Language Learning Practices Research Articles

Social Media and Language Learning: How: EFL Students Use Online Platforms for Language Learning at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait

This study explores the role of social media platforms in facilitating both academic and social interactions among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students at the College of Basic Education in Kuwait. The main aim of this study is to investigate EFL students’ perceptions of this use of social media and thus to determine how it can be used to facilitate language learning. A qualitative analysis approach was used, based on semi-structured interviews with 60 college students, to explore how these learners use platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) Instagram, and WhatsApp as tools for language learning. Understanding the use of social media for language learning has relevance in the modern world in terms of it enriching EFL learners’ experiences by bridging the gap between formal education and practical language use, highlighting the need to integrate these digital tools into language learning. The findings in this case reveal that social media is a significant tool for facilitating language learning practice, peer collaboration, and access to educational resources, acting as a critical tool for language learning by offering students opportunities to engage in authentic communication, access to diverse linguistic resources, and chances to participate in online communities that foster collaborative learning.

Näkymättömyysviitta ja tuntoisuuskysymys – kielenomistajuus, kehollisuus ja tila kielikeskusopiskelijoiden kertomina

This article examines university students’ experiences with the embodied and spatial aspects of language learning and use, along with the concept of language ownership. Bridging sociolinguistics, cognitive science, and the phenomenology of embodiment, the study is based on 11 thematic interviews with students who have taken at least one language course at a Finnish university language center. Our data illustrates how language users describe their bodily and spatial language experiences. We also demonstrate that language ownership, akin to grounded cognition, exists at the intersection of sensory perception, the external body as the object of perception, and the material and social environment. This research enriches the discussion on language learning environments and practices in higher education, while providing an interdisciplinary perspective on sociolinguistic concepts.

Exploring Positive Emotions and Teaching Effectiveness in Language Education: Insights From the PERMA Model

ABSTRACTPositive emotions play a significant role in facilitating successful language learning by enhancing motivation, engagement, and overall academic achievements. Nonetheless, there remains a paucity of research exploring how language educators perceive and manifest positive emotions in the context of their teaching practices. This study endeavors to fill this gap by exploring the experiences, practices, and beliefs of language educators regarding positive emotions in effective teaching. Additionally, it seeks to elucidate the pedagogical strategies they associate with fostering conducive learning environments through the lens of Seligman's PERMA model. Employing thematic analysis of semi‐structured interviews with 60 Chinese language educators, the study uncovers key positive emotions integral to effective teaching, including passion, trust, joy, and empathy. Despite the prevalence of these positive emotions, teachers reported a diminished sense of meaning and accomplishment when instructing foreign languages in comparison to the engagement and relationship elements outlined in the PERMA model. The findings shed light on a spectrum of teaching strategies embraced by these educators that align with the components of the PERMA model. By illuminating the affective dimension of language teaching, this study not only provides valuable insights into understanding positive emotions, engagement, and relationships in language education but also offers practical implications for integrating PERMA elements into language teaching and learning practices.

Language Learning Strategies of Maritime Students

Language learning strategies for maritime students might differ depending on their individual requirements and programs. In this premise, this study aimed to determine the extent of Language Learning Strategies by Maritime Students in a private school in a highly urbanized city in the central Philippines during the first semester of the School Year 2023-2024 as the basis for the language mastery program. The data needed for this descriptive research framework, coupled with statistical analysis to investigate the language learning strategies, was collected from 438 first-year maritime students using a standardized questionnaire. The results indicate that most parents hold graduate-level education, influencing academic environments. Most students are enrolled in a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, with a balanced distribution of private and public school backgrounds. The study examines language learning strategies used by maritime students, finding moderate utilization in both direct and indirect dimensions. The study highlights the importance of tailored language learning support in marine education, enhancing language learning practices and promoting practical communication skills for professional endeavors. Moreover, it reveals notable language learning strategy employment variations among BSMT and BSMarE students. BSMT students showed slightly higher engagement in metacognitive aspects, while BSMarE students showed moderate engagement in affective and social strategies. The overall mean suggests areas for improvement in language learning behaviors. The study compares language learning strategies among maritime students and reveals significant differences based on a program of study. Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation students show higher engagement; in contrast, BSMarE students show no significant difference. The findings suggest tailoring specific language learning strategies to enhance students’ proficiency and academic success. Specialized support programs tailored to academic specializations and collaborative efforts among language teachers and faculty across programs are essential to enhancing language learning in maritime education. Keywords: Education, language learning, maritime, strategies, private school, central Philippines

Investigating the effects of reverse dubbing tasks on English speaking proficiency and English learning motivation

Reverse dubbing represents the process of creating and presenting a video clip that translates the original first-language (L1) spoken dialogues to second/foreign language. This study investigated its effects on English speaking proficiency and English learning motivation (ELM). Two intact classes of English as a foreign language (EFL) college students were randomly assigned to either the reverse dubbing (RD) group or the comparison group. In the course of an academic semester, the RD group completed two RD tasks, for each of which they, in groups, (1) selected a Mandarin L1 video clip, (2) translated the subtitles to English, (3) rehearsed the translated subtitles, (4) created a new soundtrack, (5) combined the video clip with the new soundtrack to produce the dubbed video clip, and (6) played the dubbed video clip in class and then performed the live dubbing again. ANCOVAs and qualitative examinations performed on the numerical data and interview transcripts unveiled that reverse dubbing constituted a significant contributor to the development of English speaking proficiency and led to a statistically significant increase in the level of intrinsic motivation for the participating students. In light of these findings, implications are proposed for the theory and practice of technology-enhanced language teaching and learning.

The effectiveness of interactive online courses for the speech competence development in non-language-major students

Interactive online courses are becoming increasingly popular among students studying foreign languages. The aim of the article is to analyse the effectiveness of interactive online courses in the speech competence development of non-language-major students. Research methods included student surveys, testing before and after the interactive online courses, mathematical statistics methods (t-test, Likert scale). The testing showed a significant improvement in the results of the experimental group (EG) that studied using interactive online courses (B2 – 43.5% of students, C1 – 21.7%, C2 – 21.7%). Online courses were found to provide valuable opportunities for real language practice with an average score of 3.6. The user interface and features were found to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, with an average score of 3.5. The variety of topics covered in the interactive online courses was identified as beneficial for general language skills, with an average score of 3.6. Flexibility in study planning was consistent with the benefits, receiving a high mean score of 3.8. The practical value of these results is their ability to improve the practice of foreign language learning. The results provide important insights into the effectiveness of interactive online courses.

Promoting Learner Autonomy in English Language Classrooms in Pakistan: The Role of Self-Regulated Learning and Technology Integration

The present study investigates the development of learner autonomy and technology-enhanced language learning (TELL) practices in English classrooms at Shaikh Ayaz University Shikarpur (SAUS) highlighting both self-regulated learning strategies/behaviors. Learner autonomy is a key concept in contemporary language teaching, as it requires our learners to be responsible for their learning. However, in Pakistan teacher centered and traditional approaches are generally dominant that hinder students to become an efficient controller of their own learning. Taking SAUS as a case study, this research seeks to investigate how SRL strategies that are supported by digital tools can foster learner-autonomy in an elite academic institution of Pakistan. In particular, this study looks at the impact of digital platforms and mobile applications on online learning. Study design involves gathering data through classroom observations, student and teacher interviews, surveys. The research highlights the major challenges and opportunities for promoting learner autonomy in university, suggesting that these strategies could be applied to similar processes of change at other institutions around Pakistan. The results reveal that the role of technology is quite supportive in SRL but without institutional support, teacher training and student motivation, self-directed learning may not highly function within ELT context.

A Lesson Design on the Subject of Climate Change as a Course Unit in Language Teaching

Aim. The purpose of this qualitative research is the preparation, implementation and evaluation of a present-related lesson focused on the selection of the subject of climate change for elective German courses taught in universities. For climate change, the issues of sustainability and peace are also important. It is important to address these issues in educational institutions. The dove of peace is an important figure. Methods. In this research the document analysis technique was used. The research on the subject of climate change, sustainability and peace in the context of relation to the present was taken up during the winter semester of 2022/2023 academic year in the elective German courses of the researcher at Hacettepe University. Results. The successful contribution of the lesson planning model already mentioned in this article was also observed in the teaching activities at primary and secondary schools conducted earlier. The participants discussed climate change, sustainability, and peace. Conclusion. It was observed that the participants voluntarily talked about climate change, sustainability, and peace. It is important to state that the interest of the participants in German courses continued. Originality. German language courses are offered as a foreign language learning practice and elective foreign language courses in schools, private institutions, and universities in Turkey. Participants from all the departments of the Hacettepe university voluntarily attended the elective German language classes. To conduct the German courses effectively, a suitable method should be developed to help the participants who come from different countries having various levels of fluent speech.

Understanding Latent Variables in EFL Contexts

Understanding latent variables is essential in EFL research. This article examines key latent variables, such as linguistic competence, cognitive ability and socio-cultural factors. These variables play a crucial role in shaping EFL learning experiences and outcomes. Researchers can use methods such as exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) to uncover these variables. By combining theoretical findings with advanced statistical methods, such research provides an understanding of the complex processes involved in language learning. The article points to the need for longitudinal studies and mixed methods to capture the dynamic nature of EFL learning. This approach could contribute to the development of more effective educational strategies that improve teaching practices and learner outcomes. The article also emphasizes the importance of considering the sociocultural context and developing culturally sensitive teaching methods to create an inclusive learning environment. Moreover, this article serves as a guide for future research and practice in language learning.

Language Learning Strategies and Students' Thinking Styles Correlation in Learning English in EFL Classroom

The study aimed to ascertain whether students' thought patterns and language learning practices were correlated. This study uses a quantitative research design called a correlation study. Only English education students in their fifth semester—45 of whom were still enrolled—were included in the study's population. The research sample only randomly took 30 out of 45 students actively registering using the sample collection technique. The data-gathering process involved the use of two questionnaires as the primary instruments. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) assesses students’ language learning techniques, and the Thinking Style Inventory (TSI) analyzes students' thinking patterns. Meanwhile, the researcher employed the Person Product Moment analysis technique to find the association between the two variables. The results showed no link or minimal correlation between language acquisition and students’ thinking styles.

The Role of Web Technologies in Promoting Learner Autonomy among EFL University Students

Technological advancements have brought about several environmental, economic and social challenges for the entire world. Nevertheless, no one can deny that these forces have offered infinite opportunities for progress and development for humanity. The digital revolution has dramatically affected many domains such as work and education. Perhaps one of the main aspects of this revolution in education is online learning which allows students to easily access resources and self-direct their learning. The current paper attempts to examine the role of using Web technologies in fostering learners’ autonomy. It also aims to explore students’ experiences with online learning and how they perceive its relevance to the enhancement of autonomous abilities. To attain these objectives, a mixed-method approach is adopted to collect data utilizing questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The participants are Moroccan university students in the English departments, and data is analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The results show that the participants display high levels of autonomous behaviours as students value their experiences with online learning. The findings also indicate that most students are willing to be more responsible for their own learning when using online platforms that offer, flexibility, interaction, and interesting autonomous practices of language learning.

Exploring English Teachers’ Cooperative Practices in Teaching Writing Skills

Cooperative language learning (CLL) is considered one of the communicative approaches in which students participate in collaborative learning activities in actual classroom settings. This research aims to examine English instructors’ cooperative practices in instructing writing skills. I employed the narrative inquiry to explore the teaching and learning stories of teachers through their lived stories. This research study seeks to add to the discourse of cooperative practices in English language classrooms to enhance the writing skills of learners in the context of Nepal. Four English instructors from four public secondary schools in Rupandehi district were purposefully selected as participants for this study. The in-depth unstructured interview was used as a tool for collecting data. I adopted social constructivism as a theoretical framework. This study uncovered that the teacher participants used CLL activities such as think-pair-share and group work activities to energize, optimize and enhance students’ writing skills. Moreover, CLL increases learners’ insights and confidence by enhancing their creativity and critical thinking ability in writing through teamwork and makes them more responsible and accountable for learning themselves through their active engagement in various cooperative activities. The study reveals teacher participants’ effective practices of cooperative language learning in generating and creating fresh information to offer a solution to the assigned writing tasks and make learning successful. Teamwork, group work and think-pair-share activities contribute to the learners’ success in writing skills.

Rethinking speaking in ELT: Where does intelligibility stand in the EFL classroom?

Learning a Foreign Language (FL) is, as a rule, seen by experts as a major asset for global understanding and the mobility of people. English is found at the top of the pyramid as the number one language to achieve these goals. Nowadays, being able to express oneself intelligibly in English is decisive for students who want to thrive both academically and professionally. Indeed, the concept of intelligibility is now firmly established in the field of Applied Linguistics as one of the key factors in explaining success or otherwise in communication between interlocutors from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Accordingly, the essence of this article lies in the analysis of the communicative teaching practices of EFL teachers in Portugal and how they reflect on the learners’ speaking proficiency and intelligibility. Findings show that English continues to be taught with little regard to its real-world use, creating a gap between the learners’ needs/expectations and their true learning. Overall, the article focuses on the need for a reconceptualisation of speaking within an intelligibility frame of mind. Thus, it poses a challenge to traditional approaches to language teaching and learning practices by claiming a need to rethink approaches to learners’ oral proficiency grounded in the intelligibility principle.

The Curious Case of Aistija: Sidelights on Latvian–Lithuanian Rapprochement During the 20th Century

The nascent Aistijan movement centred around the idea of establishing a Latvian–Lithuanian state following the Second World War. This article surveys the background of the idea, with particular attention to the public diplomacy of Lithuanian American émigrés, demonstrating its prevalence during the First World War. The activities of interwar Latvian and Lithuanian rapprochement societies are outlined, noting the prominence of the Aestii – the earliest recorded inhabitants of the eastern littoral of the Baltic Sea – in both academic and popular history, in addition to the emergence of the Aistijan movement following the Second World War. Examining the initial successes and rapid decline of the movement, the article also charts developments and material circumstances of language learning practices in connection with the idea of a Latvian–Lithuanian state.

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

Exploring university students’ preferences and satisfaction in utilizing digital tools for foreign language learning

This article investigates the utilization of digital resources, including applications like Duolingo, ChatGPT, and Google Translate, in the language learning practices of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) college students from the Czech Republic, Taiwan, and Iraq. Through a questionnaire-based approach, the study explores the digital tools employed, activities conducted, satisfaction levels, and the impact on language skills. Findings reveal diverse usage patterns and positive perceptions, highlighting the multifaceted role of digital resources in vocabulary acquisition, skill development, and language exploration. While participants express overall satisfaction, challenges such as connectivity issues and content variety are identified. The study’s most important finding is that digital resources like Duolingo, ChatGPT, and Google Translate significantly enhance EFL students’ language learning experiences through increased engagement and skill development, despite challenges such as connectivity issues and content diversity. The study underscores the need for ongoing improvement in digital language learning tools and suggests avenues for future research, emphasizing long-term impact, personalized learning paths, emerging technologies, and socio-emotional aspects. Despite limitations, the research provides valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between technology and language education in diverse cultural contexts.

Spoken word choreographies in additional language learning practices in upper secondary school: Entanglements between languaging‐and‐dancing

AbstractThere are calls for developing ways to teach language that can inspire and motivate students to study additional languages. While previous research has pointed toward benefits of arts‐based activities in language learning, combining language and dance has mainly been studied with younger language learners. Contextualized within the course “Dance with language,” this study explores spoken word choreographies—word‐ and movement‐based choreographies—that combine dance and the learning of Swedish as an additional language at a Finnish upper secondary school. The study engages with new materialist theories to understand languaging as an activity and relational, embodied, and material processes. Using diffractive analysis with comics‐based research strategies, the analysis suggests that languaging‐and‐dancing become entangled through four doings: exploring, re‐working, co‐creating, and negotiating‐and‐switching. The spoken word choreographies offer a potentially valuable way to teach language in their move beyond students’ potential restrictions of vocabulary, structure, and grammar in the language to emphasize playfulness and creative explorations as part of language‐learning processes. In conclusion, the study proposes that dancing and spoken word, and the combination thereof, bring specific qualities to creating smooth languaging spaces that embrace wild, playful, creative, and unpredictable forces and movements in language‐learning practices.

(Im)mobility infrastructure and the production of the linguistic precariat

Abstract Based on an 18 month long ethnographic fieldwork in self-organised English language lessons in a radical café and a squat in two neighbourhoods of Athens, this article deals with (im)mobility infrastructure and the production of the linguistic precariat in Greece. To do this, I investigate how waiting as a bordering technology shapes language learning practices of refugees whilst they plan their journeys to northern Europe via human smugglers. I explore how language and communication intersect with (im)mobility infrastructure, how it is rationalised and what it does in the context of forced migration. More specifically, I investigate how language learning and communication practices of refugees are shaped by this apparatus and turn them into the linguistic precariat. The notion of linguistic precariat refers to uncertainties, anxieties, vulnerabilities, insecurities experienced by individuals who make temporary investments in their language learning choices. I discuss how my participants, including refugees and anti-authoritarians, mobilise vulnerability, lack of language(s), through self organised teaching and learning, to reduce condition of precarity.

Fostering Creative Writing through Poetry in EFL Classroom

This study was conducted to examine how the ELT teacher implements creative writing through poetry in the ELT classroom during pandemic and to describe how the students express their emotions through tone of poetry in their creative writing. It is due to the existence of creative writing in language teaching and learning practice is significant to gaining students’ creativity and thinking. One of them is writing poetry. However, few literatures discussed on the method used by teachers through writing poems as well as the concern for emotion and tone embedded in students’ writing products. This study used qualitative descriptive with Indonesian EFL university students of the non-English department at an Islamic University in Indonesia as the participants. The result shows that teachers use student-centered methods to implement creative writing through poetry in the classroom during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting was organized using Zoom Meeting with performing Warm-Up, Lead-In (Creation of Poem and Reading the Poem), and Follow-up. In addition, it was also found that the student’s creative works posted on Instagram were based on the negative variations of poetry tone including threatening, painful, and discouraged. The study underscores the pedagogical efficacy of student-centered creative writing in ELT, highlighting its role in enhancing emotional intelligence and validating the integration of digital platforms for remote learning. It advocates for culturally responsive curricula that leverage creative expression as a conduit for emotional articulation and critical thinking

English Language Teachers’ Awareness and Practice of Digital Teaching

Raising English language teachers' awareness and practice of digital teaching is essential for creating interactive, engaging, and effective learning environments that cater to the diverse needs and interests of students. This study aims to explore the digital teaching awareness of secondary level English teachers and the technology-driven activities implemented in their classrooms. Employing a qualitative approach within the narrative inquiry framework, data was gathered from 12 secondary level English teachers through semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and document analysis. The results reveal that secondary level English teachers in Nepal develop their digital teaching skills and knowledge by engaging in professional development programs, including workshops, seminars, and conferences, as well as through self-directed learning from online platforms like YouTube. Additionally, they enhance their digital teaching strategies by utilizing social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, along with web-based tools. These findings provide valuable insights and resources for English teachers, which can be applied in the classroom to promote interactive, technology-enhanced learning and teaching activities. Furthermore, the results can inform policymakers at educational institutions to ensure the efficacy of digital language learning practices.