Relationship between Students’ Adversity Quotient and their English Performance at a University in Viet Nam

Learning a foreign language (FL) is often characterized by challenges, setbacks, and the need to adapt to new linguistic and cultural contexts. Adversity Quotient (AQ) offers a unique perspective on individuals’ ability to navigate and overcome these obstacles. For these reasons, the study was carried out to measure the AQ, FL competence and investigate the relationship between the AQ and FL competence of students at a university in Vietnam. The participants were recruited from 409 students at a university in Vietnam with different majors and different courses to measure the AQ index, FL competence and the relationship between the AQ index and students’ FL competence. Two instruments were used i.e., the Adversity Response Profile (ARP) 1.0 was developed by Paul G. Stoltz to measure an individual’s AQ and the ASK model (Attitude – Skills – Knowledge) in combination with the results of English subjects to assess students’ competence in using English. SPSS 26 software was used for data analysis. The findings indicated that the students’ AQ index is at a moderately low level; foreign language competence is at a moderately fair level and there is a low positive correlation between the student’s AQ and FL competence.

Common Challenges in Academic Writing of English-Majored Seniorsat Tay Do University

The thesis “Common challenges in academic writing of English-majored seniors at Tay Do University” was conducted to examine the difficulties that seniors majoring in English often meet in academic writing. As a part of the study, 78 English majored seniors in the 3 classes of English 14A, 14B, 14C and 7 English teachers at Tay Do University have been selected as the participants. In this study, an interview with three extended statements for teachers,three extended statements for students, and a questionnaire with 25 closed statements for students are used as instruments to collect the data. The results of the study pointed out some common errors about grammar, vocabulary, organization, punctuation, and background knowledge in academic writing faced by English majored seniors at Tay Do University. It is hoped that this research can be helpful for both the English-majored seniors at Tay Do University to realize their common errors in the process of improving and developing their writing skills.

A Comparison Study of Linguistic Features in English Ads for Men and Women: A Case Study

This article is aims to shed light on providing a better understanding of linguistic features in English advertisements (hereinafter shortened to ads) for men and women using the descriptive, analytic, comparative and statistical methods to process the 92-sample database collected from four well-known magazines for men and  three well-known magazines for women. The research shows interesting empirical results in terms of the lexical and syntactic features in ads for men and women for further study on gender language in advertising.

In terms of the lexis, the authors point out the similarities and diferences in the use of nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in advertisements for men and women, the contents of each type of ads are different depending on the specific characteristics of each gender. Almost all the numbers of adjectives and adverbs of all kinds for women’s is much higher than those in men’s ads as shown in the table 2 below ( 236 vs. 178). The results also reveal that men’s advertisements use verbs to create more direct requests than women’s (56% vs 35%). This is consistent with previous studies that suggested that women often use interrogative sentences (indirect) to request while men use imperative sentences(direct)  to do so.

In term of syntax, in women’s ads, the numbers of sentences and phrases are more than those in men’s ones. According to the survey data, there are 129 phrases and 177 sentences used in women’s ads and those numbers in men’s ads are 108 and 100. This is also true with the average number of words in women’s advertisement compared to men’s advertisement ( 64 vs. 43).  And the numbers of the short texts of ads (less than 50 words) in the women’s and men’s ads groups are19 and 28 . These figures are likely to show the fact that: the advertiser often talks to women with more words than to men.

The findings of this research may yield good suggestions professionally for advertisers/ copywriters and linguistic researchers. Advertisers should pay attention to the similarities as well as differences in gender language when building the content for men and women’s advertisements. Ads should be designed depending on the gender of the target audience to bring the best effect. Also, other linguistic researchers may use the findings of this research for their studies on the relationship beween linguistics and psychology.

Early Retirement Option among Teachers at the Teachers’ Training Institute (IPG)

The phenomenon of early retirement among civil servants also affects the education sector. In addition, lecturers at the Teacher Education Institutes (IPG) are also involved in the issue of early retirement from the public service. This study was conducted to examine the factors contributing to the choice of early retirement among lecturers at IPG Kampus Ilmu Khas. A total of 21 lecturers responded to the distributed instrument. The findings of the study indicate that the highest factor contributing to the choice of early retirement among IPG lecturers is the basic factor aspect, which recorded a mean of 4.16 (sd=.99). The study also revealed two other contributing factors for lecturers opting for early retirement, namely having too many additional responsibilities and tasks (n=18) and the lack of priority given to lecturer welfare (n=12). Furthermore, the study findings suggest that reducing the rate of early retirement among IPG lecturers involve management and service aspects, such as implementing a more balanced distribution of tasks and creating a conducive working environment (n=19). The researcher recommends addressing the issue of early retirement by paying attention to and taking immediate action to cultivate a sense of joy in work among educators.

Quality Assurance in Improving the Quality of Human Resources (Multisite Study at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang and UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya

The purpose of this study is to describe in depth about 1) policies in improving the quality of Human Resources 2) Standards in improving the quality of Human Resources 3) Implementation in improving the quality of Human Resources 4) Control in improving the quality of Human Resources. This research uses a qualitative type with a phenomenological approach and a multi-site design. Data collection techniques using in-depth interviews, participant observation and documentation study. Data analysis includes single-site and cross-site data analysis, with data analysis techniques: data condensation, data presentation and drawing conclusions. The results of this study are policies to improve the quality of Human Resources implemented by UIN Maliki and UINSA teaching staff: postgraduate and doctoral advanced study programs, learning by research workshops, short courses, professor acceleration programs, lecturer certification, seminars at local, regional and international levels , training in writing articles and books, short courses and group discussion forums, non-educational staff at UIN Maliki & UINSA: workshops, seminars, character building training, work motivation training, opportunities for Hajj & Umrah pilgrimage, Standards for improving the quality of human resources at UIN Maliki & UINSA: refers to the standards set by the government according to the standards of the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of quality assurance from Deming’s theory. The implementation of the quality of Human Resources carried out by UIN Maliki & UINSA: through the stages of recruitment of Human Resources, selection of Human Resources, and evaluation of Human Resources as well as Quality Control of Human Resources carried out at UIN Maliki & UINSA through: pedagogic competence, personal competence, social competence, and professional competence.

The Role of Social Media in Academic Motivation and Engagement: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students in Vitenam

This study examines the impact of social media on academic motivation and engagement among undergraduate students in Vietnam. Regression analysis reveals that motivation, engagement, and study habits influence students’ use of social networks for learning. Motivation shows a positive and significant relationship with media use, supporting previous research emphasizing its role in academic success. Social media platforms facilitate peer connections, information sharing, and participation in discussions, enhancing student motivation. Engagement also exhibits a positive association with social media use, highlighting its importance in leveraging these platforms for learning. Furthermore, study habits demonstrate a positive link with social media use, indicating that effective habits contribute to academic success and the utilization of social media for educational purposes. Importantly, this study does not find evidence of negative effects associated with social networks, although they can distract from academic pursuits when used non-academically. These findings underscore the significance of motivation, engagement, and study habits in effectively harnessing social networks for educational purposes, providing insights for educational practitioners and policymakers in promoting positive technology integration in learning environments.

The Impact of School Sports on the Development of Students’ Social Skills: Evidence in Vietnam

This article investigates the influence of school sports on students’ social skills through regression analysis. The study analyzes the variables of self-esteem, communication skills, teamwork skills, and empathy. The findings demonstrate meaningful and positive associations between these variables and social skills. These results underscore the significance of integrating school sports programs as a strategy to improve students’ social skills. Educators and schools should acknowledge the potential of sports activities in fostering self-esteem, communication, teamwork, and empathy, thus facilitating comprehensive social development among students.

Empirical Case Studies on the Economic and Political Effects of the Belt and Road Initiative in Pakistan, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Montenegro

The Belt and Road Initiative has had a wide range of effects on participating countries. Its economic and political implications continue to raise important questions about China’s global influence using soft power. The BRI initiative has the potential to accelerate globalization and boost domestic economies. This paper analyzes the BRI’s involvement in three geopolitical regions (Asia, Africa, and Europe) by examining the economic and political impacts of four internal BRI projects: Chinese Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, International Hambantota Port, and Bar Boljare Highway. The analysis is conducted by examining different outcomes of each project using a predetermined rubric which considers economic (GDP, FDI, trade, social welfare, debt sustainability) and political (internal power, international relations) implications. The analysis of all four case studies conclude that Kenya and Pakistan have benefited from their respective BRI projects, while Sri Lanka and Montenegro’s BRI projects appear unsuccessful due to lack of strategy involved in their placement/creation. Furthermore, all four countries suffer from varying amounts of debt distress as a result of Chinese BRI investment. Lastly, the BRI provides outlets for Chinese involvement in internal power (especially in the case of Kenya and Sri Lanka), as well as strengthens Sino relations with participating countries.

The Impact of Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) Sustainability Disclosure on Accounting Performance: A Case Study of Firms in Liberia

This research investigates the relationship between sustainability disclosure and accounting performance of companies listed on the Liberian Stock Exchange. The study focuses on the natural resources, industrial goods, and oil and gas sectors, selecting 20 out of 24 firms through stratified sampling. Given Liberia’s strive for economic stability and sustainable development following a prolonged civil conflict, understanding the association between sustainability reporting and Return on Assets (ROA) is crucial. The research aims to provide empirical evidence to guide firms in adopting sustainable practices that drive financial performance. Using secondary data from financial statements, annual reports, and sustainability reports covering 2010-2020, pooled and panel linear regression analyses are conducted. The findings indicate that while environmental and governance disclosure did not significantly impact ROA, social disclosure had a positive effect. These results contribute to our understanding of sustainability reporting’s dimensions that influence firm performance in Liberia. The study offers theoretical and practical contributions, emphasizing the importance of social disclosure practices in enhancing performance and guiding strategic decision-making for firms listed on the Liberian Stock Exchange.

The Effect of Product Quality and Price Perception on Purchasing Decisions for Tango Wafers in Surabaya

The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze the effect of product quality and price perception on purchasing decisions for Wafer Tango in Surabaya. This research method uses quantitative research methods where the dependent variable is purchasing decisions and the independent variables in this study are product quality and price perception. The number of samples in this study were 72 Wafer Tango consumers in Surabaya. Sampling using non probability sampling method with accidental sampling technique through distributing questionnaires. Data analysis was carried out using the component-based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method using the Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis tool. The results of this study indicate that product quality and price perception have a positive impact on purchasing decisions for Wafer Tango in Surabaya.