Controversy over SATS tests continues
Today primary school students in the UK begin sitting a week of SATS tests, one of which runs for the first time this year and is designed to assess students spelling and grammar. Although students are also tested on their reading and numeracy skills, and the SATS tests have raised much debate previously, it is this new test that is the focus of a news item which appeared last week on the BBC’s website. With links to examples and sample questions if you’re so inclined you can test your knowledge of grammar and spelling and see if you would be able to pass the SATS! David Crystal, expert linguistic and academic posted his response to being asked what he thought of the new grammar test on his blog.
The SATS tests have many critics who question the purpose of the tests and how they affect teaching, how the results are used and the impact of testing on young children. If this is an area you’re interested in or which is related to your current study you can find further academic information by using the Discover online search tool to look at the latest journal articles, conferences and reports from the fields of English teaching and education.
uosliboffcampus:
The schedule for online library workshops in June, July and August has been announced.
All time are listed as UK time. If you sign up for a workshop, please check the online time converter for the time in your location.
Who is it for?
All distance learning students and any staff…
Recently MA TESOL students were invited to participate in an online library session designed to support with finding information for assignments among other things.
Our off-campus support team have announced a schedule for further online library sessions, these are aimed at all off-campus students and TESOL students are welcome to sign up.
uosliboffcampus:
In the May 2013 issue of the Off Campus Newsletter you can learn about the changes to the Discover log-in and Sconul Access application process or find out how you can get one-to-one online support and help finding information for your assignments. We’re also shining the spotlight on e-books and…
Latest interactive newsletter from our off-campus services team - particularly useful for MA TESOL students studying overseas. Click on the blue title of this post to go to the newsletter.
An interesting article from the Telegraph today discussing children’s increasing use of text speak in every day language by Anne Merrit, an ESL lecturer. Points touched on include how text speak affects grammar and formal English. With links to research plus articles on other topics in ESL and languages written by this author.
E-books for English and Languages - Corpus Linguistics
If you’re an English student studying linguistics or perhaps a TESOL student studying on the module LFTMO5 Corpus Linguistics and Language Teaching then today’s featured e-book titles are for you.
Don’t forget that there is lots more information about corpus linguistics accessible via Discover - books and e-books plus articles from journals including but not limited to Journal of Linguistics, Journal of Linguistics and Language Teaching, Linguistics Journal, Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics and International Journal of English Linguistics.
Plus check out the Corpus Linguistics section in the What’s New in English area on the English Support for your Subject pages - links to good quality free web resources on this topic.
E-books of the day…
Usually we have an e-book of the day but today we’re having e-books - this is because today’s featured subject is Languages. TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is taught at undergraduate and postgraduate level both on and off-campus at the University, with students studying literally all over the world. For those who can’t visit the library building to borrow study texts access to online information is all the more important.
If you’re a TESOL student looking for online information to help you with your study try searching the library catalogue using keywords such as TESOL, teaching english, second language learning and second language acquisition to find texts in your subject. Some popular picks from reading lists that are all available as e-books include:
Voxy is a language learning website which you can sign up to for free mobile apps and information. It also directs you to useful tips and information like the one above (original source grammar.net) via facebook, twitter or tumblr. When you sign up choose the free option for personalised progress and information. If you’ve got a tumblr blog click on the ‘reblogged from govoxy’ link below and then follow to get the latest blog posts direct to your dashboard.
