Papers by Ibrahim Al Faki
This study aims to investigate the vocabulary load in Spine 5 (Sudan Practical Integrated Nationa... more This study aims to investigate the vocabulary load in Spine 5 (Sudan Practical Integrated National English, Book 5). Studies of vocabulary load are scares in Sudan. So this study will contribute to the improvement of EFL textbooks and material development. The study attempts to examine the characteristic features of the lexical items included in book five : their total number , frequencies , recycling , usefulness for learners , suitability to learners' level, grading and presentation. The researcher uses from within the descriptive method the content analysis technique. The analysis includes the vocabulary list of Spine 5 teacher's book, the first three 1000 high frequency word lists from British National Corpus and Spine 5 pupil's book. Ten words from the most recycled words are selected in order to test spaced recycling of vocabulary. Then the data are classified ,organized, analyzed, discussed and interpreted. The analysis of the new vocabulary items in Spine 5 shows that this textbook reflects a level of difficulty because it contains a large number of low frequency words. There is also a poor provision of new vocabulary items. 43.8 % of vocabulary items have not been recycled and 44.4% words have insufficient recycling. Even those which have sufficient recycling; are not systematically recycled. Massed recycling is performed with very few words. The few words which have spaced recycling are high frequency words; massed recycling is found in all pages of Spine 5 pupils' book.
This study focuses on analyzing and contrasting sentence construction in both Nubian and English ... more This study focuses on analyzing and contrasting sentence construction in both Nubian and English languages. The study intends to find out the potential productivities of these processes for pedagogical purposes, which may prove to be useful for Nubian native and how Nubian English language teachers may benefit from it in teaching English language .The data of this study have been collected from two important sources: The literature which has been written on Nubian language and a sample of Nubian speakers. The literature reviewed covers: the geography of the area where Nubian people live , a description of the Nubian syntax, classification and distribution of the Nubian languages , the contrastive analysis process , and finally some previous studies. The findings reveal that English and Nubian languages have similarities as well as differences. These can be summarized as follows: The points of similarities are as follows: The two languages have similar elements to construct a sentence. Both languages use coordination to construct compound and complex sentences and both language have equivalent conjunctions. Both languages have equivalent pronouns to construct (WH) questions. Ellipsis exists in the two languages. Points of differences between the two languages: The two languages have different syntactic order of elements in sentence construction .Coordinators in English convey shades of meaning, whereas in the Nubian language they cannot do so. Ellipsis in the Nubian language does not result in an ambiguous sentence. The coordinator appears in the middle of the sentence in English. The presence of more than one coordinator may result in an ambiguous sentence. In Nubian languages the coordinator appears after the nominal in each clause and no ambiguous sentence may result. This literature review provides data on: Nubian area and people, syntax of the Nubian language, classification and distribution of the Nubian languages, contrastive analysis, and finally some related studies.
This study aims at exploring the concept of LEARNING STYLES in the context of second language acq... more This study aims at exploring the concept of LEARNING STYLES in the context of second language acquisition, and it also seeks to identify the learning styles of 16 TESOL Master's students. The study is divided into two main parts. Part one is a theoretical framework. It covers the concept of learning from a second language acquisition perspective, individual differences and personality in SLA, personality & learning, adults' perception of learning, learning styles and culture, the differences between learning style and learning strategies, the relationship between learning style and cognitive style, broader models of learning style, and finally learning style and teaching. The second part is a case study which attempts to investigate the learning styles of around 16 TESOL masters students. The data-gathering tool was VAK learning styles measurement tool which aims to identify the learning styles of students according to three main styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. The most important findings are that the majority of students' learning styles are auditory, few are visual, and only three out of 16 are visual auditory; while one candidate is visual kinesthetic.
Teaching Vocabulary: The Relationship between Techniques of Teaching and Strategies of Learning New Vocabulary Items
English Language Teaching, 2014
ABSTRACT
This study aims to investigate the vocabulary load in Spine 5 (Sudan Practical
Integrated Nationa... more This study aims to investigate the vocabulary load in Spine 5 (Sudan Practical
Integrated National English, Book 5 ). Studies of vocabulary load are scares in Sudan. So this
study will contribute to the improvement of EFL textbooks and material development. The study
attempts to examine the characteristic features of the lexical items included in book five : their
total number , frequencies , recycling , usefulness for learners , suitability to learners’ level,
grading and presentation. The researcher uses from within the descriptive method the content
analysis technique. The analysis includes the vocabulary list of Spine 5 teacher's book, the first
three 1000 high frequency word lists from British National Corpus and Spine 5 pupil's book .
Ten words from the most recycled words are selected in order to test spaced recycling of
vocabulary. Then the data are classified ,organized, analyzed, discussed and interpreted. The
analysis of the new vocabulary items in Spine 5 shows that this textbook reflects a level of
difficulty because it contains a large number of low frequency words. There is also a poor
provision of new vocabulary items. 43.8 % of vocabulary items have not been recycled and
44.4% words have insufficient recycling. Even those which have sufficient recycling; are not
systematically recycled. Massed recycling is performed with very few words. The few words
which have spaced recycling are high frequency words; massed recycling is found in all pages
of Spine 5 pupils’ book.
KEYWORDS: Spine Five , EFL textbooks , vocabulary recycling, vocabulary load.
INTRODUCTION
Vocabulary can be defined as the words of a language, including single items and phrases or
chunks of several words which covey a particular meaning, the way individual words do.
Vocabulary addresses single lexical items—words with specific meaning(s)—but it also
includes lexical phrases or chunks.
The importance
This study investigates the different aspects that determine teacher professional
development in ... more This study investigates the different aspects that determine teacher professional
development in teaching English language. It aims at explaining the concept of professional
development, pin-pointing the necessity for teacher professional development in today’s world,
and exploring the field of teacher development in order to find out the best opportunities and
activities. The study hypothesizes that teacher professional development leads to greater
achievement in education. The data were collected through a questionnaire from teachers of
English language in secondary schools. The results revealed that: Teachers have their own role
to play in their professional development along with the role to be played with the government. In
today’s changing world, ongoing professional development is very crucial, teachers become highly
confidential with their positive beliefs in what they are doing , for professional development both
experience and reflective teaching are required, sharing experience and ideas between colleagues
gives teachers a feeling of community and belonging . The study recommended that teacher
professional development should be seen as a necessity in teacher’s growth and student’s
achievements; and teachers should take part in the responsibility for their professional
development.
KEYWORDS: professional development, teaching English, teacher’s growth
The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of the literature textbooks
assigned to the Su... more The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of the literature textbooks
assigned to the Sudanese secondary school students. The data were collected through content
analysis of the literature books: Things Fall A Part, Treasure Island, Jane Eyre, The Prisoner
of Zenda, Oliver Twist, Anna and the Fighter. The researcher has adopted the descriptive,
analytical research method adopting mainly the content analysis technique in analyzing the
six literary textbooks. The linguistic input and the cultural aspects of these literary texts are
compared with the students’ linguistic level and their cultural background. The findings show
that the selection of the textbooks do not meet the students' needs, L2 language competence,
age, culture, and literary background. This means that these literature books have been
haphazardly selected, without consideration to the students’ actual needs. Thus, it is
recommended that all these factors, students’ needs and requirements must be considered when
selecting reading texts to be taught to secondary school students in Sudan.
KEYWORDS: Criteria For Selecting Textbooks, Students’ Needs, Using Literature In EFL
This study aims to investigate the techniques of teaching new lexis which are adopted by non-nati... more This study aims to investigate the techniques of teaching new lexis which are adopted by non-native teachers of English language. It also aims to investigate the strategies of learning new lexis which are adopted by learners in relation to their level. The work is based on two hypotheses: It is hypothesized that there is a relationship between the techniques and strategies which are used for teaching and learning new English lexis.It is hypothesized that the level of learner, might not affect his or her choice for a particular strategy. To test these hypotheses, the researcher has chosen a purposive sample: the pupils of the seventh class, the eighth class and teachers of English language at the Basic level schools, in the River Nile State, Sudan, in the school year 2014. The instruments which were used to collect data, were two questionnaires (a teachers' version and a pupils' version). To analyze and interpret the data percentages and Chi Square were used. The results showed that there is a relationship between the techniques of teaching and the strategies of learning new lexis.The chi-square test showed that, the results were statistically significant at level 0.05 and this supports the second hypothesis that the learner's stage of learning does not affect his or her choice of a particular strategy. 
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Papers by Ibrahim Al Faki
Integrated National English, Book 5 ). Studies of vocabulary load are scares in Sudan. So this
study will contribute to the improvement of EFL textbooks and material development. The study
attempts to examine the characteristic features of the lexical items included in book five : their
total number , frequencies , recycling , usefulness for learners , suitability to learners’ level,
grading and presentation. The researcher uses from within the descriptive method the content
analysis technique. The analysis includes the vocabulary list of Spine 5 teacher's book, the first
three 1000 high frequency word lists from British National Corpus and Spine 5 pupil's book .
Ten words from the most recycled words are selected in order to test spaced recycling of
vocabulary. Then the data are classified ,organized, analyzed, discussed and interpreted. The
analysis of the new vocabulary items in Spine 5 shows that this textbook reflects a level of
difficulty because it contains a large number of low frequency words. There is also a poor
provision of new vocabulary items. 43.8 % of vocabulary items have not been recycled and
44.4% words have insufficient recycling. Even those which have sufficient recycling; are not
systematically recycled. Massed recycling is performed with very few words. The few words
which have spaced recycling are high frequency words; massed recycling is found in all pages
of Spine 5 pupils’ book.
KEYWORDS: Spine Five , EFL textbooks , vocabulary recycling, vocabulary load.
INTRODUCTION
Vocabulary can be defined as the words of a language, including single items and phrases or
chunks of several words which covey a particular meaning, the way individual words do.
Vocabulary addresses single lexical items—words with specific meaning(s)—but it also
includes lexical phrases or chunks.
The importance
development in teaching English language. It aims at explaining the concept of professional
development, pin-pointing the necessity for teacher professional development in today’s world,
and exploring the field of teacher development in order to find out the best opportunities and
activities. The study hypothesizes that teacher professional development leads to greater
achievement in education. The data were collected through a questionnaire from teachers of
English language in secondary schools. The results revealed that: Teachers have their own role
to play in their professional development along with the role to be played with the government. In
today’s changing world, ongoing professional development is very crucial, teachers become highly
confidential with their positive beliefs in what they are doing , for professional development both
experience and reflective teaching are required, sharing experience and ideas between colleagues
gives teachers a feeling of community and belonging . The study recommended that teacher
professional development should be seen as a necessity in teacher’s growth and student’s
achievements; and teachers should take part in the responsibility for their professional
development.
KEYWORDS: professional development, teaching English, teacher’s growth
assigned to the Sudanese secondary school students. The data were collected through content
analysis of the literature books: Things Fall A Part, Treasure Island, Jane Eyre, The Prisoner
of Zenda, Oliver Twist, Anna and the Fighter. The researcher has adopted the descriptive,
analytical research method adopting mainly the content analysis technique in analyzing the
six literary textbooks. The linguistic input and the cultural aspects of these literary texts are
compared with the students’ linguistic level and their cultural background. The findings show
that the selection of the textbooks do not meet the students' needs, L2 language competence,
age, culture, and literary background. This means that these literature books have been
haphazardly selected, without consideration to the students’ actual needs. Thus, it is
recommended that all these factors, students’ needs and requirements must be considered when
selecting reading texts to be taught to secondary school students in Sudan.
KEYWORDS: Criteria For Selecting Textbooks, Students’ Needs, Using Literature In EFL