVC verbs to achieve the bimoraicity prosodic requirement. This finding provides a strong proponent in favour of the use of the mora in the analysis of V/ə alternations and enhances our understanding of the phonology of MA verbs.

Strategies and Errors in Interpreting Conversational Implicatures of Political Discourse

Thaher Gharabeh — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to examine Barik's (1971) categorization, as strategies or errors, in the interpretation of implicatures in English>Arabic and Arabic>English political discourses and, further, to find the effect of employing the categorization on the original message's recovery. Qualitative content analysis methodology is used in this study. Occurrences of Barik's (1971) categorization were collected to be examined. The study finds that interpreters' use of Barik's (1971) categorization in implicature interpreting is as errors rather than strategies in English>Arabic interpretation, but as strategies rather than errors in Arabic>English interpretation. The use of errors can be attributed to a lack of source message comprehension. Substitution was the dominant strategy in English>Arabic implicature interpreting; gross phrasing substitutions, which entail differences in meaning, were the dominant type of substitution. Misinterpreting implicature includes a partial or total loss of the source message. However, instances of coining unstated, unintended meanings were detected, which does not only lose the communicative function but also misleads the audience.

Systematic Analysis of the Translation of Cultural Elements in English and French Versions of Mofolo’s Moeti oa Bochabela

Lieketso Agatha Seutla — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study analyses the translation of cultural elements in the two translations of Thomas Mofolo’s Moeti oa Bochabela. The research objectives sought to identify the cultural elements in the two translations, the techniques and strategies used in rendering them, bring out the discrepancies in translating cultural elements in the two translations and suggest improvements for inadequate translations. Data was collected from the three novels and other documents after which a comparative analysis was done. The current study was guided by Descriptive Translation Studies (DTS), Philological theories of translation, Skopos Theory, Manipulation Theory and Socio-Linguistic Theory. Its findings reveal that the techniques that were used to render cultural elements in the corpus under study include literal translation, borrowing and calque, which are source text-oriented, and cultural equivalence, explicitation, reformulation, expansion, description, transposition, adaptation and omission, which are target text-oriented. The two categories of techniques fall under foreignization and domestication strategies respectively. The study also shows that in both translations, the cultural elements were more domesticated than foreignized. The English translation has more foreignization than the French one while the French translation has more domestication than the English version. Although not in all cases, there are discrepancies in the rendering of cultural elements in the two translations.

Modernity, Technology, and Copying

Chiung-Ying Huang — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The evolution of modernity is closely linked to technological advancements, which encompass the duplication of sounds, the reproduction of images, and the copying of messages. This paper investigates various perspectives on the emergence of modern technologies, particularly focusing on their inherent aspect of “copying.” Here, “copying” is a broad term that includes reproducing disembodied voices and images, as well as duplicating artwork and communication materials. It explores how different writers react to the concept of “copying” within the technological landscape. While some, like Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Rudyard Kipling, celebrate the public excitement and enjoyment associated with new communication technologies, others, including Henry James and Herman Melville, illustrate individuals ensnared in the realm of “copying,” where the pervasive gaze of overseers intrudes into the private realm of message transmission. This paper addresses the question of the relationship between copying and modernity, highlighting how a culture of “copying” enhances human capabilities while simultaneously generating issues such as misinterpretation, commodification, and detachment from natural order, ultimately raising concerns about identity, integrity, and security.

Integration Experiences of International Students: A Case Study of Sub-Saharan Students in a Moroccan School of Design and Engineering

khadija Amini — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

An increasing number of international Students opt for studying at a university in a foreign country. It is believed that this mobility makes these students face academic and social integrating challenges in their new learning environment. In Morocco, thousands of students, who are scholarship-granted by the Moroccan government, coming from different countries, chiefly from Sub-Saharan Africa seek education in different universities of the kingdom. The main aim of this study extends its focus to explore two outcomes. Particularly, it investigates the social and academic integration experiences of a case study of international students undertaking an undergraduate programme at a Moroccan school of design and engineering along with the challenges these students encounter. Moreover, the study situates these experiences within the institutional conscious efforts that are implemented to achieve an integrational goal. Data were collected from a case study in spring 2019 by interviewing 20 Sub-Saharan students studying at the Moroccan Design and Technology engineering school in Meknes (ENSAM: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers) and 3 of the school staff members. Using thematic analysis and then interpretative phenomenology as a guiding framework to analyse and present the data, the findings revealed that the study's participants have experienced both their social and academic integrative patterns at the school in the same way. Indeed, three major themes were identified and analysed, namely, Programmes promoted by ENSAM on integration, relationship patterns between Sub-Saharan and Moroccan students and barriers to integration. The study revealed that the various integration efforts carried out by the school do not sufficiently cater for Sub-Saharan students' perspectives on their social and academic integration experiences. Additionally, staff knowledge regarding the integration of these minority groups is not adequately enhanced through pre-service training that covers best practices for successful integration. Language barrier and interaction patterns between Sub-Saharan students with their host ones are also found to influence Sub-Saharan students' social and academic integration. It is suggested that Moroccan Higher education institutions (HEIs) should acknowledge integration as a long and challenging process for Sub-Saharan students, and that an evaluation of integrative practices promoted at the school is needed.

The Effect of Recycling Vocabulary on Foreign Language Learning

Mohamed HAMDANE, Ali HAMDANE — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The recycling method is frequently given a tiny proportion, if not neglected, in the practice of foreign language settings, although the multiple exposure strategy to language was given substantial priority in the theory and study of second language acquisition. This experimental study used a pre-and-post-testing design and a post-teaching intervention to examine the impact of vocabulary recycling on the learning of English as a foreign language. To assess the impact of the vocabulary recycling strategy, the researchers compared the experimental group of 33 high school student's vocabulary production on writing assessments before and after the intervention to the control group of 33 students with equal levels of homogeneity. The statistical differences in the post-test between the groups demonstrated that a vocabulary-revisiting strategy is compulsory for enhancing young learners' productive abilities, particularly writing. The derived conclusions suggest significant implications for pedagogical practices and pave the way for future research in this arena.

The Impact of Flipped Learning on Reading Comprehension Among Moroccan High School Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Ouadiha El Jemli, Mounir Serhani, Imad Hamdanat, Lamiae Azzouzi — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract

This study investigated the efficacy of flipped learning in enhancing high school students' reading comprehension competencies. A quasi-experimental design was employed to compare a group of 85 second-year baccalaureate students exposed to flipped learning with a traditionally taught control group. The study employed pre- and post-tests to measure reading comprehension, with statistical analyses conducted to determine the impact of the intervention. Paired samples t-tests revealed significant improvements in reading comprehension for both the experimental and control groups, indicating that both instructional approaches can positively influence reading proficiency. However, independent samples t-tests did not demonstrate a significant difference in the magnitude of these improvements between the two groups, suggesting that while flipped learning may be an effective strategy, its superiority over traditional instruction in this context is not evident. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the effectiveness of flipped learning. While the study indicates potential benefits of the flipped classroom approach, further research is warranted to explore the specific factors influencing its impact on student outcomes. Factors such as the quality of instructional materials, teacher training, and student characteristics may moderate the relationship between flipped learning and reading comprehension. Additionally, longitudinal studies are needed to examine the long-term effects of this instructional approach. By addressing these limitations and expanding the scope of future research, a more comprehensive understanding of the potential of flipped learning to enhance reading comprehension can be achieved.

Keywords: Flipped learning, Reading comprehension, High school students, Quasi-experimental design, Instructional methods

Reclaiming Space: Postcolonial Ecocriticism in Toni Morrison’s ‘Sula’

Abdelghani El Mitry — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article delves into the exploration of space in Toni Morrison’s novel Sula through the lens of postcolonial ecocriticism. Titled “Reclaiming Space: Postcolonial Ecocriticism in Toni Morrison’s Sula”, the article aims to analyze how the concept of space is portrayed in the novel, particularly in relation to themes of colonization, identity, and environmental degradation. By employing a postcolonial ecocritical perspective, the article seeks to uncover the ways in which the characters in Sula navigate and reclaim physical, social, and psychological spaces in the aftermath of colonialism. Key questions addressed in the article include: a). How does Morrison depict the relationship between space, power, and identity in Sula? b). In what ways do the characters in the novel challenge or conform to colonial structures through their interactions with space? c). How does the novel’s portrayal of the natural environment reflect broader themes of postcolonialism and ecological consciousness?

Translation between Untranslatability and Appropriation

Bouchra BADAOUI — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper delves into the complexities of translation by examining the interplay between untranslatability and appropriation. Using the theoretical frameworks of scholars such as Walter Benjamin, Jacques Derrida, and Roman Jakobson, it highlights the inherent challenges of conveying linguistic, cultural, and contextual nuances from a source text into a target language. Simultaneously, it explores the notion of translation as appropriation, guided by the critical perspectives of Lawrence Venuti, André Lefevere, and Gayatri Spivak. The analysis is contextualized through Moroccan cinema, focusing on Moumen Smihi's El Chergui (1975) and Abdelkader Lagtaa's Hubb fi al-Dar al-Baida (Love in Casablanca, 1991). These films illustrate how untranslatability and appropriation manifest in cinematic expressions, emphasizing the political, cultural, and ethical dimensions of translation.

Needs Analysis in English for Moroccan Applied Mathematics Graduate Students at Ibn Zohr University

Abdelmomen Khalil, Mohamed Elfatihi, Nadia Hellalet — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the English academic needs of students in the Applied Mathematics in the Science of Engineering (AMSE) master program at the Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Zohr University, Morocco. It aimed at determining the gap between students' language needs and their actual competencies and identifying learners’ perceptions of their linguistic needs and their linguistic difficulties. The study was conducted based on a mixed-methods design approach with multiple data collection instruments. As a research framework, the Dudley-Evans and St John's (1998) needs analysis model was used. The results showed that participants attach different values to the importance and competence of macro- and micro-language skills. Students and teachers placed a high value on grammatical knowledge. Students valued grammar, speaking, and writing highly, while subject matter teachers valued grammar, speaking, and writing highly, but listening and pronunciation skills were valued as less important. The study showed that learners' English proficiency level is average. Their average English levels then influenced their academic achievement. Based on the aforementioned results, the researchers proposed that syllabus designers should address the macro- and micro-skills regarding academic studies when developing and redesigning course syllabus and its objectives in the ESP context.

AraRead: A Mobile Application for Enhancing Arabic Reading Skills in Moroccan Children with Dyslexia

Driss El Bouda , Aziz Ouladhadda, Hassan Malek — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the effectiveness of AraRead, a mobile application, designed to improve Arabic reading skills among children with dyslexia in Moroccan primary schools. The research aimed to investigate the impact of this application on reading ability and student motivation. Employing a pre-test/post-test design, the study involved 36 participants who used the application over a period of seven weeks. The findings validate previous research conducted in other contexts, demonstrating that such digital tools can significantly aid children with dyslexia in enhancing their reading skills. Additionally, the study revealed that AraRead not only improves reading proficiency but also increases motivation and fosters self-directed learning among learners. These results highlight the significant efficacy of mobile applications in overcoming learning challenges and enhancing student motivation, offering valuable insights for incorporating technology into educational practices specifically for children with dyslexia.

Workplace Requirements and the Instruction of Soft Skills in Higher Education: A Case Study of Management Techniques Students

Insaf khoudri — Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000

To meet the demands of the 21st century, integrating soft skills into educational settings is deemed essential. However, employers often assert that many recent graduates lack the skills needed to adapt to workplace requirements. With this concern in mind, the present paper seeks to evaluate the disparities between the skill sets desired by employers and those provided to students. A quantitative research approach was utilized to accomplish this objective, employing a questionnaire to collect data from 412 Moroccan university students specializing in Management Techniques (MT) at the School of Technology in Meknes. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25, and the research hypotheses were examined using the One-Sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. According to the results of the hypotheses, students exhibit a high level of soft skills, and the instructional methods utilized in university education appear to align closely with workplace expectations and recruiter needs. However, the study suggests that outcomes may vary across different faculties, indicating the necessity for further investigation in this area.

Moroccan EFL Teachers’ Beliefs about the Potential Contribution of Multilingualism to the L3 English Classroom: To What Extent Is Multilingualism an Asset to L3 English Learners?

Yassine Ait Hammou, Naima Trimasse, Mohamed Elghazi — Sun, 01 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The current study set out to investigate Moroccan English language teachers’ educational beliefs about the potential of multilingualism for the L3 English classroom. Utilizing a mixed-method approach of investigation, this study employs two instruments to collect data: questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. An online questionnaire was completed by 169 teacher informants who participated in this study, 20 of whom were selected for the semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Findings revealed that teacher participants generally exhibited partial/moderate awareness of the usefulness of multilingualism to the L3 English classroom as they held moderate positive educational beliefs about its potential for fostering their multilingual learners’ L3 English. Hence, this study suggests that Moroccan L3 English teachers be encouraged to take maximum advantage of their students’ multilingualism in a way that is beneficial to their L3 English learners. Teacher education has a significant role in positively shaping L3 English teachers’ educational beliefs in that respect.