laura cizer - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by laura cizer
Scientific Bulletin of Naval Academy, Jun 15, 2017
Scientific Bulletin of Naval Academy, 2020
The present article aims to illustrate the teaching and learning possibilities as well as the be... more The present article aims to illustrate the teaching and learning possibilities
as well as the benefits offered by the judicious and comprehensive exploitation of the
available ICT online resources when aligning them to the objectives specific to one’s
own language learning context. This presentation is articulated on two lines: the
dissemination of the practical outcomes of a recent research projected conducted by
the authors at “Mircea cel Bătrân” Naval Academy and the demonstration of how the
online learning tool emerged as the result of capitalizing the findings of the
aforementioned research project can be realistically used in a classroom setting with a
help of sample lesson plan.
“Mircea cel Batran” Naval Academy Scientific Bulletin, 2017
The present paper reports on the findings of the research project entitled "Contextualizing Naval... more The present paper reports on the findings of the research project entitled "Contextualizing Naval Lexical Content: A Research into the Ways and Means of Facilitating the Acquisition of Specialized Terminology by Naval Students", conducted at "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy, Constanta, between 2015 and 2016. The project aimed at identifying a series of efficient teaching strategies, means and materials which could be proven through piloting to enhance our naval students' retention, internalization and generative use of specialized vocabulary in work-related communication. The main phases of the research project included designing a set of surveying instruments in order to explore the present teaching and learning situation with its strengths, weaknesses and needs, followed by the production and piloting of a collection of teaching materials and finally the interpretation of the teacher and student feedback data in view to future material design. The research hypothesis was that the process of acquiring specialized vocabulary and developing general communicative competences might be optimized through an explicit and deliberate connection made between the lexical content and the assigned learning tasks, on the one hand, and the linguistic requirements of the occupational context, on the other. The underlying research assumption on which this project was based was that any ESP course needs to reflect the learners' profile and linguistic needs as much as possible. The more these needs are met and reflected in the choice of materials and procedures, the more successful the teaching and learning process is. In addition, it was anticipated and verified in the piloting stage, that the more aware of explicit learning strategies the learners were, the more efficient they were in their leaning efforts.
eLearning and Software for Education
This paper revolves around the development of an online visual dictionary with a view to improvin... more This paper revolves around the development of an online visual dictionary with a view to improving lexical acquisitions in maritime contexts. Undoubtedly, technological advances in computer technology have led to increased speed in accessing information and processed data; therefore, we deem it appropriate to consider first what online dictionaries may bring to the study of the English vocabulary, that is to facilitate both access to and use of the information contained therein. Indeed, the possibility of automatic processing and research of a term in an index is one of the greatest advantages of electronic dictionaries as compared to their paper format counterparts. Furthermore, the visual support - pictures or illustrations - is essential to language learners since it compensates for the definition alone when purely linguistic means are insufficient to explain a particular word or when they produce too difficult a definition. Taking this context into account, the Maritime English ...
11th International Conference eLearning and Software for Education
Practicing Intercultural Communicative Competences through Blended Learning Lecturer PhD Laura D.... more Practicing Intercultural Communicative Competences through Blended Learning Lecturer PhD Laura D.Cizer Associate Professor PhD Delia Natalia Alexandra Lungu Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy of Constanta Romania This aim of this paper is to present a module for practicing intercultural communicative competences that was devised within the Intermar project - a European Cooperation Project funded by the EU Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme, under Key Action 2 of the Transversal Programme - that ended in 2013 and whose major outcome was the creation of an effective "toolbox" available online on a learning platform (managed by the University of Sorbonne 3 in Paris). In this respect, 18 partners - mostly maritime and naval institutions (among which Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy of Constanta) - produced custom-designed courses in separate modules containing learning materials and collaborative tasks set in maritime contexts to be performed both by synchronous and asyn...
eLearning and Software for Education
Nowadays, with the introduction of multilingual crews and the loss of universal forms of communic... more Nowadays, with the introduction of multilingual crews and the loss of universal forms of communication, the importance of English as the 'lingua franca' of the sea has become paramount. In the aftermath of Intermar (a European Cooperation Programme under Key Action 2 of the Transversal Programme), this paper showcases part of the project's final result - online custom-designed courses for Intercomprehension (a 'natural' form of communication based on mutual understanding) and Maritime English. The ultimate goal of this project was to create of consortium of 18 institutions including European maritime colleges, both merchant marine and naval, as well as universities with a language training component; among which Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy of Constanta where the Intermar course was piloted during December 2012 and March 2013 with positive feedback from students. The course modules contain task-based learning materials, many set in a maritime context, with Tea...
Fiabilitate şi Durabilitate, 2014
This paper presents the results of research conducted on board a ship at a customer's request... more This paper presents the results of research conducted on board a ship at a customer's request. The devices used during the experimentation, the values obtained and the entailing conclusions will be presented. Measurements were taken over a period of one year.
2 Lecturer, PhD "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy Abstract: The Internet nowadays has b... more 2 Lecturer, PhD "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy Abstract: The Internet nowadays has become the most resourceful data bank for teachers around the world. There is not any single topic that a teacher would think about which could not be found on the Internet. There are numerous sites which provide ready-made lesson plans, loads of grammar exercises, hundreds of quizzes and many other resources which can be easily turned into teaching materials. However, when it comes to deciding which site is best for use in class, teachers sometimes feel lost and not always the searching engines provide them with the best resources. The aim of this paper is to offer a selection of sites, grouped according to a specific purpose, with explanations about what can be found in each group.
International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION, 2018
This paper presents aspects of the steering gear onboard a merchant ship by analyzing aft and bow... more This paper presents aspects of the steering gear onboard a merchant ship by analyzing aft and bow systems based on automation and use of modern propulsion. The choice of the transverse propeller is based on several economic considerations (its price, consumption, efficiency, etc.), technical considerations (positioning, size, vibrations induced in the ship’s hull), and maneuverability considerations (the ship’s turning rate under the action of the propeller. Accordingly, the propulsion system can come in various sizes, power values, shapes of the tunnel, and can present fixed or variable pitch propellers. Depending on the maneuverability of the ship, the transverse propulsion is analyzed by taking into account two tests: the turning of the transverse propulsion system test in calm and windy weather, and the steering test. The automation system is designed to control and monitor the on-board operational systems and equipment, and it encompasses a wide range of control, monitor and al...
Scientific Bulletin of Naval Academy, 2018
The European Union is multilingual in its daily reality as well as in its legislation. The use of... more The European Union is multilingual in its daily reality as well as in its legislation. The use of only one language as a communicative means among different peoples in Europe would greatly impact upon Europe’s capacity to federate diverse cultures and languages, not to mention the economic and cultural benefits enjoyed by the country whose language would become an inter-European language. With Intercomprehension (IC), the European citizens could overcome the risk of diminishing communicative exchanges: it promotes a direct, multilingual dialog tailoring the mindset and language specificity of each and every interlocutor. As such, IC bears the sign of a concrete action in favor of the cultural and language diversity. Two French movies – Euro-Mix (“L’auberge espagnole”) and its sequel Russian Dolls (“Les poupées russes”) – have been precisely selected as proof of this communication skill that avoids using a third language between two people speaking related languages.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes
This paper attempts to showcase the potential of an in-house textbook for practicing Intercompreh... more This paper attempts to showcase the potential of an in-house textbook for practicing Intercomprehension (IC) in a purely maritime context. It encompasses most of the research work conducted by the authors within EU funded grants as well as beyond them. First, reference will be made to the theoretical framework scaffolding this endeavor, namely the definition of such concepts as IC, textbooks, and IC didactics, then the newly devised textbook will be assessed according to several criteria: description of the teaching material, targeted audience, book structure, duration and pace of the teaching/learning process, objectives, types of tasks and internal dynamics. Thus, learners are led to demonstrate comprehension of foreign languages which is facilitated by the presence of different communication channels (written texts, sounds, images, etc). Consequently, in the authors’ vision, this exposure to the concept of IC will certainly facilitate the overcoming of communication and socializi...
With respect to asynchronous engines used in the electrical propulsion of ships, several features... more With respect to asynchronous engines used in the electrical propulsion of ships, several features have been subjected to close examination in this article: the moment when sliding, the mechanical characteristic between motor speed and coupling as well as between coupling and sliding in accordance with the rotor speed, and finally the coupling characteristics of asynchronous engines and the related mechanisms.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2016
In line with both EU policy on plurilingualism and CEFR, the purpose of this paper is to show the... more In line with both EU policy on plurilingualism and CEFR, the purpose of this paper is to show the outcome of federating two concepts: Intercomprehension – the ability to co-construct meaning, understanding languages without speaking or having studied them in a formal environment, and WebQuests – inquiry-oriented activities based on internet resources. These intercomprehensive principles have been combined with the webquest methodology adapted to language teaching online in order to create more immersive and interactive experiences. This particular kind of structured research has been preferred as webquests are generally intended for learners’development of critical thinking. Given the aforementioned context, this paper will demonstrate how student motivation for understanding more than just one foreign language can be boosted by involving them in collaborative, experiential tasks such as WebQuests.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2014
Intercomprehension (IC) – at its simplest: a form of communication in which each person uses his ... more Intercomprehension (IC) – at its simplest: a form of communication in which each person uses his or her own language and is also able to understand that of the other(s) – is a concept that originates in contrastive linguistics and constitutes a research field with a view to implementing within the Languages – Culture Didactics. It has been at the core of several research projects since the ’90s, and as of 2011 the team of researchers within Intermar (a European Cooperation Project funded by the EU Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, under Key Action 2 of the Transversal Programme, coordinated by Prof. F. Capucho at Universidade catolica in Viseu, Portugal) has been trying to encourage IC practice within the maritime community by offering blended a 60-hour course of uniquely designed modules containing learning materials and collaborative tasks. The course was piloted in 8 Naval and Maritime Academies involved in the project (among which the Naval Academy of Constanta) during t...
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2013
This paper aims to provide teachers and learners of foreign languages (particularly English) with... more This paper aims to provide teachers and learners of foreign languages (particularly English) with information concerning intercomprehension. It constitutes another approach to language learning which greatly assists multilingualism. It also aims to guide the first steps of anyone interested in this concept by explaining what IC is - highlighting research, and revealing the available resources to develop it (mostly online). At the same time, it will finally advocate for the introduction of this concept into existing European education systems.
Scientific Bulletin of Naval Academy, Jun 15, 2017
Scientific Bulletin of Naval Academy, 2020
The present article aims to illustrate the teaching and learning possibilities as well as the be... more The present article aims to illustrate the teaching and learning possibilities
as well as the benefits offered by the judicious and comprehensive exploitation of the
available ICT online resources when aligning them to the objectives specific to one’s
own language learning context. This presentation is articulated on two lines: the
dissemination of the practical outcomes of a recent research projected conducted by
the authors at “Mircea cel Bătrân” Naval Academy and the demonstration of how the
online learning tool emerged as the result of capitalizing the findings of the
aforementioned research project can be realistically used in a classroom setting with a
help of sample lesson plan.
“Mircea cel Batran” Naval Academy Scientific Bulletin, 2017
The present paper reports on the findings of the research project entitled "Contextualizing Naval... more The present paper reports on the findings of the research project entitled "Contextualizing Naval Lexical Content: A Research into the Ways and Means of Facilitating the Acquisition of Specialized Terminology by Naval Students", conducted at "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy, Constanta, between 2015 and 2016. The project aimed at identifying a series of efficient teaching strategies, means and materials which could be proven through piloting to enhance our naval students' retention, internalization and generative use of specialized vocabulary in work-related communication. The main phases of the research project included designing a set of surveying instruments in order to explore the present teaching and learning situation with its strengths, weaknesses and needs, followed by the production and piloting of a collection of teaching materials and finally the interpretation of the teacher and student feedback data in view to future material design. The research hypothesis was that the process of acquiring specialized vocabulary and developing general communicative competences might be optimized through an explicit and deliberate connection made between the lexical content and the assigned learning tasks, on the one hand, and the linguistic requirements of the occupational context, on the other. The underlying research assumption on which this project was based was that any ESP course needs to reflect the learners' profile and linguistic needs as much as possible. The more these needs are met and reflected in the choice of materials and procedures, the more successful the teaching and learning process is. In addition, it was anticipated and verified in the piloting stage, that the more aware of explicit learning strategies the learners were, the more efficient they were in their leaning efforts.
eLearning and Software for Education
This paper revolves around the development of an online visual dictionary with a view to improvin... more This paper revolves around the development of an online visual dictionary with a view to improving lexical acquisitions in maritime contexts. Undoubtedly, technological advances in computer technology have led to increased speed in accessing information and processed data; therefore, we deem it appropriate to consider first what online dictionaries may bring to the study of the English vocabulary, that is to facilitate both access to and use of the information contained therein. Indeed, the possibility of automatic processing and research of a term in an index is one of the greatest advantages of electronic dictionaries as compared to their paper format counterparts. Furthermore, the visual support - pictures or illustrations - is essential to language learners since it compensates for the definition alone when purely linguistic means are insufficient to explain a particular word or when they produce too difficult a definition. Taking this context into account, the Maritime English ...
11th International Conference eLearning and Software for Education
Practicing Intercultural Communicative Competences through Blended Learning Lecturer PhD Laura D.... more Practicing Intercultural Communicative Competences through Blended Learning Lecturer PhD Laura D.Cizer Associate Professor PhD Delia Natalia Alexandra Lungu Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy of Constanta Romania This aim of this paper is to present a module for practicing intercultural communicative competences that was devised within the Intermar project - a European Cooperation Project funded by the EU Commission's Lifelong Learning Programme, under Key Action 2 of the Transversal Programme - that ended in 2013 and whose major outcome was the creation of an effective "toolbox" available online on a learning platform (managed by the University of Sorbonne 3 in Paris). In this respect, 18 partners - mostly maritime and naval institutions (among which Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy of Constanta) - produced custom-designed courses in separate modules containing learning materials and collaborative tasks set in maritime contexts to be performed both by synchronous and asyn...
eLearning and Software for Education
Nowadays, with the introduction of multilingual crews and the loss of universal forms of communic... more Nowadays, with the introduction of multilingual crews and the loss of universal forms of communication, the importance of English as the 'lingua franca' of the sea has become paramount. In the aftermath of Intermar (a European Cooperation Programme under Key Action 2 of the Transversal Programme), this paper showcases part of the project's final result - online custom-designed courses for Intercomprehension (a 'natural' form of communication based on mutual understanding) and Maritime English. The ultimate goal of this project was to create of consortium of 18 institutions including European maritime colleges, both merchant marine and naval, as well as universities with a language training component; among which Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy of Constanta where the Intermar course was piloted during December 2012 and March 2013 with positive feedback from students. The course modules contain task-based learning materials, many set in a maritime context, with Tea...
Fiabilitate şi Durabilitate, 2014
This paper presents the results of research conducted on board a ship at a customer's request... more This paper presents the results of research conducted on board a ship at a customer's request. The devices used during the experimentation, the values obtained and the entailing conclusions will be presented. Measurements were taken over a period of one year.
2 Lecturer, PhD "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy Abstract: The Internet nowadays has b... more 2 Lecturer, PhD "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy Abstract: The Internet nowadays has become the most resourceful data bank for teachers around the world. There is not any single topic that a teacher would think about which could not be found on the Internet. There are numerous sites which provide ready-made lesson plans, loads of grammar exercises, hundreds of quizzes and many other resources which can be easily turned into teaching materials. However, when it comes to deciding which site is best for use in class, teachers sometimes feel lost and not always the searching engines provide them with the best resources. The aim of this paper is to offer a selection of sites, grouped according to a specific purpose, with explanations about what can be found in each group.
International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION, 2018
This paper presents aspects of the steering gear onboard a merchant ship by analyzing aft and bow... more This paper presents aspects of the steering gear onboard a merchant ship by analyzing aft and bow systems based on automation and use of modern propulsion. The choice of the transverse propeller is based on several economic considerations (its price, consumption, efficiency, etc.), technical considerations (positioning, size, vibrations induced in the ship’s hull), and maneuverability considerations (the ship’s turning rate under the action of the propeller. Accordingly, the propulsion system can come in various sizes, power values, shapes of the tunnel, and can present fixed or variable pitch propellers. Depending on the maneuverability of the ship, the transverse propulsion is analyzed by taking into account two tests: the turning of the transverse propulsion system test in calm and windy weather, and the steering test. The automation system is designed to control and monitor the on-board operational systems and equipment, and it encompasses a wide range of control, monitor and al...
Scientific Bulletin of Naval Academy, 2018
The European Union is multilingual in its daily reality as well as in its legislation. The use of... more The European Union is multilingual in its daily reality as well as in its legislation. The use of only one language as a communicative means among different peoples in Europe would greatly impact upon Europe’s capacity to federate diverse cultures and languages, not to mention the economic and cultural benefits enjoyed by the country whose language would become an inter-European language. With Intercomprehension (IC), the European citizens could overcome the risk of diminishing communicative exchanges: it promotes a direct, multilingual dialog tailoring the mindset and language specificity of each and every interlocutor. As such, IC bears the sign of a concrete action in favor of the cultural and language diversity. Two French movies – Euro-Mix (“L’auberge espagnole”) and its sequel Russian Dolls (“Les poupées russes”) – have been precisely selected as proof of this communication skill that avoids using a third language between two people speaking related languages.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes
This paper attempts to showcase the potential of an in-house textbook for practicing Intercompreh... more This paper attempts to showcase the potential of an in-house textbook for practicing Intercomprehension (IC) in a purely maritime context. It encompasses most of the research work conducted by the authors within EU funded grants as well as beyond them. First, reference will be made to the theoretical framework scaffolding this endeavor, namely the definition of such concepts as IC, textbooks, and IC didactics, then the newly devised textbook will be assessed according to several criteria: description of the teaching material, targeted audience, book structure, duration and pace of the teaching/learning process, objectives, types of tasks and internal dynamics. Thus, learners are led to demonstrate comprehension of foreign languages which is facilitated by the presence of different communication channels (written texts, sounds, images, etc). Consequently, in the authors’ vision, this exposure to the concept of IC will certainly facilitate the overcoming of communication and socializi...
With respect to asynchronous engines used in the electrical propulsion of ships, several features... more With respect to asynchronous engines used in the electrical propulsion of ships, several features have been subjected to close examination in this article: the moment when sliding, the mechanical characteristic between motor speed and coupling as well as between coupling and sliding in accordance with the rotor speed, and finally the coupling characteristics of asynchronous engines and the related mechanisms.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2016
In line with both EU policy on plurilingualism and CEFR, the purpose of this paper is to show the... more In line with both EU policy on plurilingualism and CEFR, the purpose of this paper is to show the outcome of federating two concepts: Intercomprehension – the ability to co-construct meaning, understanding languages without speaking or having studied them in a formal environment, and WebQuests – inquiry-oriented activities based on internet resources. These intercomprehensive principles have been combined with the webquest methodology adapted to language teaching online in order to create more immersive and interactive experiences. This particular kind of structured research has been preferred as webquests are generally intended for learners’development of critical thinking. Given the aforementioned context, this paper will demonstrate how student motivation for understanding more than just one foreign language can be boosted by involving them in collaborative, experiential tasks such as WebQuests.
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2014
Intercomprehension (IC) – at its simplest: a form of communication in which each person uses his ... more Intercomprehension (IC) – at its simplest: a form of communication in which each person uses his or her own language and is also able to understand that of the other(s) – is a concept that originates in contrastive linguistics and constitutes a research field with a view to implementing within the Languages – Culture Didactics. It has been at the core of several research projects since the ’90s, and as of 2011 the team of researchers within Intermar (a European Cooperation Project funded by the EU Commission’s Lifelong Learning Programme, under Key Action 2 of the Transversal Programme, coordinated by Prof. F. Capucho at Universidade catolica in Viseu, Portugal) has been trying to encourage IC practice within the maritime community by offering blended a 60-hour course of uniquely designed modules containing learning materials and collaborative tasks. The course was piloted in 8 Naval and Maritime Academies involved in the project (among which the Naval Academy of Constanta) during t...
Journal of Teaching English for Specific and Academic Purposes, 2013
This paper aims to provide teachers and learners of foreign languages (particularly English) with... more This paper aims to provide teachers and learners of foreign languages (particularly English) with information concerning intercomprehension. It constitutes another approach to language learning which greatly assists multilingualism. It also aims to guide the first steps of anyone interested in this concept by explaining what IC is - highlighting research, and revealing the available resources to develop it (mostly online). At the same time, it will finally advocate for the introduction of this concept into existing European education systems.