Semiotics in foreign language learning has recently achieved some prominence as a theoretical foundation for language teaching and learning. Although there have been a number of research on the semiotics in foreign language learning, the practical use of semiotics in preschool classroom environment still remains unanswered. What is more, the effectiveness of computers on vocabulary learning among preschool children is still an obscure area, which attracts the attentions of researchers, scholars and practitioners. Thus, the present study aims to investigate whether there is a significant difference in preschool children’s vocabulary gain depending upon the computer assisted vocabulary instruction or the traditional vocabulary instruction both adopting a semiotic approach. The sample group of the study included 35 preschool children (5-years) who are studying at Balıkesir University Necatibey Faculty of Education Kindergarten. In this quasi-experimental study, the children were assigned to computer assisted vocabulary instruction group (16) or traditional vocabulary instruction group (19), which were the experimental and control groups. Before the experiment, the children were given a pre-test, which measured the number of target vocabulary the children had already known. While the experimental group learned the target vocabulary through computer-assisted instruction, the control group was taught the same target vocabulary via traditional vocabulary instruction. After the experiment, the same test was given to the children as the post-test. The results of the study showed that both instruction types were successful in teaching vocabulary and there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of their vocabulary gain. Keywords: Vocabulary learning; semiotic approach; computer assisted vocabulary instruction; preschool children; foreign language learning

Whereas research on English as a Foreign Language Learning (EFLL) anxiety has been the focus of many researchers, English as a Foreign Language Teaching (EFLT) anxiety as a newly pop-up concept has gained lesser attention than EFLL. Moreover, the research on EFLL commonly focuses on the anxiety provoking factors. Yet again, there has been very limited research on how to overcome anxiety-provoking factors on both research areas. Accordingly, as this study was two of the three segments of a university-based project and the subject of anxiety-provoking factors was the issue of another study, the purpose of this study was firstly to explore how to overcome anxiety-provoking factors among pre-service EFL teachers while teaching English to young language learners at a real classroom setting as a part of teaching practicum. Secondly, this study also attempted to make a holistic classification rather than an atomistic one as it classified the findings of overcoming anxiety provoking factors into subtitles such as cognitive, affective, socio-cultural resolutions and some other official resolutions. In the study, 25 EFL pre-service teachers at Balikesir University were the sample group. The qualitative data was collected through background questionnaires, interviews and reflections. The study concluded that pre-service EFL teachers revealed their reflections on how to overcome anxiety-provoking factors as they experienced Foreign Language Teaching Anxiety (FLTA) whilst practicing teaching English to young language learners during teaching practicum courses. Some practical recommendations were given at the end of the study.

ÖZ:Bu çalışma uygulama okullarında Öğretmenlik Uygulaması dersini alan İngilizce aday öğretmenlerinin öğretmenlik uygulaması, uygulama öğretmeni, uygulama öğretim elemanı ve aday öğretmenlerin öz performans değerlendirmeleri ile ilgili görüşlerini ortaya çıkarmak amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma 2015-2016 eğitim-öğretim yılında Balıkesir Üniversitesi Necatibey Eğitim Fakültesi İngilizce Öğretmenliği Anabilim dalında Öğretmenlik Uygulaması dersini alan 37 aday öğretmeni kapsamaktadır. Bu nitel çalışmada veri toplama aracı olarak katılımcıların öğretmenlik uygulaması, uygulama öğretmeni, uygulama öğretim elemanı ve katılımcıların öz performans değerlendirmelerini içeren açık uçlu sorulardan oluşan bir anket kullanılmıştır. Bu çalışmada ikinci olarak mülakat ve son olarak katılımcıların duygu ve düşüncelerini yazdıkları deneme yazıları nitel veri toplamak amacıyla kullanılmıştır. Çalışmanın sonucu aday öğretmenlerin gerçek sınıf ortamında İngilizce öğretmeleri sayesinde birçok farklı konuda tecrübe kazandıklarını ortaya koymuştur. Çalışma aynı zamanda aday öğretmenlerin öğretmenlik uygulaması, uygulama öğretmenleri, uygulama öğretim elemanları ve kendi performanslarını değerlendirme konusundaki olumlu görüşlerinin olumsuz görüşlerine göre daha ağır bastığını ortaya çıkarmıştır. Çalışma katılımcıların olumlu ve olumsuz görüşlerinin nedenlerini ortaya koyması bakımından literatürdeki diğer çalışmalardan farklılık göstermektedir. Çalışmanın sonucu, aday öğretmenlere iyi nitelikte bir eğitim verme sorumluluğunu Eğitim Fakültelerindeki Yabancı Diller Bölümleri ile Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı'nın birlikte paylaşmaları gerektiğini ortaya koymuştur. Bulguların ışığında uygulamaya yönelik bazı tavsiyelerde bulunulmuştur. evaluations of their performance. The sample group consisted of 37 pre-service EFL teachers taking Teaching Practicum in the department of English Language Teaching, at Balıkesir University, Turkey in the 2015-2016 academic year. The data collection instruments were a questionnaire, which was composed of open-ended questions about the pre-service EFL teachers' opinions on the course itself, practice teachers, teacher trainers and about their own self-evaluations of their performance as well as in-depth interviews and essay papers which included the participants' views and opinions. The results indicated that the pre-service EFL teachers seemed to have experience on a wide variety of issues thanks to teaching English in real class settings. The study showed that their positive opinions on aforementioned issues outweighed the negative ones. Since the study revealed the causes of their positive and negative opinions, it differed from the previous studies in the literature. It was concluded from the results that the departments of foreign language teaching in the faculties of education and the Ministry of National Education should share the responsibility of offering good quality training to pre-service teachers. In the light of the findings, some practical recommendations were noted.

Teaching practicum, which provides great opportunity for pre-service English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers to observe, experience and practice the knowledge they have gained theoretically in practical basis, has had a critical role in preparing the pre-service teachers with the skills they required for teaching at real classroom settings. As the research on teaching practicum indicated that there is a significant gap between the theory and practice in EFL education, this study was carried out to explore whether teaching practicum contributed to the pre-service EFL teachers' academic success and additionally, whether teaching practicum contributed to their self-improvement as prospective teachers of English. The sample group of the current study consisted of 25 EFL pre-service teachers studying their last year at ELT department at Balikesir University in the 2016-2017 education year in Turkey. In this qualitative study, the data were obtained from a background questionnaire, reflective writings of EFL preservice teachers and face to face interviews. The participants were interrogated to identify their reflections on the contribution of teaching practicum to their academic success and self-

Maurice, a bildungsroman by E. M. Forster, revolves around the theme of homosexuality. By presenting homosexual characters, who are on a futile quest for their actual identity, Forster attempts to be the voice of the unspeakables in the Edwardian period in England, where all acts of homosexuality were considered illegal.In this paper, the identity of the characters is analysed through the lenses of Lacanian psychoanalytic theory by focusing on the concept of mirror. This paper attempts to reveal to what extent cultural codes and societal norms of the Edwardian period are functional in forming the identity of the characters. Besides, this study uncovers that Forster wisely uses Lacanian concepts such as imaginary order, symbolic order and real order in creating his characters. It is concluded that the mirror, which reflects the actual self of the characters, just like dreams and music, plays a significant role in (re)forming the identities from compulsory heterosexuality to voluntary homosexuality.