Second Language Learners Of English Research Articles

Effects of MOOC and video conferencing deliveries on vocabulary usage and learning strategies

While vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) have primarily been taught in physical classroom settings, the potential for applying strategy training in an online environment remains under-explored. With the rising acceptance of remote education, there is a need to investigate the impacts of applying strategy training in online contexts. Hence, this study explores the effects of online deliveries on VLSs and vocabulary usage in writing among adult English as second language (ESL) learners via massive open online course (MOOC) and video conferencing platforms. A total of 50 pre-intermediate ESL learners completed a 5-week VLSs course on a MOOC while 44 students learnt from the instructor synchronously using Microsoft Teams. The data comprised questionnaires and learners’ compositions, which were collected before and after treatment. The data analysis procedures involved Lextutor’s version of lexical frequency profiling (LFP), descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that there was a significant increase of usage in all categories of the VLSs after the course for both groups. Additionally, the effects of VLSs instruction on vocabulary usage could be reflected in both groups’ writing though the choice of words might have been task-influenced. The findings from this study could yield useful insights on online vocabulary learning for ESL instructors and learners.

Noun phrase complexity in English integrated writing placement test responses

Research has shown that the use of noun phrases is a salient characteristic favored in academic writing (Biber et al., 2011; Biber & Gray, 2011; Parkinson & Musgrave, 2014). Although studies have examined the structure of noun phrases, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of noun phrase complexity in order to inform the instructional content of academic writing courses. In response to this need and the call for more empirical evidence for the developmental stages for complexity features proposed by Biber et al. (2011), this study aimed to investigate differences in the use of noun modifiers among second language learners of English at varying proficiency levels. A corpus consisting of 286 essays, written by international students in response to an English integrated writing placement test, was analyzed for grammatical structures of noun phrases. Results indicated that more proficient writers employed significantly more attributive adjectives, prepositional phrases, finite relative clauses with non-animate head nouns, and nonfinite relative clauses. These findings support previous research on the relationship between writing proficiency and the use of noun modifiers and provide implications for both academic writing instruction and the development of writing assessment criteria.

The Journey of Learning a Second Language: A Case Study of International Students Residing in the US for the Purpose to Learning English and Undergo Culture Shock

The study at hand analyzes the results from a study using a Qualitative method. The study made use of recorded interviews of 4 second language learners of English from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who had attended language courses in various parts of the United States. The data displays several themes that are carried throughout the interviews confirming specific expectations prior to their arrival and clash with American culture, while then displaying discrepancies in what was expected and symptoms of the phenomenon known as “Culture shock”. The research conducted aims to generate and analyze the themes the participants expressed in their experiences and interactions with the new culture.

Grammaticality in Writing Skills of L2 English Learners: Challenges in Pakistani Academic Setting

This study examines how second-language English learners' grammar issues differ in rural and urban Pakistani schools. This study is quasi-experimental. The study uses a quantitative approach and SPSS-analyzed writing test samples. The key findings reveal that pupils struggle to understand complicated syntactic structures like qualifiers, adjectives, adverbs, and adjunct and complement categories, even though they understand subject-verb agreement. Lack of resources and poor language education exacerbate these issues in rural areas. Teachers emphasize the need for the government to improve English grammar education and the necessity for custom learning aids to help rural students with their particular issues in grammar and syntax. Teachers also want enhanced professional development to master advanced grammar teaching methods. Students expressed mixed confidence in their grammatical skills since they were unsure how well they comprehended complex grammar principles. To assist students in comprehending and using grammar rules, the study recommends adding more interactive and relevant grammar assignments to courses and using the process-genre technique. The results also demonstrate the need for teachers to continue to study and have support networks to ensure good language sessions. Policy suggestions include equipping schools, especially rural ones, modifying the curriculum, and funding teacher training. This study enhances Pakistani second language learners' academic and employment prospects by identifying grammar issues and providing writing tips. Thus, it expands ESL instruction.

HL Mandarin Speakers Toss the Same Way as Fluent Mandarin Speakers

Abstract Heritage language (HL) speakers often show weaker semantics in HL words than speakers who continue to learn and use the language. In this study, we tested whether HL Mandarin speakers simplified near-synonyms of throw verbs by diminishing the difference between the near-synonyms and/or by diminishing the difference between the generic throw verb and other near-synonyms. Two participant groups, HL Mandarin speakers and English second-language learners, acted out six Mandarin near-synonyms of throw verbs and the English verb throw. The results showed more similarities than differences between the two groups in the core features of throw verb semantics (force, speed, and direction). We observed few signs of simplification. One interpretation of these results is that early and/or naturalistic exposure to Mandarin was an important predictor of speakers’ knowledge of conceptual features. These results add to the literature showing that there can be factors beyond proficiency that contribute to speakers’ lexical semantics.

Interplay of Language and Identity in Education: Prospection for Urdu and English Language and Second Language Teaching and Learning

Educational contexts are the primary sites for the promulgation of linguistic ideologies and for determining the linguistic market for a language. English language in Pakistan is considered vital for mundane, official, and academic activities hence its learning gains currency in the polity. Conversely, the learning outputs are unsatisfactory which necessitates understanding how English language learners perceive themselves concerning the languages they are taught in the educational context. This study explains the language identity for Urdu (L1) and English (L2) of Pakistani undergraduate English as second language (ESL) learners for institutionally recognized and prescribed languages in the national curriculum to explicate the interplay of language and identity of learners in educational settings. Learners’ demographic profiles (previous education, schooling system, language proficiency, and family’s socio-economic status) were also inquired to understand relationship variation across demographic traits. A validated survey questionnaire was administered to a sample (N=316) comprising male and female students from 28 different programmes at a large public university in Karachi. Descriptive analysis and one-way ANOVA were carried out using the IBM SPSS 22 version. The findings attest to learners’ hybrid identity revealing attachment neither with L1 nor to L2. Learners acknowledged the privileged status of the English language in polity and preferred British English compared to the indigenous variety of Pakistani English [PakE] echoing the language ideologies permeated through the Educational context. They also endorsed English language speaking skills for gaining higher recompenses in society however deluded themselves in code[1]switching instead of practicing speaking skills. Besides, no significant difference was found in the language identity of ESL learners across demographic traits. The study has strong implications for devising language policies for education and adopting pedagogical approaches calling to accentuate language identity as a catalyst in the teaching-learning process and not considering linguistic diversity a barrier in the multilingual context.

Writing Errors of English as Second Language (ESL) Learners in the 21st Philippine Context

To learn a second language (L2), once mastered, entails various prospects for Filipinos. One of the goals of the K-12 curriculum is to strengthen communicative competencies, which include linguistic competence; however, it was reported that the English Proficiency Index (EPI) of the Philippines has continuously declined in 2019, a year after the first batch of Senior High School graduated. As the country’s EPI declines, it may negatively impact the competitiveness of Filipinos in the international arena. Additionally, this result demonstrates the presence of errors in the writing performance of the learners despite the change in the curriculum. This research utilized a descriptive method to analyze the corpus from 100 ESL learners of a private school in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur. The findings illustrate that the majority, or 96.3221% were local errors and among these were mechanical or orthographic errors which ranked first with 1677 or 33.70%. Furthermore, the most committed error was misuse or omission of verb tenses, followed by capitalization and punctuation marks. With these results, it is important to expose learners to the target language (TL) and teachers to create remedial writing programs focusing on the weakest linguistic areas.

Analysis of the English Language Needs of Grade 12 Learners in Lebanon

This research investigates the language needs of Grade 12 English Second Language Learners (ESL) in Lebanese public schools, aiming to identify gaps between the curriculum and student requirements. Employing a qualitative case study approach, using document analysis, interviews, and questionnaires, the study reveals critical shortcomings within the Lebanese English curriculum. Findings indicate widespread dissatisfaction among both teachers and students with the curriculum, highlighting significant gaps and inconsistencies between ministry objectives and practical implementation. The curriculum fails to resonate with students' real-life experiences, resulting in disinterest and boredom. Outdated teaching methodologies, a disparity between public and private schools, and an emphasis on exam-oriented learning limit students' exposure to effective learning techniques. Recommendations include increasing English lesson frequency, assessing students' reading levels, incorporating diverse reading strategies, providing more reading materials, and integrating technology into teaching. Suggestions also advocate for authentic materials exposure to enhance language skills. Both teachers and students emphasize the urgent need for an updated curriculum emphasizing real-world application, critical thinking, and interactive learning. Addressing these concerns is crucial to delivering a more effective English language education aligning with students' contemporary needs and preparing them for future academic and practical endeavors.

The Effect of Congruency and Frequency of Exposures on the Learning of L2 Binomials

Although extensive research has been carried out on opaque formulaic language where the meaning is not the sum of the individual words (i.e., idioms and many collocations), it is still not clear how cross-language congruency and frequency of exposure influence the learning of transparent formulaic language in an L2. In the current study, self-paced reading along with offline word order recognition tasks were used to investigate the role of cross-language congruency and the frequency of exposure on the learning and processing of fully transparent binomials. In the self-paced reading, Arabic second language learners of English and native English speakers encountered three types of binomial phrases either two or five times in English texts: English-only binomials, Arabic-only binomials that were translated into English, and congruent binomials (acceptable in English and Arabic). A subsequent offline task revealed that both native and non-native speakers developed knowledge of the ‘correct’ order of binomials (i.e., fish and chips, not chips and fish) after only two exposures in the self-paced reading. Native speakers were more accurate on congruent and English-only items than Arabic-only items, while non-natives speakers exhibited no differences in accuracy across the binomial types. The offline task showed that native speakers responded faster to congruent and English-only items than Arabic-only, and non-native speakers responded faster to congruent items than English-only and Arabic-only. The frequency of exposure had no effect, with no difference in response times and accuracy between two and five exposures.

Written Retelling Strategy in Improving Reading Skill among ESL Students in Malaysia

Skills of reading and comprehending in English are crucial for academic success in schools. Pupils with low reading ability skill may result in obtaining low grades and poor test scores. Traditionally pupils are taught to lift specific information as a reading strategy to answer comprehension questions, comparatively, this study uses retelling strategy to evaluate pupils’ understanding. Past research indicated that retelling strategy enhances accuracy and greater comprehension. Thus, far study that investigates effectiveness of this strategy remains scarce in Malaysian English as Second Language (ESL) primary schools. As reading skill starts to develop in early stage of schooling, it is deemed necessary to conduct this study among primary level pupils. The present study specifically analyzes the effects of written retelling strategy on pupils’ understanding of story structure among year three primary school pupils in Malaysian ESL classroom. A quasiexperimental research design with pretest and posttest was adopted to carry out the study. Pretest and posttest questions consisting of structural comprehension questions and written retelling were used to measure the effects of written retelling strategy on the pupils’ achievement in reading comprehension and their understanding of the story structure. A pretest was conducted before teaching and learning took place. This was followed by a posttest. An independent t-test was used to obtain the mean values and standard deviations. The results obtained in this study conclude the written retelling strategy had notably improved the pupils’ reading skill as they are able to retain information from the story and make better predictions. Subsequently, it increased their abilities in answering the comprehension questions. The results also indicate that written retelling could be a prospective reading strategy along with other strategies for primary ESL learners in Malaysia and similar context.

A Comprehensive Approach to Eliminate English Second Language Learners’ Grammatical Difficulties

In order to produce academically competent learners, a comprehensive approach addressing English Second Language (ESL) learners’ grammatical difficulties needs to be developed. Research has shown that learners’ essay writing skills are spoiled by incompetent writing abilities, in particular, grammatical difficulties. This enquiry, whose main objective was to unravel grammatical difficulties experienced by ESL learners and to propose a comprehensive approach addressing these, was guided by a theoretical framework that emphasises cognitive, socio-cultural, and communicative perspectives. An interpretive paradigm, embedded in a qualitative approach, was used to gather data from 16 conveniently nominated participants. A case study design was deemed suitable for this enquiry because of its ability to focus on a specified group of participants. The data were generated through semi-structured interviews and thematically analysed. The findings were that error analysis, followed by explicit instruction of language structures; learner engagement in corrective feedback; multiple exposure to and practice of a language structure; and immersion into rich target language environments could be beneficial. The learners would then take responsibility for their own learning. It is recommended that professional development for language educators is essential to employ these approaches to combat the widespread incompetence in learners’ writing abilities, which negatively affect their academic performance.

Exploring the Influence of L1 Chinese on L2 English Acquisition

The impact of L1 Chinese on L2 English acquisition has received more attention as more Chinese students study English as a second language. This paper reviews previous research on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and introduces some factors that can influence language transfer. The writers focus on three linguistic aspects, syntax, lexicon, and phonology, to explore how English as Second Language (ESL) learners L1 Chinese has influenced their English acquisitions. Results found that: 1) Syntax: The syntax structure includes many factors influencing Chinese learners English acquisition, such as subjects, verbs, and adverbs. English requires an issue while Chinese tend to omit the subject; English has a verb conjugation system while Chinese does not; and English adverbs can be placed in different positions according to the type while Chinese adverbs are mainly set in the middle; 2) Lexicon: Lexical errors may occur when ESL learners may make errors when they meet the differences in linguistic features such as polysemy, part of speech and word collocations between the two languages.; 3) Phonology: As Chinese is a tonal language and English is a non-tonal language, their tones of phonology are, to some extent, different, which might cause ESL learners confusion. These features of Chinese and English differ, and how these disparities have prevented positive language transfer from Chinese to English is explored. As a result, this study can inform second language instructors of the distinctions between the two languages and offer resources for future instruction of ESL students.

Impact of Different Multimedia Modalities on Vocabulary Acquisition Among Second-Language English Learners: An Empirical Investigation

Impact of Different Multimedia Modalities on Vocabulary Acquisition Among Second-Language English Learners: An Empirical Investigation

Inner speech processes for overt language production—Comparison of native English speakers and different proficiency learners of English

Inner speech refers to an internal process as a tool for internalized thinking besides actual overt speech. It plays an important role in analyzing and planning tasks occurring outside the world. Asano (2015) found that second language learners of English used different inner speech depending on their proficiency level. The roles of inner speech by native speakers and language learners also differ (Fernyhough et al., 2004). In addition, all people do not commonly use representations in the internal process. The dominance, such as speech language, written language, and visual imagery (Nakayama et al., 2021), to prepare for overt activities depends on the person. This research aims to determine what kind of inner speech or other processes will be prepared for the overt language activities between native speakers and second-language learners of English. The subjects for both groups answered which dominant is used as the inner preparation processes for overt language production by answering the survey questionnaires. Knowing the native speakers' inner speech process before the overt production activities will help the second language learners' overt language activities and suggest ideas for their language proficiency improvement.

The effects of various combinations of form-focused instruction techniques on the acquisition of English articles by second language learners of English

The current study investigated the extent to which second language (L2) learners of English benefitted from various combinations of form-focused instruction (FFI) techniques on the acquisition of English articles. Forty-six participants were randomly assigned to four conditions: input enhancement only ( n = 12); input enhancement and metalinguistic explanations ( n = 11); input enhancement, metalinguistic explanations, and practice ( n = 11); and a control condition ( n = 12). They each received six hours of online instruction on English articles according to their condition. The participants’ knowledge of articles was measured by four tasks (i.e. grammaticality judgment task, metalinguistic knowledge task, elicited imitation task, and picture-description task) in a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a delayed posttest. Results showed that the group receiving input enhancement and metalinguistic explanations exhibited clear and durable gains in the metalinguistic knowledge task. Furthermore, a subset of participants who benefitted the most from the instructional treatment revealed two common factors: a first language (L1) without an article system and a high rate of engagement during the online instruction. The findings suggest that metalinguistic explanations clearly contribute to explicit knowledge of articles and that learners’ L1 backgrounds may affect the extent to which FFI on English articles benefits them. The present study contributes meaningfully to the current understanding of the effects of FFI as well as the L2 acquisition of English articles.

ANALYSIS OF THE MOST COMMON SPELLING ERRORS IN ENGLISH FOR SAUDI STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF FOUNDATION YEAR STUDENTS

Most second language learners of English, including Saudi learners at universities, face some challenges with English writing, especially in spelling. These difficulties are attributed to several causes, such as the differences between English and Arabic .The purpose of the present study is to investigate the most spelling errors made by the first year Saudi female students . Also, to define the main factors behind the weakness of students' spelling. Additionally, to suggest some effective teaching approaches to improve spelling instruction. This study adopted Cook's classification of errors, which categorized errors into four categories: substitution, insertion, omission, and transposition. Participants of this study are 80 female students and ten English language teachers. The data was collected through writing a task and a survey. The analysis of errors revealed that errors of omission were the highest proportion of errors with a percentage of (41.55%), whereas substitution spelling errors occur as the lowest frequency with a percentage of (24.65%). Followed by insertion errors with a percentage of (19.72%). The lowest percentage of errors were related to errors of transposition with the proportion of (14.08%). The major cause of the students' spelling errors was the linguistic differences between English and Arabic.

Initiation of Self and Other Repair in Classroom-Task Conversations Between University Students: An Interpretative Qualitative Study

The study aimed to reveal the repair actions in conversations between the second language learners of English at a private university. The method used in this study was Interpretative Qualitative Method. The participants were ten students of the English Education Study Program in the second semester. The result of the study shows that the students of the English Department, in their ongoing conversation, showed normality in speaking as a second language learner. They could produce repair initiations, self-repair and other repair to maintain their flow of conversation, even though the repair initiations were low in use since there were only a few repairs found from many possibilities of repair from the trouble sources in their conversations.

Facilitated Study Groups for Undergraduate Organic Chemistry: Experience from a Large Public Canadian University

Undergraduate organic chemistry courses have a reputation for being difficult among students in biological and physical sciences programs. Due to the extensive problem-solving, visualization, and depiction of chemical structures/reactions required, students may perceive learning such content as similar to learning a new language. Several interventions such as course-integrated tutorials or discussion sessions have aimed to assist students. Another effective approach that chemistry educators might consider is Supplemental Instruction (SI), a well-established program that emphasizes student-driven learning whereby student SI leaders facilitate discussions to help students arrive at solutions while also developing effective communication and study skills. A type of SI, Facilitated Study Groups (FSG), established by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) in 2009, were introduced regularly into organic chemistry courses in 2012. This program provides semester-long optional small-group peer learning sessions, each of which corresponds to a course lecture. The aim of this paper is to provide comprehensive coverage detailing the structure of the organic chemistry FSG program, peer facilitation strategies employed, quantitative/qualitative synthesis of student outcomes indicating program uptake. We consistently find significantly higher grades and significantly lower attrition rates for students who regularly attend FSG sessions in comparison to those who do not (n=16 semesters). Given the growing diversity of undergraduate classes in terms of approaches to learning, language, and cultural barriers (international students, English second-language learners, learning and psychosocial disabilities), our FSG sessions seek to foster inclusion amongst our heterogeneous pool of attendees. Here, we describe strategies that tailored FSG sessions to a diverse group of undergraduate students as suggested by a sizable percentage of the class availing themselves of this resource and by a narrative synthesis of end-of-term surveys. Together, we demonstrate successful adoption of an SI-based model for organic chemistry and present a practical framework that includes pedagogically informed session strategies and cost estimates to guide design of similar programs for post-secondary students at other institutions.

OVERCOMING THE STUDENT’S SPEAKING ANXIETY DISORDERS THROUGH PLAYBACK THEATRE THERAPY

In India, English language teachers encounter numerous challenges while developing speaking skill of the learners in rural and semi-urban regions. There are many activities like role-play, theatre and drama to improve the oral competence of the second language learners of English. Playback theatre is an improvisational theatre technique where the participants will enact and perform the stories on the spot. Playback theatre therapy training may prove as a crucial factor in overcoming affective filters while speaking and learners may gain better development and awareness of language expressions in English. This process will aid in the development of their communication skills. Anxiety, motivation, and self-confidence are identified as factors that affect the speaking performance of students. Anxiety is a feeling defined by nervousness, perplexity, and fear. When students are anxious, they are often reluctant to speak and fear making mistakes. Anxiety disorder would prevent the oral performances from being consistent. Majority of the learners at the undergraduate level quite often encounter anxiety when they speak in English. So, playback theatre therapy training as a workshop was organized to identify the relevance of such activities to improve the speaking skills of the learners. The participants of the study are from Undergraduate programme in Vellore district. The sampling method employed in the study is purposive sampling method. 38 participants were selected as the samples for this study. The playback theatre activities like warm up, introducing myself with an adjective, taking someone’s place, becoming the object, fluid sculpt, tableau and metaphor was employed as the intervention to improve the speaking skills and alleviate the speaking anxiety among the learners. The study concludes that Playback theatre activities have a considerable impact on learners’ anxiety level, expressiveness and attentiveness, composure, and speech naturalness.

Investigating the Effects of ESL Learners’ Motivation and Anxiety on Task Based Language Teaching in Pakistan

Motivation and anxiety play a significant role in the teaching and learning process, either it is second language learning or Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT). The current research aimed to investigate the motivation and anxiety faced by Pakistani English as Second Language (ESL) learners while learning English language. A quantitative research design was used to conduct this research. Moreover, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was subsequently applied to record the relationship between task motivation and second language (L2) motivation, as well as to configure the association between task anxiety and foreign language anxiety. From two public sector colleges of Sargodha, eighty ESL learners participated in the experiment. They were shown a cartoon video and then they were asked to narrate the video in English. Furthermore, they were inquired about their task anxiety and task motivation. The results showed that task motivation has three sides, that is, positive attitude towards the task, negative attitude towards the task, and task diagnostic tool. Task anxiety construct also shows three sides-setting namely anxiety, language related anxiety, and anxiety reliefs. The results also revealed that TBLT is greatly affected by motivation and anxiety. The current study would help the teachers to gain knowledge about the motivational strategies used by their students. Lastly, the research would be helpful for ESL teachers to motivate their students and understand their anxieties. This study was limited to the video narration task. Hence, it is recommended to extend future studies by including more than one task while using a large sample size.