Perceived Language Proficiency Research Articles

Perceived Language Proficiency and Autonomous Motivation as Predictors to Perceived Communicative Competence in English

Introduction: The current study, following a sequential mixed-methods design, mainly aimed at investigating the possible predictors of perceived communicative competence (PCC) in English in perceived language proficiency (PLP) and autonomous motivation to learn English. Methodology: In doing so, 204 homogeneous university English-major students participated in this study based on convenience sampling, and a pool of six students joined the interview sessions based on purposive sampling. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and the multiple regression were conducted to analyze the data. Results: The results obtained from the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient confirmed that there was a medium, positive correlation between PLP and PCC in English, and also between autonomous motivation to learn English and PCC in English. Moreover, it was found that PLP was the best predictor of PCC in English. Following inter-coder reliability, the commonalities emerged from the students’ responses to the interviews yielded seven common themes, entailing good sense, desire to learn, participation, engagement, disengagement, teacher support, and ability to communicate fluently. Conclusion: The study yielded deeper insight into the effective role of factors, such as good sense, desire to learn, participation, and engagement in enriching their PLP and PCC. At the end, some practical implications are suggested for EFL learner and teachers.

Growing up bilingual through a pandemic: Children’s language exposure, proficiency, social identities, and competences pre- and post-lockdowns

Aims and objectives: There were already calls for more longitudinal research on younger bilinguals before the COVID-19 pandemic, which added another layer of complexity to their development. This study followed the language and social-developmental outcomes of primary-school pupils before and after the pandemic lockdowns, specifically examining changes in language exposure and proficiency and social identities and competences. Design and methodology: Eighty-eight mostly British-born English-dominant pupils (initial ages 4–9), including a subset ( N = 19) who attended heritage language (HL) complementary schools (CS), were assessed in 2019 (Time1), and reassessed in 2021 (Time2) after a 2020 time point was interrupted by school closures. Data and analysis: Individual interviews, at each time point, used measures for perceived language proficiency and exposure, ethnic/heritage and British/national identities, social competences and family affluence (FA), for exploring changes over the pandemic. At Time2, measures on pandemic-period learning engagement were included to explore their possible effects. Findings and conclusions: Controlling for age and FA, children reported lower social competences at Time2 compared with Time1. At both time points, CS-attendees reported higher HL proficiency than did non-attendees, who reported a larger Time1–Time2 decline in HL exposure. Pandemic-period HL learning hours were associated with change in cognitive competence. Hierarchical regression models showed that Time1–Time2 change in heritage identification was individually explained by change in HL proficiency, and change in British identification by change in English proficiency, which also contributed to changes across all social competences. Originality: There has been little systematic research on how the pandemic impacted HL, with most studies focusing on English skills or family language practice. This research indicates the longitudinal trajectories of bilingual children’s social development over a period of unprecedented education and homelife disruptions. Significance and implications: While the pandemic variables did not directly contribute to outcomes, findings implicate challenges in maintaining HL exposure, which supports proficiency and identity formation. Recommendations for school-based practice with educators and communities are discussed.

MITIGATING RESPONDENT FATIGUE IN SELF-ASSESSMENT: CEFR-BASED ITEMS FOR MALAYSIAN UNDERGRADUATES

Background and Purpose: The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is an internationally recognised instrument for describing language skills. It describes language proficiency on a six-level scale, ranging from A1 for beginners to C2 for those who have already mastered a language. The roadmap in the Malaysian Education Plan 2013-2025 sets B2 as the target for Malaysian higher education graduates as this is the level at which they can expect to get a job and function adequately in English, while graduates of English language degree programmes are expected to reach C1 when they graduate. The aim of this study is to test and verify whether it is appropriate to use only the items from B2, C1 and C2 to measure the language proficiency of Malaysian students to avoid respondent fatigue in answering the questionnaire. Methodology: A proportionate stratified random sampling method was used and four strata were defined: Strata I and II were male and female students in public institutions, Strata III and IV were male and female students in private institutions. The instrument used was a questionnaire containing demographic profiles and eight items from the CEFR Global Self-Assessment Grid. Exploratory factor analysis and reliability analysis were conducted using SPSS. Findings: The eigenvalue of 7.263 with factor loadings between 0.774 and 0.854 and the Cronbach’s alpha value for language ability of over 0.9 indicate excellent reliability of the selected items. The study found that Malaysian university students were good at understanding and discussing personal information, events, opinions and plans. However, they found it difficult to understand complex and longer texts, to use language flexibly in social and academic settings and to express themselves without constantly asking for feedback. As the current education system focuses too much on memorization, it does not contribute to the development of practical language skills. In order to improve, students should use the CEFR as a self-assessment tool. Contributions: The findings of the study contribute to the understanding of the optimization of the CEFR framework in Malaysian higher education by reducing respondent fatigue and improving the quality of self-assessment. The study provides empirical evidence of the effectiveness of using CEFR-based items at B2, C1 and C2 levels in reducing fatigue, improving the quality of self-assessment and informing language teaching and learning practices. The findings can assist educators and policy makers in developing more effective language teaching and assessment strategies that promote student learning outcomes and ultimately improve the language education of Malaysian students. Keywords: CEFR rubric, ESL, self-assessment, perceived language proficiency, answering fatigue. Cite as: Tg Nur Liyana, T. M. F., Wan Nazihah, W. M, & Mimi Mazlina, M. (2024). Assessing the self-perceived language proficiency of Malaysian ESL learners in higher education utilizing the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). Journal of Nusantara Studies, 9(2), 474-489. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol9iss2pp474-489

The whole network approach to understanding language contact reporting inconsistency in peer interactions

Language contact in peer interactions during study abroad has drawn considerable attention from applied linguists and educators. Scholars have developed various tools to collect language contact and social interaction information, such as the Language Contact Profile, the Language Log, and the Social Interaction Questionnaire. This paper employs a whole network design with peer evaluation to collect data on social interaction, use of languages, perceived language proficiency, and total time spent using different languages among 23 students with diverse backgrounds. These students were enrolled in an English-medium program in China that caters exclusively to international students. Findings show that the whole network approach can effectively cross-validate students’ self-reported language use and proficiency alongside their social interactions. The paper also offers several strategies, rooted in the whole network approach, to detect potential inconsistencies in these self-reported measures that warrant further investigations.

From Sociocultural Theory (SCT) to Socially-Contextualized Pedagogy (SCP)

This quasi-experimental and empirical study explores the effectiveness of a socially-contextualized pedagogy in empowering English language learners. The participants included 100 English language learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds, randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which received socially-contextualized instruction, or the control group, which received traditional instruction. Data collection involved pre- and post-treatment surveys assessing participants' motivation, engagement, and perceived language proficiency, as well as qualitative interviews exploring their learning experiences. Results indicated that participants in the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher motivation, engagement, and perceived language proficiency compared to the control group. Qualitative analyses revealed themes related to enhanced socio-cultural connections, increased self-efficacy, and a more positive learning environment in the experimental group. These findings highlight the potential of socially-contextualized pedagogy in empowering English language learners and improving their educational outcomes.

Primary school children's conflicted emotions about using their heritage languages in multilingual classroom tasks

AbstractFor many children in Flanders, Belgium, the language of instruction is not their first language. Allowing children to use their heritage languages in the classroom has been argued to have functional and socioemotional benefits. In two exploratory studies, we introduced a multilingual task in four classrooms across three linguistically and socially diverse primary schools, where Dutch was the language of instruction, to determine how students experience the opportunity to use their linguistic repertoire in class. The multilingual task was preceded by an assessment of students’ emotional reactions to the languages they speak through the Self‐Assessment Manikin gauging students’ emotional responses (pleasure, arousal, and dominance), and followed by a semistructured interview on students’ language choices. Both studies yielded similar results. Students generally indicated that they felt happy, calm, and in control when speaking their heritage language. Despite these positive assessments, many students refrained from using their heritage language in the multilingual tasks. A qualitative analysis revealed a variety of language‐related reasons leading to linguistic insecurity, language anxiety, and not using the heritage language: perceived language proficiency, language norms, language status, and appropriate contexts for language use. Conversely, we also identified several students who felt proud to showcase their heritage language. While multilingual tasks have the potential to induce positive emotions in students, teachers need to be aware of potential backlash and prepared to navigate the negative emotions surrounding contested language choices.

Language awareness and cultural awareness in international online cooperation: a mixed-method approach

This paper reports on research conducted within the frame of an international online cooperation between Germany and Israel (CoGI). Diverse, multilingual student groups co-construct multilingual websites on educational initiatives. The aim is to raise prospective teachers’ language awareness (LA) and cultural awareness (CA) for cooperation in international contexts. 75 students and five instructors from four different campuses in Germany and Israel took part in the project in 2019. Individual and cooperative learning was combined with online and face-to-face as well as student conference learning. A mixed-method approach was used to investigate the effects of the 10-week cooperation with respect to the emergence of LA and CA as well as perceived language proficiency. The results show a significant increase in participants’ perceived English language proficiency and CA. The qualitative analyses give evidence of co-constructive group cooperation which revealed LA and CA in the process of negotiating shared understanding. The study highlights the importance of international online cooperation in teacher education.

Core English skills affecting Korean hoteliers’ perceived language proficiency

Fluency in English is a crucial asset in today"s highly competitive hotel industry. However, despite the significant contribution of the hotel sector to the country"s tourism industry revenue, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the usage and proficiency of English among Korean hoteliers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to thoroughly examine the usage frequency of four English skills and the perceived level of proficiency of Korean hoteliers by investigating both strong and weak skills. The study reveals that listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills are all essential in the hotel industry, but their frequency of use and proficiency level vary depending on the department, position, and hotel brand. Senior managers demonstrated the highest English proficiency, highlighting the importance of English for career development. However, this study also identifies a critical deficiency in confidence in listening skills and knowledge of grammar and sentence structure, in contrast to a high level of linguistic politeness. The respondents" ability to understand vocabulary spoken by guests and to utilize it in writing, constructing sentences, and speaking naturally were found to impact their overall perception of English proficiency. Based on the research findings, the study provides implications for English education to enhance the competitiveness of Korean hoteliers.

Academic Success in English Medium Courses: Exploring Student Challenges, Opinions, Language Proficiency and L2 Use

The growth of English medium instruction (EMI) programs at universities worldwide has raised questions about the implications of teaching through L2 English on students’ content learning outcomes. This study examined the impact of four factors on students’ academic success (e.g. content learning) in the Turkish EMI context: (1) students’ language-related challenges; (2) students’ opinions about the effectiveness of EMI; (3) students’ perceived language proficiency levels; and (4) the amount of L2 English used in EMI classes. Students’ perceived academic performance was taken as a proxy of EMI success. The study employed a quantitative empirical design using questionnaires and regression analysis. Data were collected via an online questionnaire from 498 students at an EMI university in Turkey. The results revealed that students’ language-related challenges and perceived language proficiency were the only predictors that were associated with academic success in their EMI courses at a statistically significant level. The amount of English used in the classroom was not found to predict success in EMI, suggesting that students may benefit from multilingual models of teaching. These findings underscore the importance of adequate language support for students on EMI programs, and implications are discussed with respect to EMI policy, program planning, and teacher pedagogy.

Emotional intelligence and second/foreign language achievement: A meta-analytic review

A growing body of literature examined the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in second/foreign language learning (L2) achievement. Though positive relationships have been reported, negative or non-significant relationships were also found. To date no study has quantitatively synthesized the overall effect size between EI and L2 achievement or the potential moderators influencing their relationship. The current meta-analysis fills this research gap by examining 39 independent studies with a cumulative sample size of 6,571 participants. Random-effects model yielded moderate-to-large coefficients ( r = .43, 95% CI: .32−.53 with actual language performance as the outcome; r = .43, 95% CI: .19−.61 with perceived language proficiency as the outcome). Moderation analyses showed that the effect was stronger for female, collectivistic culture, and final grades as language measures (as opposed to standardized tests) but not influenced by educational level, major, specificity of L2 achievement, skills of language learning or publication year. Reasons for the effect, possible explanations for moderating effects, and pedagogical implications are discussed.

Speakers use more redundant references with language learners: Evidence for communicatively-efficient referential choice

According to the communicative efficiency hypothesis, speakers should produce more linguistic material when comprehension difficulty increases. Here, we investigate a potential source of comprehension difficulty – listeners’ language proficiency – on speakers’ productions, using referential choice as a case study. Referential choice is influenced by communicative efficiency: pronouns are used less than full noun phrases (NPs) for less predictable referents (Tily & Piantadosi, 2009). However, the extent to which it is influenced by the listener is debated. Here, we compare participants’ descriptions of the same picture book to children, adult L2 learners and adult native speakers. We find that speakers use more full NPs when their interlocutors are learners – child and adult learners alike, illustrating an effect of listeners’ proficiency (regardless of age) on production choices. Importantly, the increased use of full NPs relative to pronouns is found controlling for discourse-related differences (e.g., previous mention), suggesting a direct relation between listeners’ perceived language proficiency and referential choice.

An Exploration of Nonnative English Speaking (NNES) EFL Teachers’ Perceived Language Proficiency and Self-efficacy in an off-Campus English Language Training Institutionin in Xiamen

In the realm of education, teachers’ perceptions or beliefs have been one of the main topics that researchers have focused on over the past four decades (Ghasemboland & Hashim, 2013). For nonnative English speaking teachers, level of English proficiency is often a matter of concern and it has close relationship with their beliefs about teaching abilities, which is known as self-efficacy (Faez, Karas & Uchihara, 2021). This study aims to explore the nonnative English speaking (NNES) EFL teachers’ perceived English proficiency and its impact on their self-efficacy of teaching in an off-campus English training institution in Xiamen, a sub-provincial city in southeastern Fujian, China. The institution has an English only policy for both teachers and students to use English at all times, in order to create an English immersion environment for students. Teachers’ special needs for language training were also interviwed as well. Semi-structured face-to-face individual interview is the only method implemented in this study, in which the interview questions were designed drawing on prior research and the Teachers' Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES; Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001). The results showed that the teachers’s self-efficacy was positively correlated with their self-perceived English proficiency, which concurs with the previous studies, and that teachers haves strong needs for development in language profiency to improve their slef-efficacy of teaching.

Linguistic insecurity and discrimination among Italian school students

Italian schools are characterised by superdiversity. In fact, different native languages and Italian dialects coexist in single learning environments. In this context, the pressure exerted by the linguistic reference model can engender linguistic insecurity – that is, a feeling of communicative inadequacy. In turn, linguistically insecure students may suffer from being discriminated against and, in general, feel a diminished self-regard. In order to test for these assumptions, this paper presents a survey involving 336 students from lower and higher secondary schools in Tuscany, Italy. We performed regression analyses with the aim of trying to predict three potential manifestations of student predicament (i.e., perceived linguistic discrimination, discrimination distress and low self-regard scores) from a multifaceted conceptualization of linguistic insecurity (composed of perceived language proficiency, accent strength and pride). Results confirm our expectations: indeed, language insecurity increases the feeling of being discriminated against and lowers the self-regard scores of the students. Moreover, model selection procedures highlighted that the most impactful form of insecurity was that based on grades attained in Italian. A wide array of control variables was taken into account, retrieving significant effects of regionality, school perceived friendliness, importance and age. Overall, our findings give novel insights into the factors determining perceived discrimination in Italian classrooms.

Acculturation in a postcolonial context: Language, identity, cultural adaptation, and academic achievement of Macao students in Mainland China

The mainstream acculturation research focuses on international students and immigrants’ settlement in a new cultural environment, but little is known about the adaptation process of people from postcolonial areas relocating to their home country. Drawing from research on acculturation and postcolonial studies, this research examined the importance of language and social identity of Macao Chinese (N = 102; 50 males, Mage = 20.1) transitioning to universities in Mainland China. The results of path analysis showed that Chinese national identity and perceived Mandarin language proficiency were positively associated with each other, but they were linked to cultural adaptation through different paths. Perceived language proficiency was directly linked to social, academic, and psychological adaptation, whereas Chinese identity was indirectly associated with social and academic adaptation through acculturation to the Mainland Chinese culture. Moreover, academic adaptation was, in turn, associated with academic achievement (i.e., GPAs). The present study extends acculturation research to a postcolonial context, highlighting that national identity and language proficiency are important factors for successful cultural adaptation to the homeland. The theoretical and practical implications regarding intra-cultural adaptation barriers andprocesses in postcolonial contexts were discussed.

Intelligibility of Philippine English to a Selected ASEAN Country – Thailand

This paper is a sequence to a bigger research project that attempts to document the intelligibility of Philippine English (PE) to its neighboring countries, specifically those included in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partnership. From this perspective, the study attempted to identify and demonstrate how intelligible PE is to Thais. The study examined acrolectal, mesolectal, and basilectal speakers of PE, and they underwent two tests, the pronunciation task, and the stress task. The listeners were given six tests, three cloze tests, one intelligibility questionnaire, one perception of PE, and one English proficiency self-assessment. These tests were to confirm that they really belong to the lectal category. The results revealed that PE is about 50% intelligible for Thais. The factors that have strongly affected this intelligibility rate are listeners’ familiarity with the variety and the speakers’ effort, choice of words, rate, and pronunciation. It has to be noted that English in Thailand is a foreign language, but then the listeners’ perceived language proficiency did not significantly affect the intelligibility of PE. Moreover, their perception of PE did not affect their understanding of the utterances of the speakers.

EFL teachers’ perceived language proficiency and teaching effectiveness

The importance of language teachers possessing high level of language proficiency has been extensively studied. On the other hand, studies related to teaching effectiveness (TE) have yet to define the concept of teaching effectiveness, and studies to relate teacher language proficiency (TLP) and TE, especially in Indonesian context are found to be scarce. In addition, the lack of both clear guidelines on how to assess TLP and current and official data of TLP in Indonesia only exacerbate this matter. Thus, the objective of this study was to find the relation between TLP and TE in the context of a language school in Bandung and the perception of its teachers on the role of TLP in the effectiveness of their teaching process. Using a mixed-methods sequential explanatory research design, the result of the data collection was then cross tabulated and analysed using Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test. It was found that there was a strong positive relation between TLP and the two aspects of TE: managing the classroom, and understanding and communicating lesson content, but no relation between language proficiency and assessing students and giving feedback. This was further confirmed in the qualitative stage that teachers with lower language proficiency could also deliver lesson content, and assess students albeit with a lower degree of flexibility compared to their more proficient counterparts. This means that the relation between TLP and TE was complex and not straightforward, and that the mastery of one does not always entail the mastery of the other.

“I Don’t Fit in Here and I Don’t Fit in There:” Understanding the Connections between L1 Attrition and Feelings of Identity in 1.5 Generation Russian Australians

The present study analyzes four adult Russian-Australian 1.5ers, heritage bilinguals whose first language is Russian, and who immigrated to Australia or New Zealand during their primary school years. Semi-structured interviews conducted with the case-study participants examined their attitudes toward their Russian, their L1, and English, their L2. The interviews explored the participants’ schooling history, language use, perceived language proficiency, dominance and use, perceived L1 attrition, and feelings about their identity. The aim of the study was to understand the connections between language, particularly L1 attrition, and identity for this cohort of 1.5 generation speakers, as well as factors that may influence their identity perception. The results emerging from the study’s data reconfirm the role played by language in identity construction. At the same time, they suggest that for 1.5ers the relationship between language and identity also needs to be considered in relation to L1 attrition. This factor, in fact, might contribute to identity conflicts and trigger the desire to return to one’s roots.

ELF and migrant categorization at family clinics in Finland

Abstract The aim of this paper is to examine how nurses in family clinics use language, and clients’ perceived English proficiency in particular, when categorizing their non-Finnish-speaking clients in their talk. Through membership categorization analysis (Schegloff, Emanuel A. 2007. A tutorial on membership categorization. Journal of Pragmatics 39(3). 462–482), this study shows that perceived proficiency in English, along with migration status and reliance on the native English speaker norm, seemed to be the most decisive elements in how the nurses categorized their migrant clients. The findings demonstrate the power of categorization as an instrument in institutional decision-making and highlight the role language plays in these categorizations. In particular, the study shows how influential perceived English language proficiency and the native speaker norm are in how nurses categorize their migrant clients. The findings suggest that being able to interact with clients in English is becoming a more and more important skill in working life in Finland, also in the health care sector. It would be important to understand how influential perceived language proficiency is in the way nurses conceptualize their clients, and to what extent this relates to the standard language ideology (Milroy, James. 2001. Language ideologies and the consequences of standardization. Journal of Sociolinguistics 5. 530–555).

A Case Study of Nonnative English-Speaking International Students' Adjustment to a Korean University

Kim, Jeongyeon. 2018. “A Case Study of Nonnative English-Speaking InternationalStudents' Adjustment to a Korean University”. The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea 26(1).111~133. In the midst of intense global economic competition, institutions of highereducation in many non-English-speaking societies have rigorously expandedinternationalization and seen a dramatic increase of international students. This studyinvestigated a case of nonnative English-speaking international students' adjustment toa Korean university devoted to internationalization. A mixed method was adopted toexamine the relationships between adjustment and factors including perception ofEnglish as a lingua franca (ELF), perception of English-medium instruction, culturalknowledge, and perceived language proficiency. The analysis of the questionnaireresponses of 132 international students and qualitative interviews with seven of therespondents revealed their negative view of EMI, which was frequently associated withthe local language used in class. Their adjustment correlated significantly with theamount of the knowledge of the Korean culture and with the extent to which theywould perceive English as a means of intercultural communication. Although therelationship between their view of EMI and adjustment was not significant, it was foundstill valid and indirect through the factor of the Korean language proficiency. Notably,in the qualitative interviews, the participants revealed limited understanding of the wayinteraction is framed in different local communities. These findings are discussed topropose improved support for international students of non-English-speaking highereducation.

The Relationship between Foreign Language Anxiety, Year of Study and Self- perceived language Proficiency among English Major Egyptian Students at Faculty of Education

The Relationship between Foreign Language Anxiety, Year of Study and Self- perceived language Proficiency among English Major Egyptian Students at Faculty of Education