EFL High School Students Research Articles

Speaking Competence in Morocco: Challenges and Innovative Pedagogical Strategies

Speaking is one of the fundamental skills in a language. In this respect, this study aims to explore the speaking difficulties that Moroccan EFL high school students face and the strategies that teachers use to help their students overcome them. The study also seeks to answer the following questions: first, what do EFL high school teachers think about their students’ speaking abilities? Second, what are the difficulties that Moroccan EFL high school students encounter in their speaking activities? And third, what are the appropriate strategies that Moroccan EFL high school teachers use to overcome those difficulties? The data of this study has been collected via a questionnaire administered to 100 teachers from all over Morocco. The analysis of the questionnaires has revealed that the teachers are aware of their students’ speaking difficulties and they have mentioned some of them. They have also provided some strategies that they use to help their students surmount these difficulties.

The Effect of Teacher-Guided Peer Feedback on English Writing Performance of Chinese EFL High School Students

The Effect of Teacher-Guided Peer Feedback on English Writing Performance of Chinese EFL High School Students

The Effect of Mind Mapping on EFL High School Students’ Collocation Learning

The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of mind mapping on Ethiopian secondary school students’ English collocation learning. The study specifically tried to check the effectiveness of mind mapping on adjective-preposition and verb-noun combination collocations. A sample of 110 grade 12 students who were learning in two sections at Majete General Secondary School, North Shoa Zone, Ethiopia, participated in the study. One of the two sections was randomly assigned to an experimental group, while the other one was labeled as a control group. A pre-test and two post-tests were used as data-gathering instruments. The data were analyzed by using mean scores, paired samples, and independent sample t-tests. The results revealed that although the two sections had no significant difference in their pre-test results, in the immediate and delayed post-tests, the score of adjective-preposition & verb-noun collocations of the experimental group students was significantly higher than the score of the control group students who learnt those collocations without mind map. Based on this, it could be concluded that using mind map was an effective strategy to improve EFL high-school students’ collocations learning. Accordingly, it is recommended that EFL teachers and students should use mind-map during their collocations lessons.

Unleashing the potential of Indonesian EFL high school students' writing proficiency and self-regulated learning through written corrective feedback

Despite the existence of many studies on EFL student writing proficiency, little work reports how written corrective feedback influences EFL senior high school students’ self-regulated learning. This study aimed to explore the extent to which EFL high school students prefer types of written corrective feedback strategies in their written work and the impacts on their self-regulated learning. Employing an explanatory mixed-method approach, we combined quantitative data from a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire with qualitative data gathered through semi-structured interviews. Thirty-two EFL senior high school students participated in this study. A descriptive statistical method was utilized to analyze the questionnaire, while a thematic analysis was done on the interview data. The findings revealed that direct feedback was the most preferred among the various strategies of written corrective feedback, closely followed by metalinguistics feedback. Additionally, students perceived that written corrective feedback highly contributed to fostering their self-regulated learning. Thus, this study implies that teachers should be more mindful of students' preferences when providing corrective feedback.

Educaplay as a tool to potentiate English vocabulary retention and learning

Introduction: A lack of vocabulary poses a major barrier to mastering English, often leading to communication challenges. Technology can support and facilitate the teaching-learning process, notably in the acquisition of a foreign language. Thus, this research explores the impact of Educaplay, on vocabulary acquisition among EFL high school students in southern Ecuador. Methodology: This study applied a quasi-experimental design, with a sample of 60 high school students, selected through a purposeful method. To collect data a pre-test, post-test, an observation checklist, and graded vocabulary activities were employed. The significance was measured with t-student and ANOVA. Results: Educaplay evidenced to be an effective technological tool to support students' retention and improvement of vocabulary as shown by the p-value of 4.86e-15 and the F-value (49.000) and p-values (0.000). Discussion: Implementing interactive and engaging activities through Educaplay and aligned with the teacher's guidance allowed participants to increase their vocabulary, thus they understood when and how to use different terms and the correct spelling of these words. Conclusion: Participants improved their vocabulary proficiency and increased their motivation to study this language. Additionally, the findings unveil that incorporating Educaplay in the classroom promoted a productive and interactive learning environment.

Applying Peer Feedback To Enhance High School EFL Students' Writing Skills In State High School 1 Rejotangan Tulungagung

Writing is the most challenging skill in English language learning. Researchers at SMKN 1 Rejotangan observed that most students struggled with writing in English. To address this, they implemented the peer feedback method to enhance students' writing skills. The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of peer feedback in improving students’ writing abilities. Using a convergent mixed-method design, the research involved 31 students from class XI AKC 2. Instruments included pre-tests, post-tests for quantitative data, and interviews for qualitative data. Quantitative analysis was conducted using a t-test with SPSS 27, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results showed significant improvement in students' writing skills after using peer feedback, as indicated by a significance value of 0.00 < 0.05. Interviews with five selected participants also revealed positive responses. Hence, the peer feedback method positively impacted the writing abilities of class XI AKC 2 students at SMKN 1 Rejotangan.

ENHANCING L2 LEARNERS' WRITING: IMPACT OF PRODUCT AND PROCESS APPROACHES

This study investigated the effects of two approaches to teaching writing (product and process) on the development of writing skills of Moroccan EFL high-school students. Two intact classes of 86 third-year high-school students participated in the present study. A pre-test was administered to all participants to measure their writing competence in expository essay writing. Each group was then subjected to a specific treatment. The experimental group was instructed to use a process-based syllabus, while the control group followed the original product-based syllabus. In the process-oriented syllabus, students were guided through various stages of the writing process via activities like brainstorming, collaborative problem-solving, free writing, multiple drafting, structured peer feedback, and teacher-student conferences. Conversely, the product-oriented syllabus focused on teaching writing through model analysis, writing exercises, and structured feedback sessions with teachers. Following the instructional period, participants underwent a post-test to assess the impact of each approach on their writing proficiency. Statistical analyses, including Paired Samples T-test and Independent Samples T-test, demonstrated that both approaches led to improvements in students' writing performance, with the process-based approach being more effective. Participant feedback on the questionnaire also supported these findings. The study concludes by outlining implications for the teaching of writing in second language (L2) contexts.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/lit/0757/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The Influence of 'WEBTOON' as a Digital Reading Aid for High School EFL Students

After the pandemic, classrooms experienced a noticeable decline in learning outcomes, coinciding with the emergence of a more tech-savvy cohort of learners and educators. This shift prompted a quest for digital solutions to enhance student engagement, with Webtoon emerging as a prominent option. Particularly popular among Generation Z, Webtoon's straightforward yet entertaining interface, diverse themes, and captivating artwork entice users to delve into its panels during leisure time. In the following qualitative study, the perspectives of high school students from UEPSMA (Unidad Educativa Particular Salesianas María Auxiliadora) in Cuenca were examined. Through three cycles of action research employing qualitative methods, participants underwent three spontaneous quizzes and concluded with a final survey via Google Forms. Findings indicated that students found Webtoon's visuals and language usage gratifying, attributing their continued engagement to compelling storylines and vivid illustrations. Additionally, their responses underscored a sense of satisfaction with integrating a digital reading tool into the classroom, which notably bolstered their motivation for English reading.

Iranian High School EFL Students’ Attitude towards Distance Learning throughout the Covid-19 Pandemic

As in other contexts, Iranian students encountered challenges in the closedown of schools due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. The present study investigated the attitudes of 108 high school EFL students, using an online questionnaire to find out whether students preferred either to receive distance e-learning or the traditional face-to-face methods of instruction at schools. To this end, the participants completed a 20-item questionnaire. Also, the study attempted to explore EFL students’ perceptions of the use of distance learning using individual semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data and the major emergent themes were discussed. The results revealed that most of the students were not ready to adopt the ongoing distance e-learning system. They complained that the pandemic had negatively impacted their learning and found the distance e-learning system ineffective. The results suggested the need for further studies on empowering the learners and teachers to improve the effectiveness of instruction in critical situations.

From traditional writing to digital multimodal composing: promoting high school EFL students’ writing self-regulation and self-efficacy

This empirical study sought to explore further affordances of digital multimodal composing (DMC) in EFL writing classrooms. It aimed to determine whether collaborative digital multimodal composing (CDMC) could enhance self-regulated writing strategies use and self-efficacy among EFL students. Additionally, it aimed to gain insights into students’ perceptions of this composing type within their writing coursework. The study mainly examined the performance and perceptions of 50 Saudi high school EFL students who actively engaged in a nine-week intervention involving the completion of a CDMC project task. Research data were gathered using a self-regulated writing strategies questionnaire, writing self-efficacy scale, reflection survey and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data analysis showed improvements in students’ overall writing self-efficacy and use of self-regulated writing strategies. However, the effect of CDMC differed across the dimensions of both writing self-regulation and self-efficacy scales. Based on the qualitative data analysis, students demonstrated positive attitudes towards CDMC, particularly in terms of increased motivation and enjoyment, the opportunity to practise diverse writing strategies and developing self-confidence. However, their perceptions regarding the effectiveness of CDMC in improving their writing skills were mixed. The qualitative data analysis also identified several mediators shaping students’ perceptions. The study suggests that creating a collaborative DMC writing space and utilising scaffolding techniques can support EFL students’ writing self-regulation and self-efficacy. A discussion of effective ways to integrate DMC into EFL writing classes is provided, along with directions for future research.

How Do EFL Students Across Gender Perceive Classpoint toward Their Motivation in Learning English?

This study seeks the difference between female and male students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and attitudes toward using Classpoint in EFL learning. Applying quantitative research, 61 EFL high school students of Brawijaya Smart School participated in this research. The instrument used in this study was a questionnaire consisting of 21 items using a Likert-type scale—the chosen items comprised three topics (students' intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and attitudes toward the use of Classpoint). The data analysis uses SPSS 27 and t-test to seek the significance of the result of the present study. This research indicates that female students have a higher motivation rate and attitude toward using Classpoint in EFL classrooms and that students across genders significantly differ in their perception of intrinsic motivation and attitudes. It also showed that utilizing Classpoint augments intrinsic motivation better than extrinsic motivation. The result implies English teachers should motivate and encourage male students to participate in the learning process by providing fun activities and giving rewards.

Using lexical bundles to teach prepositions to Korean EFL students

Abstract Integrating corpus-based analyses with instructed SLA, this study explores how lexical bundles can be used to teach prepositions to EFL learners. It first identifies lexical bundles occurring most frequently with preposition errors in a learner corpus of L1-Korean high school student writing. It then uses the 10 identified bundles to compare three different types of instructional treatment: one hundred L1-Korean high school EFL students received either implicit instruction (teaching each bundle as a unit with no emphasis on embedded prepositions) or one of two types of explicit instruction (focusing on embedded prepositions with or without input enhancement). The explicit-instruction-with-input-enhancement group showed the greatest improvement, followed closely by the implicit-instruction group; the other explicit group showed the least improvement. These results suggest that textual enhancement can facilitate L2 preposition acquisition and that recurrent sequences such as lexical bundles can serve as a useful pedagogical means to teach linguistic forms.

The Relationship among Shenzhen Junior High School EFL Students’ Motivation, Language Anxiety and Language Learning Outcomes in the MALL Context

The Relationship among Shenzhen Junior High School EFL Students’ Motivation, Language Anxiety and Language Learning Outcomes in the MALL Context

The Impact of ‘WEBTOON’ as a Digital Reading Tool for EFL High School Students

After the pandemic, a palpable learning loss in the classrooms was left while more technological learners and teachers were born. It has led us to seek digital strategies to keep students engaged in the classrooms and one of these is the use of Webtoon. It has been widely gaining attention for its simple but fun interface in the generation Z, besides having different genres, themes, and panels with drawings that can engage users to keep reading in their leisure time. In the following qualitative study, the perspectives of high school students from UEPSMA (Unidad Educativa Particular Salesianas María Auxiliadora) in Cuenca were analyzed. Using three action research cycles with a qualitative method, they engaged in three pop quizzes and a final Google Forms survey at the end of the third. Results showed that students found Webtoon’s illustrations and vocabulary satisfying, and they continued reading because of the plot and the illustrations. Their open-ended questions also highlighted how content the majority were at using a digital reading tool in the classroom, boosting their English reading motivation.

How cultural awareness influences senior year students to achieve curricular standards through Ecuadorian literature

English proficiency is a global necessity, and Ecuador is no exception, where it has been integrated into the education curriculum to enhance language skills. However, student performance in English has remained below the desired level, falling short of the B1 proficiency standard set by the Ecuadorian Curriculum. This research focuses on assessing the influence of cultural awareness on EFL high school students through the integration of Ecuadorian literature, with the goal of aiding them in achieving the B1 proficiency level by the culmination of their senior year. For this end a survey was administered to thirty (30) high school senior students at an all-girls high school in the city of Cuenca to ascertain their stance on the incorporation of cultural material related to Ecuadorian literature in English classes following the implementation of a demonstration class. Employing a mixed-method approach, quantitative data were gathered through surveys, while qualitative insights were gleaned via open-ended questions. The findings convey a notable interest among students in embracing local literary works within their English classes, with a substantial proportion expressing a distinct preference for this pedagogical approach. These results underscore the potential of culturally relevant pedagogical strategies in language instruction.

Türkiye’de İngilizceyi Yabancı Dil Olarak Öğrenenlerin Yabancı Dil Benlik Sistemlerinin Kesitsel Desenle İncelenmesi

This paper reports the findings of a research, with a twofold aim of investigating L2 motivational self system of Turkish EFL learners and exploring how the constructs of this model interact with each other. To this end, we conducted a mixed methods research with 1168 participants from three populations of Turkish EFL learners, secondary school, high school and university students. The findings show that the tripartite mode of L2 motivational self system explains the Turkish EFL learners’ language learning motivation and that the constructs of this model contribute towards the language learning motivation following different paths for the three groups of learners from secondary school, high school and university. To investigate the possible changes these constructs undergo over time, language learning motivation trajectories of individual learners were also explored. The findings show that there is a dynamic interplay among these constructs. The findings also indicate patterns and emergence of attractor states in these interactions. Finally, it is found that the attractor states themselves also undergo changes over the learners’ trajectories, shaping whilst being shaped by the components of L2 motivational self system.

Korean High School Students' L1 Summary Writing as a Predictor of EFL Reading Comprehension

This study examines the role of the L1 summarization task as a predictor of English reading comprehension for Korean EFL high school students. Participants were given two different types of reading passages, along with five multiple-choice question items and one summarization task item for each passage. A rubric for summary writing was constructed for the purpose of the study and examined on its reliability and use. Correlation analysis between reading comprehension and summary writing reported a moderate to high correlation. A simple linear regression analysis of the test results indicates that L1 summary writing can be a predictor of Korean EFL learners' English reading comprehension. Despite the findings in this study, the survey results inquiring about the participants' views on summarization tasks suggest the difficulties and limitations of implementing summarization tasks in high-stakes assessments.

Exploring the Efficacy of Automated Essay Scoring Systems in the Context of Korean EFL High School

Despite growing attention on the Automated Essay Scoring (AES) systems, it is difficult to find their actual use in Korean EFL high schools. Among various free and easily accessible AES systems available, this study aims to investigate the efficacy of three AES systems in the Korean EFL high school context: Grammarly, MS Editor, and ProWritingAid. To this end, the three AES systems were compared with two human raters in three aspects: scores reported on Korean EFL high school students’ writings, errors detected per error category, and errors detected per student writing. The t-test, ANOVA, and correlation analysis results have led to questions and doubts on the validity of the AES programs and their role as essay evaluators. While AES programs have shown growth, the AES programs are not yet comparable to human raters and teacher feedback. However, the AES programs do show potential as a supplementary tool in the Korean EFL context. Thus, a comparison of the three AES systems was examined in the hopes of finding the optimal choice of AES system. The findings provide information and insights on how AES systems may be implemented in Korean EFL high school classrooms, and further emphasized the importance of teachers’ role in implementing a new tool.

EFL High School Students’ Satisfaction in Online Learning and Expectations Towards Blended Learning: An Investigation

This study aims to identify students' satisfaction with online learning and their expectations of blended learning in the post-pandemic era in a senior high public school in North Bali, Indonesia. The research employed an explanatory sequential mixed-method design using questionnaires and interviews, to gather data from 179 grade 12 senior high school students. The questionnaire and interview guide were validated with face, content, empirical validity, and reliability. The interview session involved 5 students with high satisfaction scores and 5 students with low satisfaction scores from the result of the questionnaire. The results showed that students had a mode score of 4, indicating students feel satisfied with online learning during COVID-19. Based on the four factors, the result of students’ satisfaction in online learning such as the teacher factor having neutral scores, the interaction factor having satisfied scores, the technology factor having satisfied scores, and the course management factor having satisfied scores. The interview session shows that students expressed their expectations for direct interaction with teachers and classmates and had expectations for factors, such as teaching methods, ease of materials, direct communication with teachers, interaction with classmates, technology use, and variety in learning resources. This research provides insights for teachers to improve student satisfaction with online learning and blended learning practices.

VIETNAMESE HIGH SCHOOL EFL LEARNERS’ LANGUAGE MINDSETS: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS

This research employed a quantitative research design targeting (1) investigating Vietnamese high-school students’ patterns of language mindset; and (2) examining the relationship between students’ mindsets and demographic variables, including genders, school groups, and grade groups. The data was collected through the language mindset inventory with 18 items, using a 6-Likert scale. The questionnaire was delivered to EFL students in public high schools via online forms. With 248 valid responses, statistical analysis was conducted to answer the research questions. The findings show that the EFL high-school students endorse a growth mindset, and there was no difference found in the relation between students’ language mindsets and their demographic features.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0005/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>