Sana Ababneh | Albalqaa Applied University (original) (raw)

Papers by Sana Ababneh

International Journal of Education and Practice

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of reading and math initiative on the development... more The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of reading and math initiative on the development of language and computational skills among early grades students, from teachers’ standpoint. The study sample consisted of 180 male and female teachers of early graders in Amman city, Jordan. To achieve study objectives, researchers used a scale to measure the effectiveness of reading and math initiative on the development of students’ language and computational skills from teachers’ standpoint. The study results showed that teachers’ assessment of reading initiative effectiveness on developing language skills came high at both overall and sub-items levels (vocal awareness skill, letters’ sounds reading skill, vocabulary skill, reading absorption skill, and writing skill). Results also showed that teachers’ evaluation of the math initiative effectiveness on developing computational skills was high at both the overall and sub-items levels (problem- solving skill, standard counting skill,...

World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues

As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes Jordan, many universities have implem... more As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes Jordan, many universities have implemented online education. However, effective use by students has been hindered by many challenges and attitudes. In this paper, we examine the experiences and attitudes of students during the COVID-19 pandemic in regards to online education, focusing on Al-Balqa Applied University and Jerash University. An online questionnaire was administered to 200 students from 2 different universities who took different online courses through Al-Balqa Applied University and Jerash University. The study found that students from Al-Balqa Applied University and Jerash University face similar challenges in e-learning. Moreover, female students suffered more than male students during the pandemic with regard to the challenges they faced in e-learning. In addition, Jerash University students are significantly more disposed to e-learning than students from other universities. In addition, male students are mo...

The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL univ... more The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL university students. The study employed a quantitative method for collecting data involving mainly a questionnaire administration. Subjects of the study were 135 Jordanian students who study English and translation at Yarmouk University. The subjects of the study completed a questionnaire through which data were collected on their use of individual learning strategies. The obtained data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that the majority of the subjects were moderate users of the individual learning strategies. However, neither gender, nor major had a significant effect on the subjects' use of those strategies. The study also showed that the subjects' academic year level at the university had a significant effect in terms of their use of the strategies in favor of the seniors.

Journal of Education and Practice, 2017

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of an instructional program on vocational edu... more The present study aimed at investigating the effect of an instructional program on vocational educational students' proficiency of vocational educational terms in English. The study sample consisted of 60 male and female students from Al-Balqa'a Applied University, Jordan. Moreover, the study investigated the effect the students' gender and secondary school stream on their performance after receiving the vocational instructional program. Findings revealed that the instructional program had a positive effect on students' achievement and awareness of the vocational terms in English and both their gender and secondary school stream influenced their achievement, since female students did better than male students, and students from the academic stream were better than their counterparts from the vocational stream. Keywords: English, Vocational Education, EFL, Gender, Jordan.

This paper presented the results of a survey which was carried out to identify vocational educati... more This paper presented the results of a survey which was carried out to identify vocational education female students' motivation and attitudes towards learning the English language. The study investigated students' motivation in terms of three motivational constructs: instrumental motivation, integrative motivation, and personal motivation. Learners' attitudes, on the other hand, regarding the use of English on Jordanian educational, social, and cultural contexts were identified. The study sample consisted of 56 vocational education female students at Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqaa University, Jordan. A three section questionnaire was used for data collection. For the students' motivation, the findings showed the subjects' greater support of instrumental reasons for learning the English language including practical and academic reasons. Personal reasons were also regarded as important motives by the students. However, regarding the integrative reasons, the...

Studies in English Language Teaching, 2017

Proverbs express public wisdom and reflect public attitudes. In the traditional definition they a... more Proverbs express public wisdom and reflect public attitudes. In the traditional definition they are untouchable when it comes to form. Like other idiomatic expressions, they are learnt as whole, indivisible chunks. As such, they should be included in language classes, if a native-like mastery is to be achieved since they constitute an indispensible component of one’s linguistic repertoire. Recent studies have shown that proverbial form is not as “holy” as tradition holds it. Speakers “commit” different kinds of transformations to popular proverbs, their sanctity notwithstanding. Examples of different types of mutations are discussed in this paper and categorized under the headings of: sound imitation, word play, stunting (or cropping), combining more than one proverb, and introducing a completely new “proverb”. These different types are seen to produce proverb-like statements which could eventually turn into proverbs proper. This paper argues that all such transformations have a pur...

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018

Highlights  A facile route to mesoporous titanias with tunable photophysical properties  Photoc... more Highlights  A facile route to mesoporous titanias with tunable photophysical properties  Photocatalytic dye degradation and H2 production  mesopore size ( 1/band gap)  Ultra-low Cu promoter levels deliver four-to six-fold photoactivity enhancements  First demonstration of atomically dispersed Cu(I) as a photocatalytic promoter

Catalysis Communications, 2017

Mesoporous silica supported Ni nanoparticles have been investigated for hydrogen production from ... more Mesoporous silica supported Ni nanoparticles have been investigated for hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming. Ethanol reforming is structure-sensitive over Ni, and also dependent on support mesostructure; three-dimensional KIT-6 possessing interconnected mesopores offers superior metal dispersion, steam reforming activity, and on-stream stability against deactivation compared with a two-dimensional SBA-15 support.

Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 2017

This paper addresses itself to the outcomes of a field study which was carried out to identify Jo... more This paper addresses itself to the outcomes of a field study which was carried out to identify Jordanian EFL students' attitudes towards using group work in EFL classrooms. The study sample consisted of 179 students enrolled in English 101, an elementary language skills course taught at Al- Huson University College, Al -Balqa' Applied University, Jordan. A questionnaire was used to investigate the subjects' attitudes. The findings show that approximately two-thirds of the participants are either very extrovert or somewhat extrovert, i.e. they have positive attitudes towards participating in group work in EFL classes. In contrast, only a third are either somewhat introvert or very introvert, i.e., they do not like to take part in group work in EFL classes. Moreover, the data show that neither the subjects' gender nor their secondary school stream (vocational, scientific, or literary) has any significant effect on their preferences.

Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2017

This paper is aimed at investigating the issue whether proverbs are falling out of public usage. ... more This paper is aimed at investigating the issue whether proverbs are falling out of public usage. A field study is carried out to answer the questions of the study. A sample of Jordanian Arabic native speakers were asked to complete twenty unfinished proverbs and to give an appropriate proverb they would use in each of ten different situations described in a written questionnaire. The responses were graded to gauge the amount of knowledge the subjects have of proverbs. The subjects’ gender was also considered to see whether gender has any effect on a speaker’s amount of knowledge in this regard. The results show that males and females performed equally well displaying comparable knowledge. Age, on the other hand, is crucial: older people of both genders consistently knew more proverbs. This decline in knowledge of proverbs in younger people is not seen here as an indication that proverbs are ‘dying’. Rather, the authors believe that the nature of proverbs as what might be considered ...

This study investigates Jordanian EFL students' attitudes towards the use of their mobile pho... more This study investigates Jordanian EFL students' attitudes towards the use of their mobile phones in learning English as a foreign language. The aim of the study is to gain insight into the awareness of Jordanian EFL students to the importance of implementing technology appropriately (mobile phones) in learning English. Moreover, it also aims to examine the effect of their gender and academic major (English Translation), on their attitudes towards using mobile phones in learning English as a foreign language. The study sample consisted of 101 students enrolled in English (417) a course in semantics taught at English Department, Yarmouk University, Jordan. A questionnaire was used to investigate the subjects' attitudes and use of their mobile phones. The findings reveal that the subjects' mean score of using their mobile phones was 3.85 out of 4, a result that displays a high usage of mobile phones in learning English. The subjects also have positive attitudes towards usin...

Language, individual & society, 2014

The present study sheds some light on the strategies used by EFL students in taking English tests... more The present study sheds some light on the strategies used by EFL students in taking English tests. The researcher tried to investigate the use of some test-taking strategies which the students use before, during and after sitting for a test. In her analysis of the questionnaire results, the researcher took in consideration the role of some factors on the findings of the analysis such as students’ gender, university academic major, as well as students’ secondary school stream whether it was scientific, literal, or vocational. Findings of the study showed that the students’ use of test-taking strategies before the test got the highest score in comparison with the other types. Gender also played a role in favor of female students. Moreover, the findings showed that neither the students’ university academic major nor their stream at secondary school has any significant effect on their use of strategies. The study also revealed that the students in general showed a moderate high use of t...

This study aims at investigating to what extent are Jordanian vocational education students aware... more This study aims at investigating to what extent are Jordanian vocational education students aware of the importance of using English vocational education terms, as well as to what extent they are able to use those terms appropriately. The sample consisted of 68 students and a test was the main instrument in this study. Findings showed that vocational education students are to some extent ignorant of the vocational terms in English. Moreover, gender has an effect on students' awareness of the vocational terms in favor of females. Awareness of vocational education students who come from academic secondary schools in vocational terminology is better than those who come from vocational secondary schools. Finally, the academic year level of the students plays a role in favor of the seniors. However, the results revealed severe weakness in students ability to use the vocational terms appropriately and there were no significant differences between the students' use of those vocatio...

The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL univ... more The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL university students. The study employed a quantitative method for collecting data involving mainly a questionnaire administration. Subjects of the study were 135 Jordanian students who study English and translation at Yarmouk University. The subjects of the study completed a questionnaire through which data were collected on their use of individual learning strategies. The obtained data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that the majority of the subjects were moderate users of the individual learning strategies. However, neither gender, nor major had a significant effect on the subjects' use of those strategies. The study also showed that the subjects' academic year level at the university had a significant effect in terms of their use of the strategies in favor of the seniors.

Journal of Education and e-Learning Research

The present study investigated the types of intelligence BAU students prefer to use in learning E... more The present study investigated the types of intelligence BAU students prefer to use in learning English. This study used a quantitative method for collecting data via a questionnaire. The subjects of the study were 138 Jordanian students at Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University. The results revealed that logical-mathematical and linguistic intelligence was the most dominant type of intelligence among the students. However, neither their gender nor their academic degree program had a significant effect on their learning type of intelligence. Nevertheless, the data showed substantial differences among the students in the interpersonal type of intelligence in favor of male students, while these differences were in favor of the females in the intrapersonal type. There were significant differences in the logical-mathematical type of intelligence between the bachelor’s degree students and their diploma colleagues in favor of the bachelor ones. The researcher attempts to...

International Journal of Education and Practice

Journal of Education and Practice, 2013

In an effort to provide the literature with additional insight on how the learners meet the obsta... more In an effort to provide the literature with additional insight on how the learners meet the obstacles of understanding new vocabulary which they face in reading English texts, the present study tried to identify the strategies used by Al-Huson University Collage students' in dealing with new vocabulary in English. Furthermore, the researcher examined the effect of gender and the academic major on the participants choice of the strategies that they tend to use when they meet new vocabulary while they read English texts. The results showed that the participants tend to look up every new vocabulary or try to ask about it as the most frequent strategies. And guessing came next. Skipping came last between the three strategies under study. Both gender and the academic major do not have a significant effect on the participants choice of strategy.

Journal of Education and Practice, 2013

This research analyzes the effect of using the internet on Arab EFL students' performance in Engl... more This research analyzes the effect of using the internet on Arab EFL students' performance in English writing. The research design of this study used a pre-test/post-test to identify the influence of the internet on students' writing in English. The subjects were purposefully chosen from a private school in Irbid district in Jordan. They were instructed in the traditional way in the first semester and their writing was rated as a pre-test. In the second semester they were instructed using the internet as a mean of teaching/learning. Their writing was rated afterwards as a post-test to examine the effect of using the internet on their writing. The results showed that students' overall performance on the post-test improved significantly. The most significant improvement was on the use of vocabulary and the least was on the development of their paragraphs in general.

International Journal of Education and Practice

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of reading and math initiative on the development... more The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of reading and math initiative on the development of language and computational skills among early grades students, from teachers’ standpoint. The study sample consisted of 180 male and female teachers of early graders in Amman city, Jordan. To achieve study objectives, researchers used a scale to measure the effectiveness of reading and math initiative on the development of students’ language and computational skills from teachers’ standpoint. The study results showed that teachers’ assessment of reading initiative effectiveness on developing language skills came high at both overall and sub-items levels (vocal awareness skill, letters’ sounds reading skill, vocabulary skill, reading absorption skill, and writing skill). Results also showed that teachers’ evaluation of the math initiative effectiveness on developing computational skills was high at both the overall and sub-items levels (problem- solving skill, standard counting skill,...

World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues

As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes Jordan, many universities have implem... more As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes Jordan, many universities have implemented online education. However, effective use by students has been hindered by many challenges and attitudes. In this paper, we examine the experiences and attitudes of students during the COVID-19 pandemic in regards to online education, focusing on Al-Balqa Applied University and Jerash University. An online questionnaire was administered to 200 students from 2 different universities who took different online courses through Al-Balqa Applied University and Jerash University. The study found that students from Al-Balqa Applied University and Jerash University face similar challenges in e-learning. Moreover, female students suffered more than male students during the pandemic with regard to the challenges they faced in e-learning. In addition, Jerash University students are significantly more disposed to e-learning than students from other universities. In addition, male students are mo...

The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL univ... more The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL university students. The study employed a quantitative method for collecting data involving mainly a questionnaire administration. Subjects of the study were 135 Jordanian students who study English and translation at Yarmouk University. The subjects of the study completed a questionnaire through which data were collected on their use of individual learning strategies. The obtained data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that the majority of the subjects were moderate users of the individual learning strategies. However, neither gender, nor major had a significant effect on the subjects' use of those strategies. The study also showed that the subjects' academic year level at the university had a significant effect in terms of their use of the strategies in favor of the seniors.

Journal of Education and Practice, 2017

The present study aimed at investigating the effect of an instructional program on vocational edu... more The present study aimed at investigating the effect of an instructional program on vocational educational students' proficiency of vocational educational terms in English. The study sample consisted of 60 male and female students from Al-Balqa'a Applied University, Jordan. Moreover, the study investigated the effect the students' gender and secondary school stream on their performance after receiving the vocational instructional program. Findings revealed that the instructional program had a positive effect on students' achievement and awareness of the vocational terms in English and both their gender and secondary school stream influenced their achievement, since female students did better than male students, and students from the academic stream were better than their counterparts from the vocational stream. Keywords: English, Vocational Education, EFL, Gender, Jordan.

This paper presented the results of a survey which was carried out to identify vocational educati... more This paper presented the results of a survey which was carried out to identify vocational education female students' motivation and attitudes towards learning the English language. The study investigated students' motivation in terms of three motivational constructs: instrumental motivation, integrative motivation, and personal motivation. Learners' attitudes, on the other hand, regarding the use of English on Jordanian educational, social, and cultural contexts were identified. The study sample consisted of 56 vocational education female students at Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqaa University, Jordan. A three section questionnaire was used for data collection. For the students' motivation, the findings showed the subjects' greater support of instrumental reasons for learning the English language including practical and academic reasons. Personal reasons were also regarded as important motives by the students. However, regarding the integrative reasons, the...

Studies in English Language Teaching, 2017

Proverbs express public wisdom and reflect public attitudes. In the traditional definition they a... more Proverbs express public wisdom and reflect public attitudes. In the traditional definition they are untouchable when it comes to form. Like other idiomatic expressions, they are learnt as whole, indivisible chunks. As such, they should be included in language classes, if a native-like mastery is to be achieved since they constitute an indispensible component of one’s linguistic repertoire. Recent studies have shown that proverbial form is not as “holy” as tradition holds it. Speakers “commit” different kinds of transformations to popular proverbs, their sanctity notwithstanding. Examples of different types of mutations are discussed in this paper and categorized under the headings of: sound imitation, word play, stunting (or cropping), combining more than one proverb, and introducing a completely new “proverb”. These different types are seen to produce proverb-like statements which could eventually turn into proverbs proper. This paper argues that all such transformations have a pur...

Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2018

Highlights  A facile route to mesoporous titanias with tunable photophysical properties  Photoc... more Highlights  A facile route to mesoporous titanias with tunable photophysical properties  Photocatalytic dye degradation and H2 production  mesopore size ( 1/band gap)  Ultra-low Cu promoter levels deliver four-to six-fold photoactivity enhancements  First demonstration of atomically dispersed Cu(I) as a photocatalytic promoter

Catalysis Communications, 2017

Mesoporous silica supported Ni nanoparticles have been investigated for hydrogen production from ... more Mesoporous silica supported Ni nanoparticles have been investigated for hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming. Ethanol reforming is structure-sensitive over Ni, and also dependent on support mesostructure; three-dimensional KIT-6 possessing interconnected mesopores offers superior metal dispersion, steam reforming activity, and on-stream stability against deactivation compared with a two-dimensional SBA-15 support.

Advances in Language and Literary Studies, 2017

This paper addresses itself to the outcomes of a field study which was carried out to identify Jo... more This paper addresses itself to the outcomes of a field study which was carried out to identify Jordanian EFL students' attitudes towards using group work in EFL classrooms. The study sample consisted of 179 students enrolled in English 101, an elementary language skills course taught at Al- Huson University College, Al -Balqa' Applied University, Jordan. A questionnaire was used to investigate the subjects' attitudes. The findings show that approximately two-thirds of the participants are either very extrovert or somewhat extrovert, i.e. they have positive attitudes towards participating in group work in EFL classes. In contrast, only a third are either somewhat introvert or very introvert, i.e., they do not like to take part in group work in EFL classes. Moreover, the data show that neither the subjects' gender nor their secondary school stream (vocational, scientific, or literary) has any significant effect on their preferences.

Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2017

This paper is aimed at investigating the issue whether proverbs are falling out of public usage. ... more This paper is aimed at investigating the issue whether proverbs are falling out of public usage. A field study is carried out to answer the questions of the study. A sample of Jordanian Arabic native speakers were asked to complete twenty unfinished proverbs and to give an appropriate proverb they would use in each of ten different situations described in a written questionnaire. The responses were graded to gauge the amount of knowledge the subjects have of proverbs. The subjects’ gender was also considered to see whether gender has any effect on a speaker’s amount of knowledge in this regard. The results show that males and females performed equally well displaying comparable knowledge. Age, on the other hand, is crucial: older people of both genders consistently knew more proverbs. This decline in knowledge of proverbs in younger people is not seen here as an indication that proverbs are ‘dying’. Rather, the authors believe that the nature of proverbs as what might be considered ...

This study investigates Jordanian EFL students' attitudes towards the use of their mobile pho... more This study investigates Jordanian EFL students' attitudes towards the use of their mobile phones in learning English as a foreign language. The aim of the study is to gain insight into the awareness of Jordanian EFL students to the importance of implementing technology appropriately (mobile phones) in learning English. Moreover, it also aims to examine the effect of their gender and academic major (English Translation), on their attitudes towards using mobile phones in learning English as a foreign language. The study sample consisted of 101 students enrolled in English (417) a course in semantics taught at English Department, Yarmouk University, Jordan. A questionnaire was used to investigate the subjects' attitudes and use of their mobile phones. The findings reveal that the subjects' mean score of using their mobile phones was 3.85 out of 4, a result that displays a high usage of mobile phones in learning English. The subjects also have positive attitudes towards usin...

Language, individual & society, 2014

The present study sheds some light on the strategies used by EFL students in taking English tests... more The present study sheds some light on the strategies used by EFL students in taking English tests. The researcher tried to investigate the use of some test-taking strategies which the students use before, during and after sitting for a test. In her analysis of the questionnaire results, the researcher took in consideration the role of some factors on the findings of the analysis such as students’ gender, university academic major, as well as students’ secondary school stream whether it was scientific, literal, or vocational. Findings of the study showed that the students’ use of test-taking strategies before the test got the highest score in comparison with the other types. Gender also played a role in favor of female students. Moreover, the findings showed that neither the students’ university academic major nor their stream at secondary school has any significant effect on their use of strategies. The study also revealed that the students in general showed a moderate high use of t...

This study aims at investigating to what extent are Jordanian vocational education students aware... more This study aims at investigating to what extent are Jordanian vocational education students aware of the importance of using English vocational education terms, as well as to what extent they are able to use those terms appropriately. The sample consisted of 68 students and a test was the main instrument in this study. Findings showed that vocational education students are to some extent ignorant of the vocational terms in English. Moreover, gender has an effect on students' awareness of the vocational terms in favor of females. Awareness of vocational education students who come from academic secondary schools in vocational terminology is better than those who come from vocational secondary schools. Finally, the academic year level of the students plays a role in favor of the seniors. However, the results revealed severe weakness in students ability to use the vocational terms appropriately and there were no significant differences between the students' use of those vocatio...

The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL univ... more The present study investigated the use of individual learning strategies among Jordanian EFL university students. The study employed a quantitative method for collecting data involving mainly a questionnaire administration. Subjects of the study were 135 Jordanian students who study English and translation at Yarmouk University. The subjects of the study completed a questionnaire through which data were collected on their use of individual learning strategies. The obtained data were analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The results revealed that the majority of the subjects were moderate users of the individual learning strategies. However, neither gender, nor major had a significant effect on the subjects' use of those strategies. The study also showed that the subjects' academic year level at the university had a significant effect in terms of their use of the strategies in favor of the seniors.

Journal of Education and e-Learning Research

The present study investigated the types of intelligence BAU students prefer to use in learning E... more The present study investigated the types of intelligence BAU students prefer to use in learning English. This study used a quantitative method for collecting data via a questionnaire. The subjects of the study were 138 Jordanian students at Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University. The results revealed that logical-mathematical and linguistic intelligence was the most dominant type of intelligence among the students. However, neither their gender nor their academic degree program had a significant effect on their learning type of intelligence. Nevertheless, the data showed substantial differences among the students in the interpersonal type of intelligence in favor of male students, while these differences were in favor of the females in the intrapersonal type. There were significant differences in the logical-mathematical type of intelligence between the bachelor’s degree students and their diploma colleagues in favor of the bachelor ones. The researcher attempts to...

International Journal of Education and Practice

Journal of Education and Practice, 2013

In an effort to provide the literature with additional insight on how the learners meet the obsta... more In an effort to provide the literature with additional insight on how the learners meet the obstacles of understanding new vocabulary which they face in reading English texts, the present study tried to identify the strategies used by Al-Huson University Collage students' in dealing with new vocabulary in English. Furthermore, the researcher examined the effect of gender and the academic major on the participants choice of the strategies that they tend to use when they meet new vocabulary while they read English texts. The results showed that the participants tend to look up every new vocabulary or try to ask about it as the most frequent strategies. And guessing came next. Skipping came last between the three strategies under study. Both gender and the academic major do not have a significant effect on the participants choice of strategy.

Journal of Education and Practice, 2013

This research analyzes the effect of using the internet on Arab EFL students' performance in Engl... more This research analyzes the effect of using the internet on Arab EFL students' performance in English writing. The research design of this study used a pre-test/post-test to identify the influence of the internet on students' writing in English. The subjects were purposefully chosen from a private school in Irbid district in Jordan. They were instructed in the traditional way in the first semester and their writing was rated as a pre-test. In the second semester they were instructed using the internet as a mean of teaching/learning. Their writing was rated afterwards as a post-test to examine the effect of using the internet on their writing. The results showed that students' overall performance on the post-test improved significantly. The most significant improvement was on the use of vocabulary and the least was on the development of their paragraphs in general.