Marc Ivan J.

Paleracio January 27, 2020

201921987
MA-Language Studies Monday
EDL 201 Applied Linguistics for Communication Arts 5:30-8:30 pm

RESEARCH PROPOSALS

1. Impacts of Visual Aptitude to Language Learning

A great number of language learners in a conventional classroom today spend a significant

amount of time playing online games. Some of these learners are identified to demonstrate high

mechanical skill and game awareness levels while playing these games. One of the requisites to achieve

this level of game playing proficiency is a high level of visual acuity/aptitude. It is with this premise that

this proposal is made. The main thrust of this study would be to objectively see the correlation of Visual

Aptitude to language learning. The participants of the study would be subjected to different activities to

gather the information needed for the study. One of which would be to perform visual activities while the

participants are using eye-tracking equipment/software to measure their visual aptitude. Afterwards,

they will perform language-related activities to measure the other variable of the study. The results of the

study would be significant to educational psychology and in the development of educational

technologies/materials geared at language learning.

2. Intercultural Sensitivity and Target Language Performance among Overseas Filipino Workers

In current educational thought and practice, it is undeniable that second language acquisition is

influenced by a multitude of factors— internal or external. A cornerstone of language acquisition studies

is the understanding of not only internal factors involving intrinsic motivation, physiological, and

psychological dispositions among others, but external ones as well. Among the plethora of external factors

that fundamentally affect the acquisition of any target language is culture. The difference between the

culture of the language learner and the target language’s culture affiliate may prove to impede or promote

proficiency to any language. This can be seen by the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity
developed by Milton Bennet. This model was created as a basic outline to explain the reactions that

people have to cultural differences. The stages of DMIS is a continuum that ranges from ethnocentric to

highly ethnorelative. The DMIS was designed by the theory that cultural awareness is accompanied by

improved cognitive sophistication (Cushner, McClelland, & Safford, 2012). As such, the existence of

intercultural difference and sensitivity among learners of a new language demand for further study as the

success of target language proficiency might be influenced by the learner’s preconceived notions about

the target language’s culture affiliate and language itself. Coincidentally, this is a dilemma constantly being

faced by Overseas Filipino Workers. Their sensitivity to the target culture’s difference to their own play a

significant role in their target language performance—a concept which would be explored in this paper.

The results of this study would, in great deal, find use in the development of educational strategies and

materials for language teaching.

3. Cebuano English: Cebuano Dialect nuances/features and English Language Acquisition

This proposal seeks to examine the different nuances/features (voice production, inflection,

tonality, etc.) particularly in sound production of the Cebuano dialect in comparison to English language

sound production. Firstly, it would identify the different features/nuances both the Cebuano dialect and

English language. Afterwards, the data would be compared, and assumptions could be made afterwards.

The result of this study could find its place in creating language activities and materials for Cebuano

learners that would help facilitate easier language learning.