Enhancing EFL Students’ Listening Skills with Songs and Films

Collaborative guessing game for EFL learning with kinesthetic recognition

An Interview with Paula Garrett-Rucks, Georgia State University

Cooperative Learning (CL) in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context: investigating, learning outcomes, processes, and experiences

Vocabulary is crucial for mastering English as a Foreign Language (EFL) skills. Digital Game-Based Learning (DGBL) platforms like Wordwall can enhance active learning by providing multiple-choice, missing, and matching words. The current study aimed to addresses the impact of the Wordwall platform on EFL learners in Saudi Arabia. This study utilized a quasi-experimental design to investigate the use of Wordwall technology in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching. Two EFL teachers were divided into experimental and control groups, with 60 students aged 16-17 in first secondary schools. The experimental group used Wordwall to enhance vocabulary learning, while the control group used traditional methods. The studyer used SPSS to analyze data and compare experimental and controlled groups. The results showed significant variations in mean scores between the pre- and post-test phases.

The Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML) offers insights on creating, organizing and presenting multimedia content in a way that can enhance the effectiveness of learners. While several studies have been conducted to verify these principles, not many have been done using content presented on low cost tablets. In this paper, we present our experimental study on the retention and understanding by children when learning content a) adheres to CTML and b) offered on low cost tablets. In our study we used Online Labs theory and videos and incorporated CTML principles into it. According to CTML principle it will maximize learning without causing cognitive overload. The study sample was 58 students from an English medium secondary education school from south India. The experiment involves a control and experiment group where the control group is tested on content which does not adhere to CTML and the experimental group is tested on content designed based on CTML. A pre-test is conducted to assess the level of pre-knowledge in the subject and a post-test is conducted to assess the retention and understanding by students. This suggests that tablet content incorporated with CTML principle can lead to a deeper understanding of the subject.

This research examined the impact of mobile devices and Jordanian audio resources on the listening abilities of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. The research included 100 EFL students from Jadara University in Jordan, with 50 students in the experimental group and 50 students in the control group. Quantitative research and ANOVA testing were used to analyze the data. Both groups were pre- and post-tested on listening comprehension, vocabulary, and proficiency. ANOVA was used to compare the mean scores between the experimental and control groups. The ANOVA test determined the impact of mobile devices and Jordanian audio on participants’ listening abilities. The test compared the mean scores of the experimental and control groups to determine whether the intervention significantly improved listening skills. The ANOVA test showed that mobile devices and Jordanian audio resources improved the listening abilities of EFL learners. The experimental group had a superior understanding of vocabulary and listening skills compared to the control group. These studies show that mobile devices and realistic audio content improve EFL listening training. ANOVA showed that this training strategy improved listening skills. This research contributes to the literature on EFL pedagogy literature and assists EFL teachers and curriculum designers in enhancing their listening skills. Future studies may examine other factors that could impact the effectiveness of mobile devices and audio resources in EFL listening training, including intervention duration and learner proficiency. This research shows that these materials can enhance the listening experiences of EFL student.

Although culture learning is closely connected to language learning and definitely essential to developing students' communicative competence for cross-cultural communication in the global society, the importance of culture learning to EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learning is often ignored by MOE (Ministry of Education) and English teachers in Taiwan. Thus this paper draws upon domestic and international literature to explore the factors that hamper culture learning in a foreign language classroom and the ways that can integrate culture learning into Taiwan's foreign language education. While finding that the stereotypes about culture among the public as well as the limited knowledge of both the target culture and the approaches to culture teaching among educators and English teachers in Taiwan are the main factors that make culture learning separate from language learning in a foreign language classroom, the researcher concludes that with the trend toward globalization and internationalization English teachers in Taiwan need to understand more about the nature of culture learning and shatter the illusion that linguistic knowledge is the most important element in cross-cultural communication. In order to integrate culture learning into Taiwan’s foreign language education, the researcher also concludes that English learning materials and teaching approaches as well as the goals of Taiwan's foreign language education should be adjusted appropriately. 136-Abstract Although culture learning is closely connected to language learning and definitely essential to developing students' communicative competence for cross-cultural communication in the global society, the importance of culture learning to EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learning is often ignored by MOE (Ministry of Education) and English teachers in Taiwan. Thus this paper draws upon domestic and international literature to explore the factors that hamper culture learning in a foreign language classroom and the ways that can integrate culture learning into Taiwan's foreign language education. While finding that the stereotypes about culture among the public as well as the limited knowledge of both the target culture and the approaches to culture teaching among educators and English teachers in Taiwan are the main factors that make culture learning separate from language learning in a foreign language classroom, the researcher concludes that with the trend toward globalization and internationalization English teachers in Taiwan need to understand more about the nature of culture learning and shatter the illusion that linguistic knowledge is the most important element in cross-cultural communication. In order to integrate culture learning into Taiwan's foreign language education, the researcher also concludes that English learning materials and teaching approaches as well as the goals of Taiwan's foreign language education should be adjusted appropriately.

Purpose – In the 21st century, the importance of having good English proficiency in Malaysia and globally has impacted educators, especially in terms of their pedagogical practices. Although students are exposed to 11 years of English language instruction in Malaysia, Orang Asli students still possess low English proficiency and poor writing skills. This study aims to determine the extent to which the genre-based pedagogical approach is able to improve Orang Asli students’ English as a foreign language (EFL) writing performance and analyse their responses in using the genre-based pedagogical approach as a framework to improve their EFL writing performance. Methodology – This quasi-experimental study included 78 students from a secondary school in Pahang, Malaysia. Participants were assigned to the experimental and control groups (N=39) to generate students’ pretest and posttest scores. Quantitative data from the students’ questionnaire were also triangulated with qualitative data from the focus group discussions with the experimental group. Findings – The approach was effective in improving students’ descriptive writing and had a more significant effect than the mainstream process-based approach. Students reacted positively to the approach as they found it useful in improving their writing skills, which correlated with their improved test scores. Therefore, the genre-based pedagogical framework can be further enhanced by incorporating more grammar-related activities to meet the learning needs of Orang Asli students lacking in EFL writing skills. Significance – The novelty of this study is that the framework has the potential to be implemented in Malaysian secondary schools and other indigenous’ educational contexts. Furthermore, this study can be a point of reference to stakeholders, English language teaching (ELT) practitioners and educators in terms of advocating a genre-based pedagogical approach in an EFL context.

Developing speaking skills in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is a persistent challenge in many classrooms due to traditional instruction methods that often lack real-world engagement and student-centered learning. Recent approaches such as Project-Based Learning (PBL) offer promising alternatives by encouraging communicative, collaborative, and contextualized language use. This study investigates the effectiveness of PBL in improving the speaking skills of EFL students, focusing on fluency, pronunciation, accuracy, and interaction. It also explores student perceptions and the pedagogical implications of integrating PBL into language instruction. Employing a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test control group, the study was conducted on two intact classes of Indonesian senior high school students. The experimental group underwent a four-week PBL intervention, while the control group received traditional instruction. Data were collected through speaking assessments, classroom observations, and student interviews, and analyzed using t-tests and thematic analysis. Findings revealed a significant improvement in the experimental group’s speaking performance, with a mean gain of 15.5 points and a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.85). Qualitative data indicated enhanced confidence, engagement, and motivation among students involved in PBL tasks. The integration of digital tools further supported learning and speaking practice. PBL is an effective strategy to improve EFL learners’ speaking proficiency by fostering meaningful communication, collaborative problem-solving, and learner autonomy. This approach holds promise for broader implementation in diverse EFL contexts.

Having recourse to learners' mother tongue in foreign language (FL) classes has been a controversial topic in the field of teaching English as a foreign language for a long time. There has been a great deal of claims and counterclaims that revolve around the pedagogical appropriateness of teacher usage of learners’ mother tongue in foreign language teaching. Recently, the findings of English as a foreign language (EFL) research cast doubt on the rationales of proponents of exclusive use of FL in EFL setting; and researchers come up with the reality that a rational use of first language (L1) is not only inevitable but also profitable in classrooms where teachers and learners share the same L1. Dearth of knowledge on the pedagogical reality of this issue in Iraqi EFL contexts is worth exploring. This study aimed at highlighting English language teachers’ attitudes towards using the learners' mother tongue (Arabic) in the EFL classrooms, seeking their viewpoints on the purposes for which Arabic could be used in English classes, and exploring their reasons for using it. For this end, the study was conducted on 50 EFL teachers teaching at public primary schools in Baghdad, using a questionnaire survey developed to fulfill the aim of the study. Findings of the obtained data demonstrate that teachers’ overall attitudes towards occasional use of Arabic in EFL classrooms were positive; and they reported using Arabic for both teaching and classroom management purposes. Analysis of the data also indicates that all of the participants were inclined to switch to Arabic in their EFL classrooms for a number of reasons necessary to create a more comprehensible, motivational, relaxing, friendly, and supportive classroom environment for young learners and to save time and effort in overcrowded classes.

This research aims to examine the efficacy of utilizing the Padlet application to enhance soft skills in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education among students at International Information Technology University. Soft skills, such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity, are crucial competencies for students navigating the globalized workforce. Technology integration in education has become increasingly important, and Padlet provides a versatile platform for collaborative learning and content sharing. This study adopts a quantitative approach, employing a pre/post-observation design to evaluate the influence of Padlet usage on the development of soft skills among EFL students. Participants are randomly assigned to either an experimental group, engaging with Padlet activities, or a control group receiving traditional instruction. Validated instrument, including performance evaluations, are used to measure soft skills before and after the intervention. Quantitative data analysis techniques are utilized to compare mean scores between groups and assess the effectiveness of Padlet in fostering soft skills. Expected outcomes encompass improvements in communication clarity, increased collaboration in group tasks, enhanced critical thinking through information synthesis, and greater creativity in idea generation. The findings of this study hold implications for EFL educators seeking innovative approaches to skill development and for institutions aiming to effectively integrate technology into language education. By exploring the role of Padlet in enhancing soft skills within the specific context of EFL education at International Information Technology University, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of technology-supported learning and its impact on student outcomes.

As a popular Web 2.0 technology, wikis have gained momentum in educational contexts. To give further empirical support to the use of wikis in foreign language education, this research probed the usefulness of a wiki-based writing instruction on the writing skill and self-efficacy of Chinese English-as-a-foreign language (EFL) learners. For this purpose, 53 EFL students in a foreign language school in China were selected as the participants. The two classes were assigned to an experimental group (N = 25) and a control group (N = 28). Over a period of 3 months, the experimental group was instructed based on wiki-based writing instruction while the control group was taught traditionally. The data were collected by administering IELTS writing tasks and a writing self-efficacy scale employed for pre- and post-tests. The results of data analysis indicated that both classes substantially enhanced their writing skill and writing self-efficacy. Nevertheless, the experimental group performed better than the control group in terms of both dependent variables, leading the researchers to conclude that the wiki-based writing instruction was significantly effective in boosting writing skill and self-efficacy of Chinese EFL learners. These outcomes can offer some worthwhile implications for EFL instructors.

ABSTRACTUsing the cognitive theory of multimedia learning, this study aimed to evaluate the design of one multimedia courseware used for teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in China and to compare the attitudinal differences in the teachers’ and students’ evaluation of the courseware. A questionnaire was developed and validated. Results indicated that the design of the courseware generally complied with the coherence principle, the signalling principle, the spatial contiguity principle, and the temporal contiguity principle but slightly violated the redundancy principle. The results of the independent sample t-tests on the questionnaires and the further analyses of the interviews revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the teachers’ and students’ evaluation concerning the coherence principle, the redundancy principle, and the spatial contiguity principle. Findings of this study suggested that the cognitive theory of multimedia learning can be a useful tool for evaluating multimedia courseware for teaching and learning EFL, as the theory is firmly grounded on the characteristics of human cognitive architecture and places the users in the centre of courseware design and evaluation.

This study introduces an innovative approach to improving speaking proficiency among Korean EFL learners through the use of vlogs, further evaluating their impact on learners' foreign language speaking anxiety (FLSA) and willingness to communicate (WTC). In this semester‐long experiment, 49 university students were divided into an experimental group ( n = 25) and a control group ( n = 24). The former engaged in vlogging activities, while the latter received traditional instruction devoid of social networking. Data were collected via pre‐ and post‐questionnaires on FLSA and WTC, coupled with pre‐ and posttests assessing speaking skills. Vlogging significantly decreased FLSA and bolstered WTC in Korean EFL learners, demonstrating a marked improvement when contrasted with the control group. Additionally, the experimental group, engaged in vlogging, displayed superior advancement in vocabulary, comprehension, fluency and task proficiency. However, no discernible enhancements were observed in speaking accuracy when compared to the control group. With the evidence of reduced anxiety, increased communication willingness and enhanced speaking proficiency in the vlogging group, this study provides a concrete foundation for EFL teachers to consider integrating vlogging and similar social media‐based activities into language instruction. This approach could contribute to creating more engaging and comfortable learning environments, aiding learners in overcoming affective barriers and improving their language skills. Practitioner notes What is already known about this topic Prior research in second language acquisition probed the impact of social media on diverse language learning areas: vocabulary, intercultural learning, speaking skills, pronunciation and writing skills. Social media‐integrated language learning demonstrated potential in enhancing oral proficiency among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Limited research exists exploring the influence of social media, especially vlogging, on EFL learners' speaking skills and affective factors such as Willingness to Communicate (WTC) and speaking anxiety. What this paper adds This study demonstrates that a learning environment cultivated via social media, particularly vlogging, improves speaking proficiency and positively influences affective factors like Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety (FLSA) and WTC. The findings suggest that social media‐integrated speaking activities, specifically vlogging, offer a beneficial and effective pedagogical strategy to ameliorate speaking proficiency, FLSA, and WTC in supportive and non‐intimidating contexts. Implications for practice and/or policy This study offers crucial insights for EFL teachers planning courses to enhance speaking proficiency: The integration of vlogging and similar social media‐based activities into language instruction is strongly supported by the evidence of reduced anxiety, increased communication willingness and enhanced speaking proficiency in the vlogging group. This study provides a concrete foundation for such innovative approaches. The creation of an engaging, interactive and stress‐free learning environment is essential, enabling learners to practice speaking English without anxiety. This approach can also aid learners in overcoming affective barriers and enhancing their language skills. EFL educators should prioritize improving key attitudinal factors, such as anxiety and WTC. These factors significantly contribute to the holistic development of oral proficiency. When incorporating social media‐based speaking activities like vlogging, teachers' targeted feedback on recurring learner mistakes can foster improvements in speaking accuracy. EFL teachers must recognize their critical role in nurturing a supportive, non‐intimidating environment, paving the way for learners to effectively enhance their speaking proficiency.

ABSTRACTIn recent years, the integration of digital technologies into language learning has gained significant attention, particularly in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education. However, there remains a gap in understanding the broader affective and cognitive benefits of serious game‐based learning (SGBL) in this field. The present study addressed this gap by examining the impact of SGBL on EFL learners' happiness, motivation, self‐compassion (SC), and vocabulary development. A quasi‐experimental design was employed with two groups comprising a total of 425 intermediate‐level participants (both male and female). The participants were selected through stratified random sampling technique and divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The EG engaged in SGBL, while the CG received traditional instruction. Over a period of 12 weeks, pretest and posttest measured the participants' levels of happiness, motivation, SC, and vocabulary acquisition. Results indicated that the EG significantly outperformed the CG in all measured domains, suggesting that SGBL is an effective approach for enhancing both affective and linguistic outcomes in EFL contexts. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on the integration of digital games in EFL education and highlight their potential for fostering holistic learner development.