Articles

Exploring the association among working memory, anxiety and Iranian EFL learners’ listening comprehension

This study was intended to investigate the relationship between working memory, anxiety and Iranian EFL learners’ listening comprehension. For the purpose of this study, 60 Iranian pre-intermediate EFL learner...

Authors: Ehsan Namaziandost, Mitra Hafezian and Sajad Shafiee

The logical problem of scaffolding in second language acquisition

Scaffolding is one of the key dimensions of the sociocultural theory that has been proposed in a substantial body of work as a potential metaphor for promoting second language (L2) learning. However, there is ...

Authors: Esmaeel Hamidi and Rafat Bagherzadeh

The effects of input enhancement and explicit instruction on developing Iranian lower-intermediate EFL learners’ explicit knowledge of passive voice

The importance of teaching explicit knowledge of grammar has been one of the most controversial issues in L2 instruction. Despite the existence of considerable number of studies on different methods of grammar...

Authors: Sakineh Bakhshandeh and Khadijeh Jafari

Measuring foreign language anxiety among learners of different foreign languages: in relation to motivation and perception of teacher’s behaviors

This study investigates foreign language anxiety among Indonesian undergraduate students of English, French, Japanese, Korean and Arabic language programs, and examines its relationship with students’ motivati...

Authors: Fatmawati Djafri and Supra Wimbarti

Pragmatic functions of emoji in internet-based communication---a corpus-based study

Emojis have been indispensable and efficient tools in online interaction with the booming Internet and dramatically fast emergence of electronic communication channels. The present research is to study the pra...

Authors: Li Li and Yue Yang

An exploration of strategies used by Chinese graduate students in electrical engineering and education: integrating questionnaire, task performance, and post-task recall data

This study was designed to examine the reported and observed communication strategies used by Chinese English-as-an-additional-language (EAL) graduate students in electrical engineering and education in perfor...

Authors: Jessie Zhou and Li-Shih Huang

Linking up learners of Chinese with native speakers through WeChat in an Australian tertiary CFL curriculum

Under the task-based language teaching (TBLT) framework, this study investigated learners’ perceptions of a WeChat task being integrated into a Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) curriculum. The WeChat task l...

Authors: Wenying Jiang and Wei Li

L1 Korean vocalic transfer in adult L2 Korean learners’ production of Vietnamese monophthong vowels

This paper reports a study that investigated the role of prior native or first language (L1) phonological and phonetic learning on the integration of vowel quality features in the production of second language...

Authors: Đích Mục Đào and Anh-Thư T. Nguyễn

Experienced EFL teachers’ beliefs about feedback on student oral presentations

Although a number of studies have examined EFL teachers’ beliefs of feedback on student writing, few have investigated teachers’ feedback beliefs about student oral activities like oral presentations. To fill ...

Authors: Bo Wang, Shulin Yu and Timothy Teo

The role of animacy and language proficiency in the comprehension of English restrictive relative clauses by Iranian EFL learners: an emergentist approach

Following an emergentist approach, the authors examined the comprehension of four different types of restrictive relative clauses (direct object/oblique vs. subject/indirect object) with animate/inanimate refe...

Authors: Mehrdad Rezaeian, Firooz Sadighi, Mortaza Yamini and Mohammad Sadegh Bagheri

Metacognitive awareness of skilled and less-skilled EFL writers

The present study sought the differences between more and less proficient EFL (English as a Foreign Language) writers regarding their metacognitive awareness of writing (MAW). We also examined the relationship...

Authors: Majid Farahian and Farnaz Avarzamani

Role of knowledge of formulaic sequences in language proficiency: significance and ideal method of instruction

Formulaic sequences comprise a large body of language and their mastery is supposed to be a key determiner of language proficiency. However, despite their significance in language learning, they are seldom tau...

Authors: Vahid Rafieyan

Elaborative text modification vs. input flooding: a case study on non-congruent collocations

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of input flooding and input elaboration on the learning of non-congruent collocations by Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. The pa...

Authors: Zahra Ahmadpour Kasgari

Palestinian schoolscapes in Israel

The linguistic repertoire of Palestinian citizens in Israel is complex and diverse. Arabic is the language of personal, cultural, and national identity. Hebrew is important for social mobility, higher educatio...

Authors: Muhammad H. Amara

The effectiveness of the intercultural language communicative teaching model for EFL learners

Over the past years, there has been a growing interest in intercultural communicative competence (ICC) in English language education. However, not all English language educators in the Vietnamese context and o...

Authors: Thao Quoc Tran and Tham My Duong

Understanding experiential meaning-making in Chinese adolescent L2 writing: a systemic functional perspective

While most of the L2 writing literature focuses on tertiary L2 writing, there is relatively scanty research conducted with adolescent L2 writers. The present study aims to explore Chinese adolescent L2 writing...

Authors: Wenhui Winfred Xuan

Exploring the components of the foreign language classroom anxiety scale in the context of Japanese undergraduates

This study aimed to investigate the latent constructs in the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale using a research context of Japanese undergraduates who learn English as a foreign language. The study cond...

Authors: Michiko Toyama and Yoshitaka Yamazaki

The acquisition of question intonation by Vietnamese learners of English

This paper examines the intonation of English statements and questions produced by Vietnamese speakers at two differing levels of proficiency. The goal of the study is three-fold: (1) analysing the final tunes...

Authors: Anh-Thư T. Nguyễn and Đích Mục Đào

A qualitative study on learning trajectories of non-native Chinese instructors as successful Chinese language learners

This paper reports a qualitative study on the Chinese language learning trajectories of non-native Chinese instructors as successful Chinese language learners. While some literature has been found on studying goo...

Authors: Shijuan Liu and Fu Wang

L1 in the IRF cycle: a case study of Chinese EFL classrooms

The Initiation-Response-Feedback (IRF) cycle (teachers’ initiation, students’ response and teachers’ feedback) has been a key focus in studies of second language classroom interaction and participation. This p...

Authors: Jingya Li

Balancing practicality and construct representativeness for IEP speaking tests

Intensive English programs (IEPs) strive to make certain that international students have sufficient levels of speaking ability, which is typically assessed through a combination of different tasks. One drawba...

Authors: Anthony Becker, Sawako Matsugu and Mansoor Al-Surmi

Does form-focused instruction really make a difference? Potential effectiveness in Jordanian EFL learners’ linguistic and pragmatic knowledge acquisition

This study examines the potential effectiveness of form-focused instruction (henceforth, FFI) in developing Jordanian EFL learners’ linguistic and pragmatic knowledge. Forty-seven college students of nursing w...

Authors: Ruba Fahmi Bataineh, Fatima Rasheed Al-Qeyam and Oqlah Mahmoud Smadi

Motivation and attitude towards shadowing: learners perspectives in Japanese as a foreign language

Shadowing has increasingly been recognized as an effective practice for developing listening skills in second language learning. However, there is very little study focusing on learners’ psychological aspects ...

Authors: Hideki Sumiyoshi and Chavalin Svetanant

An investigation of cross-linguistic transfer between Chinese and English: a meta-analysis

Cross-linguistic transfer embodies language learners’ use of linguistic knowledge of their first language to leverage the learning of a second language. The cross-linguisitc transfer between Chinese and Englis...

Authors: Man Yang, North Cooc and Li Sheng

On the Plausibility of Bloom’s Higher Order Thinking Strategies on Learner Autonomy: The Paradigm Shift

The ultimate goal of any academic program is to educate and bring up thoughtful citizens in societies. By “thoughtfulness” we mean paving the spectrum from simply applying the rules (lower order thinking) to f...

Authors: Morteza Teimourtash and Massood YazdaniMoghaddam

The language deficit: a comparison of the critical thinking skills of Asian students in first and second language contexts

With a growing number of Asian students attending Western universities, the difficulties they seem to face in adapting to a new academic environment has provoked much discussion amongst educators, particularly...

Authors: David Rear

A longitudinal investigation into English speaking self-efficacy in a Japanese language classroom

Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s own ability to carry out a given task, and has been shown to be a powerful predictor of performance. Although researchers have considered self-efficacy within language lear...

Authors: Paul Leeming

Examining Mandarin Chinese teachers’ cultural knowledge in relation to their capacity as successful teachers in the United States

Interest in providing Mandarin foreign language at K-12 schools in the United States has grown steadily since the language was identified as critical to the U.S. finance and social security. However, the short...

Authors: Ming-Hsuan Wu

Dynamic assessment of writing ability in transcendence tasks based on Vygotskian perspective

This study aimed to investigate the dynamic assessment of writing proficiency in Iranian English learnersˊ writing ability in transcendence tasks based on Vygotskian perspective. The questions which this resea...

Authors: Parisa Farrokh and Ayda Rahmani

An intensive strategies-based program: insights for literacy and socio-emotional growth of college-level students

Strategies-based instruction (SBI), as a learner-centered and participatory approach, allows learners to be the center of attention and explicitly taught how, when, and why strategies can be used. The study re...

Authors: Shima Ghahari and Fakhri Ebrahimi

The role of motivation in EFL students’ perceptions of teacher/learner responsibilities and learner abilities

It is the aim of this study to investigate EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students’ perceptions of teacher/learner responsibilities and learner decision-making abilities at tertiary level - questioning wh...

Authors: Ayşegül Okay and Cem Balçıkanlı

English classroom reforms in Japan: a study of Japanese university EFL student anxiety and motivation

The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Science and Technology (MEXT) are facing a plethora of pressures to become more global. This has led MEXT to draw up the ‘English Education Reform Plan C...

Authors: Steven G. B. MacWhinnie and Colin Mitchell

Listening strategies instruction: effects on Hong Kong students’ general strategic behaviour

The present article reports on a study which explores the impact of listening strategies instruction on typical strategic behaviour. Participants were 38 Hong Kong students of Spanish divided into two groups: ...

Authors: Marta Nogueroles López

Impacts of the Test of English Listening Comprehension (TELC) on teachers and teaching in Taiwan

High-stakes testing has frequently exerted a strong influence on teaching and learning in educational contexts. In 2012, the Ministry of Education passed legislation that made the new Test of English Listening...

Authors: Mu-Hsuan Chou

Implementing project-based language teaching in an Asian context: a university EAP writing course case study from Macau

Project-based language teaching (PBLT) provides a number of potential language learning benefits through opportunities for authentic meaningful language use. Previous research has also indicated how PBLT can e...

Authors: Sean Grant

Ecological understanding of foreign language speaking anxiety: emerging patterns and dynamic systems

Anxiety in speaking English is a critical affective reaction to second language acquisition. Moreover, language learning is an emotionally dynamic process which produces fluctuations in learners’ speaking anxi...

Authors: Saba Kasbi and Majid Elahi Shirvan

Task engagement: a potential criterion for quality assessment of language learning tasks

Maximizing learning opportunities has long been the focus of research in teaching English as a foreign language. Besides the degree to which learners are engaged with the linguistic aspects, investigating othe...

Authors: Zohre Mohamadi

Assessing L2 vocabulary depth with word associates format tests: issues, findings, and suggestions

Word Associates Format (WAF) tests are often used to measure second language learners’ vocabulary depth with a focus on their network knowledge. Yet, there were often many variations in the specific forms of t...

Authors: Dongbo Zhang and Keiko Koda

An examination of Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory in second language acquisition: the role of higher order thinking enhancing techniques and the EFL learners’ use of private speech in the construction of reasoning

The present study investigates the impact of higher order thinking enhancing techniques as two post-reading strategies on the EFL students’ reasoning power as determined by their private speech production. Als...

Authors: Sepideh Mirzaee and Parviz Maftoon

Comparison and contrast of Chinese curricula between China and Singapore: challenges and prospects

In this paper, Chinese curricula in the contexts of China and Singapore on primary level are compared and contrasted by both quantitative (Word Segmenter and Text Analyzer) and qualitative methods (in-depth th...

Authors: Min Huang and Francis Bond

The role of EFL learners’ demotivation, perceptions of classroom activities, and mastery goal in predicting their language achievement and burnout

The present study aims at delving into English as foreign language students’ demotivation, burnout, mastery goal orientation, and perceptions of classroom activities. This is accomplished by building a causal ...

Authors: Safoura Jahedizadeh, Afsaneh Ghanizadeh and Behzad Ghonsooly

More than a response to Andrew Sampson’s (2012) “Coded and uncoded error feedback: effects on error frequencies in adult Colombian EFL learners’ writing”: a call for replication

In an article published in System Vol. 40 Andrew Sampson (2012) made several claims regarding the positive effect of “coding” or “marking” of second language writing errors and how the use of said coding can have...

Authors: Barry Lee Reynolds and Chian-Wen Kao

Exploring the implementation of FonF tasks from learners’ perspective: a study on young learners

This study reports on the investigation of young learners’ perceptions of FonF tasks regarding enjoyment, ease, performance, and persuasion. It was attempted to explore young learners’ attitudes toward FonF ta...

Authors: Neda Moezzipour and Amir Rezaei

Erratum to: An interview with Professor Farzad Sharifian

Authors: Musa Nushi, Zahra Abolhassani and Naiemeh Mojerloo

On the exploration of the ecology of English language teachers’ personal styles in Iran

With the shift from a linear predictive perspective to a complex dynamic one in the field of applied linguistics, more ecological studies on English language teachers’ behaviors and styles are needed. Thus, th...

Authors: Majid Elahi Shirvan, Samira Rahmani and Laleh Sorayyaee

The official trilogy and public paradox: understanding mainland Chinese policies of ELT on secondary level from the perspective of culture politics

The history of English test reform on secondary level in China is a reflection of Chinese development in recent 30 years. The stress on English language helps move on Chinese reform-and-open process. On the ne...

Authors: Fuli Liu

The effects of planning time on complexity, accuracy, fluency, and lexical variety in L2 descriptive writing

This study investigates the effects of pre-task planning and online planning on L2 writing production (complexity, accuracy, fluency, and lexical variety). Seventy-eight intermediate EFL learners were randomly...

Authors: Mahmoud Abdi Tabari

An emic perspective toward challenges and solutions of self- and peer-assessment in writing courses

Self-assessment and peer-assessment have been appraised in a large number of studies, aiming at investigating their effectiveness in different contexts. However, the challenges of implementing self-assessment ...

Authors: Hussein Meihami and Seyyed Ayatollah Razmjoo

Investigating the structural relationships of cognitive and affective domains for L2 listening

This study examines the links between L2 linguistic knowledge, L2 listening strategy use, self-determined motivation, and L2 listening anxiety relative to L2 listening proficiency. Prior theoretical and empiri...

Authors: Sujin Bang and Phil Hiver

Strategies to promote Chinese international students’ school performance: resolving the challenges in American higher education

In recent years, there has been an increase in Chinese international students attending American universities. Chinese international students in American higher education represent the largest group of interna...

Authors: Dongfang Liu