Specializes in Learning theories, language acquisition, constructivist learning. Engaged in management of education, accreditation of higher education institutions, curriculum development, teacher development, strategic planning in education, Modern English Literature and so on. Currently teaching university courses on Learning theories, Planning and Management in Education, Modern American Literature.
Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisi... more Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisition and learning show the differences and similarities in picking up mother tongue and second or foreign languages. As a result of differences in traditions, cultures, technologies, economic and social aspects, these differences and similarities are then reflected in various ways in difefrent countries. We have carried out a research into the Albanian and English language teaching and learning in Kosovo to fidn out how are the similarities ad differences between acquisition and learning reflected in the reality and practices of Kosovo schools. We have observed English and Albanian lessons of 15 teachers in 10 schools and five municipalities. The sample of schools and and municipalities was selected to be representative mainly of the geographic areas and social backgrounds. The preliminary results show that for most different reasons there is a mix of nativist and constructivist approaches translated in respective methods and strategies in today’s teaching and learning of languages in Kosovo schools. In the small Kosovo, students are exposed to both communicative and grammar based approaches, teachers are sometimes facilitators and in other times all-knowing teachers, textbooks vary from most up-to-date to surprisingly old (sometimes older than the students using them!). Technology ranges from black-board-and-chalk to lap-tops with ,multimedia applications and internet access'. In the end the study identifies points for cross-language exchanges in order to mutually benefit from strengths and to overcome weaknesses in both systems. Results and reccomendations of the study will be made available to the education authorities to use for the improvement of teaching and learning of languages in general in Kosovo. They will also be used to design an in-service teacher training module supported by the GIZ.
International Journal of Inclusive Education, Jan 29, 2013
The article summarises the socio-political, cultural, economic and educational background to the ... more The article summarises the socio-political, cultural, economic and educational background to the Western Balkans region and outlines the wider qualitative research study that provided the data on early and pre-school educational opportunities in the seven countries involved; Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The authors examine international research and literature on early education that identifies it as an important means of enabling subsequent educational and social inclusion and attainment. They proceed to discuss and illustrate from the research data five inter-linked factors showing that provision of early education in the Western Balkans is inadequate and exclusive and that children who are already at greatest socio-economic and cultural disadvantage and at potential risk in elementary and secondary education are least likely to participate in, or benefit from, it. Some recent more encouraging developments are noted but the article concludes that substantially more investment and positive actions are needed in raising awareness of the importance of early education and in developing policies and provision for it that will benefit children currently at greatest disadvantage.
During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low ... more During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low access (less than 12 % in the age group) and relatively poor quality of education and research in one public institution to massive access, very poor quality of education and total lack of research in seven public and over twenty private higher education institutions. Higher education in Kosovo is going through a phase of significant albeit uncontrolled and unplanned, increase of access to higher education. Information available shows that for political reasons the government is establishing new universities in all the bigger cities in Kosovo. These policies have resulted in four new universities being established in the last two years alone. Besides being labeled as 'universities ' against respective legal provisions, they are not preceded by a needs assessment or business plan, they remain underfunded and budgets are allocated only after months in operation, they operate with sparse administration and the new management is manned largely from among the members of the ruling coalition parties. This situation renders Kosovo higher education poles apart from that in any other country in the region.
Au Kosovo, on observe, juste au cours de la dernière décennie, un passage d'une période marqu... more Au Kosovo, on observe, juste au cours de la dernière décennie, un passage d'une période marquée par les faibles taux d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur (moins de 12% pour le groupe d'âge) et une qualité médiocre de l'éducation et de la recherche dans l'enseignement supérieur public à une nouvelle phase caractérisée par une augmentation massive du nombre d'étudiants dans les sept établissements d'enseignement supérieur publics et les vingt établissements privés sans que la qualité de ces derniers soit sensiblement améliorée. Les données montrent que l''augmentation significative du taux d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur se réalise d'une manière incontrôlée et non planifiée. Pour des raisons politiques, le gouvernement crée de nouvelles universités dans les grandes
This study deals with the natural order hypothesis in language acquisition, which posits that the... more This study deals with the natural order hypothesis in language acquisition, which posits that there is an order in which grammatical morphemes are acquired in the first, but also second language acquisition. There have been numerous studies addressing the order of acquisition of grammatical morphemes for major international languages, but there have been no such studies for Albanian language. A study of the natural order could serve to improve acquisition of Albanian as mother tongue, to enhance language curricula in schools, and to facilitate learning of Albanian as a second language. This research involved over 100 junior researchers in a crosssectional research observing more than 200 children in the age of 0 to 11 years, organised in four age-groups, over a period of two weeks. The observation collected naturalist nonexperimental data to find out whether there is a natural order of acquisition of grammatical morphemes and structures in Albanian as a first language. The existence...
During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low ... more During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low access (less than 12 % in the age group) and relatively poor quality of education and research in one public institution to massive access, very poor quality of education and total lack of research in seven public and over twenty private higher education institutions. Higher education in Kosovo is going through a phase of significant albeit uncontrolled and unplanned, increase of access to higher education. Information available shows that for political reasons the government is establishing new universities in all the bigger cities in Kosovo. These policies have resulted in four new universities being established in the last two years alone. Besides being labeled as 'universities ' against respective legal provisions, they are not preceded by a needs assessment or business plan, they remain underfunded and budgets are allocated only after months in operation, they operate with s...
This article deals with activities to develop listening language skills in a context of authentic... more This article deals with activities to develop listening language skills in a context of authentic learning in the subject of English language in Kosovo schools. Looking into this issue we studied the relevant literature, used results of the visitations of English and Albanian language classes in 30 schools in Kosovo, and results of a questionnaire administered with 229 teachers of English language in ten Kosovo schools. Good practices observed during the visits organized in five American schools during the winter of 2015 have also been taken in consideration. The aim of the article, based on the findings of the quantitative and qualitative research in some 30 Albanian schools, is to identify and suggest learning activities in the classrooms that would help improve the development of student listening skills in the subject of English language. The suggestions can be generalized and used by teachers of the Albanian language as well. Within the integrated learning approach and the comp...
Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisi... more Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisition and learning show the differences and similarities in picking up mother tongue and second or foreign languages. As a result of differences in traditions, cultures, technologies, economic and social aspects, these differences and similarities are then reflected in various ways in difefrent countries. We have carried out a research into the Albanian and English language teaching and learning in Kosovo to fidn out how are the similarities ad differences between acquisition and learning reflected in the reality and practices of Kosovo schools. We have observed English and Albanian lessons of 15 teachers in 10 schools and five municipalities. The sample of schools and and municipalities was selected to be representative mainly of the geographic areas and social backgrounds. The preliminary results show that for most different reasons there is a mix of nativist and constructivist approach...
Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisi... more Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisition and learning show the differences and similarities in picking up mother tongue and second or foreign languages. As a result of differences in traditions, cultures, technologies, economic and social aspects, these differences and similarities are then reflected in various ways in difefrent countries. We have carried out a research into the Albanian and English language teaching and learning in Kosovo to fidn out how are the similarities ad differences between acquisition and learning reflected in the reality and practices of Kosovo schools. We have observed English and Albanian lessons of 15 teachers in 10 schools and five municipalities. The sample of schools and and municipalities was selected to be representative mainly of the geographic areas and social backgrounds. The preliminary results show that for most different reasons there is a mix of nativist and constructivist approaches translated in respective methods and strategies in today’s teaching and learning of languages in Kosovo schools. In the small Kosovo, students are exposed to both communicative and grammar based approaches, teachers are sometimes facilitators and in other times all-knowing teachers, textbooks vary from most up-to-date to surprisingly old (sometimes older than the students using them!). Technology ranges from black-board-and-chalk to lap-tops with ,multimedia applications and internet access'. In the end the study identifies points for cross-language exchanges in order to mutually benefit from strengths and to overcome weaknesses in both systems. Results and reccomendations of the study will be made available to the education authorities to use for the improvement of teaching and learning of languages in general in Kosovo. They will also be used to design an in-service teacher training module supported by the GIZ.
International Journal of Inclusive Education, Jan 29, 2013
The article summarises the socio-political, cultural, economic and educational background to the ... more The article summarises the socio-political, cultural, economic and educational background to the Western Balkans region and outlines the wider qualitative research study that provided the data on early and pre-school educational opportunities in the seven countries involved; Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244), the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The authors examine international research and literature on early education that identifies it as an important means of enabling subsequent educational and social inclusion and attainment. They proceed to discuss and illustrate from the research data five inter-linked factors showing that provision of early education in the Western Balkans is inadequate and exclusive and that children who are already at greatest socio-economic and cultural disadvantage and at potential risk in elementary and secondary education are least likely to participate in, or benefit from, it. Some recent more encouraging developments are noted but the article concludes that substantially more investment and positive actions are needed in raising awareness of the importance of early education and in developing policies and provision for it that will benefit children currently at greatest disadvantage.
During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low ... more During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low access (less than 12 % in the age group) and relatively poor quality of education and research in one public institution to massive access, very poor quality of education and total lack of research in seven public and over twenty private higher education institutions. Higher education in Kosovo is going through a phase of significant albeit uncontrolled and unplanned, increase of access to higher education. Information available shows that for political reasons the government is establishing new universities in all the bigger cities in Kosovo. These policies have resulted in four new universities being established in the last two years alone. Besides being labeled as 'universities ' against respective legal provisions, they are not preceded by a needs assessment or business plan, they remain underfunded and budgets are allocated only after months in operation, they operate with sparse administration and the new management is manned largely from among the members of the ruling coalition parties. This situation renders Kosovo higher education poles apart from that in any other country in the region.
Au Kosovo, on observe, juste au cours de la dernière décennie, un passage d'une période marqu... more Au Kosovo, on observe, juste au cours de la dernière décennie, un passage d'une période marquée par les faibles taux d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur (moins de 12% pour le groupe d'âge) et une qualité médiocre de l'éducation et de la recherche dans l'enseignement supérieur public à une nouvelle phase caractérisée par une augmentation massive du nombre d'étudiants dans les sept établissements d'enseignement supérieur publics et les vingt établissements privés sans que la qualité de ces derniers soit sensiblement améliorée. Les données montrent que l''augmentation significative du taux d'accès à l'enseignement supérieur se réalise d'une manière incontrôlée et non planifiée. Pour des raisons politiques, le gouvernement crée de nouvelles universités dans les grandes
This study deals with the natural order hypothesis in language acquisition, which posits that the... more This study deals with the natural order hypothesis in language acquisition, which posits that there is an order in which grammatical morphemes are acquired in the first, but also second language acquisition. There have been numerous studies addressing the order of acquisition of grammatical morphemes for major international languages, but there have been no such studies for Albanian language. A study of the natural order could serve to improve acquisition of Albanian as mother tongue, to enhance language curricula in schools, and to facilitate learning of Albanian as a second language. This research involved over 100 junior researchers in a crosssectional research observing more than 200 children in the age of 0 to 11 years, organised in four age-groups, over a period of two weeks. The observation collected naturalist nonexperimental data to find out whether there is a natural order of acquisition of grammatical morphemes and structures in Albanian as a first language. The existence...
During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low ... more During the last decade alone, Kosovo saw higher education institutions going from a phase of low access (less than 12 % in the age group) and relatively poor quality of education and research in one public institution to massive access, very poor quality of education and total lack of research in seven public and over twenty private higher education institutions. Higher education in Kosovo is going through a phase of significant albeit uncontrolled and unplanned, increase of access to higher education. Information available shows that for political reasons the government is establishing new universities in all the bigger cities in Kosovo. These policies have resulted in four new universities being established in the last two years alone. Besides being labeled as 'universities ' against respective legal provisions, they are not preceded by a needs assessment or business plan, they remain underfunded and budgets are allocated only after months in operation, they operate with s...
This article deals with activities to develop listening language skills in a context of authentic... more This article deals with activities to develop listening language skills in a context of authentic learning in the subject of English language in Kosovo schools. Looking into this issue we studied the relevant literature, used results of the visitations of English and Albanian language classes in 30 schools in Kosovo, and results of a questionnaire administered with 229 teachers of English language in ten Kosovo schools. Good practices observed during the visits organized in five American schools during the winter of 2015 have also been taken in consideration. The aim of the article, based on the findings of the quantitative and qualitative research in some 30 Albanian schools, is to identify and suggest learning activities in the classrooms that would help improve the development of student listening skills in the subject of English language. The suggestions can be generalized and used by teachers of the Albanian language as well. Within the integrated learning approach and the comp...
Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisi... more Key words: language learning and acquisiton, constructivism ABSTRACT Theories of language acquisition and learning show the differences and similarities in picking up mother tongue and second or foreign languages. As a result of differences in traditions, cultures, technologies, economic and social aspects, these differences and similarities are then reflected in various ways in difefrent countries. We have carried out a research into the Albanian and English language teaching and learning in Kosovo to fidn out how are the similarities ad differences between acquisition and learning reflected in the reality and practices of Kosovo schools. We have observed English and Albanian lessons of 15 teachers in 10 schools and five municipalities. The sample of schools and and municipalities was selected to be representative mainly of the geographic areas and social backgrounds. The preliminary results show that for most different reasons there is a mix of nativist and constructivist approach...
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Papers by Xhavit Rexhaj