Adult EFL Research Articles

The effect of flipped classroom audiovisual content on students’ talking time and speaking skills in an adult EFL class

This action research report explores the effect of a flipped learning strategy on adult EFL students’ speaking skills. Flipped learning, or inverted learning, reverses the traditional educational model where students learn in class and practice out of it; flipped learning promotes the students’ learning of concepts and theories out of the classroom that is later practiced and applied in class under the teacher’s guidance. The primary hypothesis was that by flipping grammar explanations, students would be more prepared and have more time to interact in English and use the structures in class. This research revealed that flipped learning helped to increase student talking time in class and accuracy in grammar use. Furthermore, it shows evidence that using flipped audiovisual materials poses advantages and challenges that can potentially boost learning inside and outside the classroom.

The relationships between reading attitude, metacognitive awareness of reading strategies and reading motivation of L2 learners

The present study aimed to explore the relationship between reading attitude, motivation, and the metacognitive awareness of reading strategies (MARS) of adult EFL learners. Ninety-seven Iranian intermediate EFL learners participated in the study after a multi-stage sampling. The initial analysis suggested high correlations between the variables of attitude, motivation, and the metacognitive awareness of reading strategies. A mediation analysis using structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the intervening effect of MARS on the effect of attitude on motivation. The proposed model confirmed the mediational hypothesis with a good fit. The findings bear notable implications which are discussed in light of the study outcomes.

A Comparative Study of Discussions, Debates, and Oral Presentations in Enhancing EFL Learners’ Oral Proficiency

This case study investigated the effects of different speaking activities (oral presentations, discussions, debates) on the speaking performance of 11 young adult EFL learners at a university in central Mexico. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and an online survey and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that combining socialization with varied speaking activities and incorporating popular culture topics relevant to students increased motivation, reduced the affective filter, boosted confidence, and improved fluency and accuracy. The integration of student interests and fostering of personal relationships promoted a holistic understanding of cognitive and metacognitive strategies, enhancing overall speaking skills. However, limitations include a small sample size from the same sociocultural context. Further research with a larger, more diverse sample is recommended for unbiased results. The study highlights the benefits of tailoring speaking activities to students' interests and encourages developing interpersonal relationships to facilitate language learning.

An Ethnographic Case Study: Exploring an Adult ESL Learner’s BICS and CALP Proficiency Disparity

This ethnographic case study investigated the disparity in an adult learner's second language (L2) proficiency between basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) and cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP). The learner, well-educated in his first language (L1) Italian, demonstrated higher CALP but lower BICS in L2 English. Data collection spanned 15 weeks and included classroom observations, in-class artifacts, and semi-formal interviews. Two main factors were identified as contributing to the disparity: (1) unbalanced language exposure favoring CALP over BICS and (2) the positive transfer of CALP from L1 outweighing that of BICS. The study found that teacher instruction and learner's language engagement and investment increased exposure to grammar and literacy, thereby enhancing CALP development and facilitating CALP transfer from L1 to L2. However, limited exposure to interpersonal communication practices both inside and outside the classroom led to his underdeveloped BICS. Consequently, the unbalanced proficiency further influenced his second language acquisition. The learner's low BICS level resulted in negative self-positioning, increasing fear of interacting with English speakers and reducing opportunities to acquire the target language in natural interactive environments. Pedagogical implications are provided for adult EFL teaching, emphasizing balanced instruction and interactive and multilingual approaches. The research suggests future directions for supporting bi-/multilingual adults in developing balanced language proficiency and a positive language identity effectively.

An Empirical Study of the Teachability and Learnability of L2 “Thinking for Speaking” Patterns

This study examines whether explicit pedagogical instructions of multimodal strategies based on typological contrastive analysis have any facilitative effect on the restructuring of “thinking for speaking” patterns, focusing on motion event construal which has been demonstrated to be notoriously difficult in second language acquisition (Hendriks and Hickmann 2011, Slobin 1996). Eighty adult Chinese intermediate-level EFL learners were recruited for a classroom-based quasi-experimental study with a pretest-posttest design. Teaching TFS instructions with awareness enhancement strategies as an independent variable divided the participants into two groups, the experimental group that received instructions and control group that followed a traditional teaching approach over a period of 4 weeks. Writing data were elicited by means of the <i>Frog Story</i> and was coded on specific measures of accuracy and complexity of the properties of lexicalization patterns: the description of Motion, Path and Ground. The results showed positive instructional effect on learners’ writing performance of motion event expression and confirmed the possibility of restructuring L1 thinking-for-speaking patterns in L2 through pedagogical instructions. The findings provide practical implications for teachers, typological contrastive awareness and explicit pedagogical instructions prove to be significant for learners’ development of L2 thinking for speaking patterns.

Exploring the Impact of Email-Based Vocabulary Instruction on Saudi Adult EFL Students’ Technology-Integrated Learning

This research investigates the perspectives and experiences of Saudi EFL students as a Foreign Language students between the ages of 20 and 24 regarding using email as a technologically enhanced approach to studying vocabulary. The research’s aim is to investigate the opinions of students regarding using email as a technology-based method of instruction to study vocabulary. The significance of the study lies in its potential to inform curriculum development and instructional strategies in English programs, especially increasing digital integration in education. The research question guiding this research is: What are the experiences and attitudes of Saudi adult EFL students regarding using email as a technology-enhanced method of instruction to study vocabulary? During five weeks, three groups of students from Albaha University, were divided into three groups and taught using three instructional approaches. Likert scales and closed-ended and open-ended questions, the survey gauged students’ perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of the teaching methods. The findings revealed that the participants held favorable views regarding using email to learn vocabulary. They recognized advantages which included increased motivation, the ability to learn independently, and the ease of storing and accessing materials. Conversely, some students experienced technical obstacles and reported a possible adverse effect on their handwriting ability. This study reveals the impact of the digital divide, which has been further exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on learning. The study’s discoveries will aid in developing curricula and instructional English major programs, improving the overall quality of language learning environments.

The impact of a gamified approach on vocabulary learning and vocabulary self-efficacy: evidence from a chilean primary EFL school

Although many studies addressing gamified approaches have documented the performance and perceptions of adult EFL learners, little research has been conducted with younger students and with a focus on specific linguistic components. Therefore, the present study assessed the impact of a gamified approach involving the use of Kahoot! on the vocabulary learning and vocabulary self-efficacy of 122 primary EFL school learners. A quasi-experimental design was applied where participants were divided into an experimental group (n = 57) that was exposed to vocabulary learning through Kahoot! and a control group (n = 65) that received traditional coursebook instruction. Ten target words were assessed through a vocabulary learning post-test, while vocabulary self-efficacy was evaluated through a questionnaire. Results revealed that both groups performed equally well regarding lexical gains, and that students in the experimental group significantly increased their vocabulary self-efficacy when compared to the control group. Pedagogical implications are discussed.

Transcending recreational functionality: Adult EFL learners' views on song-assisted language learning from an andragogical perspective

Complementary to its entertainment value, music is known for having educational relevance in foreign language learning, a topic which is often overlooked in andragogical studies. The present inquiry sought to explore the use of songs in language learning by focusing on the perceptions and experiences of adult EFL learners. The qualitative research data are drawn from semi-structured interviews conducted with 15 adult EFL learners of different occupational and cultural backgrounds. The study findings reveal that music is omnipresent in adult EFL learners’ lives, both as a means of entertainment or ‘alternative therapy’ and as an opportunity for promoting language learning. The interviewees emphasized the way that songs enhance their learning experience by developing their reading comprehension and speaking skills. However, more emphatically, they reinforced the role of songs in facilitating vocabulary learning, namely the enrichment of their lexical repertoire. While the collected data suggest a consensus concerning the positive effects of songs, some participants argued that any learning gain is conditioned by several classroom-related factors. Future research can benefit from a discussion on the practical applications of songs in the adult EFL classroom.

Software-based Attention Bias Modification Intervention for Adult EFL Learners’ Foreign Language Anxiety

Software-based Attention Bias Modification Intervention for Adult EFL Learners’ Foreign Language Anxiety

Investigating the EFL Learners’ Visual Word Recognition: Words’ Frequency, Length, Regularity and Superiority Effects in Comparison

This study scrutinized the effects of words’ superiority, regularity, frequency and length on the intermediate and advanced EFL learner's visual word recognition. Moreover, it attempted to check whether each of these parameters could be statistically a significant predictor on recognition tasks. Accordingly, 118 intermediate and 127 advanced adult EFL learners were selected randomly from English Language Institutes based on their performance on the McMillan Placement Test (MPT). The needed data was collected through a developed Visual Word Recognition Test (WORT) and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT). The findings indicated that all the mentioned factors significantly affected both the intermediate and the advanced EFL learners’ overall word recognition by varying degrees (words’ frequency, length, superiority and regularity, respectively), however, the advanced learners’ recognition was generally faster on both recognition tests. Moreover, words' regularity was found to play a more effective role for the intermediates than the advanced learners on recognition tasks. Furthermore, words’ frequency, regularity and length were found to be proper predictors on comprehension tasks.

Exploring teacher classroom behavior and wellbeing from the student perspective

Abstract In recent years, an increasing drumbeat around emotion research in ELT has brought to the fore an appreciation of teacher psychology and the emotional underpinnings of the teacher–student relationship. This study explores how students report their teacher’s classroom behavior and how those observations lead learners to make broader impressions about the teacher’s mental state. As part of a larger study, 129 adult EFL students took a web survey about their teacher’s classroom behavior, perceived overall happiness, and their perceived wellbeing. Results revealed that teacher behavior was strongly correlated with perceived teacher wellbeing and happiness, meaning that based on how teachers behave in the classroom, students make far-reaching assumptions about their wellbeing beyond the classroom. Due to the phenomenon of emotional contagion, when students think their teachers are happy, they may also feel more positive emotions in the classroom. Suggestions for teachers are discussed, such as strategies for making the best of challenging situations and promoting healthy student relationships as a means to promote teacher and learner wellbeing. Suggestions for potential institutional changes are also made.

The Impact of Reflective E-Journaling on Korean Adult EFL Learners’ English Anxiety and Course Achievement

Objectives This study explores the potential impact of online reflective journaling on English anxiety and academic achievement among Korean adult EFL learners in an online English course. It aims to investigate whether con-sistent engaging in reflective e-journaling can act as a mediator to help overcome vague anxiety related to English learning by reflecting on their learning processes, leading a positive effect on course achievement. Methods This study involved 148 participants who took “Basic English Reading for Graduate School Students in Professional Studies” in a 15-week online course. Data was collected from students’ weekly e-journaling, the FLCAS survey, and their final exam scores, using a mixed-methods approach. Results The results revealed that high achievers in course achievement exhibited higher levels of anxiety, while the reverse was not observed. While there was a positive correlation between achievement and anxiety levels, there were no significant differences in course achievement across anxiety levels. High levels of English anxiety were associated with more frequent reflective journaling, promoting learning process awareness and academic performance. It was reported that sharing journals on the LMS board facilitates students interaction, motivating active engagement. Conclusions This study demonstrated that even high-achieving students can experience elevated levels of English anxiety, and poor academic performance is not solely attributed to heightened anxiety levels, refuting the conventional concept of English anxiety. The findings of the current study suggest that facilitative anxiety prompts consistent engagement in reflective journaling, which enhances meta-cognition of one’s learning process, thus serving as a mediator for improving academic performance.

EXTRAMURAL ENGLISH AND ADULT EFL LEARNERS’ PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS

This study examines the duration of adult EFL learners’ extramural English activities related to their phonological awareness. For this purpose, (Indonesian, N = 32, 3 males and 29 females) learners participated in the study. After analyzing the questionnaires and the phonological awareness test using the non-parametric (Spearman) correlation, the result showed a strong positive correlation between the amount of time the adult EFL learners spend for spoken and written extramural English activities and their phonological awareness ability. The extramural English activities they mainly engage in are dealing with technology. The findings call for future research examining the effect of extramural English on phonological awareness and other possible English components or skills.

Critical Multimodal Literacy and Oral Proficiency Development

This descriptive case study aimed to investigate the impact of critical multimodal literacy in English classes, which included the use of parody films and metaverse-based User-Created Content (UCC) related to disability, on Korean university EFL learners’ conventional literacy and awareness of disability. Data were collected from three participants with varying English proficiency and educational backgrounds over a two-month period, with weekly sessions lasting two and a half hours. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, such as questionnaires, interviews, group discussions, reflective papers, and metaverse-based UCC productions, was employed to assess the effectiveness of critical multimodal literacy in English speaking and disability education. Korean EFL students, influenced by Confucian culture, tend to hesitate when expressing their opinions publicly. In response, this research proposes using avatars to create alternative textual representations of their viewpoints instead of recording personal video presentations. This innovative approach aims to evaluate changes in students’ attitudes towards disabilities and improvements in their oral communication abilities. The overall findings indicated that (1) The critical multimodal literacy practice, employing parody films based on fairy tales in the classroom, plays a significant role in the development of conventional literacy among Korean adult EFL learners. (2) The practice of critical multimodal literacy, which involves using parody films of fairy tales that address disabilities, helps EFL learners broaden their perspectives on disabilities and modify their social behaviors. (3) Attitudes and reactions toward disabilities varied according to the individual experiences of EFL learners.

An Exploration of Foreign Language Reading Anxiety of Young EFL Students

Despite the extensive research attention foreign language anxiety has received, most studies have focused on foreign language classroom anxiety or foreign language speaking anxiety of EFL learners at the university level. Foreign language reading anxiety (FLRA), particularly that of young EFL learners under the age of 12, has been understudied. The present study examined the foreign language reading anxiety level of 137 young EFL learners in a primary school in China. A questionnaire adapted from Saito et al.’s (1999) Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale was adopted to determine the level of students’ FLRA. The potential sources of their FLRA were identified with an adapted version of the questionnaire devised by Ahmad et al. (2013). Results of the present study indicate that young EFL learners generally have medium-level FLRA. In addition, textual features, including unknown words and unfamiliar words, have been identified as the main source of FLRA of young EFL learners, whereas personal factors are not as prominent as shown in previous studies conducted on adult EFL learners.

Research on English Teaching of Adult EFL Learners Based on the Scaffolding Theory

Tourism perception has always been the focus of scholars' research. This research takes tourism perception as the starting point, and builds a theoretical model of tourism perception, cultural identity, and cultural self-confidence on the basis of Zhou Yijun and Feng Gengyun's research on the mechanism of tourism promoting cultural self-confidence, and structural equation model verifies the relationship between tourism perception, cultural identity, and cultural self-confidence.

Multiple Intelligence and the Performance of Indonesian EFL Learners

Many ways of EFL teaching have been practiced by EFL teachers to optimally improve the learners’ performance in English. However, the results of the teaching many times did not meet our expectations. Therefore, this research aims to find a possible better way of teaching EFL by considering the students’ multiple intelligence (MI). A quantitative method of ex post facto design was conducted. The data were collected from the students of EFL learners studying English in the Department of English Education, Cenderawasih University, consisting of 236 students as the subject of the research. The data analysis used a non-parametric test, Kruskal Wallis, to compare the groups’ scores. The result shows that there is no significant difference in performance among the groups of MI. This result suggests that MI does not influence EFL learners’ English performance. This might be caused by the teaching strategies practiced by the lecturers who did not consider MI in their teaching processes. Therefore it is suggested to conduct further comprehensive research on the influence of multiple intelligence-based teaching on the performance of students with higher levels of English ability and or on the adult EFL learners.

The Effectiveness of the Production-Oriented Approach to Enhance Adult Chinese EFL Learners’ Language Proficiency: A Comparative Study of Three Language Teaching Approaches

The Effectiveness of the Production-Oriented Approach to Enhance Adult Chinese EFL Learners’ Language Proficiency: A Comparative Study of Three Language Teaching Approaches

A CORRELATION STUDY ON STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN LITERAL READING AND PARAGRAPH WRITING

This research investigated the correlation between adult EFL students’ literal reading and paragraph writing. Since adult EFL learners in tertiary education learn about literal reading and paragraph writing in more detail, a more specific investigation on the literal and paragraph writing of adult EFL students has not been conducted. The researcher uses a quantitative approach with a correlational design. This research followed by twenty-nine respondents from the second semester student in the English Department of STKIP PGRI Jombang. The participant was taken by using a purposive sampling technique. In the data were taken by using reading and writing tests which were developed by the lecturers. The data collected were then analysed by using non-parametric Spearman’s rho with the help of SPSS version 22. The results of the data analysis showed the value of Sig (2-tailed) .037. and the value of correlational coefficient was .388. Those values indicated a significant positive yet low correlation between adult EFL students’ literal reading and paragraph writing.

Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used by Saudi Female EFL Learners

The present study aimed at investigating vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) applied by ten adult female EFL learners at Taif University, Saudi Arabia. In addition, it explored how the current widespread of internet-assisted tools have influenced vocabulary learning strategies and how participants treat new words after encountering them. The data of this study consists of a mixed-methods approach. First, introspective and retrospective verbal reports of ten English-major learners who met new vocabulary while reading a passage. Secondly, in the interview stage, participants were asked about how the internet and mobile resources affect how they approach new words and their lexical knowledge/size. Furthermore, they were asked if they follow specific strategies to commit new vocabulary to memory. The findings of this research showed that the participants used similar vocabulary learning strategies. During the reading task, the most preferred strategy was guessing the meaning of the words from the context. Consulting a monolingual or bilingual dictionary was the second most used strategy, while the least used strategy was asking the teacher to discover the meaning of the unknown words. Participants in this study reported that they prefer memory strategies over cognitive strategies. Moreover, they said that the accessibility of internet learning tools has contributed to increasing their vocabulary size and lexical knowledge.