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Research on academic writer development has focused exclusively on the writing output and other sources of doctoral student professional development. Nevertheless, variations in understanding ongoing development remain unclear given that academic writers involve first-year doctoral students. Hence, the study investigated the ways of understanding first-year doctoral student development as academic writers. A qualitative case study was conducted on four first-year doctoral students during their doctoral research proposal writing process. A case study analysis was conducted on the findings of understanding academic writer development in four ways and represented by four categories: (i) becoming self-assured as an academic writer, (ii) becoming acknowledged as an academic writer, (iii) becoming more productive as an academic writer, and (iv) becoming a deep thinker as an academic writer. The four ways of understanding academic writer development could be linked to the participants' embracing and expanding academic awareness. Specifically, the development represented by later categories includes the earlier categories of academic awareness. Moreover, the later categories represent increasing complexity in academic awareness and different academic writer development aspects. The findings could guide writers such as first-year doctoral students in their development as academic writers.

In recent years, an increasing number of non-native EFL teachers have been recruited to teach English in English dominant settings. Grounded in sociocultural views of identity, the research question of this study focused on how contextual factors influence the professional identity construction of three EFL teachers in a Saudi School in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study employs a qualitative case study method, where in-depth interviews and classroom observation are utilised. Drawing on Wenger's (1998) communities of practice framework to analyse and interpret the data, the analysis indicates various factors affecting the EFL Saudi teachers' professional identity. Findings reveal that identity formation is a complex and highly contextual process. The participants in this study construct their identities by engaging in their teaching environment, shared practices with their peers, engaged in student-parents relationship and participated in professional development. Through transitioning into the English as a second language (ESL) setting, the EFL teachers have demonstrated how professional identity is a dynamic and socially situated construct. As a result, these teachers' identities may be transformed by the global educational settings in which they work. The findings contribute to our understanding of the importance of a conducive professional environment in supporting teachers to develop their professional identities.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the challenges experienced by in-service English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers in an open distance learning (ODL) institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Many in-service ESL teachers who do not have the necessary teaching qualifications are seeking to obtain their teaching qualifications via the ODL mode of studies as it allows them to work as teachers while obtaining their teaching qualifications at the same time. They face multiple challenges which lead to high attrition rates, a concern for ODL institutions of higher learning worldwide. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative research design using a case study approach was used in this study where in-depth interviews were conducted with four in-service ESL teachers who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) programme conducted via ODL. Findings: The research is exploratory in nature. Findings highlighted four major challenges by these in-service ESL teachers--(1) financial difficulties, (2) work commitments, (3) family sacrifices and (4) emotional stress. However, technological use was not considered a challenge as mentioned by literature. Practical implications: Findings from the study may be useful to ODL institutions to provide relevant support to ODL students to improve student retention rates in ODL institutions. Originality/value: This study may be considered as a baseline analysis on the challenges experienced by in-service ESL teachers in ODL institution of higher learning in Malaysia. Further in-depth studies are needed to understand how ODL institutions can better support their education programme students to complete their teacher education programmes.

This study aims to explore the influence of contextual factors on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers' professional identity formation in the context of Saudi Arabia. More specifically, it aims to examine how the participants' educational background, life experiences and professional setting influence their professional identities as EFL teachers in Saudi secondary schools. This study involved three EFL teachers who are based in Riyadh. Employing a case study method, the data collection techniques of this qualitative study included in-depth interviews and observations. Drawing upon Wenger's (1998) concept of communities of practice, the data analysis reveals several factors affecting the EFL Saudi teachers' professional identity. This study found that the Saudi teachers' educational background and life experiences act as formative elements which influence their EFL professional identity formation. Moreover, the participating teachers agree that practical experience and teaching community played a more significant role than their educational background in terms of shaping their teacher's identity construction and their classroom practices. The results have many implications for Saudi Arabia's development of current teacher education programme. If teacher education curriculum is aimed at improving the professional identity building of EFL teachers, then the policymakers might need to review the curricula of English language teacher education and incorporate some improvements within the programme.

Although reflective journal writing (RJW) has become a popular way to evaluate learning, little is known about participants' perceptions upon this educational activity. The purpose of this research paper was to utilize Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to determine the dimension of pre-registered student nurses' perception on reflective journal writing. A total of thirty conveniently selected participants contributed to the study. Data was collected based on an adapted survey questionnaire. Data was analyzed through SPSS (V. 24) as well as importance-performance matrix. By using IPA matrix, participants rated the importance attribute in the "ideal" reflective journal writing and how satisfied they were with their performance in the actual setting. With a two-dimensional grid of importance and performance, the location of these attributes would determine what the participants' ideas were regarding RJW and how the educators would take necessary action accordingly. For the most parts, the results indicated that participants were satisfied with the academic practice. IPA proved to be a useful evaluation tool enabling curriculum and syllabus designers to identify the strength and weaknesses of RJW as perceived by participants.

The importance of critical thinking is championed in education, but it is also acknowledged that developing critical thinking is challenging particularly in a context like Malaysia where being critical often comes with negative connotations. This article details an attempt to develop reflective critical thinking in the discipline-specific study of Literature in English for undergraduates and practicing English as a Second Language (ESL) educators in Malaysia. A total of 32 participants attended workshops based on a created-creator module developed by the researchers. Participants went through three dimensions: exploring personal experiences, exploring author intention and exploring personal response to texts. Analysed as a case study, the module proved successful in developing initial responses to a level where participants could choose to accept or challenge identified sources of influence. This article presents empirical evidence that operationalises discipline-specific knowledge and extends critical thinking in reader response for Literature as a subject.

This study investigates English as a Second Language (ESL) learners' challenges in understanding academic science vocabulary in Malaysian secondary schools' English-medium instruction (EMI) classrooms. Based on cognitive load theory, the research explores ESL learners' strategies to acquire scientific terminology and manage the associated cognitive difficulties. Previous research on EMI across different subjects has often overlooked the specific hurdles presented by technical terms in the scientific vocabulary, creating a knowledge gap that impedes the development of effective teaching methods for science educators in EMI settings. In response, the study adopts a two-stage qualitative design, commencing with an online survey involving 103 participants, followed by group interviews with individuals from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The findings indicate that ESL learners in EMI science classrooms encounter significant obstacles due to unfamiliar scientific terminology, abstract concepts, and limited prior exposure to the subject matter. This results in a high cognitive load that inhibits comprehension. Nevertheless, the research identifies various vocabulary learning strategies students employ, including contextual clues and active engagement with scientific vocabulary within relevant contexts. These findings underscore the need for more inclusive learning environments supporting vocabulary development for ESL learners in EMI settings. Recommendations encompass creating instructional materials featuring clear and concise language and integrating scaffolding strategies to simplify complex scientific terms. This comprehensive approach has the potential to facilitate successful vocabulary development and enhance the overall learning experience for ESL learners in EMI science classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to examine lecturer readiness for English Medium Instruction (EMI) in higher educational institutions and the contextual influences of gender, age, academic qualification, teaching experience, EMI course teaching involvement, and EMI training. A quantitative research design was employed, and a survey questionnaire was completed by 227 lecturers (out of 250 invited participants) from private universities in Klang Valley, Malaysia to gauge self-ratings of personal knowledge, skills, abilities, and attitudes in educating EMI courses. The collected data were subsequently analysed via the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0 software before revealing the findings from the inferential statistics of the t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) on lecturers' gender, age, academic qualification, teaching experience, EMI course teaching involvement, and EMI training. Resultantly, the important role of lecturers' knowledge, understanding, skills, abilities, and attitudes was highlighted to further enhance intercultural communicative competence in managing the increasingly diversified student body in EMI classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the perceptions and challenges of Malaysian pre-service teachers teaching science in a second language. A qualitative case study method was used with multiple sources of data to provide insights into the challenges that a group of pre-service teachers faced during their teaching practicum. The pre-service teachers had to overcome various challenges that arose due to factors such as lack of competency in the medium of instruction and the students' varying levels of language ability. In addressing the challenges faced, they employed various strategies, including code switching and mixing, teacher-student collaboration, rephrasing and re-emphasizing, the use of instructional aids, and the use of analogies. The evidence presented in this study suggests that attention should be given to addressing the English language policy in the science teacher education programme. (Contains 2 tables.)

This article details an attempt to understand better how first-year doctoral students construct persuasive arguments in academic writing by exploring the patterns of boosters in drafts of doctoral research proposals. Eight Malaysian first-year ESL doctoral students produced 43 drafts of doctoral research proposals across four areas of study in education during their first year of doctoral studies. These drafts were analysed by coding the various linguistic items used to persuade readers of a text, and the analysis was based on Hyland's (2005) model of metadiscourse. Results show that the (i) overall frequency of booster markers used is relatively low (n=158), reinforcing the argument that first-year doctoral students lack understanding about the interaction between booster markers and the context in a more complicated discussion in academic writing such as the doctoral research proposal. Then, the (ii) further analysis of booster marker sub-categories indicates that Malaysian first-year doctoral students struggle to make appropriate booster markers with different meanings and strengths in academic writing when used in context. Therefore, our study suggests that direct and explicit teaching of using various booster markers categories should be implemented in postgraduate writing courses to heightened the students' perceptiveness regarding semantic features associated with creating convincing arguments in academic writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in academic writing initially focuses on the output of writing, but it is now increasingly turned to writer identity. This article analyses how the acceptance of self as academic writers is difficult. The acceptance of self as an academic writer is quite complex, especially for first-year doctoral students who must engage with the demands of academic language in an academic context. Research acknowledges that self-acceptance as academic writers come with many implications and doctoral students are often hesitant to describe themselves as academic writers. This article seeks to address this complexity through empirical research focused on self-perception in the construction of an academic writer identity. This study involved ten first-year ESL doctoral students in the field of education at an established Malaysian institution. From the findings of this study, we identify four aspects that they experienced in becoming academic writers: creator, interpreter, communicator and academic presenter. These four aspects are experienced in different ways by each participant, illustrated by narratives of their life history and writing practice. In particular, it is hoped that this article can provide some pedagogical implications for the teaching of academic writing in institutes of higher education and offer a lens through which researchers and teachers of writing can further explore academic writer identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Although the impact of reflective journal writing (RJW) on enhanced learning has a long history, studies on this pedagogical tool for enhanced learning are never exhausted. This study attempts to highlight enhanced self-directed learning through the use of reflective journal (RJ) among Malaysian diploma nursing students. Methodology: For this study, eight purposefully selected pre-registered student nurses (PRSN) from a public college contributed over 54 reflective journal entries over two months. Through a qualitative content analysis, the journals were analyzed using a model devised by Mezirow (1990) that was previously used by Kember (1999), Chirema (2007), and Kear (2013) to identify the students' levels of reflection of content/descriptive, process/practical, and premise/critical reflection resembling Transformative Learning Theory (TLT). Findings: The findings suggested that RJ helps learners become in control of themselves from the early stage of a clinical environment. They expressed their appreciation towards collaborations and are grateful to be able to express their feelings and emotions of "fears" and "trust". Further, they indicated their mindfulness to appreciate their levels of knowledge and skills through reflection upon the nursing tasks as they make themselves ready to be a future nurse. Furthermore, it was highlighted that feeling competent and being able to work independently and to make sound decisions would not be realized if they could not think critically from the initial stage of clinical environment. Contributions: This research confirms that PRSN become more self-directed and highly motivated to develop critical thinking to dispose for their better lifelong learning through the use of reflective journals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]