EFL Context Research Articles

Enhancing Pronunciation Skills of Diploma Students at Bangladesh University of Business and Technology through Oral Drilling: A Comparative Study of Pre- and Post-Exposure to Accurate English Sounds among ESL Learners

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of oral drilling activities for improving phonetic skills at the diploma level at the Bangladesh University of Business and Technology. Data were gathered from 200 Bangladeshi students who were purposefully chosen, who speak Bangla as their first language, and who utilize English as a second or foreign language for academic purposes using qualitative methodology. A self-developed Likert-scale structured questionnaire was used to analyse students’ understanding of their learning experience, and pre- and post-usage pronunciation tests were conducted in conjunction with reading exercise tests for phonetic improvement. This study provides important insights into ESL pedagogy in Bangladesh and has the potential to shed light on ODA as a didactic approach used in EFL contexts, which offers more appropriate curriculum-based implications for oral practice that may improve the Pronunciation skills of students.

Challenges, Benefits, and Motivations in Paraphrasing: Insights from Marine and Fisheries EFL Students

This study explores the challenges, motivations, and benefits of paraphrasing for Marine and Fisheries EFL students, aiming to uncover factors that impact their ability to rephrase academic texts. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through field notes and semi-structured interviews with 15 purposively sampled students. The findings reveal that students face significant challenges in paraphrasing due to limited vocabulary, difficulties in sentence restructuring, and low self-confidence. Some students perceive English proficiency as less relevant to their future careers, reducing motivation to enhance their language skills. However, regular paraphrasing practice was found to provide valuable benefits, including vocabulary expansion, improved understanding of sentence structures, and increased confidence in handling technical content. These outcomes underscore the potential of paraphrasing exercises to support academic skill-building and professional readiness in specialized fields. The study suggests the need for targeted pedagogical strategies that emphasize vocabulary development, structural flexibility, and confidence-building. These findings contribute to the understanding of paraphrasing in EFL contexts and offer practical recommendations for enhancing students’ language skills in discipline-specific academic environments.

The British Parliamentary Debate Practices in Promoting English Speaking Proficiency: A Systematic Literature Review in Multiple EFL Cases

This systematic review of the literature explored the impact of The British Parliamentary Debate Practice from several studies. The present study focused on the way debate practice enhances students’ English-speaking abilities in an EFL context. The PRISMA method stages to search journal databases was used in this study. However, after an intensive selection process, the researcher found that 11 articles from 3 reputable databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and Semantic Scholar had the most relevant and suitable content to answer the purpose of this Systematic Review study. The research findings revealed that the implementation of British Parliamentary Debate in English language teaching is highly effective to improve speaking skill. Besides, through this learning method, several aspects such as; linguistic skill, vocabulary, self-confidence, and self-awareness of students at various levels of education can also be increased. The researcher also found that there are learning stages using British Parliamentary Debate that can be adapted by teachers to improve the teaching of students’ speaking skills such as AREL (Argument, Reasoning, Evidence, Link Back) technique. In addition, the current study includes a number of recommendations.

Teaching grammar to elementary level Saudi EFL learnersTeaching Grammar to Elementary Level Saudi EFL Learners: Blending Theory and Practice

Grammar as a system of language has been a central component of most EFL teaching programmes. Modern day approaches to teaching grammar are premised on its potential in developing the discourse competence of the students in social, academic and professional contexts. The present study was designed to involve a theoretical review of the teaching of grammar in EFL contexts as well as an observation of a real-time classroom teaching to see how theoretical underpinnings were realized in actual practice. The observer’s report and the teacher’s post lesson reflections revealed that a contextualized focus on form, meaning, and use was crucial in helping students to comprehend the target grammar for its meaning making potential. The findings are expected to be useful to EFL practitioners as well as researchers interested in exploring further areas of grammar instruction from a practical perspective.

Analysis of high-frequency errors and linguistic patterns in EFL medical students’ English writing: Insights from a learner corpus

BackgroundThe perceived language barrier in English is said to hinder, and in certain instances, impede the global dissemination of knowledge, including medical information, to non-native English speakers within medical institutions. As English for medical purposes instructors, we contend that the issue persists in medical universities across various EFL contexts. Medical students face the challenge of presenting their research findings in English for international journals and conferences. Given this, the present research study aimed to compile a comprehensive catalog of high-frequency errors and examine them in recurring linguistic patterns commonly found in the writing of Iranian medical students.MethodsIn conducting the present study, we developed a learner corpus of 1,040 essays (339,040 words and 18,235 sentences in total). Through using the results obtained from Wordsmith Tools 8 and sifting the leaner corpus, we identified 11 high-frequency errors and five commonly used linguistic patterns.ResultsOnly five out of 11 high-frequency errors account for 61% of the total number of errors. Results also showed that a majority of errors were of grammatical nature. In this regard, cohesion and cohesive devices (16%) were the most prevalent errors followed by omission/misusing of articles/determiners (14%). Additionally, results showed that discourse markers were extensively used in the corpus (22.07%), followed by hedges (11.42%).ConclusionsThe outcomes of this study are expected to assist English for medical purposes instructors in designing focused lesson plans and classroom activities. Ultimately, these efforts might contribute to enhancing medical education in non-English speaking universities.

Timing of feedback and retrieval practice: a laboratory study with EFL students

The aim of this empirical laboratory study was to investigate the effect of immediate and delayed feedback on retrieval practice among Saudi EFL learners using short-answer tests administered at three different time points: immediately, one week later, and one month later. A total of 177 Saudi undergraduate EFL students were randomly assigned to four groups: Repeated Studying, Repeated Testing-no feedback, Repeated Testing-immediate feedback, and Repeated Testing-delayed feedback. Additionally, a restudy control group was included to compare retrieval practice and feedback effects to the restudy condition. Participants read a 487-word prose passage and underwent testing at the specified intervals. Results revealed that retrieval practice without feedback outperformed repeated studying in the one-month delayed test. Both immediate and delayed feedback groups outperform the no-feedback and restudying groups. Moreover, immediate feedback was found to be more effective than delayed feedback in enhancing long-term retention. These findings emphasize the importance of providing timely feedback to optimize retrieval practice and improve learning outcomes in EFL contexts.

A study on the affordances of digital fairy-tale rewriting: A critical literacy approach to digital multimodal composing

Digital multimodal composing (DMC) is the production of texts using multimodal semiotic resources and digital tools. This study integrated critical literacy pedagogy into DMC in an EFL context through both course design and task design, proposing digital fairy-tale rewriting (DFTR) as a genre of DMC for critical literacy practices. Taiwanese university students in the study created multimodal videos of retold fairy tales addressing social issues to promote critical literacy. The study adopted a conceptual framework of DMC affordances to examine the possibilities afforded by DFTR. Affordances refer to the potential and limitations of a mode for meaning representation and communication, as perceived by teachers and students. Data collected included participants’ surveys, reflective writings, and analysis of the DMC artifacts. Results indicated substantial evidence of technological, educational, and social benefits of DFTR compared to past learning experiences, with enhanced affordances including transmediation, multiliteracies, creativity, and civic participation. Digital skills and multimodal literacy were developed to strengthen critical literacy learning across four dimensions, enriching prior studies on DMC affordances and critical literacy scholarship. The study also contributed a refined conceptual framework of DFTR affordances, expanded by new affordances of generating interest, nurturing creativity and multiple perspectives, and promoting more active civic participation.

VIRTUAL FLIPPED CLASSROOM FOR DEVELOPING EFL STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS: DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION

developing speaking skills due to limited classroom time and cultural tendencies towards passive learning. This study investigated the effectiveness of a virtual flipped classroom in addressing these challenges and enhancing EFL students' speaking abilities. The research involved 40 Indonesian university students, divided equally into experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in a virtual flipped classroom, completing pre-class online activities and engaging in in-class speaking exercises, while the control group received traditional instruction. Pre- and post-tests assessed speaking skills, supplemented by student surveys. Results revealed significantly higher post-test scores in the experimental group compared to the control group. Furthermore, survey data indicated that students perceived the virtual flipped classroom as effective in promoting active learning and enhancing their speaking skills. This approach shows promise in overcoming cultural barriers to active participation and maximizing limited class time for speaking practice in Indonesian EFL contexts. However, further research is needed to explore long-term effects and optimal implementation strategies across diverse EFL settings.

Exploring the impact of project-based learning on critical thinking and soft skills development among Moroccan EFL students

This study examines the effects of Project-Based Learning (PBL) on the development of critical thinking and soft skills among 12th-grade Moroccan EFL students. The study used a qualitative research design and involved 24 students who participated in a PBL unit focused on addressing child marriage. Data collection methods included focus group discussions and reflections from the teacher-researcher. The findings show that PBL effectively enhances critical thinking by involving students in activities that require them to learn and apply various skills such as analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information in real-life situations. Students also reported increased engagement and improvements in critical thinking skills as well as some soft skills, particularly in teamwork and communication. However, the study identified challenges related to time management and unequal participation in group tasks. The study emphasizes the potential of PBL to enhance students’ critical thinking and essential skills in educational settings, specifically in an EFL context. Recommendations of the study include implementing strategies to improve time management and establish clear group roles to maximize the benefits of PBL.

Investigating EFL English-Majored Students’ Perceptions of Interactive Teaching Methods in Language Classes

This study investigates the perceptions of EFL English-major students at Nam Can Tho University regarding interactive teaching methods. Interactive methods, which include activities such as group work, discussions, role-playing, and peer feedback, are increasingly adopted in language education to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. Grounded in Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) and sociocultural theory, the study explores both the benefits and challenges associated with these methods. A 20-item questionnaire, adapted from existing literature, was administered to 70 students to gather data on their experiences. The findings reveal that students recognize significant benefits of interactive methods, including increased motivation, improved language skills, and practical application of English. However, challenges such as difficulties in transitioning from traditional methods, staying focused due to distractions, managing group activities, addressing cultural influences, and ensuring equal participation were also identified. The study highlights the need for targeted support and professional development for educators, effective classroom management strategies, and culturally responsive teaching practices to enhance the effectiveness of interactive teaching methods. These insights contribute to the ongoing discourse on interactive teaching and offer practical recommendations for improving language instruction in EFL contexts.

TEACHING EFL LISTENING IN MOROCCAN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS

The listening skill is one of the most important, but challenging language skills to teach to EFL learners. However, the way it is generally taught in EFL contexts does not seem to be conducive to its acquisition. This study investigates the teaching of EFL listening in Moroccan public high schools. More specifically, it probes into how and how often the listening skill is taught. To this end, a mixed-method approach is adopted, which combines data from questionnaires, document analysis, interviews, and classroom observations collected from 158 teachers and 144 students who volunteered to participate in this study. The findings revealed that Moroccan public high school EFL teachers rarely teach listening due to various reasons. When they do teach it, though, they generally adopt a product-based approach that focuses mainly on testing comprehension. The study concludes with numerous pedagogical and research implications, such as the need for quality pre-service and in-service training in the teaching of EFL listening and the need for improving the quality and approach of listening materials and activities in the textbooks.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0738/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Phrase Frame Use in EFL Learners’ Argumentative Essays: A Corpus-Based Comparative Study

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the features and development of multi-word formulaic sequences for foreign language learners in the field of second language acquisition. While considerable amount of research has been conducted on continuous formulaic sequences both domestically and abroad, scant attention has been rendered to discontinuous phrase frames. Adopting a corpus linguistic perspective, the current study compares and analyses second language learners from different backgrounds with native speakers, focusing on the phrase frame features identified in the argumentative essays written by Chinese and German EFL learners. With a corpus-based approach, the four-word phrase frames are extracted from the English TOEFL essay texts of Chinese and German students using AntConc 4.1.4 corpus analysis software. The top 100 most frequently occurring phrase frames are manually filtered and then classified according to their structural and functional features to identify similarities and differences in terms of overall frequency, structure, and function features of phrase frames between two groups of learners and with those of native writers. The findings reveal that L2 learners significantly employ more fixed and predictable phrase frames than their native writers, with German L2 learners using more phrase frames than their Chinese L2 counterparts. In terms of functional features, German L2 learners use more stance and discourse organizing expressions than Chinese L2 learners. Awareness of the essay genre, English proficiency, and the time-limited writing environment are contributing factors to these features. Therefore, the study suggests that the accuracy and variety of phrase frame usage are more representative of L2 learners’ acquisition and writing quality than their quantity of use. This study facilitates an understanding of different EFL learners’ phraseological competence through the lens of their p-frame use and provides pedagogical insights accordingly into teaching and learning argumentative essays in EFL contexts.

Mapping the ecological constellation of loving pedagogy practice in EFL contexts: a transcendental phenomenological analysis

Mapping the ecological constellation of loving pedagogy practice in EFL contexts: a transcendental phenomenological analysis

Effects of computer-mediated collaborative writing tasks on Chinese EFL learners’ writing development: a focus on group size

ABSTRACT Despite support in previous studies for computer-mediated collaborative writing (CMCW) in L2 writing instruction, only a few studies have examined whether CMCW tasks can lead to individual writing development. Even less is known about the potential influence of group size on individual writing gains following CMCW. This study aims to investigate the effects of group size in the design of computer-mediated collaborative writing (CMCW) tasks on English as a foreign language learners’ overall writing performance, as well as on measures of writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF). A pre-test - post-test quasi-experimental research design was used with 56 second-year English major students from a Chinese university. Over eight weeks, the participants completed three out-of-class CMCW tasks either in pairs (n = 28) or in groups of four (n = 28). The effects of the CMCW tasks and group size were examined using gain scores on overall writing performance and CAF from timed argumentative pre- and post-test writing tasks. The results revealed the beneficial effects of CMCW tasks on improving students’ overall writing performance, accuracy, and fluency. It also indicated that students working in groups of four significantly outperformed those working in pairs on writing accuracy. Implications for CMCW tasks in the EFL context are discussed.

Exploring the impact of screencast-based ipsative assessment on EFL students’ writing development

Screencast technology in English writing assessment offers personalized, detailed feedback, but not dialogic. However, integrating it with ipsative assessment (IA) principles may sustain conversations between teachers and learners on students’ writing development. This study explored the impact of screencast-based ipsative assessment (SIA) on developing students’ writing skills in an Iranian EFL context. Screencast technology recorded teachers’ feedback and facilitated students’ access to and reflection on their previous works. A qualitative research design was used to analyze teacher’s feedback profiles and students’ reflections. The findings revealed that SIA engaged participants in ipsative self-assessment, enhanced their self-regulation skills in writing, and created a comforting and socially safe environment where they felt supported and encouraged to take risks, knowing that their mistakes could be considered part of the learning process. However, SIA caused some students to focus on their scores rather than skill development in their writing tasks. The findings suggest that English teachers can utilize screencast technology for precise, detailed ipsative feedback in an IA regime. SIA procedures may encourage student self-assessment and foster a dialog between teachers and students to seek clarification and plan their next move in writing progress.

Addressing Low Speaking Proficiency in EFL Students: The Impact of Integrated Teaching Strategies in an Islamic Education Setting

The primary aim of this study was to address the challenges of low speaking proficiency and motivation among second-year students in an Islamic education university department. This was achieved by implementing an integrated teaching strategy within a Classroom Action Research (CAR) framework to enhance students' speaking skills and active involvement in the learning process. The study employed a CAR design, conducted over two cycles. Each cycle comprised four stages: planning, action, observation, and reflection. The intervention involved an integrated teaching strategy that combined multiple language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—within a cohesive instructional framework. Data were collected through post-tests, observation checklists, and reflection notes. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The results demonstrated significant improvements in both speaking performance and student engagement between Cycle 1 and Cycle 2. In Cycle 1, the majority of students scored in the "Fair" category, with only 24.39% achieving "Good" scores. Following strategic adjustments, Cycle 2 saw a marked increase in average post-test scores, with 87.80% of students meeting or exceeding the success criteria. The level of active involvement also rose significantly, reflecting the effectiveness of the revised integrated strategy. The findings highlight the value of integrated language instruction and the importance of iterative refinement in teaching methodologies. This study contributes to the theoretical understanding of language acquisition and offers practical insights for EFL educators, particularly in contexts where students face challenges in developing speaking proficiency. The study underscores the need for creating supportive and engaging learning environments that foster student participation and language development.This study provides empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of integrated teaching strategies in EFL contexts, particularly within Islamic education settings. It demonstrates how Classroom Action Research can be utilized to improve teaching practices and student outcomes continuously. The research offers a model that can be adapted and applied in similar educational contexts to enhance language learning.

Targeted feedback for Indonesian-speaking classrooms in higher education context: A perspective from educators’ lens

In today's interconnected world, excellent communication is essential to develop relationships and cooperate with people from various cultural backgrounds. Therefore, individuals with strong speaking abilities can explain their views clearly, negotiate successfully, and develop rapport across borders. However, many students are still facing difficulties and anxiety in producing spoken context in English classrooms. In terms of speaking skills in the EFL context, targeted feedback is a sort of instruction that is particular and focused, given to an individual based on their performance, activities, or habits. In educational settings, it is intended to specifically address specific parts of an individual's work or skill development in a precise manner. This qualitative study that involved 10 lecturers at college levels aimed to reveal their perspectives on the targeted feedback for speaking proficiency. The multiple-case study was applied here to identify and analyze the issue in speaking classrooms. Focus Group Discussion was conducted as a research instrument and analyzed using verbatim techniques. Findings revealed teachers are still facing challenges, yet they are exploring good chances to nurture students’ speaking skills at the same time. Additionally, the perspectives also figured out the principles of targeted feedback practised by the lecturers in speaking classes.

Use of Technology in EFL Classroom: A Study to Evaluate the Training Needs of Teachers in Line with Saudi Vision 2030

This research study attempts to investigate and evaluate the training needs of teachers in the EFL context while using technology to meet the desired learning outcomes. This is an exciting area to investigate as it would provide an insight into the psyche of the EFL instructors. The primary objective of this research work is to review the challenges encountered by the university faculties while using technology and to determine methods that can contribute to resolving these problems. The study is thoroughly based on a few premises, such as language teachers needing to be trained more to deal with the rapid development of technology and still relying on traditional teaching methods with little or no use of technology in and outside the classrooms. These challenges can be attributed to various factors, such as a lack of proper training modules for language teachers and a lack of motivation to learn and incorporate technology in their teaching methodology. Furthermore, the current research shall enhance the technological competence of EFL instructors to meet the desired learning outcomes of English language programs in line with Saudi Vision 2030. A mixed-methods strategy was used in the study to collect data on the demands of EFL teachers in Saudi Arabian higher education, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results indicate a strong interest in learning new technologies to enhance classroom engagement and show a dire need to develop a training module for the instructors to enhance the technological competence of EFL instructors.

Self-Monitoring Foci, Speed, and the Relationship with Pausing Behavior in an EFL Context

Self-Monitoring Foci, Speed, and the Relationship with Pausing Behavior in an EFL Context

Book Review: Teaching and Learning Writing in ESL/EFL, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2021

This article reviews the volume Teaching and Learning Writing in ESL/EFL by Rachael Ruegg, edited by Peter Yongqi Gu and Guoxing Yu, and published in 2021 by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, Beijing. The book provides a comprehensive overview of writing instruction, particularly within the EFL context, and addresses topics that practically-minded readers would expect, such as writing pedagogies, feedback, and assessment. This review explores these aspects in detail and reflects on the book’s strengths and weaknesses, offering suggestions on how the book could be utilised effectively.