Problems in Teaching English Conversational Interaction

Problems in Teaching English Conversational Interaction

Nadia F. Qawasmi The study aim to investigate the need for providing more opportunities that stimulate students to participate in actual conversational interaction and the need for a natural atmosphere and comfortable setting are created for teaching English conversational interaction. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 175 students for Beir Ziet, AN-Najah, Bethlehem and Hebron Universities. To ensure the validity of the questionnaire it was given to five specialists. The reliability for the questionnaire was 0.87. The results of the study showed that the students do not have enough opportunities to practice English in their daily life, and the students who misunderstand the speech of native speakers of English considered pronunciation as the major obstacle, and the heavily reliance on the teacher in class makes it difficult for the learners to interact  with native speakers of English outside the classroom. Nadia F. Qawasmi Supervisors Dr. Ali Habayeb Dr. Rami Hamadallah 1995 Zajel / An-Najah National University

Rainfall - Runoff Process and Modellin for Soreq Stream Subbasin Near Jerusalem

Rainfall - Runoff Process and Modellin for Soreq Stream Subbasin Near Jerusalem

Mazin Husni Barakat The Unit hydrograph and SCS methods were used here to simulate `he runoff coefficient and the, lag time from the mountainous sub-catchment of the Soreq stream near Jerusalem using the data obtained during the period 1957-1994 for frequency analysis and IDF curves. Data ohlained during the period 1994-1996 were used for the rainfall-runoff analysis. The investigated area is situated near Jerusalem in the watershed of the Soreq and IZafaim streams that flow toward the Mediterranean. The drainage area studied is 167 km2 after excluding the urban area from the stream origin until the Belt Zayit (dam) reservoir. Intensity-Duration-frequency curves were developed for this area by analyzing the historical data of the two rainfall stations using the Gumbel distribution. 'These curves can be used as a reference for the determination of rainfall internsity for different return periods to be used for drainage systems design. Some of the problem, related to the study area are that the two western outlets of the raw sewage system of Jerusalem, discharge towards Soreq stream. This sewage flov, which is the flow measured at flartov station during the dry periods along the Soceq stream is considered as a base flow all along the study. According to these, measurements, considerable amounts of sewage, water infiltrate along the Soreq stream. Representative events were analyzed during the study period in order to have an indication of the real amount of excess rainfall that causes the runoff. For each event the area under the direct runoff hydrograph (Vd) was calculated for the derivation of the excess rainfall. For the infiltration rate, the ~ and W index methods were used. The average value of the ~ index was 16.77mm/hr. While the average value of the W index was 3.27rrm/hr. The runoff measured was about 0.3 % of the measured rainfall due to the high percolation rate into the karstic layers of the area. On the other hand, for each event the recession constant K,- was evaluated The average value of this constant for the above events was 0.9925. Unit hydrographs for these events were obtained. Each unit hydrograph of the above events have a different duration. The lag time measured for these events has an average of 609.25min, while Rising the equations of the SCS method the average was 334.1 lmin. This situation arises the problem of the sewage flow along the stream, which makes the runoff including the sewage deposits flow slowly towards the outlet. These results may be approximated by assuming that the lag time of this watershed equals the time of concentration, instead of 0.6 of the time of concentration as the SCS method suggests. Mazin Husni Barakat Supervisors Dr. Hafez Shaheen Dr. Anan Jayyousi 2000 Zajel / An-Najah National University

Removal of Copper and Zinc by Decaying Leaves

Removal of Copper and Zinc by Decaying Leaves

Hadeel Braik Pollution of water with heavy metals has received a lot of concern recently, as some of these metals have been found to be toxic to human and animals even at low concentrations. Though some of these metals are essential to life, they become toxic when cumulate to certain concentration. Copper and zinc are tow examples. Finding ways to remove metals from polluted water is great importance. Walnut and poplar leaves have been found capable of removing zinc and copper ions from polluted water.  The effect of several factors on this removal process had been studied. These factors include pH of solution, type of leaves used, complexing agent present in solution, agitation, leaf extract of leaves, cleaning leaves, drying leaves used, presence of competing ions in solution, size of leaves used, effect of concentration of zinc and amount of walnut leaves\L. Uptake of zinc by walnut leaves has been found to be very dependent on both amount of leaves used and concentration of zinc ions in solution. The rate of uptake of metal ion by leaves was decreased by the presence of comlexing agents in solution.  It has been found that complexing agents have an adverse effect on the uptake of metal ions by leaves. Presence of foreign ions along with zinc and copper ions in water has different effects on uptake of zinc and copper by leaves. Oven and naturally dried ; eaves have higher capability to remove metal ions from water than green leaves.  Size of leaves used and cleaning of leaves before use have very small effect on the removal of metal ions. Applicability of two adsorption isotherms, on the experimental results has been examined and the parameters of Fruendlich isotherm have been calculated. The order of interaction of zinc and walnut leaves with respect to zinc has been found to be first order. A mechanism based on the data of adsorption of zinc ions on walnut leaves has been suggested. Hadeel Braik Supervisors Prof. Radi Dauod Dr. Mohammed M. AL-Subu 1998 Zajel / An-Najah National University

Reading Comprehension Strategies of Literature Texts Employed by English Language & Literature Majors at An-Najah National University

Reading Comprehension Strategies of Literature Texts Employed by English Language & Literature Majors at An-Najah National University

Khuloud Ahmad Isma'el Al-Asmar This study aimed at examining the reading comprehension strategies that are employed by the English majors at An-Najah National University while reading literature texts. The population of the study consisted of all third year students registered in "Eighteenth Century Literature" course at AN-Najah National University. The sample of the study consisted of (57) students: (13) males, (44) females. This investigation into the thoughtful process of comprehension aimed at exploring the way students comprehend literary texts. the type of strategies that are used and contribute more to comprehension, types of problems they encounter, and the effect of gender and specialization in school on the usage of strategies. In addition, the research aimed at investigating the effect of participation in the Think-aloud Protocol. gender and specialization in school on comprehension of literary texts. To answer these questions, the Think-aloud Protocol experiment was carried out on individual basis. Students' thinking-aloud was recorded by a tape-recorder. Protocols were analyzed using the Strategy Model Sheet developed by the researcher. The results were also analyzed with respect to participants' gender and specialization at school. A Cloze test was also used to assess the students' attainment in the reading comprehension strategies. The test was validated, and the reliability coefficient was (0.75), using test-retest technique. A Two-way Univariate (T-Test) Analysis of variance was employed in analyzing the data obtained, using the program of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). In the light of the findings of the study, it was recommended that English majors should be given the opportunity to choose between two major specializations -- literature or language. It was also recommended that English Department hold a compulsory reading course for those who want to go through with English literature as a major specialization. It was also recommended that a language laboratory should be established by the university administration. The researcher also recommended that other studies be carried out to assess the reading comprehension strategies taught at preliminary stages at school, detect the effect of achievement level on the reading comprehension process and detect the effect of students' specialization and their use of strategies. Khuloud Ahmad Isma'el Al-Asmar Supervisor Dr. Suzanne Arafat 2000 Zajel / An-Najah National University

Removal of Iron from Aqueous Solution Using Walnut and Pomegranate Leaves

Removal of Iron from Aqueous Solution Using Walnut and Pomegranate Leaves

Anees A. Abou-Attayeb It has been suggested that life in any form would probably be ii11E1ossible without the E) rescilce of iroil, but irolt becomes toxic wlie11 its collcelltratlon becomes hlgller flail 0.3 pp111 111 drinking water. Thus finding ways of removing boll or at least reducing    its concentration is of great importance. Removal of iron from aqueous solutions by twenty different plant leaves known in Palestine was investigated. Effect of several factors on iron removal by two types of leaves, walnut and pomegranate leaves, (whic11 were found to be the most suitable types for iron removal among the types which were studied), has been thoroughly investigated. These factors included concentration of iron ions, amount of walnut or pomegranate leaves, pH, agitation, crushing and drying leaves, leaf extract, complexing agent and competing ions. Iron uptake by walnut and pomegranate leaves was found to be pH dependent. Maximum iron uptake, by the two types, was found at pH 2.50. The rate and amount of iron ion removal increased largely by increasing the initial concentration of iron ions and amount of leaves in solution . Agitation affected the removal process slightly. The rate of iron ion uptake oil walnut and pomegranate leaves has been found to be affected by the presence o1' complexing agents. Such agents have adverse effects on the iron 1011 uptake by leaves. Presence of foreign ions along with iron ion in water has different effects on the uptake of iron by pomegranate and walnut leaves. Cu, Zn, Ni and As reduced the uptake of iron by pomegranate leaves. Only As ion reduced iron uptake by walnut leaves. Some foreign ions like Ca and Mn increased the rate and amount of iron uptake by pomegranate leaves. Zn, Cu, Na and Ca ions increased iron uptake by walnut leaves, Na ions did not have any effect on the iron uptake by pomegranate leaves, Ni ion had no effect on iron uptake by walnut leaves. The most efficient form of walnut and pomegranate leaves for removing iron from aqueous solution was to use the ground form of leaves. The capacity of various forms of walnut and pomegranate leaves for removing iron ions increased in the order: nornnal leaves < crushed leaves < ground leaves. Naturally-dried walnut and pomegranate leaves had the higher capability, for iron removal from water, than both oven-dried and green-leaves. It was   found that iron removal depended on leaf type. The ability of different types of leaves to reduce the concentration of iron ions in solution followed the following decreasing order Walnut =- Ponregrancite -> Eucalyptus > Palestine Pistachio > Apple , Mpanese Allecllar - Olives - Oak = Carob > Vine > Oil-Palm - Fig tree == Sisso > Alnnoncl =Lemon > Apricot > Prickly pear > Jz jobe-tree > Cypress =° Willow leaves. Adsorbed iron was found to be released from walnut and pomegranate leaves by changing pH, adding competing ions or using a complexing agent. Using a compexing agent was found to be the most efficient way for releasing iron ions from leaves. The results of the present work fit well with the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the parameters were calculated. Also, Langmuir adsorption isotherm was satisfied incase of walnut leaves only. The interaction between iron ions and leaves was found to be first order with respect to iron ions. A mechanism based on the assumption that adsorption was the main controlling factor for the removal process was suggested. Anees A. Abou-Attayeb Supervisors Prof. Badi Dauod Dr. Mohammed Ai. Al-Subu 1999  Zajel / An-Najah National University

Attitudes of An-Najah National University Students towards English as a Foreign Language

Attitudes of An-Najah National University Students towards English as a Foreign Language

Reema Nizar Bustami The present study aimed at determining the attitudes of An-Najah National University students towards English as a foreign language and determining the effect of students' gender, college, academic year, place of residence, and fathers' and mothers' level of education on their attitudes towards English as a foreign language. A questionnaire has been developed, reviewed and tested. The population of this study is the Bachelor students of An-Najah National University. The size of the proposed population is 8165 students. They are distributed between eleven colleges. The sample is taken as a stratified random sample with a size of approximately 11% of the population (893 students). To analyze the results of the questionnaire, different statistical techniques have been used. These include means and percentages to determine the student's attitudes, one way analysis of variance and scheffe's Post Hoc test to determine the effect of the study variables on the attitudes of students, and independent t-test to determine the effect of the study variables on the attitudes of the students. Reema Nizar Bustami Supervisor Dr. Fawaz Aqel 1999 Zajel / An-Najah National University

Role of Plant Growth Regulators in the Interaction Between Botrytis Cinerea and it's Host Plants

Role of Plant Growth Regulators in the Interaction Between Botrytis Cinerea and it's Host Plants

Khaled Mohammed Ibrahiem Hardan The role of plant growth regulators in the interaction between Botrytis cinerea and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants was studied in vitro and in vivo. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) significantly decreased mycelium growth rate on PDA amended with 125 ~g/ml. On the other hand, it significantly increased grey mould disease severity on tomato at concentrations more than 600 [g/ml. NAA had no effect in the disease severity on bean plants at the same concentration, and also decreased the disease on tomato and bean detached leaves at 300 gg/ml. Gibberellic acid (GA3) had no effect the mycelium growth rate on PDA, whereas it increased disease severity on tomato and bean plants at 500 gg/ml. Ethephon (Et) did not significantly affect mycelium growth rate on PDA, while it significantly increased the disease severity at 500 gg/ml in both hosts. Methyl jasmonate (MeJa) significantly decreased mycelium growth rate on PDA at 150 gg/ml, increased disease severity at high concentrations (more than 300 gg/ml) in tomato plants, while it decreased the disease severity in bean plants at the same concentration. The ethylene inhibitor aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) significantly decreased mycelium growth in vitro at 200 gg/ml, and it decreased disease severity on tomato and bean plants at 300 [Lg/ml. Abscisic acid (ABA) significantly decreased mycelium growth in vitro at 200 gg/ml, while at low concentrations up to 150 [tg/ml it increased the disease in vivo. Ethylene was produced by the fungus B. cinerea growing on shaking PDB-amended with 10 mM methionine. Ethylene production reached a peak of 2000 gl/g/h after 4 days of incubation. However there is a high variability in ethylene production between the strains. Khaled Mohammed Ibrahiem Hardan Supervisors Prof. Mohammed S. Ali- Shtayeh Dr. Radwan Barakat July 2000 Zajel / An-Najah National University