Language Teaching Research Articles

Overview of the Application of Situational Teaching Methods in the Teaching of Chinese as a Foreign Language

Situational law occupies a key position in the education of Chinese as a foreign language. This article has studied and sorted out the relevant materials in recent years, elaborated on the meaning, characteristics and its application and impact of Chinese as a foreign language teaching, and summarized some problems and corresponding solutions encountered by the current situational method in Chinese as a foreign language teaching, hoping to provide Chinese as a foreign language education. Workers bring clear understanding and reference.

Ethiopian EFL Students’ Willingness to Communicate (WTC) and the Factors Associated With It in Oral Communicative English Classes

Communication, particularly verbal communication, is central to the development of a desired competence in a second or foreign language. Approaches such as communicative language teaching (CLT) in second language acquisition emphasize practical use of the target language for effective learning/acquisition. However, despite the necessity of using a target language to learn it, it has been a common phenomenon to observe most learners exhibiting passiveness, reticence, and unwillingness to participate in oral communicative opportunities in English as a foreign language (EFL) classes. This study therefore explored EFL students’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in oral communicative English classes together with the factors underlying with it in the Ethiopian higher education context. To this end, primary quantitative data were collected from a randomly selected sample of 450 EFL students taking oral communicative English courses followed by qualitative data from a sample of fifteen students selected again randomly to triangulate the results from the quantitative data. The results revealed that the target students had in general a low level of WTC in oral communicative English classes, and their WTC was affected by both psychological and contextual factors such as self-confidence, motivation, personality, language learning orientation and classroom environments. The findings indicate that EFL students’ WTC is a crucial component to increase students’ participation in oral communicative English classes by raising their self-confidence, motivation and awareness of language learning orientations, coupled with facilitating the language learning environment. It is therefore suggested that WTC needs to be given special consideration while designing and preparing ELT materials, and during instructions as well.

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

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

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.

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.

(Dis)empowering native speakers? Teachers’ perceptions in Malta

Abstract The article explores the perceptions of English language teachers in Malta with respect to native English-speaking teachers. It discusses the results of a small-scale study involving interviews with teachers working in a boutique English language school. Although the participants acknowledge English’s global significance, the idea of NS supremacy persists. Malta’s colonial heritage reinforces the authority belonging to the NS and influences teachers’ perceptions, with those participants hailing from former colonies struggling with how the NS/NNS dichotomy affected their self-perception. The study discusses the enduring power of the standard varieties possessing prestige, and how British colonialism still impacts teachers’ perceptions. It emphasizes the duty to oppose native-speakerism and promote teachers’ cultural diversity. Finally, the article underscores the necessity for further teacher professional development tailored to the changing Maltese multilingual context amid English’s transformation from the language of power to a lingua franca.

Students' Perception Of Non-Native Japanese Speaker Teacher's Competencies (Nnjsts) : Gender-Based Review

Japanese is one of the foreign languages taught in formal and informal educational institutions in Indonesia. The development of Japanese language learners is increasing quantitatively. In foreign language courses, native and non-native teachers collaborate on pedagogical tasks. This trend is also happening in Japanese foreign language courses. In addition, there are around 6,617 non-native Japanese language teachers (Japan Foundation, 2021). There is an argument that Native Japanese Speaker Teacher's (NJST) has many advantages over Native Japanese Speaker Teacher's (NNJSTs) and that students prefer NNJSTs over NJST, but the argument must be assessed. Many researchers have explored students' perceptions of NJSTs and NNJSTs worldwide in formal education institutions but not in the non-formal education institution sector. This study aims to explore the perception of Indonesian students towards NNJSTs in non-formal educational institutions, namely LPK Fuji Academy Singaraja with all samples coming from active students registered from January to August 2024. This study is a quantitative research with a descriptive approach conducted using an instrument in the form of a closed questionnaire based on the Likert scale. This study revealed that the perception of male and female students did not have a significant difference in their teaching competence based on the theory of Nuibe et al (2006). Male participants rated NNJSTs higher in terms of teaching effectiveness and communication skills, with an average score of 9.8. In contrast, female respondents gave slightly lower ratings in these areas with an average of 7.1. Furthermore, through this research, students need NNJSTs more because they allow for a successful learning process because of effective learning strategies. In addition, NNJSTs also help students in facing difficulties and challenges in their learning process.

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.

Developing a tool to support vaccine literacy with a participatory approach: Glossary of essential terms on vaccinations

Abstract Issue Access to vaccination services on their own is often difficult for migrants, especially newcomers (NAM), due to few vaccine literate services. Professionals who meet migrants need easily accessible vaccine information, to strengthen their ability to promote vaccination and facilitate vaccination access for NAM, especially non-medical professionals such as cultural mediators, reception staff, language teachers, social workers and community leaders. Description For offering accurate, accessible and actionable information by using plain language, a Glossary of Essential terms on Vaccination was developed and then tailored in each consortium countries, with a participatory approach. The Glossary is structured in two sections: vaccination related terminology and terms specific to country healthcare organization. Results 8 workshops were organized in Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany, Cyprus, Malta, Poland, Romania to consult health and non-health professionals who work with migrants to make the tool as actionable as possible (83 participants). Cultural mediators were most represented, followed by NGO operators and physicians. The workshops were held based on shared guidelines, the focus was on assessing the clarity, completeness and usability of the glossary. 90% reported that the glossary is clear and useful, 80% considered the tool relevant, while 75% thought it is easy to use. The Glossary has been formatted with facing text in different languages for each consortium country, thus providing a comprehensive resource (53 final versions). Lessons By implementing the glossary, we aim to enable, empower, guide and facilitate access to immunization for NAMs. Sharing an essential vaccine-related information tool with “professionals for health” boosts their advocacy for NAM’s vaccination and healthcare system’s responsiveness to vaccine literacy. The participatory approach increases effectiveness and permeability of the tool itself.

An investigation into how mindfulness practice might improve listening comprehension of English learners in Viet Nam

This study investigated the effect of short mindfulness exercises on the listening comprehension of Vietnamese students learning English. Research participants (N = 190) were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group who received three five-minute mindfulness sessions before listening tests and the control group who received the mindfulness intervention only before the last listening test. The results showed a significant interaction effect between the group variable and test scores, indicating that mindfulness meditation can enhance listening comprehension of the experimental compared to the control group. These findings align with previous studies on the positive effects of mindfulness on listening comprehension of foreign language learners. This study suggests that mindfulness may be a valuable tool not only in education in general but also in language learning and teaching.

Chinese university teachers’ engagement with generative AI in different stages of foreign language teaching: A qualitative enquiry through the prism of ADDIE

Chinese university teachers’ engagement with generative AI in different stages of foreign language teaching: A qualitative enquiry through the prism of ADDIE

Learners’ attitudes towards blended learning at Nguyen Tat Thanh University

In many educational settings accross the world, including Vietnam, blended learning has grown quickly due to evidence of its benefits over traditional classroom or online instruction alone. The study examined the attitudes of students at Nguyen Tat Thanh University toward the existing English blended learning course with the overall goal of enhancing the quality of language teaching and learning. A total of 367 students non-majoring in English language participated in the survey conducted at Nguyen Tat Thanh University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The 44-item survey was used to collect the data, and SPSS version 20.0 was used for statistical analysis. The results demonstrated that most students had very positive sentiments towards four factors: the course's overall quality, the quality of the instructors, the course material, and the supportive services. However, a few students expressed dissatisfaction with the technology system, as they frequently encounter technical issues when engaging in online learning outside of the classroom.

Cultural Persons’ Representations in High School English Language Teaching Materials in Indonesia

Integrating both local and target cultures in English Language Teaching Materials and emphasizes the need for balance to promote cultural diversity and understanding become an important thing in today’s era. During teaching practice activities at SMAN 17 Tebo, the researcher found that the cultural materials in the English Teaching Materials used are not balanced between the source culture, target culture, and international culture. This has an impact on cross-cultural understanding and less than optimal cultural awareness among students. The purpose of this research is to explore the representation of cultural persons in government textbook and teacher-made modules. This research uses qualitative content analysis as a research design. This research involved a sample of government-approved English language textbooks entitled “Bahasa Inggris Work in Progress” and a teacher-made module at SMAN 11 Tebo. The results show that from the theme of great athletes in chapter one of the Bahasa Inggris Work In Progress textbook and teacher-made module, it can be seen that the dominant sports branch comes from international culture. While the cultural persons represented as athletes are dominated by the source culture. It is recommended that future development of English language teaching (ELT) materials, both in government textbooks like Bahasa Inggris Work in Progress and teacher-made modules, should strive for a more balanced representation of source culture, target culture, and international culture for fostering intercultural competence among Indonesian students.

The Applicability of Critical Pedagogy in Adult English Language Teaching (ELT)

This paper explores the applicability of critical pedagogy in adult ELT, emphasizing its role in fostering social awareness and change. Critical pedagogy encourages learners to critically examine their social reality, engage in meaningful dialogues, and become active agents for social justice. However, incorporating this approach into adult ELT faces some challenges. This study addresses four major obstacles to critical pedagogy implementation. The four challenges are a) lack of teacher preparation, b) potential risk of misguiding learners, c) cultural barriers in certain countries and regions, and d) insufficient infrastructure for aligning materials and assessment with critical pedagogy. Despite these challenges, evidence from literature and existing successful case studies suggest that critical pedagogy can be integrated inro ELT with thoughtful adjustments. The current paper provides insights for adult English program leaders to overcome such challenges and implement critical pedagogy effectively, thus empowering learners to achieve both linguistic proficiency and social transformation.

Syntactic Analysis of Nominal Clauses Based on Chomsky’s Generative Grammar and Implications for Language Teaching

Nominal clause is a clause with nominal feature and syntactic analysis is the study of laws of sentence constructions. And Chomsky’s Generative Grammar is a very useful method to analyse a sentence in an explanatory way. This paper aims to focus on how to understand a nominal clause under Generative Grammar (GG) for the explanatory adequacy. In doing so, it will give a brief explanation to the generative mechanisms of simple sentence under GG, then move on to the similar mechanisms of complex sentence, here, it will focus on nominal clauses. On the syntactic analysis of nominal clauses, there are two steps: first recognizing its position in the whole sentence, then picking a proper connective for the nominal clause. Notice this paper will analyse a complex noun sentence for two sentences, one is the whole sentence, and another is the small clause, namely, the nominal clause within the whole sentence. Thus, it can conclude a way to analyse nominal clauses syntactically, and understand their inner constructions. Furthermore, it can explain why a nominal clause form like this and have a better understanding of complex sentences. More importantly, such method can play its role in linguistics and foreign language teaching, which would help language teachers build up a better understanding of the nature of language and the process of language learning.

Language Teacher Agency and Identity in Internationalized Higher Education: An Ecological Perspective

ABSTRACTSubstantial literature has focused on language teacher agency and identity in relation to learners in classrooms. Relatively little research exists regarding the nature of language teacher identity shaped by contextual factors brought on by the internationalization of education. To address the gap in the literature, this study explored how student teachers in a TESOL program negotiate their language teacher agency and identity in the ecosystems of an internationalized institution of higher education while contributing to different ESL programs. While pursuing an MA degree in TESOL with a teaching opportunity at an Intensive English program for non‐matriculating students or an ESL service program for pathway program students at a US university, seven student teachers participated in semi‐structured interviews, which were triangulated with the student teachers’ portfolios of lesson plans and reflection papers. The analysis demonstrated the student teachers’ agentic beliefs, choices, and practices in relation to contextual factors in the nested ecosystems of internationalized higher education, such as international students’ needs in the microsystem, training opportunities in the mesosystem, institutional policy and practice in the exosystem, and broad cultural norms in relation to language education in the macrosystem.

THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING IN THE CONTEXT OF FORMAL AND INFORMAL HIGHER EDUCATION

This article considersthe impactof artificial intelligence on the process of teaching English in formal and informal higher education. The authors studythe use of various artificial intelligence technologies, such as machine learning, neural networks and automated speech analysis systems, to improve the effectiveness of teaching English to students, analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using artificial intelligence in teaching English, and offer recommendations for optimizing this process. The authors presentedresearchof the influence of artificial intelligence on the process of teaching English through a theoretical review of foreign experience and a questionnaire survey, the purpose of which was to study the opinions and views of students on the influence of artificial intelligence on the process of teaching English. The results of the researchmay be useful for teachers and students planning to introduceartificial intelligence into English language teaching.

The Effectiveness of Using Shadowing Technique Towards Students’ Pronunciation Skill

This study investigates the efficacy of the shadowing technique in enhancing students' pronunciation skills. The shadowing technique involves learners mimicking a native speaker in real-time to improve pronunciation accuracy and fluency. Through a controlled experiment with 31 students and 30 students as experimental group, the study evaluates the impact of shadowing on students' pronunciation proficiency compared to traditional teaching methods. The technique of collecting data was taken directly when the students said the words. Results indicate a significant improvement in pronunciation accuracy and fluency among participants who engaged in shadowing exercises, suggesting its effectiveness as a pedagogical tool for enhancing pronunciation skills. Implications for language teaching and learning are discussed.

Self-esteem, Islamic Behavior, and Writing Assessment for Indonesian Language Madrasa Teachers: An Empirical Phenomenological Investigation

Improving students' academic achievement in Indonesian language studies at madrasas requires effective writing evaluations. This study explores how Islamic behavior and self-esteem attribution among Indonesian language teachers at Madrasas influence their approach to creating writing assessments using a phenomenological method. Through in-depth interviews with twenty teachers, the thematic analysis revealed that teachers' Islamic values provide a religious framework that shapes their understanding and application of assessment development. Teachers' evaluations incorporate moral and religious principles, reflecting on their self-worth and the intrinsic value of students' written work. Islamic behavior and the attribution of self-esteem enhance teachers' commitment to fair, reflective assessments, which ultimately support students' literacy and academic growth. The study suggests that embedding Islamic behavior and self-esteem attribution in writing assessments strengthens teacher development and student success in Indonesian language studies. Future studies could further explore the role of these factors in teacher preparation and assessment practices in Indonesian madrasas.

Contributions of an action research initiative to English language teachers’ professional wellbeing

ABSTRACT In this study, we report on how a group of teachers engaged in action research (AR) and navigated their emotions in the way of experiencing wellbeing. We collected data over one year from rounds of semi-structured interviews, reflective journals, classroom observations, and post-class discussions. Data analyses showed that the teachers experienced wellbeing in three major terms: From initial emotional tensions to subsequent emotional wellness, developing wellbeing through practicing collective care, and wellbeing and self-empowerment as learning. Collectively, the teachers moved from hedonic to eudemonic forms of wellbeing during and after the AR programme, spanning their programme, inter-individual, and intra-individual levels of empowerment. Based on the findings, we provide implications for teacher educators in how to systematise wellbeing in teacher education programmes so that teachers experience higher levels of wellbeing across their career span, especially through AR initiatives. Furthermore, the study concludes with insights into how pre-service and in-service teachers could be supported through anchoring AR into teacher education programmes in order to experience enhanced wellbeing.