Conference Presentations by Dr Ayşe Zambak
Professional ELT Magazine Online, 2019
Along with the developing technologies and innovations, the need of continuous professional devel... more Along with the developing technologies and innovations, the need of continuous professional development for teachers is increasing every year. It is crucial for teachers to improve themselves both personally and professionally in order to keep up with recent changes in the field of language teaching. By prioritizing teachers’ CPD, it becomes clear that a new route has been determined by Ministry of National Education with the introduction of Turkey’s 2023 Vision of Education on 23rd October, 2018. In line with this purpose, an important key word comes to the fore: in-service teacher training.
It is a well-known notion that listening is a key skill to build mutual interaction as an essenti... more It is a well-known notion that listening is a key skill to build mutual interaction as an essential means of communication. It requires the active involvement of listeners, their effort, and practice. In doing so, students need to be exposed to adequate listening input to foster their comprehension of the target language. With this aim, this study investigates the impact of four specific listening tasks on 7th grade EFL learners' listening proficiency at a public school with the help of smart boards. Furthermore, students' perceptions are another source of research concerning the listening skill and the task types. To achieve that, both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to collect and analyze the data with a convenience sample of 25 students. Findings revealed that students performed more successfully at the selection task while they were the least successful in true/false activities. Additively, all students taking part in semi-structured interviews reported a positive attitude towards the listening activities in their coursebook. Briefly, it can be suggested that the listening comprehension skill in EFL classrooms tends to improve through exposure to various kinds of tasks; as a result, they have chances to develop a positive attitude towards an ignored language skill and improve new strategies for their comprehension.
Key Words: listening skill, comprehension, tasks, 7th grade
Papers by Dr Ayşe Zambak
Okul Yönetimi Dergisi, 2024
Numerous factors are known to significantly impact the process of learning a foreign language. Th... more Numerous factors are known to significantly impact the process of learning a foreign language. These factors can influence learners' attitudes toward language learning, whether positively or negatively. It is essential for educators and trainers to take into account students' emotions and consider various factors in the teaching and learning of foreign languages. Recognizing the crucial role emotions play in language acquisition, this study aims to assess the level of foreign language speaking anxiety among 228 high school students, selected using purposive sampling, and to identify the factors influencing their anxiety. Data was gathered through the Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Scale and demographic questions. The findings indicate that the participants experienced moderate levels of anxiety. Both descriptive and inferential statistics demonstrated that students' interest for English, prior experience abroad, and interest in English outside of academic requirements had a statistically significant impact on their foreign language speaking anxiety. The study also identified specific in and outclass activities that influenced anxiety levels. The most popular in-class activities included games, watching movies/short videos, songs, and pair/group work. Outside the classroom, students stated that they mostly engaged in listening to songs, watching movies with subtitles, and playing games in English. In conclusion, the research emphasizes the significance of personal factors together with in and out-of-class dynamics influencing students' anxiety while speaking a foreign language.
International Journal of Language Academy, 2023
Professional development and the constant strengthening of knowledge and abilities are key compon... more Professional development and the constant strengthening of knowledge and abilities are key components of the transformation and evolution of educational institutions. Throughout their careers, teachers engage in short-term and long-term exercises to improve their knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes toward teaching and learning. Pertaining to this process, this study aims to investigate the 24 EFL teachers' views on an in-service teacher training (inset) program they participated. Participants were selected by the purposive random sampling criteria among the English teachers working in public schools. The study followed a mixed-method approach including both qualitative and quantitative data collection tools to engage participants to evaluate the content, resources, trainers and learning gains. The quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS and deductive thematic analysis was utilized for qualitative data. Findings revealed a mean score with high efficiency at the 'excellent' level (M: 4,91) concerning the overall effect of the inset program. In addition, teachers came up with various learning gains regarding subject area knowledge, professional skills and attitudes towards students and their professional development together with some suggestions for further programs. We can conclude that teachers need to seek any opportunity to improve their personal and professional skills, and competencies for purposeful, continuing, and lifelong learning events.
Bolu Abant İzzet Baysal Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 2023
This study aims to find out what English lecturers think about the goals of foreign language teac... more This study aims to find out what English lecturers think about the goals of foreign language teaching, what they think about teaching culture in the context of English language teaching, and how often particular culture-teaching activities are used in English courses. The study was conducted with the participation of 50 lecturers working in 4 state universities in Turkiye,
The Reading Matrix: An International Online Journal, 2023
This research aimed to investigate the self-perceived competency levels of EFL teachers in the Tu... more This research aimed to investigate the self-perceived competency levels of EFL teachers in the Turkish MONE (Ministry of National Education) context and if these perceptions vary according to multiple variables as a mixed-methods study. Another subject of the study was to identify the areas where teachers see themselves as less competent and need professional development. In doing so, the English Teachers Field-Specific Competencies Assessment Scale was applied to 267 English teachers by snowball sampling via an online survey. Simultaneously, 27 English teachers filled out written interview forms prepared by the researchers to obtain in-depth knowledge. Then, the data were analyzed with the convergent parallel design method, and the qualitative and quantitative data thus complemented each other. The main results indicated that participants were uncertain about their professional skills in teaching English to students with special needs. It was also revealed that teachers had similar views on improving students' English-speaking abilities. Another finding was that education level, professional experience, and participation in previous in-service teacher training programs statistically affect teachers' self-perceived competency levels. In brief, it was understood that developing language skills, specifically speaking skills, was the most common need, followed by the demand to develop EFL teachers' digital skills.
Anatolian Journal of Language and Education, 2023
Today, many advertisements are presented in various media such as printed or social media with in... more Today, many advertisements are presented in various media such as printed or social media with interesting, creative, attractive and persuasive appearances. In these advertisements, the common use of verbal and non-verbal signs and the development of conspicuous language phenomena have made it necessary to explore the advertising discourse and analyze the desired message. For this purpose, in this study, four different English advertisements of Starbucks, a very popular coffee
brand, were examined from the perspective of ‘‘Critical Discourse Analysis’’. This study mainly focuses on how the use of language and visual design in the advertisements of the relevant brand affects customers. To analyze the effects of linguistic and visual elements on the preferability of products, qualitative research was conducted on four different Starbucks advertisements in Turkish and English, adopting Fairclough's (1992) Critical Discourse Analysis framework. The obtained
data were analyzed by making a thematic analysis. The findings showed that the brand uses a variety of strategies to influence customers’ perceptions, with relevant social media advertisements using approaches such as ‘seasonal drinks’ and ‘individuality’ to encourage the purchase of
products. As a result, it can be stated that Critical Discourse Analysis is an effective approach that allows the methods of influencing people in creating meaning and the examination of these effects in different social contexts.
International Journal of Leadership Studies: Theory and Practice, 2022
This study aims to investigate how preschool teachers perceive the leadership styles of the schoo... more This study aims to investigate how preschool teachers perceive the leadership styles of the school principals they work with, as they have a significant impact on student performance and school atmosphere. Therefore, a mixed-method research paradigm was utilized with a purposive random sampling method of 114 preschool teachers at public schools. School Principals' Leadership Style Scale together with the demographic information part and a metaphor elicitation form, were applied to collect the necessary data. Because a convergent parallel design was utilized to weigh the processes equally, quantitative and qualitative data were evaluated independently, and the results were interpreted separately. The results revealed that, according to preschool teachers' perceptions, the principals they work with show their laissez-faire leadership style more. Unlike quantitative findings, data from the metaphor elicitation form indicate that the category with the most metaphors for a school principal is a figure of authority. Although the descriptive findings of teachers' impressions show that most school principals have a laissez-faire leadership style, metaphors portray school principals as persons who have power at school, supervise their team, have varied tasks, and are motivators and innovators. To sum up, it can be put forward that effective leadership is a crucial necessity of successful organizations, and principals need to take an active part in the preparation process to go a step further in their careers and lead their organizations more effectively.
International Journal of Educational Spectrum, 2019
In the contemporary world, it is very common to see advertisements in every single context. Peopl... more In the contemporary world, it is very common to see advertisements in every single context. People can reach any information and advertisement through social media at any time and share their ideas easily. Similarly, attitudes to advertisements can be accepted as indicators of our personalities, social norms or ideologies. For this reason, it is essential to understand or investigate media discourse critically. Considering this aim, the present study analyzes a private bank advertisement in Turkish socio-cultural context by adopting a framework of Fairclough (1992) in critical discourse analysis. This framework consists of three aspects of discourse suggesting 1) description of textual analysis 2) interpretation and 3) explanation of social conditions which affect production and perception. The findings of the study reveals that this advertisement film has been produced for a social responsibility project that values the education of children living under disadvantageous conditions, more specifically girls who are forced to be married. Besides, it was clarified that critical discourse analysis (CDA) can be an appropriate method to utilize the effective language of advertisements which integrates cultural, social and ideological values of societies.
Thesis Chapters by Dr Ayşe Zambak
It is a well known fact that there are some factors having a significant role on foreign language... more It is a well known fact that there are some factors having a significant role on foreign language learning process. Learners develop a positive or negative attitude toward foreign language learning based on these factors. Apart from foreign language learning enjoyment, unfavorable emotions have some detrimental effects on most areas including using the target
language. Therefore, it is necessary that instructors or teachers should pay attention to the emotions of their students during language learning or teaching process by considering other factors as well. Among all of the negative emotions, foreign language speaking anxiety is the most common one learners have to cope with. So, the aim of this study is firstly to find out the anxiety levels of the 8th students in public secondary schools. After finding the foreign language speaking anxiety level of the participants in relation to sub- skills of the FLSA Scale, it tries to determine whether other factors such as gender, family members speaking
English, out-of-school English course, interest and enjoyment of English lesson, teacher's teaching style, in-class activities, studying or using English outside the classroom, out of classroom activities, exert any effect on participants' FLSA levels.
This study conducted at 5 different public secondary school in Sarıçam County of Adana. 250 students (117 females and 133 males) participated in the research. The data related to the anxiety level of the participants were collected through FLSA Scale, which was developed by Horwitz et all. (1986) and adapted by Saltan (2003). It includes 18 items of four
categories such as communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety and general classroom anxiety.
The results of the study revealed that the participants could be accepted moderately anxious. Additionally, the findings displayed that males are more anxious than females in this study. Lastly, according to the inferential and descriptive statistics, there is a statistically significant effect of gender, students' interest in English lesson, teacher's teaching style, inclass activities like songs, games, question & answer, studying for test, studying and using English outside the class and out-of-classroom activities such as writing mails in English, use of social media, searching for English homework, on participants' FLSA levels. However, the
study revealed that some other factors such as family members speaking English and English courses out of school do not show any statistically significant effect on participants' FLSA levels.
Uploads
Conference Presentations by Dr Ayşe Zambak
Key Words: listening skill, comprehension, tasks, 7th grade
Papers by Dr Ayşe Zambak
brand, were examined from the perspective of ‘‘Critical Discourse Analysis’’. This study mainly focuses on how the use of language and visual design in the advertisements of the relevant brand affects customers. To analyze the effects of linguistic and visual elements on the preferability of products, qualitative research was conducted on four different Starbucks advertisements in Turkish and English, adopting Fairclough's (1992) Critical Discourse Analysis framework. The obtained
data were analyzed by making a thematic analysis. The findings showed that the brand uses a variety of strategies to influence customers’ perceptions, with relevant social media advertisements using approaches such as ‘seasonal drinks’ and ‘individuality’ to encourage the purchase of
products. As a result, it can be stated that Critical Discourse Analysis is an effective approach that allows the methods of influencing people in creating meaning and the examination of these effects in different social contexts.
Thesis Chapters by Dr Ayşe Zambak
language. Therefore, it is necessary that instructors or teachers should pay attention to the emotions of their students during language learning or teaching process by considering other factors as well. Among all of the negative emotions, foreign language speaking anxiety is the most common one learners have to cope with. So, the aim of this study is firstly to find out the anxiety levels of the 8th students in public secondary schools. After finding the foreign language speaking anxiety level of the participants in relation to sub- skills of the FLSA Scale, it tries to determine whether other factors such as gender, family members speaking
English, out-of-school English course, interest and enjoyment of English lesson, teacher's teaching style, in-class activities, studying or using English outside the classroom, out of classroom activities, exert any effect on participants' FLSA levels.
This study conducted at 5 different public secondary school in Sarıçam County of Adana. 250 students (117 females and 133 males) participated in the research. The data related to the anxiety level of the participants were collected through FLSA Scale, which was developed by Horwitz et all. (1986) and adapted by Saltan (2003). It includes 18 items of four
categories such as communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety and general classroom anxiety.
The results of the study revealed that the participants could be accepted moderately anxious. Additionally, the findings displayed that males are more anxious than females in this study. Lastly, according to the inferential and descriptive statistics, there is a statistically significant effect of gender, students' interest in English lesson, teacher's teaching style, inclass activities like songs, games, question & answer, studying for test, studying and using English outside the class and out-of-classroom activities such as writing mails in English, use of social media, searching for English homework, on participants' FLSA levels. However, the
study revealed that some other factors such as family members speaking English and English courses out of school do not show any statistically significant effect on participants' FLSA levels.
Key Words: listening skill, comprehension, tasks, 7th grade
brand, were examined from the perspective of ‘‘Critical Discourse Analysis’’. This study mainly focuses on how the use of language and visual design in the advertisements of the relevant brand affects customers. To analyze the effects of linguistic and visual elements on the preferability of products, qualitative research was conducted on four different Starbucks advertisements in Turkish and English, adopting Fairclough's (1992) Critical Discourse Analysis framework. The obtained
data were analyzed by making a thematic analysis. The findings showed that the brand uses a variety of strategies to influence customers’ perceptions, with relevant social media advertisements using approaches such as ‘seasonal drinks’ and ‘individuality’ to encourage the purchase of
products. As a result, it can be stated that Critical Discourse Analysis is an effective approach that allows the methods of influencing people in creating meaning and the examination of these effects in different social contexts.
language. Therefore, it is necessary that instructors or teachers should pay attention to the emotions of their students during language learning or teaching process by considering other factors as well. Among all of the negative emotions, foreign language speaking anxiety is the most common one learners have to cope with. So, the aim of this study is firstly to find out the anxiety levels of the 8th students in public secondary schools. After finding the foreign language speaking anxiety level of the participants in relation to sub- skills of the FLSA Scale, it tries to determine whether other factors such as gender, family members speaking
English, out-of-school English course, interest and enjoyment of English lesson, teacher's teaching style, in-class activities, studying or using English outside the classroom, out of classroom activities, exert any effect on participants' FLSA levels.
This study conducted at 5 different public secondary school in Sarıçam County of Adana. 250 students (117 females and 133 males) participated in the research. The data related to the anxiety level of the participants were collected through FLSA Scale, which was developed by Horwitz et all. (1986) and adapted by Saltan (2003). It includes 18 items of four
categories such as communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety and general classroom anxiety.
The results of the study revealed that the participants could be accepted moderately anxious. Additionally, the findings displayed that males are more anxious than females in this study. Lastly, according to the inferential and descriptive statistics, there is a statistically significant effect of gender, students' interest in English lesson, teacher's teaching style, inclass activities like songs, games, question & answer, studying for test, studying and using English outside the class and out-of-classroom activities such as writing mails in English, use of social media, searching for English homework, on participants' FLSA levels. However, the
study revealed that some other factors such as family members speaking English and English courses out of school do not show any statistically significant effect on participants' FLSA levels.