Tsai, Yi-Jen (2011) Success with IELTS : an in-depth investigation of Taiwanese learners' perceptions and strategies in relation to the IELTS test. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

With the growing importance of English in the global world, an increasing number of Taiwanese students, about 8,000-10,000, have come to study in the UK over the last decade. This study investigates Taiwanese learners' perceptions and strategies in relation to the IELTS test. A Taiwanese online forum has been established by successful learners who have gained a good result in the IELTS test and studied in the UK since 2002. In attempting to be successful in the IELTS test, most Taiwanese learners use the forum as one of their IELTS-preparation strategies by seeking successful peer assistance concerning materials and strategies for IELTS preparation on the forum. The members and posts of this virtual community are the focus of this project. Given that most of the empirical research about strategies in relation to a test and an online learning community focuses on teacher-initiated educational environments, very little attention has been paid to peer-initiated social learning contexts such as the one that is focused upon in this study.

This study begins with an introduction to globalisation in the contemporary world, its influence on English education and learners in Taiwan, and my motivation for undertaking this study. In chapter Two to four, I explore the literature concerning the IELTS test, online self-help groups and strategies in relation to the test. Then in chapter Five, I describe the mixed-method approach and the four research instruments (the forum analysis, the focus group interview, the questionnaire, and the individual interviews) used in this study. After the research design, the data analysis is demonstrated with examples in chapter Six. In chapter Seven, the findings are presented by combining the data sources from four research instruments corresponding to the research questions. Further issues emerging from the findings are discussed in chapter Eight. Finally, chapter Nine concludes by recapping on the focus, findings, key issues, limitations and implications of this study.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	L Education > LC Special aspects of education P Language and Literature > PE English
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Taiwan students -- Great Britain, International English Language Testing System -- Great Britain, Social learning, Self-help groups
Official Date:	March 2011
Dates:	Date Event March 2011 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Centre for Applied Linguistics
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Ushioda, Ema ; Wharton, Sue
Extent:	xi, 434 leaves : ill.
Language:	eng

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