Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies for Academic Materials: A Study of Undergraduate Students in Pakistan
Metacognitive awareness of reading strategies measures how readers of a text engage with it and think about their own reading processes. This paper presents the findings of a descriptive study on the metacognitive awareness of reading strategy use on the undergraduate students of Lahore, Pakistan. The study makes use of the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI), which is a selfreport instrument, and has 30 items on a 5-point Likert scale; it was administered to 500 public and private sector universities students. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed for analysis through the use of SPSS, version 22. The results reported that problem-solving and support strategies are equally preferred over global strategies. Results of the t-test revealed that students from the public sector demonstrate greater strategy awareness than those from the private sector in all the subscales of MARSI, while no overall significant difference between Humanities and Sciences was found.
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Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI), Non-Native Speakers of English, Reading Strategies, T-Test, Undergraduate Students.
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(1) Asma Shahid Kazi
Assistant Professor, Department of Professional Studies,Lahore College for Women University, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Shagufta Moghal
Lecturer,Department of Professional Studies,Lahore College for Women University, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Zoobia Asad
PhD Scholar,Research and Evaluation Department, Lahore College for Women University, Punjab, Pakistan.
Media Imperialism and Cultural Dissatisfaction: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students in Islamabad
The objective of the research was to dig out the effects of exposure to western television channels among the undergraduate students in Islamabad on their cultural dissatisfaction. The extent of dissatisfaction about Pakistani culture and positive assumptions in favor of western culture was noted. A convenient sampled survey with equal representation of male and female gender was applied. It was found that exposure to western television channels makes an alien world in the minds of audience (t=3.02). A considerable variance in assumption inclined to foreign culture was assessed (β=0.32). Moreover, income and time spent remained the important factors to make the western alien culture a reality.
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Assumption, Cultural Dissatisfaction, Media Imperialism, Undergraduate Students
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(1) Farrukh Nazir
PhD Scholar, Center for Media and Communication Studies, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Arshad Ali
Assistant Professor, Center for Media and Communication Studies, University of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan.
The Role of English Language Skills in Career Growth: A Study of Perceptions and Strategies Used to Improve English Language Skills by Graduate and Undergraduate Students of Karachi, Pakistan
The English language has a major impact on our companies and workplaces. Regardless of geographical, social, political, or religious divisions, English has become the lingua franca of the international corporate world. The purpose of this research study was to explore the role of English language skills in the career growth of a person and understand the perceptions of graduate and undergraduate students about learning and improving this language. For this purpose, relevant literature was scouted, and based on scholars points of view; a questionnaire was developed to get the opinions of the students. The data was collected using Google Form, employing a stratified convenience sampling procedure. The analysis shows a positive relationship between English language skills and career growth.
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English Language Skills, Perceptions, and Undergraduate Students
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(1) Stephn John
Associate Professor/Chairperson, Department of Education, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi, Singh, Pakistan.
(2) Subhash Gurario
Associate Professor/Chairperson, Department of Social Development, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi, Singh, Pakistan.
(3) Jamshed Adil Halepota
Professor, Department of Business Administration, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, Karachi, Singh, Pakistan.
Students SES status and Test anxiety of the Undergraduate University Students
This paper was to study the relationship between socio economic status and test anxiety of undergraduate students. All the undergraduate students of all the departments of Sargodha University were the population. A sample pertaining 550 students were selected through multistage random including 181 male and 369 female students, selecting 50 students from 11 departments. Instruments were adapted socioeconomic status survey for students and Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS). After pilot testing both the instruments on 100 students, Cronbach Alpha value for WTAS was 0.79, and SACQ was 0.90. The study was descriptive and survey. Analysis of data was done through frequencies, means, percentages t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson r. The majority of students showed a moderate level of SES as well text anxiety, female undergraduate students are of higher SES level and text anxiety than males, and no relationship between SES and test anxiety of the undergraduate students was found. A recommendation is that students may be exposed to group projects, seminars and guidance, and counseling sessions regarding test anxiety.
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Socioeconomic Status, Test Anxiety, Undergraduate Students
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(1) Farah Shafiq
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Ahmad Bilal Cheema
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Saifullah Khan
Lecturer, Government College Farooka, Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan.
Anxiety and Academic Performance of Undergraduate University Students
Aim of the study was to find out the relationship between anxiety with academic performance of undergraduate university students. The study was conducted for the objectives; (i) to find out the anxiety level of undergraduate university students. (ii) to identify the level of achievement scores (GPA) and co-curricular activities of undergraduate university students, and (iii) to find out the relationship between anxiety and academic performance of undergraduate university students. A sample of 408, including 195 male and 213 female 2nd-semester undergraduate BS students from 12 different departments out of 4 faculties of the University of the Sargodha, taking 34 students from each department, were selected through multistage random sampling techniques. Two instruments, anxiety scale and performance checklists, were developed to collect data from students. Research instruments were validated through experts' opinions, pilot testing was done, and the reliability coefficient Cronbach Alpha value for the anxiety scale was .832. Frequencies, mean, standard deviation, t-tests and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis. There was a weak and negative relationship between anxiety and achievement scores of undergraduate university students whereas. But there was a significant but weak and negative relationship between anxiety and achievement scores and co-curricular activities of undergraduate university students. So it is recommended that teachers of the university may integrate activities in their classroom teaching to keep students involved and reduce anxiety.
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Anxiety, Academic Performance & Undergraduate University Students
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(1) Muhammad Naveed Khalid
Resource Person, Allama Iqbal Open University, Islamabad, Pakistan
(2) Farah Shafiq
Assistant Professor, Division of Education, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
(3) Mushtaq Ahmad
Assistant Professor, Department of Education, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
Using Social Media as Material Development Source for English Language Teaching and Learning for ELT Classrooms at Undergraduate Levels
The role of social media in academic settings has increased manifold. Both the teachers and the learners inside as well as outside classrooms use social media for different academic purposes. The present study was conducted to research to what extent the use of social media has become a fast way of material development in Pakistani ELT setting. Generally, social media is being used for getting and sharing information through different social media platforms: Facebook, whatsapp, YouTube along with other websites. The question is how social media is being used one of the medium for the development of material for four language skills? The data was collected through two major sources of survey and interviews from both the teachers and the learners. The data was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively to reach the results. The findings answered the question that social media can be used as a source of material development in Pakistani ELT settings. This research will open the doors of further explorations in the same domain.
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Social Media, English Language, ELT, Undergraduate Levels, Whatsapp, Facebook
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(1) Amir Hafeez
Associate Professor, Department of English, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Hafiz Abdul Majid
Visiting Lecturer, Department of English, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan
(3) Saima Yousaf
MPhil, Department of English Linguistics, Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Punjab, Pakistan.
Problems in Assimilation of English Words for Undergraduate Level Students in Hazara University
This present study has focused on the problems in the assimilation of English words for undergraduates in Hazara University. A survey descriptive design was used to collect data from fifty undergraduates selected through convenient-non probability sampling technique who were asked to comprehend the assimilation process in certain words in the selected clips from English movies. To measure the problems in assimilation for the students, the students were asked to reproduce the same speech. The statistical analysis of the data shows that undergraduates did not have any major issues in the comprehension of the assimilated sounds in English words as they identified the assimilated sounds from the available lexical items and the speech context itself. The findings of the study show that students had fewer issues regarding the comprehension of the assimilated speech by native speakers than the issues they had while reproducing the same speech in spoken form themselves. In light of the findings of the study, it is suggested that due attention should be given to speaking skills in order to eliminate issues of assimilation in connected speech.
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Assimilation, English Phonemes/Words, Undergraduate Students, Comprehension, Production
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(1) Tariq Ullah
M.Phil. Scholar, Department of English, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
(2) Shahabullah
ecturer, Department of English, University of Buner, Buner, KP, Pakistan.
(3) Arif Khan
M.Phil. Scholar, Department of English, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
Relationship between Academic Procrastination, Locus of Control and Creative Self-Efficacy
Past literature has shown that academic procrastination shares a negative association with an internal locus of control and self-variables, including self-esteem, self-regulation and self-efficacy. These self-variables may even have a negative effect on students’ academic performance. The aim of the current study is to explore whether students who have higher creative self-efficacy are less likely to experience academic procrastination. A correlational research design is used. Hence, the current research determines the relationship between academic procrastination, locus of control, and creative self-efficacy in Pakistani undergraduate students. Pearson's Product Moment Coefficient of Correlation is calculated. There are significant correlations between the three variables. Regression analysis indicates that both variables make a significant contribution towards academic procrastination. Results are discussed in light of the literature review.
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Academic Procrastination, Internal Locus of Control, Creative Self-efficacy, Pakistan, Undergraduate Students, Correlational Research
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(1) Zainab Muazzam
Student, Forman Christian College, Gulberg Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(2) Maryam Munir
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Forman Christian College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
(3) Ivan Suneel
Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Forman Christian College, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Analysis of Critical Thinking Strategies and Problems Faced in English Academic Essays by Undergraduates of Professional Colleges in District Abbottabad
This study seeks to examine the characters, difficulties, and challenges encountered by professional students in writing academic essays by exploring the strategies employed by undergraduates in writing academic essays. The sample comprised twenty students selected from four professional colleges located in Abbottabad. The research instruments utilized in this study consisted of a questionnaire about critical thinking strategies and English essay prompts written by the same students. A descriptive survey design was utilized for data collection. The statistical analysis was followed by qualitative analysis under the framework of Toulmin's Model of Argumentation. The analysis revealed that students encountered numerous difficulties when attempting to compose an academic essay despite possessing a rudimentary understanding. The findings of the study highlighted the impact of language and writing proficiency challenges on cohesion in academic essays. The findings suggested that students often find it challenging to incorporate higher-order thinking skills into their writing.
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Critical Thinking, Undergraduate, Strategies, Components, Problems, Academic Essay, Toulmin’s Model, Argumentation
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(1) Wagma Hameed
M.Phil. Scholar, Department of English, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
(2) Ghani Rahman
Associate Professor, Department of English, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.
(3) Laraib Rahat
Lecturer, English Department, Hazara University, Mansehra, KP, Pakistan.