L2 Learners Research Articles

Evaluating the effectiveness of a computerised dynamic assessment of L2 English email requests

Automated writing evaluation can be effective in providing support for L2 English learners. However, little research to date has investigated its use in the teaching of pragmatics in relation to L2 email writing, grounded in a sociocultural perspective on learning. We employ a quasi-experimental approach, investigating the effectiveness of a computerised dynamic assessment programme (C-DA) of L2 email writing, focusing on pragmatic development. The C-DA employs a developmentally sensitive approach, providing automated, immediate mediation to learners. The C-DA was administered twice – with a two-week delay between administrations – to a single group of 17 Japanese English L2 learner participants at a Japanese university; participants were 19–22 years of age with intermediate L2 proficiency levels. Text, identified pragmatic failure and mediation data were elicited from both administrations. Analysis of pragmatic failure frequency and explicitness of the mediation necessary for successful resolution of the identified pragmatic failure shows both frequency and explicitness decreasing not only within a round of administration, but also between rounds. Evidence of learner development was found across all types of pragmatic failure, including the requesting head act, email openings and closings. The study provides evidence to support a sociocultural approach to assessment and learning with regards to the pragmatics aspect of L2 email writing, in which mediation is sensitive to individual learners’ developmental needs. Further, findings support the use of a computerised approach to DA focusing on pragmatic competence, allowing for wider access to DA methodology among large learner group contexts.

Extramural German Activities and Motivation to Learn German as a Foreign Language in the Secondary Education Context

This study investigates the motivation for learning German as a Foreign Language (GFL) of Hungarian secondary school students, in particular, their extramural activities and the impact of these activities on their learning motivation in second language (L2) acquisition. While much existing research on L2 learning motivation focuses on English, less attention is paid to other languages such as German, despite its economic and cultural importance in Hungary. Utilising Dörnyei’s (2005) L2 Motivational Self System framework, this paper explores how extramural German activities, such as interaction on social media, and consumption of German media, contribute to GFL learning motivation and GFL proficiency. Using the quantitative research paradigm, this paper analyses data collected from 546 Hungarian secondary school students assessing their motivation and the frequency of their engagement in different extramural German activities. The results indicate that these activities are generally pursued infrequently, however, certain types, particularly digital and interactive ones, have a positive effect on GFL learning motivation. Gender differences in frequency of engagement in extramural German activities were also found. The pedagogical implications of this paper suggest that the integration of certain extramural German activities into GFL learning may enhance learners’ motivation. The article also offers directions for future research to further explore the intricate dynamics of extramural activities and L2 learning motivation.

Multi-word expressions for Russian L2 learners: corpora-based selection with expert verification

The article describes the experience of creating a corpus-based list of the most relevant multi-word expressions for Russian L2 learners, distributed across the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) from A1 to C1. Modern linguistic and cognitive research shows that our speech is patterned and largely consists of stable segments. This fact is supported by the linguodidactic idea of teaching not isolated language units but their combinations of different nature. However, the selection and ranking of multi-word expressions based on language proficiency levels is constrained by the difficulty of automatically extracting them from a corpus of texts and estimating their frequency, as well as disagreements in defining the boundaries, linguistic nature, and terminology of multi-word expressions. This article describes the experience of compiling a list of the most valuable fixed-type multi-word expressions from various sources: two types of existing CEFR-graded vocabulary lists for Russian L2 learners – lexical minimums for the TORFL (Test of Russian as a Foreign Language) system and Russian KELLY (KEywords for Language Learning for Young and adults alike); the most frequent n-grams from the RuFoLa – Russian L2 textbook corpus and from the Russian Web corpus of internet texts; list of discourse formulas from the «Pragmaticon» project. The CEFR level of each multi-word expression is predicted using the frequency-based Max Delta measure, and its effectiveness is subsequently validated through annotation by multiple experts. The resulting list of multi-word expressions contains 1645 entries from A1 to C1 levels. The proposed version of the list has been implemented into an automated text analysis system for learners of Russian as a Foreign Language and can be useful for a wide range of professionals in the preparation of educational content for foreign language learners. The suggested Max Delta measure has demonstrated a high degree of agreement with expert evaluations within proficiency levels A1-B1. This signifies the importance of further exploring its potential in addressing related practical tasks and in selecting language learning content derived for other languages.

Analysis of orthographic errors in Grade 11 isiXhosa First Language texts

In a selected Western Cape school, Grade 11 isiXhosa First Language (L1) learners’ written language presents errors which seem to be an indication of both their poor linguistic competence and learning performance. Their writing not only reflects various orthographic errors, but also inconsistency in their isiXhosa usage. These errors tend to affect learners’ academic performance when made in written tasks which are used for assessment purposes. Tendencies towards serious violations of the standard orthographic rules are noticeable, and this observation presents concerns in terms of the fate and sustainability of the language. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study examines errors presented in the writings of Grade 11 isiXhosa L1 learners with a view to establishing the nature and scope of these errors. Findings reveal that learners commit a variety of errors and thus demonstrate significant deviation from the standard orthography. This study proposes recommendations in the form of interventions and strategies that are applicable in the teaching and learning of Grade 11 learners’ isiXhosa with a view to maintaining its standard orthography and thus improving the learners’ academic performance.

Content and language integrated pedagogy and language learning motivation in a socioeconomically marginalized school context

AbstractWithin school contexts that are socioeconomically marginalized, complex factors often lead to languages learning being devalued in ways which adversely impact students' potential, particularly their motivation to learn an additional language (L2). This paper examines the role of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) in shaping students' L2 learning motivation within a school setting that is socioeconomically marginalized, and how it may offer a solution to this challenge. Drawing on Dörnyei's (2005) theory of the L2 Motivational Self System, this study analyzes qualitative data from a Japanese/Science CLIL course taught in one such Australian secondary school setting. Although the findings confirm previous research on CLIL's generally positive influence on student motivation, it also identifies instances of a negative impact with a certain student group. The paper concludes with the implication of CLIL‐based approaches for languages provision in challenging school contexts.

Mixed-type literature review of research on L2 learning in and through the linguistic landscape

The aim of this paper is to provide a review of articles reporting on research related to the linguistic landscape as applied to foreign language education, with a focus on the conceptualisation of the linguistic landscape, main themes, and research methods and distribution across years, languages taught and countries of research. The search for relevant articles published between 2003–2023 was conducted in data­bases: Web of Science, ERIC, MLA, and Scopus. The search yielded a total sample of 20 articles. The presentation of the main results of the review is followed by suggestions of topics for further research and reviews of a broader scope.

The Impact of Lexical Bundle Length on L2 Oral Proficiency

Lexical bundles (LBs) are crucial in L2 oral proficiency, yet their complexity in terms of length is under-researched. This study therefore examines the relationship between longer and shorter LBs and oral proficiency among 150 L2 learners of varying proficiency levels at a UK university. Through the analysis of oral presentation data (scores ranging from intermediate to advanced) and employing a combined text-internal and text-external approach (two- to five-word bundles), this study advances an innovative text-internal LB refinement procedure, thus isolating the unique contribution of LB length. Robust regression, dominance analysis, and random forest statistical techniques reveal the predictive power of bigram mutual information (MI) and longer three-to-five-word sequences on higher proficiency scores. Our results show that learners using higher MI score bigrams tend to perform better in their presentations, with a strong positive impact on scores (b = 14.38, 95% CI [8.01, 20.76], t = 4.42; dominance weight = 58.63%). Additionally, the use of longer three-to-five-word phrases also contributes to better performance, though to a lesser extent (dominance weight = 18.80%). These findings highlight the pedagogical potential of a nuanced approach to the strategic deployment of LBs, particularly bigram MI, to foster oral proficiency. Suggestions for future LB proficiency research are discussed in relation to L2 speech production models.

Correction to: The development of abstract syntactic representations in beginning L2 learners of Dutch

Correction to: The development of abstract syntactic representations in beginning L2 learners of Dutch

Promoting L2 learners’ critical thinking skills: the role of social constructivism in reading class

IntroductionIn the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the imperative for success has increasingly spotlighted the essential need for students to develop critical thinking and reading skills as key competencies for the 21st century. This study sought to explore the potential of constructivism to enhance learners’ critical thinking and reading abilities, alongside evaluating their receptiveness to this pedagogical approach.MethodsA mixed-methods research design was employed, combining a quasi-experimental framework with semi-structured interviews. The quasi-experimental component compared the effectiveness of constructivist and traditional teacher-centered methods in promoting critical thinking skills. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gauge participants’ satisfaction with the constructivist approach and to gather qualitative data on their experiences.ResultsThe investigation yielded two principal findings. First, the constructivist approach significantly outperformed traditional teacher-centered methods in promoting critical thinking skills among students. Second, the majority of participants reported a high level of satisfaction with the constructivist method, attributing this to the approach’s facilitation of deeper knowledge acquisition and increased opportunities for interaction with peers and instructors.DiscussionTheoretical implications of this study underscore the value of constructivism in fostering an engaging and interactive learning environment conducive to the development of critical analytical skills. Practically, the findings advocate for educational practitioners and institutional leaders to consider the integration of constructivist strategies in reading sessions to bolster students’ critical thinking and reading competencies. Moreover, it emphasizes the necessity for educators to receive comprehensive training on the nuances of constructivist pedagogy to ensure its effective implementation. This study thus contributes to the pedagogical discourse by affirming the efficacy of constructivism in enhancing critical cognitive skills and by outlining a pathway for its successful adoption in educational settings.

The development of an ESL teacher's ability in constructing a virtual translanguaging space in synchronous online language tutorials

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly increased the use of synchronous online teaching for English-as-a-second-language (ESL) courses. However, there is a scarcity of research on the necessary teaching abilities for online ESL instruction and the advantages of real-time technologies in supporting students' L2 learning. This virtual ethnographic research examines how an ESL teacher utilizes diverse multilingual and multimodal resources to facilitate students' L2 English learning in real-time online tutorials and develops his translanguaging competence over a 10-week period. The analysis, carried out using Multimodal Conversation Analysis and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, reveals that the teacher progressively exhibits his capacity to use a variety of multilingual and multimodal tools and to employ different funds of knowledge to support students' English language learning. Consequently, we emphasize the significance of strengthening online language instructors' pedagogical comprehension of translanguaging to enhance their e-Classroom Interactional Competence.

Exploring the Relevant Factors of Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in Language Learning—A Systematic and Bibliometric Approach

Recent years have witnessed a surge of interest in learners’ Willingness to Communicate (WTC) within the L2 learning environment. This study aims to explore current trends, remarkable subjects, influential authors, sources and interplay of WTC variables in L2 learning from 1985 to 2023. A total of 259 articles were selected through PRISMA for the visualization of VOSviewer, and 221 publications for the citation network analysis with CitNetExplorer. The findings revealed 3 major variables with the capacity to influence WTC: individual traits, teachers’ roles, and learning environments. Prominent themes include the rising trend of positive psychology, the importance of motivation, confidence, attitudes, the application of teacher immediacy and WTC in L2 learning. The study also highlights the significance of considering peer and cultural factors in future research. By providing a rigorous overview of the literature, this study contributes valuable insights into the current state of WTC in L2 learning education.

Developmental acquisition of stops by multilingual speakers

ABSTRACT The study aimed to analyse the production of plosive sounds by trilingual speakers of L1 Polish – L2 English – L3 Norwegian. The main objective was to trace any changes in the VOT production of fortis and lenis stops in all three languages (Polish, English and Norwegian) produced by novice L3 learners with a focus on possible cross-linguistic interactions. The investigation was conducted across three testing times throughout the first year of L3 learning. The results show that participants maintained separate VOT patterns in all three languages. What is more, VOT production patterns changed over time, but only in the voiced series of stops. The study also provides evidence for asymmetry between voiced and voiceless stops, as the two series turned out to be affected by CLI in a different manner.

Growth language mindset and willingness to communicate: Contributions of linguistic risk taking and learning experience

As various contextual and individual difference factors determine how and when mindsets may influence learning outcomes, burgeoning L2 research has recently addressed the role of growth language mindset (GLM) in different learning outcomes such as L2 Willingness to Communicate (WTC). Since little is known about the underlying mechanism through which GLM may contribute to WTC, a highly desirable goal of L2 education and an important criterion for assessing its efficiency and success, the present study addresses this gap by investigating the possible mediating and moderating roles of linguistic risk taking and L2 learning experience, respectively. The participants were 392 Iranian L2 students chosen by multi-stage cluster sampling. Findings showed that GLM predicted WTC directly and positively, and their association was mediated and moderated by linguistic risk taking (an important affective factor) and L2 learning experience (an essential motivational factor), respectively. Suggestions for future studies and implications for promoting learners' GLM, linguistic risk taking, and L2 learning experience are presented.

The Effectiveness of a Strategy Training Course in Enhancing Language Skills of Indian Engineering Students

In the contemporary professional landscape, engineers are confronted with the dual imperative of not only excelling in the core subject expertise but also possessing linguistic competence to remain competitive in the global job market. The current employment scenario is marked by raise in demand but decline in the number of qualified professionals graduating from colleges. Graduates are now expected to embody the qualities of techno-managers, adept at multitasking in their roles. Relying solely on technical skills has proven inadequate for many individuals. Recognizing the evolving job market requirements, it became apparent that students must excel in communication, particularly English communication skills, to thrive professionally. Effective communication fosters the development of confidence, astuteness, and outward skills in students. Language acquisition is a lifelong, active process that commences at birth. Textbooks play a crucial role in achieving the objectives of a course, serving as prominent elements in the teaching process. Language learning, facilitated by learning strategies, involves a set of tactics individuals employ to take control of their learning processes. In today's educational landscape, teachers play a pivotal role in enhancing strategies in second or foreign language classrooms. Their responsibility extends to facilitating learning among students and making their thinking processes visible. Effectively teaching a second language (L2) requires educators to consider the unique needs and backgrounds of each learner. By doing so, they can employ methods that help students in utilizing strategies to enhance their L2 learning experience. This paper provides insights into the trailblazer learning strategies that augment the language skills repertoire.

Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the L2 Savoring Beliefs Inventory

The rise of positive psychology (PP) in applied linguistics has led to a focus on the role of positive emotional functioning in second language (L2) learning and teaching. This field has identified key constructs from PP to understand how to replace negative emotions with positive ones in L2 learning. Despite these advancements, there is a need for a specific framework and scale to foster and measure positive emotions in this context. The concept of savoring, which involves recognizing and embracing positive emotions, addresses this need. The paper investigates the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Language-Specific Savoring Beliefs Inventory (L2SBI) through exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM). The results revealed that the bifactor ESEM solution is the most suitable model for assessing L2SBI. In other words, the L2SBI can be better represented by a comprehensive general component of L2 savoring beliefs, distinct from the three specific factors of anticipating progress in learning English, savoring the moment while learning English, and reminiscing about experiences in learning English. The study confirms the consistency of the L2SBI across genders and language levels, offering insights into varying belief patterns among learners and explaining differences in positive learning outcomes.

Out-of-class English learning anxiety and its relation to motivation among Chinese university English majors

A wide range of studies have examined foreign language anxiety (FLA). However, these studies have primarily examined the context of classroom-based learning, while neglecting out-of-class learning settings. Thus, this study investigated the factor structure of out-of-class FLA and its relationship to L2 motivation (Ideal L2 Self, Ought-to L2 Self, and L2 Learning Experience). The data comprised 20 interviews and 557 survey responses from English majors at Chinese universities. This study identified three out-of-class FLA factors: anxiety about learning effectiveness, learning approaches, and effort management. It further revealed a close association between out-of-class FLA and L2 motivation. Out-of-class L2 Learning Experience was the most salient predictor and was negatively associated with all three dimensions of out-of-class FLA. The Ideal L2 Self exhibited negative associations with anxiety about the learning approach and effort management, whereas Ought-to L2 Self was a positive predictor of anxiety about the learning approach and learning effectiveness. These findings enrich our understanding of the affective aspects of out-of-class learning and suggest the significance of facilitating learners’ out-of-class L2 Learning Experience and Ideal L2 Self to help them overcome FLA in a self-directed out-of-class learning context.

Predictive Effects of English Classroom Anxiety and Motivation on Chinese Undergraduate EFL Learners’ English Achievement

Background: Second language (L2) learning is complex, multifaceted, and greatly influenced by various factors, of which individual factors like anxiety and motivation are important ones. Though anxiety and motivation have been shown to be strongly correlated with each other and interact with other variables to collaboratively affect L2 learning, mixed findings have been revealed, demonstrating the complexity of the interrelationship between L2 anxiety and motivation and their interactive effects on L2 learning. Purpose: Guided by the self-determination theory, this study aimed to explore the levels of and the relationship between English classroom anxiety and motivation as well as their predictive effects on Chinese undergraduate EFL (English as a foreign language) learners’ English achievement. Method: The participants were 571 Chinese university students who answered an 8-item English Classroom Anxiety Scale, a 35-item English Learning Motivation Scale, and a 5-item Demographic Information Questionnaire. They also reported their scores in tests that they had recently taken and self-rated their overall English proficiency as indicators of their English achievement. Results: The study revealed the following major findings: (a) the participants had a small to moderate level of English classroom anxiety, and a medium level of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, personal goals and expectancy/control in English learning, (b) English classroom anxiety was significantly negatively correlated with all motivation scales, (c) English classroom anxiety was not only significantly negatively related to but negatively predicted the students’ English achievement, and (d) significantly positive correlations existed between English learning motivation and English achievement. Of different motivation dimensions, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation positively predicted the latter. Conclusion: The findings of this study further demonstrate the importance of anxiety and motivation in L2 learning and the need to explore anxiety-reduction strategies, increase students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, and strengthen their expectancy in L2 teaching and learning, thus contributing to the understanding of foreign language anxiety and L2 motivation and enriching the current literature on the two issues.

Analysis of verb argument constructions (VACs) in L2 learners across proficiency levels: A corpus-based study in L1 Indonesian

This study investigated the constructional knowledge development of L1 Indonesian by examining nineteen Verb-Argument Constructions (VACs). The VACs examined in the present study are a verb pattern, followed by a preposition and a noun phrase, for example, “V about N” as in “He talkedaboutthe progress”. This study used the Indonesian subset of the Education First Cambridge Open Language Database (EFCAMDAT) corpus from beginner to advanced levels (CEFR A1 to C1; Council of Europe, 2001). This dataset comprises 2943 writing texts (224,763 words) from 623 learners. Frequency analysis of types and tokens was conducted to examine the distribution of the 19 VACs in learner writings across levels. Growth analyses were conducted to investigate the verbs that learners most frequently associated with the most productive VACs. Correlational analyses were conducted to explore how closely related the verb-VAC associations between proficiency levels and the verb occupants in the associations. The results indicate that learners’ constructional knowledge development was implied by: (1) the frequency increase in types and tokens of VACs from lower to higher proficiency levels, (2) the variety of verbs associated with VACs, and (3) the construction schematicity increase indicated by the use of general to more specific verb productions distinct to proficiency levels. The results suggest that English language learners need more exposure to lexicogrammatical features to facilitate VACs acquisition and usage.

The impact of computer-mediated task complexity on writing fluency: A comparative study of L1 and L2 writers’ fluency performance

Though many studies have been conducted on written language task complexity, much remains to be explored about its relationship with writers’ fluency. In this study, we examined the potential impact of cognitive task complexity on L1 and L2 learners’ writing and spelling fluency, and the writing fluency and spelling differences between two L2 learner groups when performing tasks of varied complexity. Ninety university students– 30 native English speakers, and 30 Hispanic and 30 Chinese English learners–participated in the study. We recorded the process performance of the three learner groups using computer keystroke logging software– Inputlog 7.0– while they completed two argumentative tasks of varied cognitive complexity. The participants’ writing performance was analyzed using multiple fluency measures. The results generally showed that task complexity plays an influential role in differentiating the participants’ writing fluency, and that task complexity interacts with the three learner groups’ writing and spelling fluency performance. This offers invaluable insights that can be harnessed by technology developers to tailor their tools, furnishing learners with the means to adeptly navigate the intricate terrain of task-induced fluency challenges. Such nuanced understanding holds the potential to refine technological solutions, ultimately empowering proficient TBLT-driven L2 writers.

Does it make a difference? COVID-19 and its effect on a factor structure of SRL in an EFL online context

Self-regulated learning (SRL) is considered an important skill for not only academic achievement, but also second language (L2) development. Proficient L2 speakers often display more developed SRL skills than novices, and it has been shown that SRL instruction can improve L2 learning results. In Japan, the context of this paper, little research had been done on SRL in online L2 learning environments prior to the emergency remote teaching (ERT) period during COVID-19, and the effects of that period are still forthcoming. This study aims to fill the gap by conducting a factor analysis of the SRL of 498 EFL learners across 12 Japanese universities at the end of the first year of ERT in 2021. The results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) indicated that four factors (goal setting, task strategies, environmental structuring, and classmate communication) were important with classmate communication being a new combined factor of help seeking and self-evaluation. Additional analysis based on prior online learning experience indicated that experience played a role in SRL in online L2 learning contexts. These findings suggest that instruction of SRL and carefully cultivated classroom environments could be beneficial for online L2 learning success.