A significant body of research supports the affective benefits of drama activities in foreign language (FL) learning, yet little is known about how to train teachers to implement such activities. In this study, we tested a professional development program (PDP) aimed at galvanizing FL teachers to integrate improvisational drama techniques (IDTs) into their repertoire. IDTs are defined here as activities

The concept of willingness to communicate (WTC) is pivotal in understanding student engagement in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms. As a dynamic and multifaceted construct, WTC is subject to continual fluctuations throughout the communication process, often changing situationally. Traditionally, learner silence in class or during second language (L2) conversations is perceived negatively

Taking the perspective of a language program director (LPD), this practitioner research (PR) study describes how analysis of learners’ reflections written for an advanced undergraduate German course in the United States helped an LPD see how students had experienced learning grammar in lower-level instruction. The study analyses a semester-long project based on the PR framework of exploratory practice

Second language acquisition is a complex process that involves numerous challenges and is influenced by various factors, including linguistic competence and classroom settings. This study examines the concerns and emotions experienced by 43 adult international students learning Maltese as a second language. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the research collected both qualitative and quantitative

Although multiple factors influence language proficiency in instructed settings, the prevalence of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) research in recent decades has placed intensity of exposure (via CLIL lessons) at center stage, sidelining other variables. This study aims to rectify this by examining the impact of CLIL alongside three additional factors: extramural English (EE), socioeconomic

The potential of model texts as a feedback instrument (MTFI) in second language (L2) writing has been explored for about two decades and continues to receive increasing interest from L2 scholars. However, to date, there is still an absence of a comprehensive review of studies in this particular area. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) procedure

Research into second or foreign language (L2) learning has demonstrated that L2 anxiety, perceived proficiency, and L2 willingness to communicate (L2WTC) profoundly impact language learning outcomes. However, the complex interplay between these variables has yet to be fully explored, as these factors are dynamic and context-specific and can vary across different learners and learning environments.

This study explores the interplay between task repetition and task motivation in second language (L2) writing, specifically focusing on syntactic complexity, accuracy, and lexical complexity (CAL). Aligning with Dörnyei’s call to balance cognitive and affective factors in task-based language teaching (TBLT), the research involved 100 advanced mid-level learners of English as a second language (ESL)

Evidence from recent studies has shown that sustained perseverance and passion for long-term goals in the domain of second language (L2) learning – a personality trait called L2 grit – is associated with various aspects of language learning, including positive psychological attributes (e.g. motivation, beliefs, and emotions), actions (e.g. learning efforts and strategy use), and achievement (e.g. course

While existing research has documented that the reading medium significantly impacts language learners’ reading comprehension processes and outcomes, empirical evidence on how the reading medium influences reading emotions is lacking. The present study contributes to the field by investigating whether reading emotions (i.e. enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom) of learners of Spanish as a second language

Reverse dubbing represents the process of creating and presenting a video clip that translates the original first-language (L1) spoken dialogues to second/foreign language. This study investigated its effects on English speaking proficiency and English learning motivation (ELM). Two intact classes of English as a foreign language (EFL) college students were randomly assigned to either the reverse dubbing

Recent research highlights the value of metalinguistic explanations in facilitating second language (L2) grammar acquisition. Nevertheless, a notable research gap persists regarding how these explanations influence incidental grammar acquisition and their impact on overall reading processes and comprehension. Furthermore, whether the potentially positive effects of metalinguistic explanations transfer

The current study investigated the facilitatory effects of High Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) in second language (L2) categorical perception (CP) of Mandarin lexical tones. It also explored whether and how individual differences in auditory processing predicted gains from such training. The participants were 32 native English-speaking adults aged over 60 years who were learning Mandarin Chinese

The recent introduction of positive psychology (PP) to second language acquisition (SLA) has led to increased interest in researching the relationship between language learning and various positive emotions. Despite this, the concept of learner altruistic teaching has been relatively understudied, compared to other PP aspects. In particular, studies on learner altruistic teaching and English reading

Current willingness to communicate (WTC) scales center on WTC in general second language (L2) learning, while L2 writing WTC is underrepresented. This study intended to close this gap by developing and validating an L2 writing WTC scale. A three-phase sequential embedded mixed-methods design was adopted to overcome the over-reliance on quantitative data and provide adequate evidence of validity. Nineteen

In this article, we address collegiality among students and teachers and its potential for promoting meaningful experiences in teaching-learning processes. We analyse episodes drawn from the pedagogical practices of two of the authors of this text, who have taught English (Episode 1) and Portuguese (Episode 2). These episodes took place in two Brazilian public sector schools located in the state of

As Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) becomes increasingly popular worldwide, it is also influenced by modern educational technology. This article seeks to comprehensively review the current research status of technology integration into CFL learning in higher education. Using the Web of Science as the primary database and employing VOSviewer and CitNetExplorer to visualize literature, we conducted

Although research into emotions has flourished in second language (L2) / foreign language (FL) learning in recent decades, few attempts have been made to examine learners as clusters based on their emotional profiles. The current study set out to first investigate the nature of 98 Grade-4-to-5 English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ emotional profiles, as represented by classroom anxiety, boredom

The present study aims to measure the effects of the teaching of second language (L2) phonological forms on L2 receptive vocabulary learning. Two teaching methods were compared in a pre- and delayed post-test to evaluate their impact on L2 word learning. Participants ( n = 127; mean age = 12;6, i.e. 12 years and 6 months) were randomly divided in two groups that followed either an explicit teaching

The aim of the current study was to analyse receptive and productive knowledge development of words belonging to 2000, 3000, and 5000 frequency levels in the Global South setting. The data were collected from 278 first-year university students after they finished both elementary and high school in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study researched the dependency

A central point that has attracted researchers’ attention for several decades is related to establishing the causal relationship between student motivation and second language (L2) achievement. Based on self-determination theory, we investigated the effects of motivational interventions applied by English language teachers on subsequent L2 achievement through the meditating effect of students’ basic

This study explored how to promote incidental collocation learning from task-based reading. In this study, 101 Cantonese speakers read three English texts that contained 12 target collocations. Playing a role as an editor of a magazine, participants were asked to determine if the three texts were acceptable to be published in the next issue. While half of the participants (– Guidance, n = 50) were

The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is an EU initiative aimed at harmonizing university degrees and attracting international students and staff. Proficiency in the English language is now regarded as a pre-requisite for all business students. By adopting a quasi-experimental design, this article focuses on the effects that teaching Accounting in English as a foreign language (three groups totalling

This study sought to identify the association between English-medium instruction (EMI) teachers’ beliefs and their practices of disciplinary writing (DW) in content courses. Drawing on qualitative research data from interviews with Korean college professors and their course materials, the study found that instructors prioritized content learning over language learning. They also placed relatively more

While online lexical analysis tools can help reading teachers determine whether materials are suitable for their students of English as a second language, one aspect of the analysis that teachers may be unsure how to approach is proper names. It is commonly assumed in second language (L2) vocabulary and reading research that proper names are known, though there is little empirical support for this

The present study explores whether a focused task-based peer interaction pedagogical intervention leads to increased explicit and implicit knowledge of past simple tense among young learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) and whether adding pre-task explicit grammar instruction or explicit interactional instruction or both has any impact on the results. Four groups of 6th grade EFL learners

Task repetition and task rehearsal are often considered synonymous within the task-based language teaching (TBLT) domain. However, they are conceptually different, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping participants’ awareness of imminent repetitions and influencing second language (L2) task performance. Despite scarce empirical exploration into differentiating task repetition and task rehearsal

The ACTFL proficiency guidelines are instrumental in shaping foreign language teaching and testing at all grade levels in the United States. However, their limitations, such as the absence of theoretical underpinnings, empirical verification, and language-specific descriptors, greatly constrain their application in teaching and testing Chinese as a second language (CSL) reading in US higher education

This article revisits the use of the term ‘think aloud protocols’ (TAP) as used in second language (L2) research studies as a means for collecting verbal report (VR) data dealing with language learner strategies (LLS). Given that there continue to appear L2 studies that use TAP without differentiating the actual type of VR that is involved, this study investigated the extent to which it makes a difference

Emotions in language learning are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in learner motivation and flourishing in the learning process. In consequence, much of the research published to date has focused on what happens when different emotions are experienced and the various states that these may lead to. However, studies that consider how language learners understand the importance of

Most research on task-based language teaching (TBLT) has focused on specific factors that play a role in task-based performance and learning, whereas considerably fewer studies have paid attention to how TBLT curricula have been developed and delivered in second language (L2) teaching contexts. However, it has been argued that the latter type of evaluative inquiry is crucial in order to advance the

This study leverages positive psychology (PP) to explore the reciprocal relationships among foreign language enjoyment (FLE), ideal L2 self, and grit in English major learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). It further examines the potential for growth mindset to predict these constructs over time. Employing a cross-lagged panel design, the research investigates these relationships among 903

Over the past two decades, ‘inclusivity’ has become a key issue in research in applied linguistics and language education. However, the inclusion of teachers, teacher educators, and learners as researchers with key insights into their contexts has not yet been fully examined. This thought-piece explores developments in inclusive practitioner research, specifically focusing on exploratory practice (EP)

Drawing on positioning and sociocultural theories, this study examines heritage language (HL) and second language (L2) learners’ negotiation of linguistic expertise in mixed interactions. Through a case study of four interactions between the same HL learner and three different L2 classmates, it investigates how learners’ positioning regarding linguistic expertise shifts across interlocutors and time

Scholars have recently begun to pay close attention to translanguaging, a cutting-edge pedagogical strategy utilized in bilingual and multilingual environments for teaching second languages. The adoption of translanguaging in classes of English as an additional language (EAL) has not been thoroughly studied from the perspectives of teachers and students. By drawing on theoretical frameworks, this study

During more than 50 years of socio-political unrest in Colombia, extreme violence has profoundly affected marginalized students in public schools. Although these topics have been mainly addressed by history and social studies teachers, English language teaching (ELT) has paid little attention to addressing issues of social injustice in the class. To fill this gap, this critical ethnography looks at

Exploratory practice (EP) is a form of practitioner research that has made inroads in second language learning and teaching since the special issue of Language Teaching Research (2003) in which Allwright et al. proposed its reconceptualization in language teaching. Two decades later, this article reports on the influence that EP has accomplished by having its principled framework integrated in the

English is a widely spoken language around the world and is taught in German schools. Even though acquiring English proficiency is vital in today’s globalized society, students with learning disabilities (LDs) or other severe academic difficulties in Germany are often considered incapable of learning English as a second language (L2) beyond a very rudimentary level. In this study, we examined the effects

The present study performs a meta-analysis to examine the effectiveness of corpus use in English as a second language (ESL) / English as a foreign language (EFL) writing. Data from 30 studies encompassing 56 effect sizes reported between 2000 and 2022 were collected for the analysis. Furthermore, multiple meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore the variables that may influence the observed

According to Hopp’s Lexical Bottleneck Hypothesis, difficulties in second language (L2) lexical processing may lead to non-target syntactic computations. In line with this hypothesis, cognates – which are processed faster than non-cognates, as defined by the cognate facilitation effect – can ease L2 syntactic processing. In order to investigate whether cognates additionally facilitate L2 syntax learning

Given much attention associated with learner engagement in second language (L2) writing, an increasing body of studies has reported that learner engagement with feedback is a critical construct to enhance English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ writing achievement. However, little research has been conducted to explore the predictive effect of grit and examine the mediating role of learner engagement

Transformative practitioner research enables teachers to create or contribute to their own knowledge base. Recently, this research field has flourished, with numerous studies exploring how practitioner researchers develop knowledge, agency and identities, particularly through action research (AR) and exploratory practice (EP). Despite important work on the content or outcomes of language practitioner

This study reports on the identity formation of the author as a novice research mentor of an independent research course for TESOL teachers over six months (from the course design to the first research submission). The data is collected from four critical autoethnographic narratives written by the author before, during, and after this period. The narratives were analysed thematically with an eye on

In the literature on task-based language teaching (TBLT), task repetition and task rehearsal have frequently been used interchangeably. However, this distinction, identified as potentially significant (Ellis, 2019), is noteworthy due to the potential impact of participants’ awareness of future repetitions on second language (L2) task performance. Given the lack of empirical exploration regarding task

This study seeks to address a gap in our understanding of how corrective feedback (CF) influences second language (L2) learning by examining the specific impacts of oral and written CF on acquiring the third person singular -s in the simple present tense. The study examines these effects on both explicit and implicit knowledge. The research was conducted in five intermediate adult English as a second

Although numerous studies have attested to the effectiveness of written corrective feedback (WCF) in promoting second language (L2) accuracy, the extent to which WCF contributes to acquisition is still debatable. This study thus aimed to investigate the effects of WCF on the development of Thai EFL (English as a foreign language) learners’ implicit and explicit knowledge of English plurals, and the

This conversation analysis (CA) study extends our understanding of the complexity of three turn instructional sequences by investigating the multimodal turn design of a teacher’s third turn repetitions (TTRs) and the actions accomplished in the third turn position as well as subsequent post-expansions. The videorecorded data are from an undergraduate Korean as a foreign language classroom at a large

Few studies have explored the influence of a speaker’s accent and visual (facial and gestural) cues on second-language (L2) listening comprehension. The current mixed-methods between-groups design investigated: (1) the effects of accent and visual cues on Arab students’ comprehension of recorded lectures delivered by two speakers: first language (L1) American English and second language (L2) English

Language teaching is a highly emotional profession that can affect the teachers’ well-being and learners’ achievement. However, studies have yet to explore the potential of positive psychology interventions and artificial intelligence (AI) tools to promote the psycho-emotional aspects of second language (L2) teachers and learners. Further, studies regarding the effectiveness of AI in promoting the

Despite the wealth of studies on corrective feedback (CF) and its relationship with individual learner factors, little is known about how foreign language (FL) anxiety moderates the effectiveness of recasts during mobile-mediated audio interactions. The present study thus examined the association between learners’ FL anxiety, the effectiveness of recasts, and learners’ responses to recasts during synchronous

Practitioner research plays a crucial role in education because of its applied nature and its ability to address pertinent issues within learning and teaching contexts. Exploratory practice (EP) is a form of practitioner research that emphasizes puzzles while striving to understand and improve students’ and teachers’ quality of life in the language classroom. Our puzzlement as EP practitioners began

This study set out to scrutinize the interplay between 338 (218 male and 120 female) English as a second or foreign language learners’ second language writing boredom (L2WB) and boredom coping strategies, along with the mediating role of second language writing motivation (L2WM). Structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis indicated that L2WB is negatively associated with L2WM in writing classes. Results

Considering the demanding and stressful nature of the teaching profession in general and foreign language teaching in particular, teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) are prone to experience burnout, which may result in adverse consequences for not only teachers but also their students. Therefore, it is important to understand what factors can prevent EFL teachers from burnout. The present

Phrasal verbs are important for successful communication and yet are incredibly challenging for language learners. The current study compared two exercise formats for the learning of phrasal verbs. One format draws attention to the verb, while the other brings into focus the particle. In the verb-focused format, students were asked to guess the missing verb before receiving feedback. In the particle-focused

This article proposes the use of a textual analysis technique involving the recognition of linguistic implicitness to promote Critical Digital Literacy (CDL) in the English as a foreign language (EFL) classroom. The technique, called Implicit Content Extraction (ICE), allows for the detection and analysis of (non- bona fide) presuppositions, thus enabling students to identify how much and what potentially

Teachers and scholars argue that willingness to communicate is crucial to language learning, but many language learners are reluctant to engage in such communication, in or out of class. In addition, much of the existing research on willingness to communicate is based on English language learners, but there are meaningful motivational and structural differences in English learning versus learning languages