English As A Foreign Language University Students Research Articles

Working memory as a predictor of reading and listening comprehension in EFL college students: A reinvestigation

This study re-examines the role of working memory in aural/oral comprehension among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) college students, building upon previous research (Aldosari & Mekheimer, 2018). The investigation aims to determine the predictive relationship between working memory span and both reading and listening comprehension skills, with a particular focus on understanding whether specific working memory components contribute differentially to comprehension abilities. A sample of 100 female and 100 male EFL college students participated. Participants were administered working memory tasks, including the WRMT-III Passage Comp. subtest, followed by standardized reading and listening comprehension tests (WIAT II). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that the WRMT-III Passage Comp. subtest was a powerful predictor of both reading and listening comprehension, consistently across genders. This subtest made a significant unique contribution to predicting comprehension skills even when controlling for other working memory components. T-tests revealed no significant differences in comprehension scores between male and female participants. The study highlights the crucial role of working memory in EFL college students' aural/oral comprehension and underscores the potential of the WRMT-III Passage Comp. subtest as a valuable tool for assessing working memory skills relevant to language learning. Further research examining the influence of individual working memory components on specific comprehension skills is recommended.

Investigating the Impact of Strategies Used in Contextualization and Structures Toward Teaching English Words for EFL University Students

The aim of the study was to find out the impact of strategies used in contextualization and structures toward teaching English words for Libyan EFL university students. The used a pretest and a posttest. The participants in this study were 65 students from a university in Sebha learning English as a foreign language (EFL) with their 2 English language teachers. The students were divided into two groups. The result showed that contextualization was effective for high performers (HPs) regarding contextual speaking and writing. Strategies used in structures effective for average performers (APs) and low performers (LPs). The average performers (APs) and low performers (LPs) taught by the structural strategies had better performance due to analyzing words morphologically, and the students’ participation and collaboration with each other.

Exploring the attitudes of EFL university instructors and students toward utilizing ChatGPT for acquiring writing fluency and accuracy skills

Technological advancements, including ChatGPT, influence foreign language education in several ways. This study specifically explores the attitudes of university instructors and students regarding the use of ChatGPT, a robust language model capable of producing error-free essays and translating texts, among other uses, to enhance writing fluency and accuracy skills in English as a foreign language (EFL). Four research questions were addressed to examine the study’s main concerns. Conducted during the 2023–2024 academic year at a private university in Sharjah, where the author works, the study involved a sample of EFL instructors and students. A mixed methods design was used by employing two tools: a five-point Likert scale questionnaire comprising nine items and a semi-free interview with two questions. The findings indicated that most of the study’s subjects did not view utilizing ChatGPT in EFL higher education as significant in terms of augmenting writing fluency and accuracy skills. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that using ChatGPT for the acquisition of fluent and accurate writing skills is not significantly impactful in EFL in higher education. Unless wisely utilized as a supportive tool for developing writing abilities rather than the main means for performing writing tasks, ChatGPT utilization is not significantly beneficial.

The associations between EFL learners’ L2 class belongingness, emotion regulation strategies, and perceived L2 proficiency in an online learning context

ABSTRACT Although the sense of belongingness plays a major influence in fostering intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being, scant research attention has been given to English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ belongingness in relation to peers and teachers and its outcomes in L2 learning contexts. Additionally, despite the importance of emotion regulation in L2 education, little is known about its role in mediating the impact of L2 belongingness on self-assessment of L2 proficiency in online L2 learning environments. Therefore, the present study used survey data to examine the associations between learners’ sense of class belongingness, their preferred emotional regulation strategies (reappraisal vs. suppression) and self-perceived English proficiency, in a sample of 191 Turkish EFL university students. Path analysis results indicated significant direct paths between social belongingness with peers and academic belongingness with teachers, respectively, and the emotional regulation strategy of reappraisal. Further analysis indicated a significant indirect association between social belongingness with peers and perceived L2 proficiency through the measure of reappraisal emotional regulation. There was also a significant indirect relationship via reappraisal between academic belongingness with teachers and perceived L2 proficiency. The results are discussed in connection with self-determination theory and social identity theory, and implications are drawn for teaching.

From general critical questions to scheme-relevant critical questions in the instruction on argument evaluation for EFL graduate students: A two-cycle action research

For graduate students to succeed, acquiring skill at evaluating arguments is crucial, but reaching mastery at argument evaluation necessitates perspicacity and a willingness to challenge recognized authorities, published articles, and heretofore accepted “truths.” Teaching university students to become more effective at critique, however, has seldom been the focus of academic study within the context of English as a foreign language (EFL). In this action research, a critical-question approach was employed in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) class designed to instruct graduate-level science majors to critique popular science articles. Instructional focus shifted, as the action research progressed, from general critical questions to scheme-relevant critical questions drawing upon Walton's argumentation scheme theory. Students' skill development level was assessed through group oral critiques and individual critique essay writing. Subsequent discourse-based interviews with five students revealed nuances in skill development. Results indicated that students' oral critique skills improved over time, whereas substantial enhancements in the targeted goal of their critique essay writing did not materialize. This study showcases how EFL university students' exposure to societal, rhetorical and power dynamics within a specific sociocultural context can impact their performance in critiquing written English text.

Enhancing Indonesian EFL Learners’ Speaking Skills through Digital Storytelling based on Local Folktales

This study investigates the effectiveness of enhancing Indonesian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ speaking skills through digital storytelling grounded in local folktales. The study, which was conducted among first-year university students at Universitas Bumi Persada consisting of 8 people, used a case study. The information was gathered by observing the lecturer who integrated both digital storytelling and local folktales into her instruction in the classroom. To gain more comprehensive data and in-depth information, students were also interviewed regarding their experiences and opinions. The study explores the integration of digital storytelling techniques with traditional local folktales to foster speaking proficiency among EFL students. The research intends to provide significant insights into creative language teaching methodologies by leveraging technology and local culture. The findings show that digital storytelling has a considerable impact on students' speaking ability, providing light on the possibilities of adding culturally rich narratives into language teaching. This study adds to the pedagogical discourse by highlighting the potential of digital storytelling as a catalyst for enhancing speaking abilities, particularly among EFL university students in Indonesia.

Investigating EFL learners’ inferential listening comprehension skills through computerized dynamic assessment

Studies on listening comprehension have increasingly used Computerized Dynamic Assessment (CDA), a new strand of Vygotsky’s dynamic assessment. This study investigated whether English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ responsiveness to CDA mediation significantly enhanced their inferential skills in multiple-choice listening comprehension tests. Moreover, it examined the role of guess-checking items in reducing the guessing effect. A sample of 94 Iranian EFL university students of B2 proficiency level (38 male and 56 female) was recruited through purposeful sampling. The researchers designed and operated CDA software delivered through a dedicated website, www.lingeli.com, to assess EFL inferential listening comprehension skills. The quantitative data obtained from the participant’s performance in the pretest and the mediation stage were analyzed using SPSS. Two paired-sample T-tests were run to compare EFL learners’ mediated and actual scores to explore the development of their inferential listening and compare the actual scores of learners with and without calculating guessing effect scores, respectively. The results showed that learners’ responsiveness to mediation significantly changed their performance on the CDA of inferential listening skills. Additionally, adding guess-checking items significantly decreased the impact of guessing in the CDA multiple-choice tests, which provided the opportunity to obtain a more comprehensive picture of learners’ abilities. The findings offered more insights into the effective role of CDA in improving EFL learners’ inferential listening comprehension skills. They called for implementing CDA programs to diagnose learners’ deficiencies and strengths and uncover their zone of proximal development.

Exploring the effectiveness of digital writing tools on Thai EFL students’ writing

Mastering writing in English is crucial for English as a foreign language (EFL) learners; nevertheless, they encounter numerous difficulties, such as idea development, grammar complexities, vocabulary range, or even the pressure from writing anxiety. Consequently, many educators employ digital writing tools to enhance EFL learners’ English writing skills. This study aimed to explore Thai EFL university students’ perceptions of two digital writing tools, Paragraph Punch and ProWritingAid, as well as to investigate students’ writing performance. Participants consisted of 53 undergraduate EFL students enrolled in English education at a university in Thailand. Three research instruments were utilized: a 30-item questionnaire investigating participants’ perceptions of writing problems, a pre- and post-writing test assessing students’ writing development, and a semi-structured interview exploring students’ views on integrating digital writing tools in writing classes. The questionnaire findings emphasized various challenges students encountered in writing, including difficulties with idea development, grammar, and paragraph organization. The research further indicated a significant enhancement in students’ writing abilities after using digital writing tools. Additionally, students perceived that the improvements in their writing proficiency were due to the supportive guidance and real-time feedback provided by these digital writing tools. Nevertheless, there were concerns regarding excessive dependency on digital tools, the need for supplementary teacher feedback, and technological barriers.

Exploring the relationship between digital gaming, language attitudes, and academic success in EFL university students

The potential of digital games in education has been widely discussed, yet there is a significant gap in the literature regarding their influence on foreign language learning, particularly in Central Europe, and using mixed-method research designs. This study aims to fill this gap by providing empirical data from a new cultural context. Using a mixed-method research design, it investigates the impact of gaming on language learning outcomes of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) university students. A total of 99 Slovak university students of English as a foreign language were selected by convenience sampling, of which 10 were chosen for qualitative interviews to triangulate the data. The results reveal a significant improvement in vocabulary knowledge and a reported increase in positive language attitudes among gamers compared to non-gamers, with no significant difference in grade point averages between the two groups. These findings highlight the potential of digital gaming to enhance vocabulary learning and foster positive attitudes towards language learning among EFL students. Recommendations for future research are provided.

The relationship between trait emotional intelligence and English language performance among Chinese EFL university students: The mediating roles of boredom and burnout

With the wave of positive psychology in second language acquisition, more emotion factors are gaining scholarly attention. Despite extensive research on Trait Emotional Intelligence (TEI), burnout and boredom in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) studies, the interplay of these variables remains unknown and the related impact on EFL learner's English Language Performance (ELP) is still underexplored. Given this, in light of Control-Value Theory (CVT), the present study used a quantitative method to examine the mediating roles of boredom and burnout in the connection between TEI and ELP among Chinese university students engaged in EFL endeavor. Data were collected from 489 second-year EFL students. Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the relationships. Results revealed that TEI significantly influences ELP among Chinese EFL university students, through its correlation with both boredom and burnout. Higher levels of TEI are associated with reduced experiences of these negative states, which in turn are linked to improved language performance. These may imply that teacher educators should integrate emotional intelligence training into curricula and professional development to improve students' effectiveness and learning outcome.

The Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies of EFL College Students

The research examines the facets of student-centred practices that students believe to be most advantageous. We focus specifically on the self-efficacy and self-regulated learning (SRL) techniques of English as a foreign language (EFL) college students since these strategies support students' progress in learning the language. In Mongolian English classes, teacher-centred instruction—in which teachers instruct pupils in a foreign language—remains the most common method. It is discouraged for students to focus on their learning strategies and content understanding. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and SRL strategies of Mongolian EFL college students. A correlation analysis between variables was used to investigate the inter-relationship between self-efficacy and SRL strategies in L2 speaking of EFL students. The findings indicate that students who are driven to learn English are more likely to manage their time and exertion in the process of self-learning, based on the major findings of this study. Because the results clearly show that English instruction at Mongolia's higher education level has improved, the findings are especially noteworthy.

An Exploratory Study of Vocabulary Learning Strategies by Saudi Female First-year EFL University Students

The aim of this exploratory study is to investigate the vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) used by 55 Saudi female freshmen students studying English as a foreign language (EFL). The participants were enrolled in their second level of English (ELI 112) in the university’s foundation program. To provide rich detailed data, the study integrated two research instruments to collect the data: a closed/open-ended questionnaire that adapted Schmitt’s (1997) taxonomy of VLSs, and a vocabulary diary learning log. The overall results of this study show that the participants used all the different VLSs at different rates. Participants tended to resort more to memory VLSs followed by determination, cognitive, social, and finally metacognitive strategies.

UNVEILING STUDENTS' CHALLENGES AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS PROJECT-BASED LEARNING IN ENGLISH-SPEAKING TERTIARY CLASSROOM

University students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) often struggle with speaking anxiety, limited practice opportunities, and performance pressure. This paper explores the challenges and attitudes of EFL university students towards Project-Based Learning (PBL) implemented in a speaking class at the tertiary level in the Indonesian context. The study included 35 university students from a public university in Indonesia. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach to examine students' attitudes and challenges. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the questionnaire revealed predominantly positive attitudes towards PBL. The interviews uncovered challenges, such as lack of confidence, pronunciation difficulties, time constraints, heavy workload, and performance anxiety. Despite these challenges, the students had positive attitudes, emphasising PBL's potential for enhancing speaking skills. The study recommends targeted interventions to address lingering challenges and refine PBL implementation.

Exploring Chinese College Students’ Emotions in EFL Speaking Classrooms

This paper aims to report on Chinese college students’ emotions in English as a foreign language (EFL) speaking classrooms, including the trajectory of their emotions, and their perceived impacts of these emotions on their performances in class. Through conducting a case study among 12 Chinese college students and qualitatively analyzing the reflections and interview data collected over a semester, the present research, adopting the Positive Psychology perspective, reveals diverse emotions experienced by students in their EFL speaking classrooms. The emotions students felt were both complex and dynamic throughout the semester, and were found to interact with the changing internal and external factors, displaying a transition from the mixed emotions of excitement and anxiety to lower-intensity emotions (i.e., relaxation and boredom), and finally becoming inter-individually varied. As for the impacts of students’ emotions, students believed that both positive and negative emotions were associated with their performances in class. The present study suggests that much attention should be paid to EFL college students’ emotions in speaking classrooms both by themselves and by their teachers, and provides some possible sources of their emotions. In order to enhance students’ psychological well-being and achieve better teaching effects, this study also recommends pedagogical practices that boost positive emotions and reduce negative emotions to be incorporated into EFL speaking classes.

Cultivating global citizenship education in higher education: Learning from EFL university students’ voices

This study outlines the perceptions and views of Jordanian students regarding global citizenship at university in terms of their knowledge of global citizenship education (GCED), curricula and instruction processes. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews with fifteen English as a foreign language (EFL) university students studying in the 2022–23 academic year. The findings reveal that students had a basic understanding of GCED, which was often confused with national citizenship. Universities delivered courses that touched on GCED-related topics without focusing on the subject and academic staff required more empowerment in designing curricula or addressing GCED, as students reported that educators often presented GCED topics directly, with limited emphasis on learner-centred approaches. The study concludes by proposing recommendations for the sustainable integration of GCED into universities, encompassing documents used throughout universities and classroom pedagogical practices. These suggestions have international implications.

The Use of Google Translate and U-Dictionary as Machine Translation for Translating Text: EFL College Student’s Preference and Perceptions

Several studies have investigated the effects of using Google Translate and U-Dictionary on translation products for English as a foreign language (EFL) student. However, students' preferences regarding these two machines’ translation for translating texts in EFL translation classes in Indonesia still seem relatively few and have not been much explored. This research aimed to determine which machine translation EFL college students prefer for translating their text. This study used a qualitative case study approach. In investigating students’ preferences, questionnaires, and in-depth interview were used as data collection tools. Seventeen students were selected by purposive sampling and were administered an online questionnaire. Then, students participated in in-depth interviews and obtained further information from an online questionnaire. We then analyzed the data using two techniques, including frequency counts for quantitative data and qualitative analysis through thematic analysis for qualitative data. The findings reveal that students prefer Google Translate over U-Dictionary for three reasons. First, they consider Google Translate as a complete machine translation with various features that help them translate text. Second, Google Translate increases student's knowledge of new vocabulary. Third, Google Translate makes the translation process more accessible for students. It is so easy to access. However, U-Dictionary also received high marks because students felt more confident in the accuracy of the U-Dictionary translation results. Therefore, it is believed that combining these two machines’ translations will make the student's translation process more accessible

EFL University Students’ Acceptance and Readiness for e-Learning: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has become essential approach in the field of language learning especially for English as a foreign language (EFL) education. Because ICTs are widely use in higher education, students must be highly digitally proficient and have positive attitudes in order to efficiently manage their classes. Thus, the purpose of this study is to contribute to the literature on EFL university students’ perspectives regarding e-learning integration. In this study we extend the technology acceptance model (TAM) to investigate the factors that influence e-learning acceptance and readiness in the context of foreign language learning. Quantitative method was applied in this study, which involved 298 student teachers of English department at a state university in Indonesia. The instrument used in collecting the data was a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed by using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with the SmartPLS3 program. PLS-SEM was used to analyze the proposed hypotheses developed in fulfilling the study objectives. The results indicated the complex relationships between the perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived enjoyment, motivation, self-efficacy, attitude and actual use of e-learning. Furthermore, the findings revealed that perceived enjoyment and self-efficacy did not have significant influence on actual use of e-learning through the mediating role of perceived usefulness. The findings can help both instructors and students adjust the integration of e-learning in English learning by implementing a learning curriculum and needs that are in line with the user's initial usage objectives, so that users can recognize the importance of e-learning's ease of use and usefulness. This study contributes to educational institutions and e-learning developers to consider developing e-learning apps that support student-centered learning with useful and ease of use to improve students' attitudes towards the use of e-learning. By incorporating e-learning into English language learning, students will have more time to practice and improve their English language skills.

Book clubs as a possible approach to bibliotherapy: an L2 online book club for EFL learners

ABSTRACT In the spring of 2022, I started an online book club for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in a university in Shanghai. Over the research period of four months, eight participants who joined this book club and stuck around until the last book talk meeting were interviewed. They met every 2 weeks online to talk about the stories. The findings show that a group of Chinese EFL college students’ expectations for this L2 (a second language) book club, such as improving English, enjoying reading, and relaxing, have been met. It concludes that book clubs could be a possible approach to bibliotherapy.

Investigating English Language Difficulties Faced by EFL University Students among Fourth-Year BA English Major

This study investigated the current difficulty levels encountered by EFL university students among fourth-year BA English majors in fundamental areas of English language skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. A quantitative research design was employed, and the study utilized a purposive sampling method to select participants among fourth-year BA English majors from the Faculty of Liberal Arts. A self-made questionnaire was administered to assess students’ perceived challenges, scoring average difficulty ratings of 3.32 for general English skills, with specific averages of 3.16 for writing, 3.20 for listening, 3.22 for speaking, and 3.18 for reading. The results indicated that students experience concerning difficulties, particularly in writing and speaking, where a significant number reported anxiety and a lack of confidence in their communicative abilities. Additionally, challenges in listening comprehension, especially concerning diverse accents, were highlighted, emphasizing the need for targeted pedagogical interventions in these areas. Furthermore, grammar and vocabulary were identified as critical domains requiring additional instructional emphasis. To address these challenges, the study proposes several essential steps within the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) framework. It aims to expand further enhancement of the curriculum through the integration of practical courses that emphasize real-world communication, such as business communication and public speaking. In addition, it suggests increasing interactive classroom activities to mitigate anxiety and uplift student confidence, while recommending the incorporation of new opportunities to facilitate the application of language skills in authentic and even more realistic contexts.

Exploring the Effects of Using Podcasts on EFL College Students with Low English Proficiency Listening Comprehension

This study delves into the impact of using Podcasts on college students with low English proficiency. The objectives of the study encompass understanding students’ attitudes toward Podcasts concerning listening comprehension, evaluating the influence of Podcasts on motivation for listening skills, and comparing pre-test and post-test results. Employing a mixed-method design, quantitative data were gathered through pre-and post-tests as well as a questionnaire, while qualitative data were derived from semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that a majority of students exhibited improvement in their post-test results, underscoring the effectiveness of Podcasts. The responses from the questionnaire indicated that the students derived high levels of enjoyment and experienced improved skills as a result of Podcast usage. Notably, motivation and vocabulary acquisition also displayed significant gains. The semi-structured interviews further corroborate the positive impact of Podcasts on language acquisition. Podcasts actively engage students through their versatility and stimulating content, fostering positive attitudes, motivation, and enjoyment. Ultimately, this study highlights Podcasts as a valuable tool for enhancing language education, offering autonomy, exposure to authentic materials, and heightened engagement. This study recommends further exploration of Podcasts’ efficacy for college students of English by conducting larger-scale studies encompassing diverse proficiency levels and extended timelines. Incorporating student perspectives and insights into future research endeavors will enrich understanding and application. This study contributes to the enhancement of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ listening skills through the integration of Podcast, providing a foundation for future investigations.