Second Language Learners Of English Research Articles

The acoustics of the alignment of focus prosody and lexical stress: A production study of native speakers and second language learners of English

In English, the tonal target of a pitch accent is aligned with lexical stress. Therefore, the phonetic realization of contrastive focus prosody, phonologically marked by a H*/L + H* pitch accent, is expected to vary depending on the stress pattern of the focused word. This study explored acoustic effects of the alignment of lexical stress and focus prosody and examined how it is learned by Korean learners of English, whose first language lacks lexical stress. Ten native English speakers (L1) and 19 Korean learners of English (L2) participated in a read-aloud task, in which they produced nine trisyllabic words with primary stress on one of the three syllables with contrastive focus (e.g., Animal, vaNILla, engiNEER). For each syllable, three acoustic measures were extracted: the height of pitch peak, periodic energy mass, and the direction of pitch movements (Albert et al., 2021; Cangemi et al., 2019). Results revealed that the height of pitch peak, a conventional measure of both lexical stress and contrastive focus, did not properly demonstrate their alignment. Instead, the stressed syllable of the focused words was marked by its overall prominence (mass) or the direction of pitch movements, depending on the stress pattern. The L2 speakers’ productions were similar to the L1 productions, but there were indications of an influence of their L1 prosody and English proficiency. [This work was supported by the Ministry of Education and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2022S1A5A8052482).]

A Systemic Functional Analysis on Texts Written by ESL Learners, and A Text on Daily English Canada Newspaper, and Its Implication for English Teaching and Learning Improvement

This study aims to reveal characteristics of English language produced by English as Second Language (ESL) Learners in the form of written text. By using a theme and rheme analysis. Within the Systemic Functional Analysis Framework, the writer compared the features of English language utilized by ESL learners and those by native proficient writer of an English Newspaper called English Daily Cananda for their textual meaning. The Analysis comprises analysis of different aspects of language use in a written text which include the analysis of thematic structure, thematic development, and textual cohesion. The result of the analysis shows the distinctive characteristics amongst the three texts from which teachers of English as Second language classes can draw a conclusion in order to design a lesson plan which is more suitable for the students. It is expected that this analysis can provide a way of understanding the limitation of the resources available in students’ mind, and whether or not the students successfully utilize these resources for social purpose, thus gives contribution and implication towards the future direction of the English as Second Language teaching and learning.

Suitable ESL Classroom Size and Environment for Effective Learning at Tertiary Level in Bangladesh

Creating an effective learning environment in tertiary-level classrooms in Bangladesh can be challenging. The size of the classroom and the atmosphere within it can have a significant impact on the learning experience and outcomes of students. Classroom size is an important factor to consider when creating a space conducive to learning. The study sights on the consequence of ESL (English as Second Language) classroom size and environment at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. The study is qualitative in nature. It is consisted of a review of the extensive literature in the respective field, interviews with twenty English teachers from two renowned private universities in Bangladesh, and the observation of twenty classrooms from those universities. It has been found from the cross-checking of teachers’ interviews and classroom observation that most of the universities do not have suitable classroom size as well as the environment negatively impacted on ESL learners. A classroom that is too small or too large can make it difficult for students to learn effectively. Ideally, class size should be between 25-30 students for optimal learning outcomes. Besides, larger class sizes may require additional materials and resources to ensure that each student has access to the necessary materials. Furthermore, the classroom must be well-lit and ventilated so as to create a comfortable environment for learning. Finally, it is important for teachers to consider the physical layout of the classroom and ensure that it facilitates an atmosphere conducive to effective instruction. By taking these considerations into account, teachers are able to create an environment where students are able to learn effectively and reach their full potential.

Online Game-Based Learning Enhance ESL Learners’ Vocabulary Learning: Benefits and Challenges

Vocabulary is an essential element in learning language for English Second Language (ESL) learners, it plays important roles in language learning and it is challenging in learning the vocabulary. Not only how the words are spelled but the knowledge on the meaning of the words are important too. Therefore, in learning vocabulary, there are multiple ways, strategies and techniques used by the educators to help ESL learners master the vocabulary. Online game-based learning is one of the techniques that is recently mainly used by educators. As some games are integrating with the use of technology, it not only brings fun in language learning but also changes the old style of vocabulary learning and makes the learning more meaningful. There are a lot of benefits and also challenges of online game-based learning in learning vocabulary. Hence, this paper reviews the benefits and the challenges of using online game-based learning as one of the ways to enhance ESL learners’ vocabulary learning. This paper could be a source of reference by educators who might use online game-based learning in their language lessons especially in vocabulary. Future researches can be done by looking into some innovations that using online game-based learning that helps the other language skills such as listening, speaking, reading and writing

Bottom-up Processing (BUP) for Decoding in Teaching Listening Skills: Analysis, Issues and Suggested Activities

This conceptual study focuses on the importance of bottom-up processing (BUP) for enhancing EFL / ESL learners’ decoding ability in listening skills. As observed by the researcher and reviewed in the literature, bottom-up processing for decoding is found to be an often-neglected area in the teaching of listening skills in the field of ELT.   As a result of this, the foreign or second language learners of English are at risk in their competency in comprehending proficient speakers of English especially when they are exposed to ungraded realife spoken English outside their regular lessons. To address this issue effectively, learners and teachers of English should be made aware of the significance of BUP in terms of different listening issues faced by learners.  Moreover, the stake holders (planners, teachers, and students) should have a clear plan of action to address these issues to the benefit of learners.  Sufficient awareness of the concept of bottom-up processing for decoding in listening skills, issues faced by learners due to lack of it, and a well thought out action to deal with the issues, therefore, can help learners of English to improve their listening skills and comprehension contributing to their enhanced language proficiency.  The paper, therefore, incorporates the methodology of reviewing relevant literarature based on the researcher’s belief on the significance of bottom-up processing for teaching listening skills.  Besides the analysis of the concept of BUP, the paper includes some learner issues, and it suggests some listening activities to remedy the issues.   

Cognitive Predictors of Coherence in Adult ESL Learners’ Writing

Background. Coherence is considered one of the most important qualities of written discourse. Despite its fundamental importance, it is still considered a fuzzy and abstract concept in most English Second Language (ESL) contexts. Consequently, many ESL learners struggle to produce a coherent text. Morphological, phonological, orthographic awareness, vocabulary knowledge, and grammatical competence have been identified as predictors of writing quality in novice writers. There is, however, a lack of data to assess whether such linguistic skills also predict coherence in adult ESL learners’ writing.
 Purpose. The purpose of the study was to find out the relationships among a set of linguistic skills measures which included morphological, phonological, orthographic awareness, vocabulary knowledge and grammatical competence and coherence in adult ESL learners’ writing. 
 Methods. To testify to the potential predictors of coherence in ESL writing, adult university students (126) were assessed by the measures of the linguistic skills mentioned above in addition to four measures of coherence: two relatively reader-based measures (ILETS and the Holistic Coherence Scale) and two relatively text-based measures (Topical Structure Analysis and Topic Based Analysis). All measures of the study were proved valid and reliable.
 Results. The findings revealed that vocabulary knowledge, morphological awareness, and grammatical competence were related to the coherence measures, particularly the reader-based measures. In contrast, measures of phonological and orthographic awareness generally did not correlate with the coherence measures.
 Implication. Reasons for the associations among the variables of the study were discussed and areas for future research were offered.

Contrastive analysis of some errors committed by second language Learners of English at the English department, faculty of education, Sirte University

The main concern of this paper is to focus on the errors committed by second language learners of English at the English department faculty of education. The study is of a descriptive nature. The errors located are classified and then described in order to know the reasons behind them. The approach adopted in this research paper is a contrastive approach. The results of analysis gave a clue about the strategies adopted by Learners when confronted with a writing task. Analyzing the errors located is of vital importance for syllabus and material designers as well as classroom teachers and contributes substantially in improving language learning and teaching processes.

A STUDY ON THE USE OF METACOGNITIVE READING STRATEGIES BY LEARNERS WITH PSYCHOSOMATIC CONDITION

The study examines the influence of metacognitive reading strategies in developing the reading comprehension skills among ESL (English as Second Language) learners with the psychosomatic condition. Qualitative and quantitative research was used in the present study and it was an experimental study. Reading comprehension skill is crucial to language learners for effective decoding of the information. Metacognitive reading strategies aid the learners to develop reading strategies for effective comprehension of the text. The metacognitive strategies like pragmatic and analytical strategies were used in this research to improve the intensive and evaluative reading comprehension skills. The participants of the study are a hundred and twelve (Male and Female) tertiary level ESL learners from the undergraduate engineering program. The experiment intends to improve the reading comprehension skills among the samples with psychosomatic conditions. The sampling method used in the study was purposive sampling. Data collection tools like questionnaires, pre-test, post-test, and post-feedback questionnaires were used in the study. An android-based application will be created with the activities and instructional materials and it was circulated to the learners. Metacognitive reading activities were given to the learners through the application and data was collected. Results were quantitatively analyzed using statistical tools from the data collected through the application. The results of the present study were indicative that there is a significant improvement in the learners’ reading comprehension skills due to the intervention of metacognitive reading strategies.

Grade 10 teachers’ perceptions of their application of socio-cultural and multiple intelligences on English second language learners

In multilingual or multi-cultural settings, teachers must be sensitive to the diverse intelligence of learners for teaching and learning to have impact and be beneficial to them. Low performance and the resultant academic failure among high school learners specifically in South Africa, and inability to manage diverse learning abilities have necessitated the search for a unique way to accommodate the learning differences found in the classroom. The study focused on learners’ differences and supports implementation of differentiated instruction. Fewer studies exist on English Second Language (ESL) rural high school teachers’ perceptions of the application of socio-cultural and multiple intelligences, and on the diverse ESL learners taught to ascertain the scope of the need for teacher training in differentiated instruction in rural South Africa. Data were drawn from fifty teachers in grade ten using a questionnaire. The study revealed that it is challenging for teachers to determine learners’ intelligences and emotional needs. 66% (n=33) of the teachers agreed to accommodate students of different learning abilities, 34% (n=17) considered learners' gender differences, and 62% (n=31) considered learners’ cultural backgrounds and adopted group learning. The study mainly recommends training and supervision on the strategies for gender differences and accommodation for diverse learning abilities.

English intonation in storytelling

Abstract This paper presents data for a tightly controlled recognition and production study of English language intonation in reading by speakers of British English and second language learners of English in Hong Kong. We demonstrate a relatively high correlation between the scores for the two studies when data are separated by utterance type (statement, echo, WH-question, etc.). Our finding that this cohort of English learners performs better at production of nuclear tones than in the corresponding recognition study when both are judged by a template for British English adds support to the claim that the perception-production link, a theory that production is contingent on perception, is not borne out by the empirical study of learners of World Englishes. Data collected for the British English speakers give insight into a changing intonational phonology, while Hong Kong data indicate differences in intonational categories, a different distribution of tones, and possibly tonal innovation.

E-PORTFOLIO AS A MULTI-LAYERED ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT IN ENHANCING COLLABORATIVE WRITING SKILLS AMONG SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS OF ENGLISH

Alternative assessment is traditionally viewed as a method of evaluating students’ performance and as a formal testing method of gauging students’ performance. However, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, alternative assessment has influenced the way students learn through collaborative peer learning. This exploratory case study design integrated e-portfolio and oral presentation as an alternative assessment in measuring students’ learning performance and concur that alternative assessment provides a pathway to learning through collaborative learning in writing. The sample comprised 25 students who were from a tertiary institution undertaking an English course. By creating an e-portfolio in Google classrooms, students uploaded their written evaluative commentary of the tasks and uploaded their video recording of their oral presentations, in addition to providing their reflection and feedback on their learning experience while undergoing the alternative assessment. The e-portfolio was employed as an alternative assessment in order to measure students’ writing skills by facilitating, compiling and archiving their work using an analytical rubric. The tasks were tailored to equip students with reasoning and critical thinking skills along with key toolkits in producing evaluative commentary and group oral presentation. The quantitative data in the form of students raw score and the qualitative data from students’ written reflection and feedback were thematically. The findings of the study revealed five themes (boost confidence, enhanced communication skills, encouraged collaborative learning and teamwork and novel learning experience) that support its role as an innovating learning tool among second language learners of English in enhancing their writing skills. Additionally, students were able to explore their learning by making connections and thinking critically through collaborative learning tasks. The study concludes that e-portfolio as an alternative assessment could potentially lead to deep learning when tasks are effectively integrated in multi-layers to promote learning.

Examining the source of island effects in native speakers and second language learners of English

We investigate sensitivity to island constraints in English native speakers and Najdi Arabic learners of English, examining (1) whether second language (L2) learners whose native language (L1) does not instantiate overt wh-movement are sensitive to island constraints and (2) the source of island effects. Under a grammatical account of islands, these effects arise due to violations of syntactic constraints. Under the resource-limitation account, island effects arise due to processing difficulty. The source of island effects is interesting to examine in L2 learners because it is possible that reduced processing abilities in the L2 may lead to the low acceptance of sentences with island violations simply due to the complexity of the sentences themselves as opposed to an adherence to grammatical constraints. To tease apart these accounts, we followed Sprouse et al. in focusing on individual differences in working memory (WM). We used an acceptability judgment task (AJT) to quantify island sensitivity and an automated operation span task to measure WM. Building on Sprouse et al., the AJT tested four island types, but we made several modifications to the task design to address concerns raised by Hofmeister et al.: the stimuli included a ‘context’ sentence to improve the naturalness of the complex wh-sentences. The stimuli also included complex wh-fillers (e.g. which worker) as opposed to bare fillers ( who), as semantically rich wh-phrases have been found to be easier to process. Our results showed that learners, like natives, exhibited island sensitivity, and there was no evidence that individual differences in WM modulated island sensitivity for either natives or learners. Our results are compatible with the grammatical view of island effects and suggest that wh-dependencies in both L1 and L2 grammars are similarly constrained by syntax.

Morphosyntactic Features Versus Morphophonological Features in L2 Gender Acquisition: A Cross-Language Perspective

This paper aims to demonstrate the reliability of morphosyntactic versus morphophonological features in the acquisition of L2 gender of inanimate nouns across languages. Based on Anna Kibort study “Towards a typology of grammatical features”(2010), the current research proposes that the presence of a gendered determiner is more reliable than gendered noun-final morphemes in the process of adjective agreement within the Determiner Phrase (DP) across two gender transparency system languages. To test this hypothesis, the current research compares English second-language (L2) learners of Hebrew and Spanish. Both languages have a binary gender system for nouns; however, Hebrew lacks a determiner with gender value, but provides a plural ending morpheme that encodes both number and gender. In contrast, Spanish has a gendered article that facilitates gender acquisition, but lacks a plural ending morpheme that indicates gender. Thirty-two L1 English–L2 Spanish learners and thirty-two L1 English–L2 Hebrew learners with different proficiency levels completed an adjective-agreement forced-choice task and an adjective-agreement elicited-production task—in their respective target languages. The tasks contained Spanish opaque plural nouns and Hebrew plural transparent nouns, highlighting the role of the determiner in Spanish and the role of transparency plural-ending morphemes in Hebrew. The results revealed that Spanish L2 learners performed better on the tasks than L2 Hebrew learners, offering evidence for the relevance of syntactic agreement knowledge over phonological cues in gender acquisition.

Learning How to Use Mitigation Devices: A Peer-Supervisory Context Between a Non-Native Peer-Supervisor and a Non-Native English Teacher

Learning how to provide effective supervision can be challenging. After all, helping language teachers increase awareness regarding their teaching practices requires the difficult task of giving them critical feedback, which, at times, can be a face-threatening act as will be defined later in the paper. To soften their criticism, supervisors make use of various language strategies. However, the task of delivering feedback using such language strategies in English can be even more difficult for supervisors who are also second language learners of English. Utilizing the mitigation devices Wajnryb (1994) conceptualized, this study analyzed the language used in three post-observation conferences in a peer-supervisory discourse between a non-native English teacher and a non-native peer-supervisor. The study found that mitigation devices as conceptualized by Wajnryb (1994) were effective in structuring a non-threatening and growth-oriented supervisory context when consciously used by the non-native peer-supervisor. Keywordslanguage teacher supervision, mitigation devices, non-native language teacher supervisor, peer-supervision

A pragmatic study of congratulation strategies of Pakistani ESL learners and British English speakers

People usually express their feelings and emotions positively to others when they have happy occasions. However, the ways of expressing congratulation may vary because the expressive speech act “congratulations” is not the only way to express happiness and share others their happy news. The present study investigates the congratulation strategies of Pakistani English as second language (ESL) learners and British English speakers under the influence of social distance variable. A quantitative approach is applied in the analysis with the frequency of strategies (semantic formulas) being numerically analyzed. The current study recruited 120 participants, and who were further divided into four different groups: 30 British English speakers, 30 Pakistani ESL learners in the elite class, 30 Pakistani ESL learners of the middle class, and 30 Pakistani ESL learners in the lower class. For data collection, a discourse completion test (DCT) was used as a tool. The findings reveal that the most frequently used types of congratulation strategy are illocutionary force indicating device (IFID) followed by overlapped strategies (a combination of two), an offer of a good wish, expression of happiness, request for information, encouragement, expression of surprise, and suggestion of celebration, while other types of strategies are not used by the participants. The study reveals the existence of crosscultural differences in the use of congratulations by Pakistani ESL learners. The findings further show how the middle and lower class of Pakistani ESL learners use a more elaborated form of compliment responses (CRs) as compared to Pakistani ESL learners of elite and British English speakers. The findings may help in understanding the pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic aspects of Pakistani ESL learners as compared to British English speakers.

Blended Learning to Learn Presentation Skills Among English Second Language (ESL) Learners

This study attempts to explore and understand how the collaborative blended learning environment affects students’ presentation performance. It also intends to examine students’ perceptions of this learning environment. 25 ESL students participated in this study. This study lasted for 14-weeks and involved students participating in the conventional class and group discussion delivered both face to face in the classroom and online mode via ifolio to collaboratively develop their presentation skills. Data collected were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using the thematic and content analysis methods. The study concluded that integrating collaborative blended learning presentation skills activities in an ESL classroom enhanced students’ positive feeling towards presentations, decreased their communication apprehension and improved their presentation performance. The study implied that in order to create an ideal learning environment that helps students improve their presentation skills, collaborative blended learning presentation skills activities need to be integrated into learning and teaching. With the emergence of rapid technology, blended learning has become a useful teaching and learning approach for teachers and ESL learners, especially in learning presentation skills. However, most English courses are still practising teachers centred, thus, neglecting the important element of integrating technology with face-to-face learning activities in learning presentation skills.

Languages of learning and teaching in multilingual classrooms: educational use of the African languages

Black South African learners are registered in Model C schools to receive their education. The language of learning and teaching is English, whilst these learners’ English language proficiency is limited. They come from different urban, townships and rural areas, and their home languages are indigenous languages. The study aims to investigate and describe the challenges facing black, English second-language South African learners and to meet their needs by offering suggestions as to how they could be assisted to learn and achieve according to their full potential. The study used qualitative analysis with interview as the main data gathering tool. The participants were teachers purposively selected from the suggested pilot schools. From the phenomenological analysis the data were gathered by means of a literature review, document analysis, interviews, classroom visits and observations. The study has revealed that the black South African learners in Model C schools are faced by numerous challenges owing to their limited English proficiency, and that they do not meet the requirements to pass their grades. Their inability to cope affects their self-esteem and confidence negatively. The learners do not take risks to participate actively during lessons as they tend to avoid embarrassment and being teased by their peers. The study resulted in formulating guidelines and recommendations that will help meet the challenges faced by black South African learners in Model C schools and support them.

Effects of language experience on selective auditory attention and speech-in-noise perception among English second language learners: Preliminary findings

ObjectiveThe purpose of the study was to examine the effects of language experience on selective auditory attention and speech-in-noise perception in English Second Language (ESL) learners aged seven to eight years. MethodA quantitative, descriptive, comparative cross-sectional research design was used to determine the effect of age of exposure to English on the selective auditory attention abilities and speech-in-noise perception skills of 40 children with normal hearing in first or second grade (aged seven to eight years). The control group comprised of 20 English first language (EFL) learners (mean age = 7.35 years ±0.49) and the research group included 20 s language learners (mean age = 7.70 years ±0.47). In order to compare the control and research groups with respect to the age of exposure to English through various sources, the Mann Whitney test was used. Information regarding the age of exposure was gathered by a case history questionnaire, completed by the parents/guardians of the participants. The Selective Auditory Attention Test (SAAT) and Digits-in-Noise (DIN) test were performed in one sitting. ResultsNo statistically significant differences between the EFL and ESL groups were found for the SAAT and DIN. However, a statistically significant difference was obtained between the SAAT lists 1 and 3 & the DIN: diotic listening condition for the ESL group only (rs = −0.623; p = 0.003). The difference between the EFL and ESL groups in the mean age of exposure to English was statistically significant (p = 0,019), with mean age of exposure to English in the ESL group (mean age = 2.82 ± 0.53) being higher than the mean age of exposure in the EFL group (mean age = 1.81 ± 1.53). However, this difference did not influence the results of the SAAT and DIN significantly. ConclusionThe main finding was that selective auditory attention and speech-in-noise perception were not significantly affected in the ESL learners who participated in the study – learners who were recruited from private schools located in an urban area and thus from higher socio-economic status (SES) households. There is a need for additional research with a larger sample size to determine the selective auditory attention abilities and speech-in-noise perception skills of ESL learners in government-funded schools located in rural areas and from various socio-economic backgrounds.

‘More Online Quizzes, Please!’ The Effectiveness of Online Quiz Tools in Enhancing the Learning of Grammar among ESL Learners

The English language, is one of the most widely spoken and influential languages in the world and precisely grammatical rules are one of the most challenging aspects of learning a new language. English as Second Language (ESL) learners are prone to making grammatical errors. In accordance to this, using various online quiz tools into grammar lessons, like as Kahoot!, Quizizz, and Wordwall.net, can increase intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among students, making the sessions more interesting and relevant. Thus, this research aims to investigate the effectiveness of various online quiz tools in enhancing the learning of grammar among ESL learners. A mix-method research design applying an action research model was used in this study. Instruments such as pre-test, post-test and semi-structured interview were used to collect the needed data. Research participants involved in this research were 30 pupils of Year 3 from a rural school in Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia. The findings showed that various online quiz tools were very effective in enhancing the learning of grammar among ESL learners. The scores obtained by the learners in their post-test compared to the pre-test showed significant improvement. Moreover, the learners perceived the use of various online quiz tools in learning grammar in a positive manner. Therefore, it is hoped that this research would provide new information and serve as a guideline for teachers who want to create engaging activities in teaching grammar for young learners.

Syllable Structure Effects in Word Recognition by Spanish- and German-Speaking Second Language Learners of English

Previous findings in the literature point to the influence that speech perception has on word recognition. However, which specific aspects of the first (L1) and second language (L2) mapping play the most important role is still not fully understood. This study explores whether, and if so, how, L1-L2 syllable-structure differences affect word recognition. Spanish- and German-speaking English learners completed an AXB and a word-monitoring task in English that manipulated the presence of a vowel in words with /s/-initial consonant clusters—e.g., especially versus specially. The results show a clear effect of L1 on L2 learners’ perception and word recognition, with the German group outperforming the Spanish one. These results indicate that the similarity in the syllable structure between English and German fosters positive transfer in both perception and word recognition despite the inexact segmental mapping.