[Download] "Bilingual Dictionaries in Written Language Examinations: Why New Zealand Needs to Catch up with Australia (Essay)" by Babel " eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free

May 03, 2021

eBook details

Title: Bilingual Dictionaries in Written Language Examinations: Why New Zealand Needs to Catch up with Australia (Essay)
Author : Babel
Release Date : January 01, 2007
Genre: Education,Books,Professional & Technical,
Pages : * pages
Size : 209 KB

Description

INTRODUCTION Premature discontinuation rates among second language students in New Zealand are higher than for most other subjects in secondary schools (McLauchlan, 2006), although this phenomenon has not given rise to a great deal of debate within the NZ language teaching community. Rather, researchers have focused on reasons for students' initial uptake of languages. This paper argues that the difficulty of vocabulary acquisition is a key factor behind the high number of students prematurely dropping out of their second language learning programs. It also argues the case for allowing the use of standardised bilingual dictionaries in written second language examinations as a possible way of reducing the burden of memorising vocabulary, the stress and dissatisfaction associated with this task, and of enhancing the work of language students. In spite of the evidence supporting the value of dictionaries in second language assessment, NZ lacks the enlightened and eminently more practical approach of most Australian State and Territory senior secondary assessment boards which allow students to use a monolingual and/or bilingual dictionary in language exams (see ACACA, 2006).