Mohammed Farrah Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics & Ex. Chairman of the English Department - Hebron University - Palestine | Hebron University (original) (raw)
Papers by Mohammed Farrah Associate Professor in Applied Linguistics & Ex. Chairman of the English Department - Hebron University - Palestine
IUG Journal of Humanities Research, Feb 1, 2016
Indonesian EFL Journal, 2021
This study aimed to elicit students' perspectives towards benefits and challenges of fully online... more This study aimed to elicit students' perspectives towards benefits and challenges of fully online classes at Hebron University. The researchers examined both advantages and challenges of online classes from students' point of view. Also, they explored some suggestions for improving online classes which could play an important role in improving the online learning and teaching process. The researchers employed quantitative research methods. They distributed a questionnaire to collect data. Eighty two students from two different English intensive courses were asked to fill a 5 point Likert scale questionnaire and answer four open-ended questions. The researchers used the surveyplanet app to facilitate the process of distributing and collecting data. The finding of this study showed that students faced some challenges with online learning; they preferred face to face classes. The disadvantages of online classes from their perspectives are more than the advantages. The weak internet connectivity, poor interaction, less motivation, less participation and less understanding are the most challenges of online learning. However, they find online classes easy to access, convenient and easy to be reviewed for exams.
International Journal of Arabic-English Studies (IJAES), 2020
The purpose of this research is to identify few common pronunciation mistakes among Palestinian E... more The purpose of this research is to identify few common pronunciation mistakes among Palestinian English major students in Hebron University and the factors that cause these problems. The paper discusses selected phonetic and phonological problems related to specific consonants and vowels besides problems related to pronunciation of consonant sequences. The participants of this study were 120 English major students from Hebron University. The researchers used a questionnaire and a recorded pronunciation test to collect the data. In addition to the previous instruments, interviews were conducted with eight students and two instructors. The findings of the study revealed that Hebron University English major students have difficulties in pronouncing English consonants that are not part vowels that have more than one pronunciation. During the interviews, the interviewees pointed various reasons for their errors and suggested some solutions to some of these pronunciation problems. Among the mispronunciation reasons mentioned are: interference from Arabic and the lack of correct models, exposure to native speakers, and practice. The researchers concluded that learners' errors are caused by several linguistic factors, such as the disparity between Arabic and English sound systems, the effect of spelling on pronunciation, the influence of the first language (L1) on the second language (L2), and English vowel inconsistency. Finally, ideas to overcome some of the pronunciation problems are suggested.
Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies, 2019
This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interac... more This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interactive task-based activities to teach English writing in Bethlehem Secondary School for Girls. The experiment was conducted at the second semester of the academic year 2016/2017. Two scientific sections from the 11th grade participated in the study; section B was the control group and section C was the experimental one. The former group practiced writing traditionally. The students in the latter group were enrolled in two online platforms, ―Facebook‖ and ―PBworks‖, to practice the target skillelectronically. A questionnaire, pre/posttests, online platforms, a text content analyzer tool and self-reports were administered to investigate the participants’ achievement and attitudes. With regard to the writing skill, the results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control one. Also, the former manifested more positive attitudes towards e-learning than the other one.
ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education, 2019
The aim of the study is to examine the ninth grade teachers' perceptions towards task-based learn... more The aim of the study is to examine the ninth grade teachers' perceptions towards task-based learning (TBL) method and analyze the tasks and activities in the textbook of English for Palestine-Ninth Grade. In addition, this study aims at evaluating the appropriateness and the effectiveness of TBL in the classroom. The researcher used four methods to collect data, namely questionnaire, classroom observation, interview, and content-analysis checklist. The sample of the study consisted of 185 teachers (males & females) from the government and UNRWA schools in Hebron District. The overall findings of the study revealed that the teachers' perceptions towards TBL were positive and highly acceptable; they supported the effectiveness of communicative language teaching (CLT) and TBL in EFL classrooms. Then, the results of observational data showed that some teachers use new communicative methods for teaching language skills while others use the traditional ones. Meanwhile, the results of interviews indicated that the challenges of task-based learning were big-sized classes, length of material, lack of time, and lack of technological tools. The study ended with recommendations for syllabus designers, teachers, and students. It is recommended that the teaching and learning of English language skills at the Palestinian schools should be enhanced by the use of new flexible methods, such as TBL and communicative language teaching.
ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education, 2020
This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of utilizing flipped classrooms on seventh gr... more This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of utilizing flipped classrooms on seventh graders' English language skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking) and areas (grammar and vocabulary) at Farahat Secondary Girls' School. The researchers chose two 7 th classes for the study, and then the flipped learning was implemented with the experimental group, while the control group had traditional learning. According to data collection, the researchers used a pretest and a posttest to measure the students' achievements after 9 weeks of flipping the classrooms, which were executed on 36 female students. Then, a semi-structured interview was conducted to draw a clear picture of flipped learning. The major findings of the study revealed that there were significant differences in English language skills and areas between both groups. The experimental group achieved higher scores than the control one, and the most prominent improved skills are listening, speaking, and communication.
Indonesian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 2020
This study attempts to examine the perceptions of EFL students in Palestinian universities about ... more This study attempts to examine the perceptions of EFL students in Palestinian universities about
online learning advantages, challenges, and solutions during Corona pandemic. Moreover, it aims to
highlight the efficiency of online learning as an educational system which can be relied on to achieve goals
of high educational institutions. The researchers investigated the current s ituation of online learning in
Palestinian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic using a questionnaire. In the questionnaire, the
participants were 191 students (161 females and 30 males), and all of the participants have tried the online
learning experience during this pandemic. 33% of them took online courses before, while 67% did not. The
questionnaire was posted on 6 English clubs’ websites of 6 Palestinian universities: Birzet Univers ity, AnNajah National University, Bethlehem University, Hebron University, Al-Quds University, and Pales tine
Ahliya University. The investigation was concerned in pointing out the challenges facing the students during
their online courses, in addition to finding out solutions in terms of involving students in the assessment
process. The findings confirmed the need to conduct changes and improvements regarding the
implementation of e-learning in the educational process in order to help high ministries of education achieve
more real success in spreading knowledge. The researchers concluded that there should be massive efforts in
improving the technological infrastructure besides holding good training programs for both students and
teachers.
Mu'tah Lil-Buhuth wad-Dirasat, Humanities and Social Sciences Series, 2020
One of the important issues in learning is quality standards. Recently, many studies discussed th... more One of the important issues in learning is quality standards. Recently, many
studies discussed the importance of meeting the 21st century skills to ensure
the quality of the teaching and learning process. A few studies have used
21st century skills to evaluate their courses. This study looks at the extent to
which a Teaching English for Young Learners course offered by the English
Department at Hebron University, Palestine, met the 21st century skills.
Studies on language courses using the 21st century skills are hardly known,
as evidenced in the literature review. This study marks the first time such
skills have been used to evaluate a language course. A quantitative research
methodology was employed. Data was obtained through a questionnaire. It
was completed by 38 students who attended the Teaching English for
Young Learners course. 21st century skills were: (a) critical thinking skills;
(b) creativity and innovation skills; (c) communication skills; (d)
collaboration skills; (e) self-direction skills; (f) global connection; (g) local
connections, and (h) the use of information communication technology
(ICT). According to the participants, the course met the 21st century skills in
varying degrees; the use of information communication technology (ICT)
(M=4.62); collaboration skills (M=4.42); communication skills (M=4.38);
Critical thinking skills (M=4.22); self-direction skills (M=4.08); Creativity
and innovation skills (M=3.98); global connection (M=3.96; and local
connections (M=3.85) respectively. The results obtained from the open ended part of the questionnaire showed that the students felt that the aspects
Studies in Linguistics and Literature, 2017
This study mainly aimed at investigating the impact of teaching the asking for clarification and ... more This study mainly aimed at investigating the impact of teaching the asking for clarification and circumlocution speaking strategies on enhancing students' speaking ability. In addition, it investigated the impact of teaching asking for clarification and circumlocution speaking strategies on students' use of other speaking strategies. Finally, it aimed at finding the correlation between language proficiency and students' use of the taught speaking strategies. Sixty-two 10 th graders at Noba Secondary School for Girls, a government high school, Palestine, participated in the study. Their native language is Arabic. They were divided into an experimental group comprised of thirty-one students and a control group consisted of thirty-one students. The experimental group had training on using two speaking strategies, namely asking for clarification and circumlocution which lasted over a semester. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data which were collected through pre and post questionnaires and pre and post tests showed that the use of asking for clarification strategy enhanced students' speaking skill. However, students' speaking skill was not enhanced through the use of circumlocution strategy. In addition, there were no significant differences between the experimental and control group in their use of different speaking strategies after teaching asking for clarification and circumlocution speaking strategies. However, message reduction and alteration strategies and social-affective strategies were reported to be the most significantly used strategies by the experimental group. Furthermore, the results showed that there was a strong correlation between learners' proficiency level and their strategy use. Finally, the study came with a number of recommendations.
Journal of Creative Practices in Language Learning and Teaching (CPLT), 2016
This study aimed at investigating the effect of using children's songs in developing the elementa... more This study aimed at investigating the effect of using children's songs in developing the elementary graders' vocabulary and pronunciation. It aimed also to investigate teachers' attitudes towards the use of songs in their English classes. The participants were 123 EFL students of the fourth grade; 72 females and 51 males. Arabic is their native language. Both groups are from four private schools in Jerusalem; two groups for boys, and two groups for girls. One boys' school and one girls' school were chosen to be the experimental group consisting of 58 participants, while the other boys' and girls' schools were chosen to be the control group consisting of 65 participants. Study data were collected via students' pre and post tests and teachers' questionnaire. Exams results showed that students have improved their vocabulary and pronunciation due to the use of songs in learning. Questionnaire results showed that teachers have positive attitudes towards the use of songs in their classes as songs have positive effects in increasing students' achievement, interest and motivation. Finally, results revealed that students' achievements were not affected by gender.
Al Azhar University Research Journal Gaza (Humanities) http://www.alazhar.edu.ps , 2016
This study aims to investigate the most frequent punctuation and capitalization errors made by EF... more This study aims to investigate the most frequent punctuation and capitalization errors made by EFL learners and to find out whether there were significant differences in the frequency of such errors due to the learners' academic level, major, and / or gender. The sample consisted of 157 students from the English Department of Hebron University/ Palestine in the academic year 2014/2015. Specially designed test was administered whereby the students were asked to fill in necessary punctuation marks and to correct capitalization errors. The results revealed that the most frequent errors were made in capitalization, comma, semicolon, period, quotation, hyphen, apostrophe, and the question mark respectively from the highest to the lowest occurrence. Unexpectedly, there were no significant differences in the frequency of the punctuation and capitalization errors made by the students due to their academic level, major, or gender.
Hebron University Research Journal (B), 2019
The aim of this quantitative study is to examine the teachers' perspectives towards the reading c... more The aim of this quantitative study is to examine the teachers' perspectives towards the reading comprehension questions in the 8 th grade English student's textbook. The study also addresses the extent of comprehension questions based on Barrett's Taxonomy. The researchers used a questionnaire to collect their data and answer the research questions. The sample of the study included 92 teachers (males & females) from the government, private, and UNRWA schools in Hebron District. SPSS (Statitical Package for Social Science) has been used to analyse the data. The results regarding the general attitudes of the 8 th grade teachers towards the textbook and the comprehension questions revealed that the teachers' views towards the textbook shape, objective, content, and teaching aids are positive and highly acceptable. However, the results regarding the extent of the availability of the reading comprehension questions in reference to Barrett's Taxonomy clearly show that the questions in English for Palestine-Eighth Grade, generally test literal comprehension, which means that students were frequently asked to recognize and recall ideas, and facts clearly identified in the texts. The researchers concluded that the higher order thinking skills in Barrett Taxonomy
Journal of Creative Practices in Language Learning and Teaching (CPLT), 2018
This quantitative and qualitative paper investigated the use of novels in the EFL classroom. It e... more This quantitative and qualitative paper investigated the use of novels in the EFL classroom. It examined students' attitudes towards using novels in the EFL classroom; evaluated the advantages of using novels and whether they motivate students, develop their linguistic level, and enrich their cultural knowledge. Moreover, it identified certain problems that students may face in the process of learning novels in the EFL classroom. A total of 56 students participated in this study and responded to the questionnaire in the fall semester of 2015/2016 at Hebron University, Palestine. In addition, the researchers interviewed three instructors teaching at the English department. The findings of the questionnaire showed that students held positive attitudes towards using novels in the EFL classes. Mainly, they agree that novels have a number of advantages. For example, novels can motivate them, enrich their cultural knowledge, and improve their language ability. The interview with instructors revealed advantages of using novels and some challenge. Finally, researchers recommend that teachers keep using literature in the language classrooms and students keep reading novels due to their benefits.
Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies - Sultan Qaboos University, 2019
This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interac... more This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interactive task-based activities to teach English writing in Bethlehem Secondary School for Girls. The experiment was conducted at the second semester of the academic year 2016/2017. Two scientific sections from the 11th grade participated in the study; section B was the control group and section C was the experimental one. The former group practiced writing traditionally. The students in the latter group were enrolled in two online platforms,-Facebook‖ and-PBworks‖, to practice the target skill electronically. A questionnaire, pre/posttests, online platforms, a text content analyzer tool and self-reports were administered to investigate the participants' achievement and attitudes. With regard to the writing skill, the results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control one. Also, the former manifested more positive attitudes towards e-learning than the other one.
International Journal of Research in English Education, 2018
This quantitative, qualitative study investigates the usage of mobile phone applications in teach... more This quantitative, qualitative study investigates the usage of mobile phone applications in teaching and learning processes. The study aims to identify the benefits, difficulties, and resolutions of using mobile phone applications. The study was conducted in the English Department at Hebron University at the second semester of the academic years 2015/2016. The study focuses on the Business English course. A questionnaire was used to show the general attitudes of the students towards the effects of using mobile phone applications in the classroom. Interviews were administered to reveal the general attitudes of the students and instructors towards the difficulties and the solutions. The results showed that most students responded positively to using mobile applications in teaching and learning processes. In addition, all students had smart phones, and they used varied brands applications in the learning process. Moreover, the results indicated that students understand and learn better through using the applications.
Indonesian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 2019
Learning English has become a necessity during this century. Consequently, it is utilized in diff... more Learning English has become a necessity during this century. Consequently, it is utilized in different institutions in Palestine such as schools, universities, hospitals, etc. Therefore, it is taught in schools by using different methods. Thus, in order to comprehend the language efficiently, it has to be taught in creative and interesting methods and using games inside the classroom in one of these methods. The study aims to figure out the efficiency of using games inside classrooms and to answer the research questions. The study was conducted during the first semester of 2018/2019, in which 20 participants were enrolled. The researchers collected data using pretest; posttest and class observation. The study continued for two months. In that, students were introduced to unfamiliar vocabulary through games. The findings of the research revealed the efficiency of utilizing games in the educational process. Accordingly, games help students to retain unfamiliar vocabulary, to associate new information with their surroundings and to develop their language and communicative skills.
Journal of Creative Practices in Language Teaching (CPLT), 2017
Decision-making process is one of the most difficult steps during academic life. Sometimes, stude... more Decision-making process is one of the most difficult steps during academic life. Sometimes, students find it difficult to decide on choosing the appropriate course. This paper investigates the different factors that students take into account when selecting certain language courses during the academic terms. These factors may include instructor's subject matter and pedagogical knowledge, instructor's personal traits, timing of the course, nature of the course, student personal interests and recommendations from academic advisors, peers, friends, and parents. To assess this issue a questionnaire was distributed to 150 English-major students at Hebron University to explore students' main considerable factors for their course selection decisions. The results showed that the most considerable factors are timing, the instructor as well as course type, respectively. This study revealed a lot about students reasoning when it comes to choosing a certain course. It will also benefit teachers and decision-makers at the Department of English at Hebron University and other Palestinian institutions of higher learning to understand students' views and to make some changes accordingly.
Language, Discourse & Society, 2018
The aim of the article is to shed light on ongoing situation about the Israeli-Palestinian confli... more The aim of the article is to shed light on ongoing situation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lenses of newspaper heading analysis. Newspapers manipulate newspapers heading to persuade and influence public opinion so that political actions may be carried out. Unfortunately, such manipulation can lead to drastic consequences such as violent solutions. Through discourse analysis this study compares and contrasts different newspapers and magazines headlines of the Palestinian Israeli conflict. The researcher has used these newspapers and magazines to show attitudinal differences as reflected in discourses of the newspapers. The researcher collected his data from newspapers and magazines through the Internet. The newspapers and the magazines belong to two communities, each of which has its point of view regarding the conflict. Four major key concepts have emerged in the data: OCCUPATION, TERRORISM, SETTLEMENTS, and PEACE PROCESS. Through talking about these concepts and events, analysis of news headlines, grammatical and lexical metaphor, euphemism, stereotypes, and other rhetoric and linguistic devices are used to achieve intentions.
Dirasat, Human and Social Sciences, 2018
This study investigated the benefits of keeping portfolios on improving English writing skills am... more This study investigated the benefits of keeping portfolios on improving English writing skills among English major students in Hebron University. It also examined if there are differences in students' attitudes towards keeping portfolios due to gender. The sample of the study consisted of 55 male and female students of two sections (The first section is selected as a control group and the second is an experimental group) of an undergraduate Writing II course offered by the English Department in the second semester of the academic year 2014/2015. A pre-questionnaire and a post-questionnaire consisting of twenty statements following a five-point Likert scale were used. The findings revealed that there are statistically significant differences in students' attitudes between the control group and the experimental group favoring the experimental group. However, there is no statistically significant difference in students' attitudes in the post-questionnaire within the experimental group due to gender. Moreover, the results of the study lent support to the findings of the previous studies where the students found the portfolio-keeping process as motivating and a worthwhile experience.
The Qualitative Report, 2019
This study is qualitative in nature and is designed to analyze the experiences and perceptions of... more This study is qualitative in nature and is designed to analyze the experiences and perceptions of a group of MA
students regarding an MA TEFL practicum course at Hebron University during the second semester of the
academic year 2015/2016 and whether their experience improved their flair to convey educational practices
to better serve students. The study was steered by experiential learning theory. The participants learned from
their experiences, reflected on practical activities during the practicum course and contributed to a better understanding of the integration process between theory and practice. Three research questions addressed MA students’ experiences during the practicum and how those experiences benefited them and allowed them to grow professionally. I concluded with a set of recommendations.
IUG Journal of Humanities Research, Feb 1, 2016
Indonesian EFL Journal, 2021
This study aimed to elicit students' perspectives towards benefits and challenges of fully online... more This study aimed to elicit students' perspectives towards benefits and challenges of fully online classes at Hebron University. The researchers examined both advantages and challenges of online classes from students' point of view. Also, they explored some suggestions for improving online classes which could play an important role in improving the online learning and teaching process. The researchers employed quantitative research methods. They distributed a questionnaire to collect data. Eighty two students from two different English intensive courses were asked to fill a 5 point Likert scale questionnaire and answer four open-ended questions. The researchers used the surveyplanet app to facilitate the process of distributing and collecting data. The finding of this study showed that students faced some challenges with online learning; they preferred face to face classes. The disadvantages of online classes from their perspectives are more than the advantages. The weak internet connectivity, poor interaction, less motivation, less participation and less understanding are the most challenges of online learning. However, they find online classes easy to access, convenient and easy to be reviewed for exams.
International Journal of Arabic-English Studies (IJAES), 2020
The purpose of this research is to identify few common pronunciation mistakes among Palestinian E... more The purpose of this research is to identify few common pronunciation mistakes among Palestinian English major students in Hebron University and the factors that cause these problems. The paper discusses selected phonetic and phonological problems related to specific consonants and vowels besides problems related to pronunciation of consonant sequences. The participants of this study were 120 English major students from Hebron University. The researchers used a questionnaire and a recorded pronunciation test to collect the data. In addition to the previous instruments, interviews were conducted with eight students and two instructors. The findings of the study revealed that Hebron University English major students have difficulties in pronouncing English consonants that are not part vowels that have more than one pronunciation. During the interviews, the interviewees pointed various reasons for their errors and suggested some solutions to some of these pronunciation problems. Among the mispronunciation reasons mentioned are: interference from Arabic and the lack of correct models, exposure to native speakers, and practice. The researchers concluded that learners' errors are caused by several linguistic factors, such as the disparity between Arabic and English sound systems, the effect of spelling on pronunciation, the influence of the first language (L1) on the second language (L2), and English vowel inconsistency. Finally, ideas to overcome some of the pronunciation problems are suggested.
Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies, 2019
This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interac... more This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interactive task-based activities to teach English writing in Bethlehem Secondary School for Girls. The experiment was conducted at the second semester of the academic year 2016/2017. Two scientific sections from the 11th grade participated in the study; section B was the control group and section C was the experimental one. The former group practiced writing traditionally. The students in the latter group were enrolled in two online platforms, ―Facebook‖ and ―PBworks‖, to practice the target skillelectronically. A questionnaire, pre/posttests, online platforms, a text content analyzer tool and self-reports were administered to investigate the participants’ achievement and attitudes. With regard to the writing skill, the results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control one. Also, the former manifested more positive attitudes towards e-learning than the other one.
ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education, 2019
The aim of the study is to examine the ninth grade teachers' perceptions towards task-based learn... more The aim of the study is to examine the ninth grade teachers' perceptions towards task-based learning (TBL) method and analyze the tasks and activities in the textbook of English for Palestine-Ninth Grade. In addition, this study aims at evaluating the appropriateness and the effectiveness of TBL in the classroom. The researcher used four methods to collect data, namely questionnaire, classroom observation, interview, and content-analysis checklist. The sample of the study consisted of 185 teachers (males & females) from the government and UNRWA schools in Hebron District. The overall findings of the study revealed that the teachers' perceptions towards TBL were positive and highly acceptable; they supported the effectiveness of communicative language teaching (CLT) and TBL in EFL classrooms. Then, the results of observational data showed that some teachers use new communicative methods for teaching language skills while others use the traditional ones. Meanwhile, the results of interviews indicated that the challenges of task-based learning were big-sized classes, length of material, lack of time, and lack of technological tools. The study ended with recommendations for syllabus designers, teachers, and students. It is recommended that the teaching and learning of English language skills at the Palestinian schools should be enhanced by the use of new flexible methods, such as TBL and communicative language teaching.
ENGLISH REVIEW: Journal of English Education, 2020
This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of utilizing flipped classrooms on seventh gr... more This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of utilizing flipped classrooms on seventh graders' English language skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, and speaking) and areas (grammar and vocabulary) at Farahat Secondary Girls' School. The researchers chose two 7 th classes for the study, and then the flipped learning was implemented with the experimental group, while the control group had traditional learning. According to data collection, the researchers used a pretest and a posttest to measure the students' achievements after 9 weeks of flipping the classrooms, which were executed on 36 female students. Then, a semi-structured interview was conducted to draw a clear picture of flipped learning. The major findings of the study revealed that there were significant differences in English language skills and areas between both groups. The experimental group achieved higher scores than the control one, and the most prominent improved skills are listening, speaking, and communication.
Indonesian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 2020
This study attempts to examine the perceptions of EFL students in Palestinian universities about ... more This study attempts to examine the perceptions of EFL students in Palestinian universities about
online learning advantages, challenges, and solutions during Corona pandemic. Moreover, it aims to
highlight the efficiency of online learning as an educational system which can be relied on to achieve goals
of high educational institutions. The researchers investigated the current s ituation of online learning in
Palestinian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic using a questionnaire. In the questionnaire, the
participants were 191 students (161 females and 30 males), and all of the participants have tried the online
learning experience during this pandemic. 33% of them took online courses before, while 67% did not. The
questionnaire was posted on 6 English clubs’ websites of 6 Palestinian universities: Birzet Univers ity, AnNajah National University, Bethlehem University, Hebron University, Al-Quds University, and Pales tine
Ahliya University. The investigation was concerned in pointing out the challenges facing the students during
their online courses, in addition to finding out solutions in terms of involving students in the assessment
process. The findings confirmed the need to conduct changes and improvements regarding the
implementation of e-learning in the educational process in order to help high ministries of education achieve
more real success in spreading knowledge. The researchers concluded that there should be massive efforts in
improving the technological infrastructure besides holding good training programs for both students and
teachers.
Mu'tah Lil-Buhuth wad-Dirasat, Humanities and Social Sciences Series, 2020
One of the important issues in learning is quality standards. Recently, many studies discussed th... more One of the important issues in learning is quality standards. Recently, many
studies discussed the importance of meeting the 21st century skills to ensure
the quality of the teaching and learning process. A few studies have used
21st century skills to evaluate their courses. This study looks at the extent to
which a Teaching English for Young Learners course offered by the English
Department at Hebron University, Palestine, met the 21st century skills.
Studies on language courses using the 21st century skills are hardly known,
as evidenced in the literature review. This study marks the first time such
skills have been used to evaluate a language course. A quantitative research
methodology was employed. Data was obtained through a questionnaire. It
was completed by 38 students who attended the Teaching English for
Young Learners course. 21st century skills were: (a) critical thinking skills;
(b) creativity and innovation skills; (c) communication skills; (d)
collaboration skills; (e) self-direction skills; (f) global connection; (g) local
connections, and (h) the use of information communication technology
(ICT). According to the participants, the course met the 21st century skills in
varying degrees; the use of information communication technology (ICT)
(M=4.62); collaboration skills (M=4.42); communication skills (M=4.38);
Critical thinking skills (M=4.22); self-direction skills (M=4.08); Creativity
and innovation skills (M=3.98); global connection (M=3.96; and local
connections (M=3.85) respectively. The results obtained from the open ended part of the questionnaire showed that the students felt that the aspects
Studies in Linguistics and Literature, 2017
This study mainly aimed at investigating the impact of teaching the asking for clarification and ... more This study mainly aimed at investigating the impact of teaching the asking for clarification and circumlocution speaking strategies on enhancing students' speaking ability. In addition, it investigated the impact of teaching asking for clarification and circumlocution speaking strategies on students' use of other speaking strategies. Finally, it aimed at finding the correlation between language proficiency and students' use of the taught speaking strategies. Sixty-two 10 th graders at Noba Secondary School for Girls, a government high school, Palestine, participated in the study. Their native language is Arabic. They were divided into an experimental group comprised of thirty-one students and a control group consisted of thirty-one students. The experimental group had training on using two speaking strategies, namely asking for clarification and circumlocution which lasted over a semester. The quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data which were collected through pre and post questionnaires and pre and post tests showed that the use of asking for clarification strategy enhanced students' speaking skill. However, students' speaking skill was not enhanced through the use of circumlocution strategy. In addition, there were no significant differences between the experimental and control group in their use of different speaking strategies after teaching asking for clarification and circumlocution speaking strategies. However, message reduction and alteration strategies and social-affective strategies were reported to be the most significantly used strategies by the experimental group. Furthermore, the results showed that there was a strong correlation between learners' proficiency level and their strategy use. Finally, the study came with a number of recommendations.
Journal of Creative Practices in Language Learning and Teaching (CPLT), 2016
This study aimed at investigating the effect of using children's songs in developing the elementa... more This study aimed at investigating the effect of using children's songs in developing the elementary graders' vocabulary and pronunciation. It aimed also to investigate teachers' attitudes towards the use of songs in their English classes. The participants were 123 EFL students of the fourth grade; 72 females and 51 males. Arabic is their native language. Both groups are from four private schools in Jerusalem; two groups for boys, and two groups for girls. One boys' school and one girls' school were chosen to be the experimental group consisting of 58 participants, while the other boys' and girls' schools were chosen to be the control group consisting of 65 participants. Study data were collected via students' pre and post tests and teachers' questionnaire. Exams results showed that students have improved their vocabulary and pronunciation due to the use of songs in learning. Questionnaire results showed that teachers have positive attitudes towards the use of songs in their classes as songs have positive effects in increasing students' achievement, interest and motivation. Finally, results revealed that students' achievements were not affected by gender.
Al Azhar University Research Journal Gaza (Humanities) http://www.alazhar.edu.ps , 2016
This study aims to investigate the most frequent punctuation and capitalization errors made by EF... more This study aims to investigate the most frequent punctuation and capitalization errors made by EFL learners and to find out whether there were significant differences in the frequency of such errors due to the learners' academic level, major, and / or gender. The sample consisted of 157 students from the English Department of Hebron University/ Palestine in the academic year 2014/2015. Specially designed test was administered whereby the students were asked to fill in necessary punctuation marks and to correct capitalization errors. The results revealed that the most frequent errors were made in capitalization, comma, semicolon, period, quotation, hyphen, apostrophe, and the question mark respectively from the highest to the lowest occurrence. Unexpectedly, there were no significant differences in the frequency of the punctuation and capitalization errors made by the students due to their academic level, major, or gender.
Hebron University Research Journal (B), 2019
The aim of this quantitative study is to examine the teachers' perspectives towards the reading c... more The aim of this quantitative study is to examine the teachers' perspectives towards the reading comprehension questions in the 8 th grade English student's textbook. The study also addresses the extent of comprehension questions based on Barrett's Taxonomy. The researchers used a questionnaire to collect their data and answer the research questions. The sample of the study included 92 teachers (males & females) from the government, private, and UNRWA schools in Hebron District. SPSS (Statitical Package for Social Science) has been used to analyse the data. The results regarding the general attitudes of the 8 th grade teachers towards the textbook and the comprehension questions revealed that the teachers' views towards the textbook shape, objective, content, and teaching aids are positive and highly acceptable. However, the results regarding the extent of the availability of the reading comprehension questions in reference to Barrett's Taxonomy clearly show that the questions in English for Palestine-Eighth Grade, generally test literal comprehension, which means that students were frequently asked to recognize and recall ideas, and facts clearly identified in the texts. The researchers concluded that the higher order thinking skills in Barrett Taxonomy
Journal of Creative Practices in Language Learning and Teaching (CPLT), 2018
This quantitative and qualitative paper investigated the use of novels in the EFL classroom. It e... more This quantitative and qualitative paper investigated the use of novels in the EFL classroom. It examined students' attitudes towards using novels in the EFL classroom; evaluated the advantages of using novels and whether they motivate students, develop their linguistic level, and enrich their cultural knowledge. Moreover, it identified certain problems that students may face in the process of learning novels in the EFL classroom. A total of 56 students participated in this study and responded to the questionnaire in the fall semester of 2015/2016 at Hebron University, Palestine. In addition, the researchers interviewed three instructors teaching at the English department. The findings of the questionnaire showed that students held positive attitudes towards using novels in the EFL classes. Mainly, they agree that novels have a number of advantages. For example, novels can motivate them, enrich their cultural knowledge, and improve their language ability. The interview with instructors revealed advantages of using novels and some challenge. Finally, researchers recommend that teachers keep using literature in the language classrooms and students keep reading novels due to their benefits.
Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies - Sultan Qaboos University, 2019
This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interac... more This quantitative and qualitative study aims to scrutinize the effectiveness of utilizing interactive task-based activities to teach English writing in Bethlehem Secondary School for Girls. The experiment was conducted at the second semester of the academic year 2016/2017. Two scientific sections from the 11th grade participated in the study; section B was the control group and section C was the experimental one. The former group practiced writing traditionally. The students in the latter group were enrolled in two online platforms,-Facebook‖ and-PBworks‖, to practice the target skill electronically. A questionnaire, pre/posttests, online platforms, a text content analyzer tool and self-reports were administered to investigate the participants' achievement and attitudes. With regard to the writing skill, the results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control one. Also, the former manifested more positive attitudes towards e-learning than the other one.
International Journal of Research in English Education, 2018
This quantitative, qualitative study investigates the usage of mobile phone applications in teach... more This quantitative, qualitative study investigates the usage of mobile phone applications in teaching and learning processes. The study aims to identify the benefits, difficulties, and resolutions of using mobile phone applications. The study was conducted in the English Department at Hebron University at the second semester of the academic years 2015/2016. The study focuses on the Business English course. A questionnaire was used to show the general attitudes of the students towards the effects of using mobile phone applications in the classroom. Interviews were administered to reveal the general attitudes of the students and instructors towards the difficulties and the solutions. The results showed that most students responded positively to using mobile applications in teaching and learning processes. In addition, all students had smart phones, and they used varied brands applications in the learning process. Moreover, the results indicated that students understand and learn better through using the applications.
Indonesian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 2019
Learning English has become a necessity during this century. Consequently, it is utilized in diff... more Learning English has become a necessity during this century. Consequently, it is utilized in different institutions in Palestine such as schools, universities, hospitals, etc. Therefore, it is taught in schools by using different methods. Thus, in order to comprehend the language efficiently, it has to be taught in creative and interesting methods and using games inside the classroom in one of these methods. The study aims to figure out the efficiency of using games inside classrooms and to answer the research questions. The study was conducted during the first semester of 2018/2019, in which 20 participants were enrolled. The researchers collected data using pretest; posttest and class observation. The study continued for two months. In that, students were introduced to unfamiliar vocabulary through games. The findings of the research revealed the efficiency of utilizing games in the educational process. Accordingly, games help students to retain unfamiliar vocabulary, to associate new information with their surroundings and to develop their language and communicative skills.
Journal of Creative Practices in Language Teaching (CPLT), 2017
Decision-making process is one of the most difficult steps during academic life. Sometimes, stude... more Decision-making process is one of the most difficult steps during academic life. Sometimes, students find it difficult to decide on choosing the appropriate course. This paper investigates the different factors that students take into account when selecting certain language courses during the academic terms. These factors may include instructor's subject matter and pedagogical knowledge, instructor's personal traits, timing of the course, nature of the course, student personal interests and recommendations from academic advisors, peers, friends, and parents. To assess this issue a questionnaire was distributed to 150 English-major students at Hebron University to explore students' main considerable factors for their course selection decisions. The results showed that the most considerable factors are timing, the instructor as well as course type, respectively. This study revealed a lot about students reasoning when it comes to choosing a certain course. It will also benefit teachers and decision-makers at the Department of English at Hebron University and other Palestinian institutions of higher learning to understand students' views and to make some changes accordingly.
Language, Discourse & Society, 2018
The aim of the article is to shed light on ongoing situation about the Israeli-Palestinian confli... more The aim of the article is to shed light on ongoing situation about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lenses of newspaper heading analysis. Newspapers manipulate newspapers heading to persuade and influence public opinion so that political actions may be carried out. Unfortunately, such manipulation can lead to drastic consequences such as violent solutions. Through discourse analysis this study compares and contrasts different newspapers and magazines headlines of the Palestinian Israeli conflict. The researcher has used these newspapers and magazines to show attitudinal differences as reflected in discourses of the newspapers. The researcher collected his data from newspapers and magazines through the Internet. The newspapers and the magazines belong to two communities, each of which has its point of view regarding the conflict. Four major key concepts have emerged in the data: OCCUPATION, TERRORISM, SETTLEMENTS, and PEACE PROCESS. Through talking about these concepts and events, analysis of news headlines, grammatical and lexical metaphor, euphemism, stereotypes, and other rhetoric and linguistic devices are used to achieve intentions.
Dirasat, Human and Social Sciences, 2018
This study investigated the benefits of keeping portfolios on improving English writing skills am... more This study investigated the benefits of keeping portfolios on improving English writing skills among English major students in Hebron University. It also examined if there are differences in students' attitudes towards keeping portfolios due to gender. The sample of the study consisted of 55 male and female students of two sections (The first section is selected as a control group and the second is an experimental group) of an undergraduate Writing II course offered by the English Department in the second semester of the academic year 2014/2015. A pre-questionnaire and a post-questionnaire consisting of twenty statements following a five-point Likert scale were used. The findings revealed that there are statistically significant differences in students' attitudes between the control group and the experimental group favoring the experimental group. However, there is no statistically significant difference in students' attitudes in the post-questionnaire within the experimental group due to gender. Moreover, the results of the study lent support to the findings of the previous studies where the students found the portfolio-keeping process as motivating and a worthwhile experience.
The Qualitative Report, 2019
This study is qualitative in nature and is designed to analyze the experiences and perceptions of... more This study is qualitative in nature and is designed to analyze the experiences and perceptions of a group of MA
students regarding an MA TEFL practicum course at Hebron University during the second semester of the
academic year 2015/2016 and whether their experience improved their flair to convey educational practices
to better serve students. The study was steered by experiential learning theory. The participants learned from
their experiences, reflected on practical activities during the practicum course and contributed to a better understanding of the integration process between theory and practice. Three research questions addressed MA students’ experiences during the practicum and how those experiences benefited them and allowed them to grow professionally. I concluded with a set of recommendations.