ASSIMILATION AND ACCOMMODATION: EXPLORING THE DYNAMICS OF CLASS DISCUSSIONS

Authors

  • Noor Hanim Rahmat Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Noor Ahnis Othman Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Ahmad Mazli Muhammad Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Aini Andria Shirin Anuarudin Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Mazlen Arepin Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v0i0.2391

Keywords:

class discussions, assimilation, accommodation, agreement, disagreement

Abstract

Class discussions can lead to learning of new knowledge acquisition of new meaning among team members. The social development theory argues that in a group interaction, social interaction precedes development. The process of learning is a result of social interaction-both positive and negative. Learners learn assimilation and accommodation during the interaction. They learn these through agreeing and disagreeing with ideas put forward by the team members. Past studies have shown how learners respond in class discussions may depend on gender. This quantitative study explores how gender influence assimilation, accommodation, agreement as well as disagreement influence the dynamics of class discussions. 164 students were chosen to respond to a 32 -item questionnaire. Findings of this study reveal interesting pedagogical implications in the use of class discussions as part of teaching-learning activities.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Noor Hanim Rahmat, Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

    Noor Hanim Rahmat (Phd) is an associate professor teaching ESL at Akademi Pengajian Bahasa at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia for the past 25 years. Her research interests include academic writing, reading , language proficiency, educational psychology ,and teacher training.

  • Noor Ahnis Othman, Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

    Noor Ahnis Othman (Phd) is the deputy dean for research, industry, community and alumni network at the Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam. She has taugh in the university for almost 30 years. Besides research writing, she is also an active member in non-profit organization for underprivileged children.

  • Ahmad Mazli Muhammad, Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

    Ahmad Mazli Muhammad (Phd) is an associate professor and the Dean for Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam. He designs outcome-based curriculum programs with focus on constructive alignment and program learning outcome attainment. Develops and implements academic assessment policies. Conducts workshops on curriculum development and assessment. Facilitates implementation of iCGPA. Reviews assessment documents with focus on constructive alignment. Teaches English language and applied linguistics courses. Supervises undergraduate and post-graduate students.

  • Aini Andria Shirin Anuarudin, Akademi Pengajian Bahasa, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

    Aini Andria Shirin Anuarudin (Phd) is a senior lecturer at Akademi Pengajian Bahasa UiTM Shah Alam and Dengkil campuses. Her research interests include sociolinguistics, linguistic landscape, critical discourse analysis, communication and language proficiency.

  • Mazlen Arepin, Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Malaysia

    Mazlen Arepin (Phd) is a senior lecturer at the Faculty Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA for more than 10 years. She has a Phd in Education, specializing in Literature. Her research interests include English as a second language teaching and learning methodology, and Literature methodology.

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Published

2019-04-20

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