Rajab Esfandiari
Abstract
Exploring language assessment and testing: Language in action is an updated version of its 2014 predecessor. Although this second edition remains intact in its structure and organisation, it is a welcome and timely addition to the field of language assessment, because thematically it reflects the most ...
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Exploring language assessment and testing: Language in action is an updated version of its 2014 predecessor. Although this second edition remains intact in its structure and organisation, it is a welcome and timely addition to the field of language assessment, because thematically it reflects the most recent developments in the field. In addition to much new content information, Green has also updated the glossary in which the terminology used in the book is briefly explained, more recent references are added to Further Reading section, and more new references are included in the reference list to reflect the new changes in the field. Green has adopted a pragmatic approach in writing this textbook and presenting the information in that the real-world problems and experiences are introduced first, followed by practical examples to steer readers towards the discussion of language assessment points, before the readers relate the experiences, problems, and points to theoretical perspectives. Although the textbook is primarily written to be “an indispensable introduction for postgraduate and advanced undergraduate students”, in language education and applied linguistics, I highly recommend it to all the members of community of practice in language assessment (and more specifically language teachers) because of the advantages it offers in classroom-based assessment, highly accessible presentation of the assessment points, and the author’s lucid, user-friendly style.
4. Dynamics between Applied Studies on Language and Literature
Mostafa Hosseini Anhari
Abstract
Literature and Language Learning in the EFL Classroomconsists of nineteenchapters. The chapters of the book have been arranged into two parts: Part I, current issues and suggestions for new approaches (Chapters 1-6) and Part II, empirical and case studies (Chapters 7-19). The book takes multiple approaches ...
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Literature and Language Learning in the EFL Classroomconsists of nineteenchapters. The chapters of the book have been arranged into two parts: Part I, current issues and suggestions for new approaches (Chapters 1-6) and Part II, empirical and case studies (Chapters 7-19). The book takes multiple approaches to examine how literary texts can be incorporated into teaching practices inan EFLclassroom including 1) the use of extensive and close reading 2) narrative inquiry 3) translation and pedagogical stylistics, and 4)the evaluation of successful foreign language learners. It is worth mentioning that the increasing role of non-canonical English literary textssuch as post-modernist texts, simplified texts and pop song lyrics isthe focus of several chapters.The collection may be considered as unique in the sense that many chapters, either directly or indirectly, target the Japanese EFL classroom. In fact, 14 chapters out of 19 have been written by Japanese authors.This review provides a chapter-by-chapter account of the book.
1. Applied Linguistics (Language Teaching and Learning)
Mona Hosseini
Abstract
The book ‘Developing expertise through experience’consists of twenty chapters written by language educators. Alan Maley has edited the book. The writers of the chapters have written their stories and experiences about learning English and being an Educator with regard to the notion of ‘sense ...
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The book ‘Developing expertise through experience’consists of twenty chapters written by language educators. Alan Maley has edited the book. The writers of the chapters have written their stories and experiences about learning English and being an Educator with regard to the notion of ‘sense of plausibility’ defined by Prabhu. Prabhu explains that plausibility in pedagogy is teachers’ intuition about learning arising from her own experience of teaching. The book is a major effort to share experiences between professionals working in different parts of the world. Therefore, the purpose is not to reach an agreement between many individuals but rather an enlarging, sharpening or enriching of every individual’s personal perception.In the first chapter of the book, Robert Bellarmine elaborates on the understanding of the ‘teacher’s sense of plausibility’. He explains that it is a personal theory of learning and teaching and its elements are not only beliefs and values but also concepts, principles, rules of thumb, truths and metaphors.
2. Applied Linguistics (Inspirations from neighbor disciplines)
Sahar Ahmadpour
Abstract
The book New Geographies of Language: Language, Culture and Politics in Wales is naturally seeking a very interesting goal rarely been witnessed before. For one thing, it is trying to mix language and linguistics with a totally distinct science, geography. For another, geography happens to be a literally ...
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The book New Geographies of Language: Language, Culture and Politics in Wales is naturally seeking a very interesting goal rarely been witnessed before. For one thing, it is trying to mix language and linguistics with a totally distinct science, geography. For another, geography happens to be a literally exotic science. Students all around the world might be generally of two types: Those who love geography (the author belonged to this category), and those who loath it. This is enough for considering geography as not being a regular science. Therefore, Rhys Jones and Huw Lewis have put a really difficult task on their hands. Bringing linguistics and geography together might seem very risky at first, but by reading this book one realizes that it has been well worth it. The book contains 8 chapters all being clearly related to each other. So only a brief account of chapters will be introduced here. The most important concern of the book is to bring into lights how a nation’s status can be altered by attending to educating language in connection to its history and culture.
1. Applied Linguistics (Language Teaching and Learning)
Atoosa Toosi; Mojtaba Teimourtash
Abstract
Mindful learning seems to be a theory of learning with a number of applications and implications in the realm of methodology and second language acquisition. It stands against the mindless, or rote, learning which makes the students passive, parroting some cliché with no real use in real life. ...
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Mindful learning seems to be a theory of learning with a number of applications and implications in the realm of methodology and second language acquisition. It stands against the mindless, or rote, learning which makes the students passive, parroting some cliché with no real use in real life. In essence, a mindful approach provides students with noble opportunities to overcome the learning obstacles through discovering new perspectives. Mindfulness requires the students rely on their own abilities and experiences, recognize the advantages and disadvantage of their skills, and find out how and what to use in any given situation. To Langer (2016), it is the key role in deciphering the latent talents of students in learning how to learn. In her book, “The Power of Mindful Learning”, Ellen J. Langer. professor of psychology at Harvard University, tackles the approaches taken for granted for years yet, to the great extent, useless in practice. She further scratches new dimensions of learning and delves into their characteristics.
3. Applied Literature
Jane Ekstam
Abstract
It is widely acknowledged that emotion is deeply embedded in literary criticism. Even when we aspire to scientific analysis and objectivity, we assume that we share a love of literature. Loving Literature is a deep and fascinating exploration of this important assumption. Literary critics and professors ...
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It is widely acknowledged that emotion is deeply embedded in literary criticism. Even when we aspire to scientific analysis and objectivity, we assume that we share a love of literature. Loving Literature is a deep and fascinating exploration of this important assumption. Literary critics and professors of literature are expected not only to know but also to love their work. In the case of professors, they are also required to transmit this love to their students. Lynch’s study investigates the historical origins of such expectations, and discusses their implications for readers, students and professors. Lynch does not assume that love is necessarily a healthy emotion: it can also be painful. Readers and literary critics forget this at their peril. To understand the role of love in literature, Lynch argues that it is necessary to study the eighteenth century and its ongoing discussions of literary history and the canon. The eighteenth century marked the beginning of English as an academic discipline. Lynch examines not only what early critics knew about literature but also how they felt about it. Only when we know this can we understand how literary studies evolved to its present form.
2. Applied Linguistics (Inspirations from neighbor disciplines)
Ghader Razmjou
Abstract
Ecolinguistics: language and ecology delivers an overall view and a critical approach on ecolinguistic studies. This book is an excellent resource to students, researchers, linguists and those working in the area of discourse analysis as well as ecology. The book claims presenting a news course for ecolinguistics ...
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Ecolinguistics: language and ecology delivers an overall view and a critical approach on ecolinguistic studies. This book is an excellent resource to students, researchers, linguists and those working in the area of discourse analysis as well as ecology. The book claims presenting a news course for ecolinguistics including a framework for understanding the theory of ecolinguistics, exploration of consumerism, and discourse analysis of texts of different types. In reviewing this book, the principal criteria included content, organization, theories and reference sources. Arran Stibbe, the author of the book, is a Reader in ecological Linguistics at the University of Gloucestershire where he teaches ecolinguisstics, discourse analysis, ethics and language and communication for leadership. His research and teaching examines how language encodes the stories we live by, and shapes how we see ourselves and our relationship with other animals and the earth. This involves linguistic analysis of a wide range of discourses, from advertising which encourages people to buy unnecessary and ecologically damaging products, to the inspirational language of nature writing.