ASEAN Journal of Applied Languages

Exploring the Effect of Knowledge Sharing on Student Satisfaction Using Social Media in Malaysia

2023-12-30T15:29:08+00:00

Social media utilization at the student level has become more prevalent in contemporary higher education. This conceptual study analyzes the mediating role of information sharing in determining student satisfaction in Malaysian colleges and universities through the lens of social media usage. Understanding the deep linkages between sharing information on social media and student satisfaction is critical for enhancing educational techniques in an era distinguished by the widespread influence of online platforms. This research provides a conceptual framework based on previous research that views knowledge sharing as a mediating component in the correlation between social media activity and satisfaction among students. The framework incorporates crucial factors such as social media usage, and it delineates the routes via which knowledge sharing on social media platforms promotes and potentially improves overall satisfaction with learning. This conceptual structure not only advances theoretical understanding of the relationship between social media, knowledge sharing, and student satisfaction, but it also serves as a road map for educators, researchers, and lawmakers trying to improve the educational experience. The study was completed by collecting data from students through online survey, using quantitative research methodologies. A total of 193 students took part by filling out the web-based questionnaire. The impact of social media on student happiness and academic performance is found significant along with mediating effect of knowledge sharing. This study provides the groundwork for empirical investigations that will empirically evaluate and refine the suggested mediating model, eventually influencing evidence-based methods for harnessing social media to improve student satisfaction among Malaysian students.

Can ChatGPT Analyse Textual Data? The Sub-Themes Reflected by Typical Conceptual Metaphors in Short Stories of Language Assessment

2023-12-30T15:38:28+00:00

Conceptual metaphors constitute a basic facet of human cognition, enabling individuals to comprehend abstract concepts by means of more concrete experiences. Previous research has found that metaphors are frequently employed in discourse and have a substantial impact on how we think. However, less consideration has been given to how conceptual metaphors reflect the views of writers and the themes of stories. The primary objective of this study is to examine the underlying sub-themes that are conveyed and reflected through typical conceptual metaphors found in the 22 short stories from the book Tests and Us – A Collection of Real Stories (Volume 2). Additionally, this study intends to delve into the perspectives of the writers on the principles and associated concepts of language assessment. Following the Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), the structural, orientational, and ontological metaphors were identified by the AI program ChatGPT (GPT-4) and validated by linguistic experts. The findings revealed a cumulative count of 250 conceptual metaphors, comprising 131 structural metaphors, 64 ontological metaphors, and 55 orientational metaphors. Meanwhile, the typical metaphors have served as representations of the underlying sub-themes pertaining to the five principles of language assessment, as well as concepts including fairness and equity, formative assessment, learning environment, ethics, and integrity, among others. Through metaphors, thematic analysis not only becomes a tool for dissecting narratives but also an avenue for exploring the profound connections between language, thought, and emotion. This offers some insights for future research into various literary genres and the application of ChatGPT for the analysis of textual data.

Internationalisation of Undergraduate English-Medium Instruction Programmes on University Websites in Japan & Malaysia

2023-12-30T15:44:05+00:00

The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of, and issues associated with English-Medium Instruction (EMI) programmes at higher education institutions (HEIs) in Japan and Malaysia. More specifically, this study examined how internationalisation is represented in the undergraduate EMI programmes found on university websites in Japan and Malaysia. The study employed the ROAD-MAPPING framework (Dafouz & Smit, 2016; 2020) and conducted a content analysis of 9 undergraduate EMI programmes on the university websites from national and public universities, with Japan (n = 5) and Malaysia (n = 4). The EMI programme components was analysed by their level of English language proficiency requirements for local and international students, Medium of Instruction (MoI), Academic Discipline, Language support and Student admission. Results indicated that the level of English language proficiency requirements for local and international students appear to follow a stringent benchmark in Japan whereas is discipline specific in Malaysia. Language support is provided for Malaysian and Japanese university students with courses in English for Academic Purposes, but are not necessarily linked to EMI programmes. English is the MoI for EMI programmes with the exception of a bilingual approach for courses like Law or a trilingual approach for Islamic studies in Malaysia. Implications of this study show the uniqueness of EMI programmes that are influenced by the social, institutional and socioeconomic reality of its geographical location.

Enhancing SCT in High-Risk Work Environments: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Communication

2023-12-30T16:00:13+00:00

This paper emphasizes the imperative of measuring SCT on oil and gas platforms for enhanced safety, environmental protection, and global energy sustainability. This study addresses the unique challenges of high-risk platforms, emphasizing the pivotal role of SC and CS in fostering a robust safety culture, focusing on technical, structural, and process safety dimensions. The research explores their impact on personnel SCT, which is crucial in environments where incidents can be fatal. The proposed framework incorporates indicators for key personnel management variables, outlining the interdependence of SC, CS, and SCT. It also explores the creation of perceptions regarding management commitment to safety by positioning it as a leadership construct using a multidimensional commitment framework. The research examines worker SCT from affective, normative, and calculative perspectives. The research will employ a mixed-methods design (Quantitative + Qualitative) with interviews (n=10) and surveys (n=250). The study will investigate the theoretical conceptualization of SCT among workers. The study offers a predictive framework considering diverse demographics and communicative events, aiming to lower incident rates and near misses, emphasizing the correlation between SC, commitment, and incidents. This research provides a holistic perspective for managing critical personnel resources on oil and gas platforms.

Analysis of the Top Ten Chinese Internet Buzzwords from the Perspective of Sociolinguistics

2023-12-30T16:05:58+00:00

As the Internet expands rapidly in the era of information technology, numerous Internet buzzwords emerge and vanish swiftly. In China, it has been an annual tradition to post the top Internet buzzwords or hot words, which spark heated discussions among Internet users regarding their meanings and usage. However, there is often a lack of clear distinction between buzzwords and hot words, and the overall characteristics and value of Internet language based on the top Internet buzzwords remain largely unexplored. The change of language is, to some extent, interconnected with the change of society. Consequently, with the aim of examining the features and functions of Chinese top Internet buzzwords from the perspective of sociolinguistics, this research specifically focuses on the top ten Chinese Internet buzzwords released by Language and Character Weekly from 2019 to 2023 in terms of word formation, topic, and emotion. It could be found that the Internet fosters a virtual speech community that spans across regions among Internet users. The spread of popular dialects and English words contributes to the variation and change of Chinese Internet buzzwords. Moreover, these buzzwords convey diverse emotional meanings. The meaning and usage of Internet buzzwords vary in different periods of society. In conclusion, Internet buzzwords are the product of Internet development, carrying information about the characteristics of society and individuals. There is a need to be more discerning about the Chinese Internet buzzwords from the sociolinguistic perspective, which holds significant implications for understanding the trends of the annual Internet buzzwords in the future.

Japanese Language Education in the Philippines: Historical Development, Current Status and Future Prospects

2023-12-30T16:10:55+00:00

The Philippines is one of the countries where Japanese language education is not only flourishing, but considered to be very relevant. The country has the ninthnlargest number of learners and the tenth largest number of teachers in the world. This is largely propelled by continuous Filipino migration and diaspora to Japan, for work, studies, and even reunion with family members who had migrated to Japan. Business and trade between Japan and the Philippines remain strong, receiving so much support from the governments of both countries. There is also ongoing increasing interest in Japanese culture and language among Filipinos. However, academic research on Japanese language education in the country is scarce, if not lacking. Thus, this article aims to provide a synoptic profile of Japanese language education in the Philippines. First, it presents the history of Japanese language education in the country, highlighting milestones pivotal to its development. Secondly, the article classifies different aspects of Japanese language education, such as academic-oriented education, occupation-oriented training, teacher networking, and events and programs held in the country. Thirdly, the article discusses the current status of Japanese language education in the Philippines such as demographics, students’ motivation, and teachers’ qualifications. The article highlights challenges that Japanese language education in the country confronts, such as the relatively few teachers and institutions for the population, the lack of formal training for teachers, and the limited networking for these teachers and other stakeholders. The article ends the discussion with future prospects of Japanese language education in the Philippines.

The Filipino Language Use of Japanese Students of Filipino Descent

2023-12-30T16:15:28+00:00

The Filipino language is taught and studied as a second or foreign language in and outside the Philippines. It is also taught in Japan, however, compared to the students of the Filipino language in America and Europe who are mostly "heritage language learners (HLLs)", the students in Japan are Japanese students who study the Filipino language because of some socio-political and socio-economic reasons (Laranjo, 2020). From time to time there are also some Japanese students whose mother or father is a Filipino (Nagaya, 2022). It has been argued that the curriculum for HLLs should be different (Kagan, 2012) from second and foreign language learners. The purpose of this study is to determine the difference between HLLs and other students of the Filipino language and the importance of considering them in the teaching of the Filipino language in Japan. To do this, semi-structured interviews were conducted on two categories of Japanese students of Filipino descent at one of the top state universities in Japan offering the Filipino language as a major - (1) three students who took or are taking Filipino as a major and (2) three students who did not take Filipino language as a major. Their answers were analyzed through thematic analysis and the two questions of this study were (1) How did the target students’ background influence their decision in choosing the language they studied or are studying? (2) What do the target students know about the Filipino language and Filipino culture that non-Filipino students do not know? It was found that the students' language major choices were influenced by their proficiency in Filipino, shaped more by home exposure than residence in the language's country. Heritage learners excel in familiar sounds, everyday vocabulary and certain cultural concepts, but struggle in speaking, writing, and reading Filipino.

Intercultural Miscommunication in Higher Education Institutions: A Systematic Review (2013-2023)

2023-12-30T16:20:39+00:00

This systematic review study surveys empirical research on intercultural miscommunication in higher education institutions published in Web of Science and Scopus indexing journals from 2013 to 2023 to identify thematic areas of research that are covered. Out of 96 studies initially identified using PRISMA search based on intercultural miscommunication keywords, 17 met this study’s criteria. The study’s findings indicate a focus on linguistic and cultural barriers, along with intercultural communication strategies. The research is predominantly concentrated in Western contexts like the UK and Australia, with only several studies conducted within Asian university settings. Furthermore, the prevailing research methodology among the empirical studies is qualitative in nature. This review study highlights a significant gap in empirical research focusing on intercultural miscommunication within Asian higher education contexts, particularly in China. As cultural and linguistic diversity among students and staff in Chinese universities frequently results in intercultural miscommunication issues, addressing this gap is crucial for developing effective intercultural communication strategies and enhancing the educational experience in these universities. This systematic review, therefore, underscores the need for more nuanced research in these areas, aiming to bridge the cultural and linguistic divides in academic environments, thus promoting a more inclusive and effective internationalization strategy in higher education.