Papers by Montasser Mohamed
The Egyptian Journal of Language Engineering
This research was carried out at Dammam University's Preparatory Year and Supporting Studies... more This research was carried out at Dammam University's Preparatory Year and Supporting Studies Deanship during the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021. The population included both genders with different levels of English proficiency (Tables No. 1 and No. 2). A random process was used to choose the samples. A total of 255 students were selected from a total population of 756. The Sample Size Calculator (https://www.surveysystem.com/sscalc.htm), a public service of Creative Research Systems survey software, was used to establish the size of the sample that represents the target population of students. Students' perceptions of learning and teaching processes via Blackboard were among the variables used to create the samples. In the preparatory year, 255 students from the scientific, engineering, and health tracks responded to the survey, out of a total population of 756 at the 95 percent confidence level. Quantitative data was collected using mostly closed questions...
International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research
This study set out to explore the perceptions of teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) ... more This study set out to explore the perceptions of teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) about the use of the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) in the preparatory year at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University (IAU), Saudi Arabia. The useful Blackboard features that are not customarily exploited by EFL instructors, and the solutions EFL instructors suggested to solve the problems they countered during their EFL classes were also covered. The perceptions of the 63 EFL instructors about using Blackboard in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) teaching were collected by means of a survey. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was used for collating, analyzing, and consecutively integrating data. The findings revealed that the attitudes of teachers towards using Blackboard were significantly positive. Nevertheless, they disclosed that several effective Blackboard features are not explored for the benefit of teachers such as the electronic library, the ...
Journal of Teaching and Teacher Education, 2018
This study aims at exploring the preparatory year instructors' opinions on the contributions of o... more This study aims at exploring the preparatory year instructors' opinions on the contributions of oral corrective feedback (OCF) to the development of learners' acquisition of English. The study investigates instructors' background about OCF, technical and pedagogical aspects of OCF, types of OCF adopted by instructors in EFL classrooms and what attitudes they have towards OCF. Two types of research tools were used: a questionnaire, and interviews. The findings prove that OCF is a vital element of classroom feedback as it enables students to develop their EL acquisition by motivating them to take control of their EL progress. However, most instructors have no idea about the types of OCF. They use it inside their classrooms but they are unaware of the definitions of the concepts. The study recommends that some preparation work needs to be done before harnessing the power of student-to-student feedback and developing teachers' planning opportunities for ongoing individual dialogue between teachers and students.
Adult Learning, 2015
This article discusses the relationship between culture and English language teaching (ELT) in th... more This article discusses the relationship between culture and English language teaching (ELT) in the Arab World. A critical question arises in terms of ELT, that is, whether to teach culture along with English. To answer such a bewildering question, this article presents related literature and studies and discusses a theoretical frame based on experts’ insights and opinions. The article displays various viewpoints concerning this topic, offers different empirical studies in this field, and reaches some valuable conclusions.
Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 2013
This study aimed at helping students to deal systematically and effectively with culture-specific... more This study aimed at helping students to deal systematically and effectively with culture-specific items. This was treated through designing and applying a specific course based on sixteen strategies adopted from what Newmark(1988), Hariyanto (1997), and Harvey (2003) suggested. The course was designed in the light of these strategies. It included different cultural topics with various cultural items in both English and Arabic. The course was applied in seven weeks to a sample of third-year university students at Al-Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University, College of Languages and Translation, during the first seven weeks of the second term. Students were asked to answer a pre-test on culture-specific items. The same test was distributed on students after the treatment which was represented in teaching the specific course. A Wilcoxon test was used to compare students' scores in each item and in the test as a whole. The results showed the effectiveness of using the specific course in developing third-year students' skills in translating culture-specific items. However, the change that happened for students was not very high as only one got an excellent degree and just four got a very good degree. The percentage of unsuccessful students reached 25% and the percentage of students with fair degree reached 40%. This reflected the fact that the time was not enough as students needed more practice. In general, strategy teaching is very important but it is not sufficient to create professional or good translators.
Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 2014
Cooperative language learning (CLL) approach was used to encourage second-year university student... more Cooperative language learning (CLL) approach was used to encourage second-year university students at the college of languages and translation, at Al-Imam University to learn from their peers so that they could develop their writing skills. Students in CLL-based groups were trained to be more responsible for their learning through developing their personal interaction as well as their linguistic competence in a more relaxed social context. This treatment included sophomore students enrolled in EN 211 course in the second semester of 2013 academic year. Two instruments were used in this study; a pre-post writing test, and an attitude questionnaire. The pre-and post-scores from the test were calculated for descriptive statistics and compared using a Wilcoxon Test. The process of evaluating students' writings focused mainly on analyzing their mistakes with regard to spelling, using of vocabulary, grammar, punctuation as well as coherence. The findings revealed that the students' scores in writing were higher for the post-test than the pre-test at the significance level of .001 after being subject to this kind of treatment. However, it must be stated that the degree of improvement was not extremely high as students still made some mistakes with regard to the previously mentioned points. As for the attitude scale, the results obtained proved that the students developed positive attitudes towards using the cooperative learning approach to develop language skills in general and to develop their writing skills in particular.
IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSRJRME), 2013
In the selection of a new textbook, it is important to conduct an evaluation to ensure that it is... more In the selection of a new textbook, it is important to conduct an evaluation to ensure that it is suitable. Evaluation is widely acknowledged as a powerful means of improving the quality of education. There are three methods of evaluation that can be used for evaluating English Language Teaching (ELT) textbooks. An evaluative checklist is one of these methods that can be used to help select the most appropriate ELT textbooks for their learners. This paper presents an overall view of evaluating an ELT textbook with a focus on the instrument of a checklist. It tried to develop a valid, reliable and practical checklist. The paper refined checklists previously developed by different researchers. More specifically, the comments and suggestions given by a large number of TEFL professors helped the researcher improve the items of the checklist in reference to their clarity and inclusiveness. They were provided with a copy of the checklist. They were free to reword, delete or add items that they considered necessary. The findings are expected to be useful for English language teachers, ELT material developers and evaluators as well as curriculum developers. Further study is required to improve the instrument.
مجلة البحث العلمى فى التربیة, 2019
—Cooperative language learning (CLL) approach was used to encourage second-year university studen... more —Cooperative language learning (CLL) approach was used to encourage second-year university students at the college of languages and translation, at Al-Imam University to learn from their peers so that they could develop their writing skills. Students in CLL-based groups were trained to be more responsible for their learning through developing their personal interaction as well as their linguistic competence in a more relaxed social context. This treatment included sophomore students enrolled in EN 211 course in the second semester of 2013 academic year. Two instruments were used in this study; a pre-post writing test, and an attitude questionnaire. The pre-and post-scores from the test were calculated for descriptive statistics and compared using a Wilcoxon Test. The process of evaluating students' writings focused mainly on analyzing their mistakes with regard to spelling, using of vocabulary, grammar, punctuation as well as coherence. The findings revealed that the students' scores in writing were higher for the post-test than the pre-test at the significance level of .001 after being subject to this kind of treatment. However, it must be stated that the degree of improvement was not extremely high as students still made some mistakes with regard to the previously mentioned points. As for the attitude scale, the results obtained proved that the students developed positive attitudes towards using the cooperative learning approach to develop language skills in general and to develop their writing skills in particular.
Social Sciences, 2014
The situation in the region occasionally shows a climate of tension between populations with diff... more The situation in the region occasionally shows a climate of tension between populations with different national identities. Social facts demonstrate that in terms of media multiculturalism, differentiation and division between ethnic communities are increased. This has happened because each medium is mono-cultural, has its own identity, even a very strong identity, due to its "neighbors", TVs and radio stations associated with cultural communities sharing the same territorial space. Under these conditions, ethnic and national communities live within a certain multicultural landscape, but these communities as an audience, follow a number of media selected according to strict ethnical criteria. Unfortunately, freedom of expression still does not ensure the coexistence of different national groups. It may even happen that freedom of expression worsens this coexistence.
The situation in the region occasionally shows a climate of tension between populations with diff... more The situation in the region occasionally shows a climate of tension between populations with different national
identities. Social facts demonstrate that in terms of media multiculturalism, differentiation and division between ethnic
communities are increased. This has happened because each medium is mono-cultural, has its own identity, even a very
strong identity, due to its “neighbors”, TVs and radio stations associated with cultural communities sharing the same
territorial space. Under these conditions, ethnic and national communities live within a certain multicultural landscape, but
these communities as an audience, follow a number of media selected according to strict ethnical criteria. Unfortunately,
freedom of expression still does not ensure the coexistence of different national groups. It may even happen that freedom of
expression worsens this coexistence.
Keywords: Multiculturalism, Ethnicity, Semiotics, Codification, Media, Conflict
This article discusses the relationship between culture and English language teaching (ELT) in th... more This article discusses the relationship between culture and English language teaching (ELT) in the Arab World. A critical question arises in terms of ELT, that is, whether to teach culture along with English. To answer such a bewildering question, this article presents related literature and studies and discusses a theoretical frame based on experts’ insights and opinions. The article displays various viewpoints concerning this topic, offers different empirical studies in this field, and reaches some valuable conclusions.
ACADEMY PUBLISHER Manufactured in Finland., May 9, 2014
Abstract—Cooperative language learning (CLL) approach was used to encourage second-year universit... more Abstract—Cooperative language learning (CLL) approach was used to encourage second-year university students at the college of languages and translation, at Al-Imam University to learn from their peers so that they could develop their writing skills. Students in CLL-based groups were trained to be more responsible for their learning through developing their personal interaction as well as their linguistic competence in a more relaxed social context. This treatment included sophomore students enrolled in EN 211 course in the second semester of 2013 academic year. Two instruments were used in this study; a pre-post writing test, and an attitude questionnaire. The pre- and post- scores from the test were calculated for descriptive statistics and compared using a Wilcoxon Test. The process of evaluating students’ writings focused mainly on analyzing their mistakes with regard to spelling, using of vocabulary, grammar, punctuation as well as coherence. The findings revealed that the students’ scores in writing were higher for the post-test than the pre-test at the significance level of .001 after being subject to this kind of treatment. However, it must be stated that the degree of improvement was not extremely high as students still made some mistakes with regard to the previously mentioned points. As for the attitude scale, the results obtained proved that the students developed positive attitudes towards using the cooperative learning approach to develop language skills in general and to develop their writing skills in particular.
Arabic Organization for Translation Journal, Apr 10, 2014
This paper discusses the problems that an Arabic-English translator face in translating Islamic r... more This paper discusses the problems that an Arabic-English translator face in translating Islamic religious items from Arabic into English. It suggests some solutions that could be used to overcome this problem.
Theory and Practice in Language Studies, Vol 3, No 8 (2013), 1299-1310, doi:10.4304/tpls.3.8.1299-1310, Aug 8, 2013
This study aimed at helping students to deal systematically and effectively with culture-specific... more This study aimed at helping students to deal systematically and effectively with culture-specific items. This was treated through designing and applying a specific course based on sixteen strategies adopted from what Newmark(1988), Hariyanto (1997), and Harvey (2003) suggested. The course was designed in the light of these strategies. It included different cultural topics with various cultural items in both English and Arabic. The course was applied in seven weeks to a sample of third-year university students at Al-Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University, College of Languages and Translation, during the first seven weeks of the second term. Students were asked to answer a pre-test on culture-specific items. The same test was distributed on students after the treatment which was represented in teaching the specific course. A Wilcoxon test was used to compare students’ scores in each item and in the test as a whole. The results showed the effectiveness of using the specific course in developing third-year students’ skills in translating culture-specific items. However, the change that happened for students was not very high as only one got an excellent degree and just four got a very good degree. The percentage of unsuccessful students reached 25% and the percentage of students with fair degree reached 40%. This reflected the fact that the time was not enough as students needed more practice. In general, strategy teaching is very important but it is not sufficient to create professional or good translators.
IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME), Apr 2013
In the selection of a new textbook, it is important to conduct an evaluation to ensure that it is... more In the selection of a new textbook, it is important to conduct an evaluation to ensure that it is suitable. Evaluation is widely acknowledged as a powerful means of improving the quality of education. There are three methods of evaluation that can be used for evaluating English Language Teaching (ELT) textbooks. An evaluative checklist is one of these methods that can be used to help select the most appropriate ELT textbooks for their learners. This paper presents an overall view of evaluating an ELT textbook with a focus on the instrument of a checklist. It tried to develop a valid, reliable and a practical checklist. The paper refined checklists previously developed by different researchers. More specifically, the comments and suggestions given by a large number of TEFL professors helped the researcher improve the items of the checklist in reference to their clarity and inclusiveness. They were provided with a copy of the checklist. They were free to reword, delete or add items that they considered necessary. The findings are expected to be useful for English language teachers, ELT material developers and evaluators as well as curriculum developers. Further study is required to improve the instrument.
Journal of Education Sciences, Cairo University, Institute of Educational Studies, Jul 2012
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Papers by Montasser Mohamed
identities. Social facts demonstrate that in terms of media multiculturalism, differentiation and division between ethnic
communities are increased. This has happened because each medium is mono-cultural, has its own identity, even a very
strong identity, due to its “neighbors”, TVs and radio stations associated with cultural communities sharing the same
territorial space. Under these conditions, ethnic and national communities live within a certain multicultural landscape, but
these communities as an audience, follow a number of media selected according to strict ethnical criteria. Unfortunately,
freedom of expression still does not ensure the coexistence of different national groups. It may even happen that freedom of
expression worsens this coexistence.
Keywords: Multiculturalism, Ethnicity, Semiotics, Codification, Media, Conflict
identities. Social facts demonstrate that in terms of media multiculturalism, differentiation and division between ethnic
communities are increased. This has happened because each medium is mono-cultural, has its own identity, even a very
strong identity, due to its “neighbors”, TVs and radio stations associated with cultural communities sharing the same
territorial space. Under these conditions, ethnic and national communities live within a certain multicultural landscape, but
these communities as an audience, follow a number of media selected according to strict ethnical criteria. Unfortunately,
freedom of expression still does not ensure the coexistence of different national groups. It may even happen that freedom of
expression worsens this coexistence.
Keywords: Multiculturalism, Ethnicity, Semiotics, Codification, Media, Conflict
culture in English language textbooks in the Arab World. The main challenge focused on was
students‘ identity so two main questions arose; 1) what are the teachers‘ perspectives on the
relationship between culture and English Language Teaching (ELT) in the Arabic World? 2) What
are the challenges of teaching English Language (EL) in the Arab world? In order to find an adequate
answer to these bewildering questions, there was a need to review literature in the same field so that a
firm theoretical background could be built. In addition, two main tools were used; 1) a questionnaire;
and 2) unstructured interviews. The data collected highlighted the different perspectives with regard
to this point; some results affirmed the importance of teaching English with its culture while others
confirmed the necessity of teaching English away from its culture. On the other hand, there were
other results that highlighted the importance of making a comparison and contrast between the target
and the source culture. As for the challenges regarding involving culture in the process of ELT in the
Arab world, the interviews conducted revealed that the need for preserving Islamic as well as Arab
identity came as the main challenge in addition to other serious challenges such as the absence of any
significant reference to the criteria, features or elements of Islamic and Arabic culture which might
develop a serious fear of losing identity. The study recommended that a more balanced blend of
cultures of all English-speaking countries as well as the learner's Islamic and Arabic culture should be
introduced in EFL textbooks. In doing so, care should be taken to avoid the implication that any of
the two cultures is superior to the other.