L2 Learners Research Articles

SUPERPOSITION OF GRAMMATICAL AND STATISTICAL LEARNING IN A SECOND LANGUAGE: AN EYE‐TRACKING STUDY

AbstractIn this paper, data from an eye‐tracking study on auxiliary selection in L2 Italian are reported. The data suggest that learners of Italian over time and with increasing experience can process the same compound past verbs in two apparently commutable ways within the same experimental session. One way is statistical (centered on the lexical part of the verb, the past participle), and the other is grammatical (centered on the auxiliary). The results also indicate that L2 learners – with increasing proficiency – can alternate statistical and grammatical representations and processing routes for the same phenomenon within the array of a single sentence, as native speakers do.

Understanding Language Learning Motivation from a Dual Analytical Lens: Combining Activity Theory and Life Capital

AbstractSecond language (L2) motivation has long been regarded as one of the requisites for and predictors of success in L2 learning. The scholarship on L2 motivation has grown steadily over the past 60 years, yielding several theories through a range of methods. Building upon this tradition, this paper proposes a methodological contribution to the thriving L2 motivation research arena. Specifically, we suggest a new analytical approach which combines Activity Theory with the methodological lens of ‘life capital'. We illustrate this approach through an L2 learner's narrative, taken from a larger study, with a focus on their experience of learning English over thirteen years. We argue that adopting life capital as an additional analytical layer alongside Activity Theory not only allows us to tackle methodological challenges previously associated with Activity Theory, but also offers a more nuanced understanding of motivational trajectories in L2 learning.

World Englishes pedagogy: constructing learner identity

Abstract This article examines the impact of a critical pedagogy informed by World Englishes and investment frameworks on one L2 learner in Hong Kong who claims to use ‘Hong Kong English’ (HKE). Taking a critical and proactive stance, we seek to counter insidious (neo)colonial ideologies and practices through our pedagogic investigation in an undergraduate course. Multimodal output during the intervention was jointly analysed to gauge the impact of the pedagogy on one learner’s investment trajectory. The findings revealed that the participant-learner managed to invest in multiple intertwined identities as Hongkonger, legitimate HKE user, and as an L2 English learner. The participant-learner challenged her exonormative orientations to become an invested, self-reflective learner who endorses and embodies endonormative norms in her local English. Overall, the study highlights tasks that create spaces for students to actively resist colonial representations of English.

Teacher support in AI-assisted exams: an experimental study to inspect the effects on demotivation, anxiety management in exams, L2 learning experience, and academic success

Although AI technologies show great promise for education, their inclusion into assessment systems has generated debates regarding student motivation, anxiety, learning opportunities, and academic results. This study explored the influence of teacher support in AI-assisted exams on L2 learners’ demotivation, anxiety, L2 learning experience, and academic success. Conducted at a large university in Ethiopia, participants included 92 BA Management students from two intact classes, equally distributed by gender and ranging in age from 18 to 23. The two intact classes were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group. Using a quantitative quasi-experimental pretest–posttest control group design, the study administered an Oxford Quick Placement Test, the Academic Motivation Scale, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale, the L2 Learning Experience Scale, and a researcher-made test to assess academic success. The AI tools integrated into the exams included automated assessment and feedback systems to enhance learner engagement. Chi-square analyses and independent samples t-tests revealed significant positive effects of teacher support on reducing demotivation and anxiety, enhancing L2 learning experiences, and improving academic success in the experimental group compared to the control group, highlighting the benefits of combining AI tools with teacher support. These findings suggest that teacher support in AI-assisted exams can substantially benefit L2 learners. Additionally, the findings indicate that AI-assisted exams can considerably improve learning outcomes when paired with effective teacher involvement, highlighting implications for various stakeholders in L2 instruction. Implications of the study, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

What puzzles L2 learners about German grammar? Using practitioner research to explore threshold concepts in language curricula

Taking the perspective of a language program director (LPD), this practitioner research (PR) study describes how analysis of learners’ reflections written for an advanced undergraduate German course in the United States helped an LPD see how students had experienced learning grammar in lower-level instruction. The study analyses a semester-long project based on the PR framework of exploratory practice (EP), in which students ( n = 30) pursued individual questions (‘puzzles’) about German grammar that would be most meaningful to them in their language learning journey. Initial analysis of the students’ questions revealed a general preference among learners to investigate grammar topics previously covered in the lower-division curriculum. In-depth case studies, focused on two learners’ experiences with EP, show how the project allowed students to investigate their grammar puzzles using resources across the entire curriculum, including dialoguing with teachers and students in other courses. The study looks to threshold concept theory to theorize students’ learning experiences vis-à-vis L2 grammar (specifically inflectional morphology, i.e. case markings) and argues that the flexibility of the EP framework and its core tenets of working towards understanding and involving others supported the LPD in seeing how learners understood and felt about German grammar and grammar instruction across the larger curriculum.

Starting from the very beginning: Unraveling Third Language (L3) Development with Longitudinal Data from Artificial Language Learning and EEG

ABSTRACT The burgeoning field of third language (L3) acquisition has increasingly focused on intermediate stages of language development, aiming to establish the groundwork for comprehensive models of L3 learning that encompass the entire developmental sequence. This article underscores the importance of a robust epistemological foundation, advocating for incremental knowledge building through longitudinal research. In the study presented here, we use artificial languages to investigate L3 acquisition from initial exposure with complete input control, factoring in individual differences in executive functions and history of bilingual exposure/engagement to assess the role of these variables in shaping learning trajectories and modulating cross-linguistic influence (CLI). This approach not only advances our understanding of L3 development under controlled conditions but also links L3 acquisition research to broader cognitive science inquiries.

Motivation through solidarity

The aim of this study is to describe and discuss the unique motivational characteristics of adult immigrants and refugees learning Greek as a second language, characteristics related to the concept of investment in second language learning, based on the results of a qualitative study carried out in non-formal educational settings. Seventeen (17) participants attending Greek lessons in non-formal educational settings in Athens, Greece, were interviewed through semi-structured interviews. The data obtained was analysed using thematic analysis. The students were asked about the reasons they are learning Greek and what motivates them to invest in studying the language. The results of the thematic analysis show that the main motives driving the participants to invest in learning Greek in the research settings were threefold: instrumental, integrative, and related to the L2 learning environment. Learning Greek was considered as a chance that could lead to greater job opportunities, empowerment, and greater integration into the host society. Additionally, the results highlight the fact that the atmosphere in the specific educational settings being very friendly and relaxed was very important for the participants and enhanced their desire to invest in learning Greek in the specific settings. Finally, the social aspect was also significant for the immigrants and refugees, who considered participation in the classes as a means of greater socialisation with both locals and other immigrants. The study highlights that non-formal settings are better suited to migrants/refugees’ learning needs and can promote the social inclusion of vulnerable groups and their integration into the host society.

DHH and L2 college students' knowledge of English resultatives and depictives.

College-level deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) students and hearing students of English as a Second Language (L2) along with hearing native speakers (NS) of English were assessed in their knowledge of English resultative and depictive sentences. In "Kevin wiped the table clean," the resultative phrase "clean" indicates that the table became clean as a result of Kevin wiping it. In "Megan drove the car drunk," the depictive phrase "drunk" describes Megan's state throughout the entire event of driving. Findings of a sentence-acceptability rating scale task revealed higher performance by the NS group compared to the DHH and L2 groups, whose near-equivalent performance improved with increasing overall English proficiency. Participants exhibited higher performance on active, passive, and unaccusative resultative sentences than on ungrammatical unergative resultatives and higher performance on grammatical than ungrammatical depictive sentence types. These findings contribute new insights into the comparative study of English acquisition by DHH and L2 learners.

The Association Between Social Support and L2 Learning Engagement: The Mediating Roles of L2 Resilience and Control

ABSTRACTWith the rise of positive psychology in the field of second/foreign (L2) language acquisition, an increasing number of studies have delved into the factors influencing L2 engagement. While the interplay between environmental and personal factors has been acknowledged, we know little about whether and how different sources of social support influence L2 engagement via personal sources. To fill the gap, the current study recruited 649 Chinese English as a foreign language undergraduates and measured their perceived social support, L2 resilience, control, and engagement. Correlation analyses found that the four variables were positively correlated. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that out of the three sources of social support, only teacher support had a direct impact on L2 engagement. Additionally, L2 resilience and control co‐mediated the path between teacher support and L2 engagement. Further inspection found that L2 resilience mediated the path from teacher support to all four dimensions of L2 engagement. However, L2 control only mediated the path from teacher support to cognitive and emotional engagement. The findings echoed the importance of teacher support in motivating L2 learning behaviors. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are also discussed.

Examining refusal and acceptance sequences employing a data-driven binary rating approach

This paper presents the development and preliminary validation of a data-driven analytic binary rating rubric for assessing roleplay-elicited pragmatic performance of learners. The roleplay task consists of two items—one lunch invitation to elicit a refusal and one gift offer to elicit an acceptance in Chinese, both of which involve initiating proposals to return an earlier favor. Responses to return-to-favor invitations or offers in Chinese are challenging for L2 learners as they involve complicated discursive features. To create a practical, reliable tool for evaluating L2 performance, the researchers conducted a discourse analysis of L1 Chinese performance data (N = 22) to identify key discursive features in two domains— Intention (i.e., refusing the return-for-favor intention) and Decision (i.e., refusing/accepting the offer/invitation). A roleplay can receive up to 4 points in both domains, including one point each for orientation/directness, position, modification, and justification, for 8 total possible points. Scores assigned to both L1 and L2 performance according to the rubric reflected high inter-rater reliability. The effect of proficiency was significant on learner scores and interacted with rating domains and scenarios. Lower-level learners scored lower with addressing the interlocutor's return-for-favor intention than with the invitation or offer itself; they also scored lower with refusing than accepting an offer. By focusing on key discursive features rather than exhaustive interactional details, the rubric streamlines the evaluation process while maintaining accuracy and reliability. Future studies may extend the use of the rubric to other speech act sequences and languages and apply it to automated grading systems.

L2 acquisition of Japanese null arguments

Abstract Adopting the anti-agreement hypothesis that argument ellipsis is allowed in languages lacking φ-feature agreement, the present study investigates whether second language (L2) learners of φ-feature agreement languages (L1-English L2 learners of Japanese; ELJs) and L2 learners of anti-agreement languages (L1-Mandarin Chinese L2 learners of Japanese; CLJs) can access sloppy interpretations of Japanese null arguments. The results concerning null subjects indicate that both L2 groups behaved similarly to Japanese native speakers (JNSs) by allowing the sloppy reading of null subjects. However, further analysis by L2 proficiency revealed distinct patterns. Intermediate ELJs exhibited L1-transfer of φ-feature agreement, assigning null subjects the strict reading, while the advanced ELJs were able to discard the φ-feature, allowing the sloppy reading. In contrast, CLJs accepted the sloppy reading from the intermediate level, indicating that the absence of the φ-feature functioned as positive transfer. Regarding the results with null objects, both L2 groups performed like JNSs, allowing the sloppy interpretation. Assuming that deleting a feature present in L1 is more difficult than adding a feature absent in L1 to L2, we will explain the results in terms of L1 transfer.

The Effects of Varying Practice Modes on L2 Learners’ Vocabulary Retention Through Songs: Listening, Singing, and Oral Reading

Singing or listening to songs is one of the most common L2 activities outside the classroom, and many language teachers integrate songs in their teaching; however, the effect of varying song practice modes on L2 learners’ retention of linguistic knowledge is under-researched. Eighty-seven EFL learners of university students were recruited and divided into three subgroups. To avoid different song different effect, the study adopted a counterbalanced designed, in which each subgroup practiced three songs under three modes: listening + singing, listening + reading lyrics orally, and listening only. Three aspects of vocabulary knowledge (aural and written meaning recognition, written form production) were measured in the pre-test, one-week delayed, and eight-week delayed post-tests. HLM was performed to analyze the data. Results showed that the main effects of the four variables (times, practice modes, vocabulary dimensions, songs) had significant effects on L2 learners’ vocabulary retention, but the interaction effects between times and the three other variables were less salient. Overall, students scored higher for singing mode and for written meaning recognition; however, different songs and times seem to have played an important but complicated role on vocabulary retention. Applications of integrating songs in teaching L2 are discussed.

From Conversation to Interaction: A Pedagogical Exploration of Applying Conversation Analysis in EFL Classrooms

Within the communicative language teaching approach, current instructional materials often lack explicit guidance or fail to provide L2 learners with a wide range of resources in the target language. Conversation analysis (CA), which focuses on authentic talk, has been proposed as a potential resource for language classrooms. This study examines the effectiveness of using CA as a pedagogical approach in an EFL classroom and its impact on learners’ attitudes toward English language learning. The study engaged eight adult learners in a structured program, encompassing a pre-test, a 4-week explicit CA-informed instruction, and a post-test. After four weeks, learners demonstrated progress in their knowledge and skills of interaction, different aspects of English speaking, interactional competence, and confidence in speaking English. Additionally, the CA-informed instruction positively influenced learners’ attitudes toward English language learning and their appreciation of interactional features. The results strongly suggest that language teachers should consider incorporating CA insights into their teaching practices to enhance both linguistic and attitudinal outcomes.

Unravelling The Level and Factors of Listening Comprehension Anxiety in ESL Flipped Classroom Setting

Language anxiety has been an essential topic of discussion in English language learning since it acts as a filter that obstructs the learning process. Listening comprehension is the foundation to learning a target language thus, listening comprehension anxiety can have negative effects on second language (L2) learners’ performance. Meanwhile, flipped classroom model (FCM) has been introduced to facilitate language learning through the use of technological instruments in order to minimise language anxiety among L2 students. Hence, this study was conducted to examine the level of listening comprehension anxiety faced by L2 learners as well as factors influencing listening comprehension anxiety in flipped classrooms. The Foreign Language Listening Anxiety Scale (FLLAS) by Kim (2000) comprised of 33 items was adapted and used as the primary data collection instrument for this research. Ninety-three (n = 93) diploma students from UiTM Kelantan Branch who enrolled in the ELC121 (Integrated Language Skills I) course participated in the survey. Descriptive analysis was utilised to achieve the objectives of this study. The survey findings indicated that L2 learners experienced a moderate level of listening anxiety in a flipped classroom setting. This paper elaborates on the main area in which students are most anxious while listening to English text, that is the listening text and the strategies used. This finding will give educators some insights on how educational technology could be used to help reduce listening comprehension anxiety and eventually help L2 learners overcome their listening learning difficulties and improve their performance. Future studies are suggested to focus on listening comprehension anxiety experienced by male and female students as well as the comparison in listening comprehension anxiety faced by young and adult learners in flipped classroom setting.

L2 Learners’ Perspectives on Data-Driven Learning for Identifying Properties of Near-Synonymous Words: A Convergent Mixed-Methods Study

This study examines second language (L2) learners’ perspectives regarding the affordances and challenges of using the Data-Driven Learning (DDL) to identify the properties of near-synonymous words. Employing a convergent mixed-method design, this study deciphers the perceptions of 40 undergraduate L2 learners majoring in English language teaching. After an initial identification of the learners’ vocabulary levels, the experienced benefits and barriers associated with carrying out experiential tasks were elicited via questionnaire data and open-ended survey questions. Descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, were revealed and thematic analyses of the responses to the survey questions were documented. The results indicate that completing tasks through the corpus was found to enhance their knowledge of collocations. Integrating corpus tasks into YouGlish (an online practice tool for authentic spoken English in context) was found to increase their awareness of the contextual properties of words. The identification of condensed language exposure, lexical inference, and elicitation of flexible and context-specific patterns were reported to be beneficial. Acknowledging these benefits, gaining familiarity with the corpus interface, encountering limited access to search queries, and analyzing large amounts of concordance lines posed challenges for learners. This research presents the implementation of the DDL supported by experiential learning, contextually rich input, and inductive reasoning tasks in vocabulary learning by further offering instructional implications in L2 contexts.

Analysis of the Implementation of AI in Education Impact on Personalized Language Learning

The education field is now stepping into an innovative era under the advancement of AI technologies, and AI-empowered tools bring new opportunities for education to overcome the obstacles that remain in traditional education mode. Educators have highlighted the significance of promoting personalized learning in language learning to address the differences in sociocultural factors, level of knowledge, and individual identity. AI technologies have been employed in second language (L2) learning for decades, but it is worth discussing whether the implementation of AI-empowered tools can facilitate personalized language learning (PLL) among L2 learners. This paper analyzes recent practices of using AI-empowered applications in L2 learning and explores the practicability of using AI to achieve PLL. Based on the analysis, current practices can be categorized into implementation in autonomous learning and in-class learning, and both types have limitations in terms of lacking sociocultural considerations and adoption of the latest technologies. Thus, it is critical to enhance collaboration with the AI field to increase AI readiness and familiarity so that the educational field can keep up with the path of AI development and refresh the educational field with new opportunities and innovations.

Peer editing and writing proficiency: an experimental study in South Korean higher education

ABSTRACT Peer editing enhances critical thinking, improves student writing, ultimately leading to a more productive learning environment (Kostopoulou and O’Dwyer 2021; Lundstrom and Baker 2009, “To give is better than to receive: The benefits of peer review to the reviewer’s own writing.” Journal of Second Language Writing 18:30–43; Storch 2018, “Written corrective feedback from sociocultural theoretical perspectives: A research agenda.” Language Teaching 51 (02): 262–277; Yao et al. 2021, “How university EFL writers’ beliefs in writing ability impact their perceptions of peer assessment: Perspectives from implicit theories of intelligence.” Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 46 (1): 151–167). However, reservations toward peer feedback in a university EFL setting persist due to the accuracy of L2 feedback (Braine, 2003; Erdel 2023, “Student feedback literacy (SFL) profiles in an L2 writing classroom and the influence of peer feedback on the SFL features.” International Journal of Education and Literacy Studies 11 (3): 112–125.). This study utilized a pretest-posttest writing assessment to analyze differences in writing outcomes in an academic research writing course at two universities in Seoul, South Korea. The researchers also examined the accuracy of the L2 peer-editing feedback. The sampling consisted of five randomized classes of university undergraduates. Two control groups received feedback via the instructor and two experimental groups received peer-editing feedback. A fifth mixed group was divided between the control and experimental groups but within the same context. The instructors used both in-class and online feedback tools for the control and experimental groups. The analysis used Sengupta’s (1998, “Peer evaluation: ‘I am not the teacher’.” ELT Journal 52 (1): 19–28) revision taxonomy to assess peer feedback accuracy. Participants completed separate pretest and posttest writing assessments. One at the start of the semester (pretest) and one at the end (posttest). The researchers used a MANOVA to compare the pretest and posttest mean average assessment scores between the control and experimental groups. The results show that peer feedback matches the effectiveness of professor feedback for pretest/posttest scores. Researchers also assessed 156 peer-editing assignments for feedback accuracy. Peer editors demonstrated statistically significant accuracy. This study recommends using peer feedback for its benefits to L2 learners and instructors.

Contributions of Computerized Dynamic Assessment and Digitalized Feedback to L2 Learners’ Grammar Acquisition: Technology-Enhanced Learning Facilitation Theory

As an integral part of dynamic assessment, computerized dynamic assessment (CDA) offers learners computer-assisted automated mediation. Accordingly, the possible efficacy of corrective feedback seems to be enhanced with new technologies, such as artificial intelligence tools, that offer automatic corrective feedback. Using technology-enhanced learning facilitation theory, this study examined, in this respect, the combined effect of CDA and digitalized feedback (DF) on L2 learners' grammar acquisition. Under a quantitative methodology and in an Iranian language institute, the study used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with a control group to evaluate how CDA with DF affected language learners' grammar acquisition. The statistical analyses using t-tests and ANCOVAs revealed that compared to the control group, the experimental group that underwent CDA with DF showed notable increases in both comprehension and production of conditional type 1. The results underlined how well the theory of technology-enhanced learning facilitation helps recognize and produce the target grammatical feature. Emphasizing the significance of including individualized instruction, dynamic assessment, and DF in language teaching and learning methods, implications for language teachers, syllabus designers, materials producers, and policymakers are offered.

The Impact of Subordination Type and Finiteness on Second Language Development in Timed Impromptu Writing: An NLP-Based Analysis Using the Subordination Sophistication Analyzer

The use of subordination enables language users to achieve syntactic efficiency by allowing them to connect ideas in temporal/logical relation. Although the importance of subordination has been recognized in previous research on second language (L2) writing, it has been typically assessed with global indices that measure overall ratio of subordination. In order to capture more nuanced patterns in the development of L2 writing, this study measures the sophistication of subordination, considering subordination type (adverbialization, complementization, relativization) and finiteness (finite, nonfinite). Our natural language processing analysis of 6,566 timed impromptu essays using the Subordination Sophistication Analyzer 1.0 showed that higher-proficiency L2 learners used more subordination, and, importantly, their patterns of use differed by subordination type and finiteness. Whereas the amount of adverbialization and relativization increased along with proficiency regardless of finiteness, the use of complementization increased only for nonfinite clauses. The broader impacts of this study for education and assessment are discussed.

From Teacher Beliefs to Practices: Unpacking the Benefits and Barriers of Extensive Reading Programmes in Macau Secondary Schools

Extensive reading entails language learners’ independent reading of abundant materials suitable for their proficiency levels. Previous studies have revealed extensive reading as effective for improving various aspects of second language (L2) proficiency. However, many Macau secondary schools have cancelled or reduced their extensive reading programmes (ERPs), prompting the need for a qualitative study to comprehend these modifications. In this case study, five L2 English teachers from different Macau secondary schools shared their beliefs and practices during semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis of the interview transcripts revealed all teachers supported incorporating extensive reading in their respective English curriculums; they believed students’ engagement in ERPs enhanced reading fluency and comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and L2 learning motivation and confidence. However, the teachers also believed restricted time and unengaged students hindered the ERPs. The schools’ possible misinterpretations of extensive reading and their potentially unrealistic expectations regarding short-term returns against limited investment in extensive reading may have contributed to the abandonment or reduction of ERPs. To engage students in ERPs, schools should allow students to choose their own reading materials, reduce the emphasis on extensive reading tests, incorporate more intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, and consider combining extensive reading with reading strategy instruction.