Search results for "proficiency"

English Language Policy in Relation to Teachers and Teacher Educators in Latvia: Insights from Activity Systems Analysis

2020

The ambitious objectives of European language policy and the strive for competitiveness have led to an increasing emphasis on foreign language competence at the level of national education systems. Using Spolsky’s onion model of language policy (2004) and Engeström’s Expansive Learning theory (1987, 2008), the study attempts to determine the formative influence of the existing multilayered language policy on the professional development of Latvian educators with the aim to compare the situation for teachers and teacher educators in respect of their English language proficiency.Given the prioritisation of English and strategic differences in foreign language management in relation to teacher…

An International Proficiency Study with the Tumor Marker CA 125

1990

A strict and adequate quality assurance program is the only real guarantee of the reliability of laboratory test results. Such proficiency testing was carried out for the CA 125 test system in five university laboratories over a period of three years (1984 - 1987) using five different reference materials (BIOREF, FRG). A concentration-dependent performance profile could thus be established evaluating a total of 301 assays. Intra-assay precision of the test ranged between 4.8 and 11.5%, and interassay precision between 13.6 and 19.1%. Laboratory specific average values of the individual reference materials ranged between 26 and 32 U/ml for reference 1, 51 and 59 U/ml for reference 2, 109 an…

The emotional journey of being and becoming bilingual

2017

This article examines the foreign language learning biographies of six Finnish English speakers who reflect on their journey towards a bilingual identity. In this article language learning is examined as a process that is intrinsically emotional as emotion connects individuals with the world as well as being a movement within oneself. The data analysis is based on dialogical and narrative approaches. Through the analysis two key story types were named: Bilingualism as striving and Bilingualism as a gift. In the striving stories English was held up as an ideal, as a way of engaging with the wider world but moreover as a way of finding a better ‘me’. In the gift stories, English was experienc…

Relationship between students' opinions, background factors and learning outcomes: Finnish 9th graders learning English

2017

Word derivational knowledge and writing proficiency: How do they link?

2016

Abstract Although word derivational (WD) knowledge, i.e., how new words are formed from existing words with help of derivational affixes, is considered important for learners of second or foreign languages (L2), there is still no clear answer as to what aspects comprise the construct of L2 English word derivational knowledge and how it develops. The present study adds to our knowledge on how the ability to derive English words develops among L2 English learners. More specifically, it sheds light on how word derivational knowledge relates to communicatively defined Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) language proficiency levels regarding learners' writing skills. In the study, 117 …

Why have I failed? Why have I passed? A comparison of students’ causal attributions in second language acquisition (A1–B2 levels)

2019

Background Previous literature highlights the importance of causal attributions in achievement and motivation. However, the studies about causal attributions in second language acquisition (SLA) are limited and scarce. Aims This study was designed to determine the frequency of successful and unsuccessful activities per English level and to compare the causal attributions (explanations of outcomes) on successful and failure authentic tasks undertaken in the context of learning English as a foreign language (EFL) acquisition in an Official School of Languages (OSL). Sample To this aim, 407 native Spanish students from levels A1 (n = 111), A2 (n = 113), B1 (n = 98), and B2 (n = 85) in OSL part…

Baltic Journal of English Language, Literature a Culture, Volume 7

2017

Influence of Background Knowledge and Language Proficiency on Comprehension of Domain-Specific Texts by University Students

2019

This paper presents the results of a quantitative study that explores two factors contributing to reading comprehension of domain specific texts, namely level of language proficiency and background knowledge. Overall, 32 students participated in the study by taking two custom-designed reading comprehension tests. The test scores were further  analyzed using SPSS statistical software. The results of statistical tests revealed the differences between study groups as well as the effects of compensation. More precisely, the most proficient group scored higher on almost all tests and completed the tests more quickly than the remaining groups. The statistical tools used to test the data showed th…

Validation of Powder X-Ray Diffraction Following EN ISO/IEC 17025

2012

:  Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) is used widely in forensic science laboratories with the main focus of qualitative phase identification. Little is found in literature referring to the topic of validation of PXRD in the field of forensic sciences. According to EN ISO/IEC 17025, the method has to be tested for several parameters. Trueness, specificity, and selectivity of PXRD were tested using certified reference materials or a combination thereof. All three tested parameters showed the secure performance of the method. Sample preparation errors were simulated to evaluate the robustness of the method. These errors were either easily detected by the operator or nonsignificant for phase iden…

Limited English proficiency : case studies of Finns with limited English proficiency

2017

Englannin näkyvyys suomalaisessa yhteiskunnassa on kasvanut vahvasti viime vuosikymmenien aikana. Englannin rooli ja sen merkitys suomalaisten elämässä on lisääntynyt erityisesti nuorten parissa. Aikaisemmat tutkimukset työelämästä viittaavat siihen, että englannin kielen taito nähdään jopa perusosana ammatillista osaamista. Tiedemaailmassa taas on havahduttu siihen, että tiedekeskustelu tapahtuu yhä useammin englanniksi suomen kielen kustannuksella. Tämä saattaa vaikeuttaa osaltaan suomalaisten korkeakoulujen mahdollisuuksia käyttää suomenkielistä opetusmateriaalia. Samaan aikaan noin joka neljäs suomalainen arvio itse oman englannin kielen taitonsa puutteelliseksi. Näin ollen herääkin kys…