Cross-Currents: An International Peer-Reviewed Journal on Humanities & Social Sciences
Volume 2 Issue 1
Interactive Strategies for Raising EFL Students’ Cultural Awareness
Ahmed Mehdaoui
DOI : NA | Cross Current Int J Peer Reviewed J Human Soc Sci, 2016; 2(1): 17-20
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Abstract: Currently, there is a tendency towards intercultural education as a major goal in foreign language teaching and learning. The importance of developing learners’ intercultural communicative competence has derived from the need to preparing foreign language learners, in general, and English learners in particular, for potential cross-cultural communication, in which they may encounter linguistic and cultural barriers. However, in our specific context- the English Department at the University of Tiaret and certainly in other academic contexts in Algeria, it is found that this goal is far from being reached. To bridge the gap, our main goal in this paper is to share some specific teaching practices, and showing concrete teaching models of intercultural education at the EFL department.
Keywords: EFL, Interactive Strategies, Video Clips, Cultural Awareness, Intercultural Communication
Redefining School Leadership Responsibilities
Dr. Denias Muzenda
DOI : NA | Cross Current Int J Peer Reviewed J Human Soc Sci, 2016; 2(1): 13-16.
Downloads : 4 | Views : 1
Abstract: This paper attempts to bring together theory and practice to provide recommendations for education stakeholders to clarify the core responsibilities of school leadership. School leaders can only make a difference if they have autonomy and support to make significant decisions and if their responsibilities are well defined. The paper presents evidence on the specific leadership roles that can positively influence teaching and learning and argues that school leadership responsibilities should be redefined to focus on teaching quality goal setting and implementing intelligent assessment systems, strategic resource management and collaboration with external partners. It looks at ways in which leadership definitions or frameworks can be designed and improved to support recruitment, training and evaluation of school leaders.
Keywords: School leadership, redefining, stakeholders, responsibilities, autonomy
Contradiction between decolonization and decoloniality with regards to post Independence in Africa
Umar Kabanda
DOI : NA | Cross Current Int J Peer Reviewed J Human Soc Sci, 2016; 2(1): 21-24.
Downloads : 4 | Views : 2
Abstract: After the political liberation of African countries from foreign domination during the decolonization process, the social structure and way of life of many Africans continued to be disempower by the inherited colonial systems that was never transformed by the new founding fathers on independence and this inhibited the empowerment of individual Africans and communities to adopt their traditional approach at all levels of society. This essay presents a distinction between political liberation at post independent time and its relation to societal functioning of Africa in the same error. Subsequent subtopics provided bellow will contextualize the explanations categorically.
Keywords: political liberation, African countries, foreign domination
An Assessment of the Process of Identifying Effective Student Leaders in the Schools and Their Development
Francis Ndlovu, Professor Thembinkosi Tshabalala
DOI : NA | Cross Current Int J Peer Reviewed J Human Soc Sci, 2016; 2(1): 25-30.
Downloads : 4 | Views : 1
Abstract: This paper assesses the process of effective leadership identification in schools. Leadership by students is an important component of most schools’ welfare policies. Students are provided with a number of opportunities to become part of the student leadership team such as prefects, SRC members, library monitors, class monitors and sports captains. As leaders in the schools, students are encouraged to develop and demonstrate social skills of leadership and responsibility, working as part of a group, supporting their peers, demonstrating pride in their school and showing initiative by the way in which they carry their duties. Identifying leaders aims at singling out the real leaders. At the same time, its purpose is to prevent pupils who are not leaders from being assigned leadership positions. It is therefore most important that the identification of leaders be done systematically and correctly. In leader identification pupils should be informed of the difference between leadership, friendship and popularity. Owing to their lack of knowledge and experience, pupils are not always able to make this distinction.
Keywords: Assessment, effective, identifying, school leaders, student
Challenges of Capacity Building and Development from Chinas’ Aid Model; a Case Study of the East African Community Countries
Umar Kabanda
DOI : NA | Cross Current Int J Peer Reviewed J Human Soc Sci, 2016; 2(1): 1-12
Downloads : 2 | Views : 1
Abstract: There is an increase of Chinese partnership to African development through loans and grants which are directed to African infrastructural development for capacity development. This development has been implemented on the continent through numerous constructions of infrastructural projects in the form of roads, railways, dams, installation of fibre wires across the East Africa community. This approach to development through aid for infrastructural development is opposed to the former colonial masters’ approach that based on capacity building in their former colonies with a focus of their contribution to African transformation that was directed to the promotion of human rights, democracy and transfer of administrative skills to the African counterparts. This experience of the colonial masters and the new comers the Chinese, their interest as evident in Africa, the same is true for their existence in the East African community. This transformation of the aid model from former colonial masters to Chinese domination of the donor relations inspired the selection of this topic to explain in this paper the challenges the new aid model of Chinese to East African countries contribute to promoting capacity development as it down plays capacity building. A case presentation of the implemented projects in Uganda and Kenya are presented to illustrate the experienced challenges of this Aid model for Africa from the case of the Regional Economic Community of the East African Community
Keywords: African development, skills, Chinese domination
