ETHIOINQUIRY Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Examining Text and Context in the Ethiopian English Classroom: A Focus on Second Cycle Grades Seven and Eight

2023-11-13T11:45:33+03:00

The objective of this study was to examine the contribution of teachers and students in designing grade seven and eight English texts. The analysis of the texts focused on the power dynamics and level of freedom afforded to teachers and students in creating contextually relevant materials. A mixed-method approach was employed to gather comprehensive data for the research. Following data collection, a descriptive analysis method was utilized to identify specific contexts in which the texts were written and to evaluate the extent of influence and agency granted to teachers and students. The overarching goal of this research was to explore the role and power dynamics between teachers, students, and the context within the design of English texts for grade seven and eight learners. The findings revealed a significant disparity between the designed texts and a natural English learning environment as a foreign language. The involvement of teachers and students in the text design process was limited. Based on these findings, recommendations are provided to enhance English as a Foreign Language text, particularly for grades seven and eight. The results of this study can offer valuable insights for educational administrators, syllabus designers, material developers, teachers, and learners alike.

Analysis of Conflict Reporting In Ethiopia Broadcast Media, Focus On OMN &ASRAST TV

2023-12-25T09:40:59+03:00

Ethiopia is grappling with internal conflicts, causing widespread killings and property destruction. The main causes include political instability, unbalanced historical narration, resource depletion, and boundary demarcation among neighboring regional states. This study aims to assess how these conflicts were reported in selected broadcast media, Oromia Media Network (OMN) and Amhara satellite radio and television (ASRATTV), from November to December 2019. The study focuses on four research questions: the extent of focus on reporting the conflict among ethnic groups, how they frame conflict stories, the dominant sources of conflict reporting, and the challenges of conflict reporting. The results reveal that conflict reporting in these media is minimal, not using the right source of the incident, and the media grouping conflicting issues into "us-them" categories. The study also identifies that the media propagates the conflict as non-stoppable and does not clearly show cause, course, and consequences. The findings suggest that Ethiopian media practitioners need to receive repeated training on handling conflict issues.

Causes of Traffic Congestion in Addis Ababa: The Case of Torhayloch – Mexico Street Corridor

2024-01-26T12:48:12+03:00

Identifying the root causes of road traffic congestion is crucial to developing effective strategies to alleviate congestion. The causes of road traffic congestion can be attributed to numerous factors other than road capacity. The study conducted on Torhayloch-Mexico Street Corridor, Addis Ababa City Administration, as a case study. The purpose of the study was to investigate how road traffic congestion is generated along the study area's street corridor. The study employed personal observation, mapping, and analysis of documents to answer the research objectives. One thing that can be generalized is that the way the street corridor is being used is the root cause of the traffic congestion, in addition to the nature of land use along the street corridor and the location of the parking facility. In conducting the study, frequent observation and mapping were used to achieve the study objectives. Observation and investigation along the corridor by the researchers revealed that on-street parking, the absence of off-street stations, the nature and concentration of land use activities along the street corridor, and the road network surrounding the street corridor were factors contributing to traffic congestion instead. On-street parking is taken for granted and its positive contributions are considered, while on-street parking reduces the actual capacity of the street corridor as one lane is reserved for it. On-street parking is found to be related to the areas of commercial and business land use types. As a variety of activities are expected to happen at these land-use locations, it generates traffic congestion. In conclusion, it is imperative that the Addis Ababa Traffic Policy, Management Agency, and Transport Policy work together to effectively manage the city's traffic. Instead of solely focusing on increasing road capacity, they should prioritize strategies that optimize the existing street corridor capacity. Given the size of the Torhayloch-Mexico Street Corridor in comparison with Addis Ababa’s overall all-road network, this study is a drop in the ocean, and more research needs to be done in the future.

World-wide sanitation workers' occupational health and safety outcomes and their contributing factors: A systematic review

2023-03-27T15:16:34+03:00

Critical Reflection in the English Classroom: The Experience of Ethiopian University

2023-10-22T11:10:12+03:00

In the presented reflective paper, an experiential approach to critical reflection in the classroom was described, with a focus on problem-solving and motivation enhancement in teaching practice. The study addressed the topical and significant issue of motivation in foreign language learning, specifically highlighting the lack of effective techniques in the language classroom. Using a qualitative method, the study conducted a literature review and classroom observations at Bule Hora University. The results demonstrated a notable increase in students' learning motivation. The findings highlighted the benefits of student-centered learning, such as improved learning outcomes, increased self-confidence, and enhanced motivation. The research emphasized the importance for language teachers and researchers to recognize and prioritize their learners' individuality, as student motivation played a crucial role in fulfilling teaching responsibilities effectively.