Successful Second Language Acquisition Research Articles

Is musical ability related to second-language acquisition? A meta-analysis.

In our multicultural and interconnected world, the ability to learn new languages is important. However, there are significant differences in how successfully adults can learn aspects of non-native languages. Given robust relationships between musical ability and native-language processing, musical ability might also contribute to successful second-language acquisition. However, while several studies have assessed this relationship in various ways, the consistency and robustness of the relationship between musical ability and second-language learning remains unclear. Thus, we synthesized 184 effects across 57 independent studies (n =3181) with a robust variance estimation multivariate meta-analysis, and we narratively summarized partial correlation effects across 12 studies. The available evidence suggests that musical ability is indeed positively related to second-language learning, even after factoring in publication bias revealed by the meta-analysis. Although future work with more diverse participant populations and methodologies is needed to further disentangle this relationship, it is apparent that individuals with better musical ability are generally more successful at second-language learning.

Integration of the ARCS Motivational Model in Digital Game-based Learning for Sustaining Student Engagement in Communication

Digital game-based learning is an instructional method that teaches students through games and other forms of entertainment. Digital games have the potential to naturally drive players to participate in an activity, which can be beneficial for learning. One of the essential factors in achieving success in second language acquisition is motivation. This research seeks to present a digital game-based learning framework integrated with the ARCS motivating paradigm to achieve this goal. Each of the four primary motivational factors elements is represented by an ARCS component. Attention (A), Relevance (R), Confidence (C), and Satisfaction (S) are the four components of motivation. This paper provides a high-level overview of the suggested framework, which is divided into three parts: input, process, and output. It is possible that the framework proposed will be useful to a wide range of stakeholders, including students, instructional designers, programme designers, and language practitioners. This research described a method for developing a successful digital game that included motivating components to keep learners engaged throughout the learning process.

Unraveling Motivation in English Language Learning: Insights from Non-EFL University Students

Motivation plays a pivotal role in the success of second language acquisition, as indicated by numerous studies. While it has long been acknowledged that motivated learners tend to achieve better outcomes, various taxonomies have emerged to differentiate motivation types. The two widely recognized classifications are intrinsic/extrinsic and integrative/instrumental. This cross-sectional research aims to comprehensively discuss and analyze the four types of motivation exhibited by students at one of the private university in Indonesia enrolled in English for International Communication (TOEIC-based) classes. A structured questionnaire based on Gardner's Attitudes/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB) was utilized as the research instrument. The study spanned one year, during which students were exposed to a minimum of two TOEIC-based classes. The research sample, consisting of 446 students, was thoughtfully selected through purposive sampling techniques. This sample was further stratified, with 254 students drawn from the third-fourth semesters and 192 students from the fifth-sixth semesters. The findings, presented in numerical format, revealed that a majority of students demonstrated high levels of motivation across all motivation classifications. This research sheds light on the motivation dynamics of the students, providing valuable insights for educators and language learning practitioners.

The Impact of Language Socialization on the Linguacultural and Motivational Profiles of Multilingual Learners

The study discusses how different language socialization (Ochs & Schieffelin, 2017) experiences and processes result in learners’ different linguistic and cultural backgrounds affecting their attitudes toward language learning, their self-perception as language learners, and ultimately their motivation to learn languages. Data were collected via linguistic autobiographies written by 14 students who came from five different countries in a multicultural classroom at a Hungarian university. The content analysis of the rich textual data pointed out a sharp contrast between the socialization of Hungarian and international students resulting in two distinct linguacultural and language learning motivational profiles. Exposure to multiple linguacultures (Risager, 2005) during socialization in the contexts of home, ethnic/multicultural communities, or sojourn generates positive attitudes toward language learning and favorable self-images as language learners. This makes learners more likely to take up additional languages in their spare time in addition to languages learned at school and enables them to move smoothly between different cultures and use their languages in authentic cultural contexts with ease. The results corroborated the inherent connection between choice, autonomy, motivation, and identity in second language acquisition (SLA). Learner testimonies pinpointed the changed status of English and German in Europe and in the world resulting in increased motivation to learn English for various reasons at the expense of German learning. In short, the findings revealed that the linguacultural vitality of a language as an environmental factor and learners’ choice to learn a language along with their desire to fulfil themselves via the chosen language as learner-internal factors greatly impact the success of SLA.

A Literature Review of the Effect of Individual Differences on Second Language Acquisition

Since the 1950s, the influence of individual differences in second language acquisition has received widespread attention, and each learner's individual differences affect the success of second language acquisition. However, the research on individual differences is very complex. In order to further investigate how individual differences affect the second language acquisition process, this paper starts from three aspects of individual differences influencing factors: (1) the study of general individual factors of second language learners, such as age, gender and cognitive style; (2) the study of second language learners' attitudes and motivation, such as learners' attitudes toward learning the target language, learners' research on second language learners' attitudes and motivations, such as learners' attitudes toward the target language, learners' attitudes toward the social and cultural background of the target language, integration motivation and instrumental motivation (3) research on second language learners' strategies, such as learners' cognitive strategies, learners' meta-cognitive strategies and learners' social strategies, in order to explore the effects of these individual factors in second language acquisition, so as to find countermeasures that can really help improve second language learners' learning efficiency and further improve and develop better The purpose of this study is to explore the effect of these individual factors on second language acquisition, so as to find out the measures that can really help improve the learning efficiency of second language learners, and further improve and develop a better method of teaching foreign languages according to their abilities.

The Role of Age in SLA: A Review of the Literature between 2012-2023

Second Language Acquisition (SLA) is a complex process of acquiring a second language after a first language is already established, one of the factors is the age factor. Over the past few years, there has been a lot of study that argued that age plays an important role in learning a second language. Some studies stated that age has been considered a major factor in determining language learners’ success in second language acquisition. There is an assumption that the younger the learner, the better it is for them to acquire a second language. Even so, those studies did not specifically talk about how the role of age has an effect on second language acquisition. Therefore, in order to fill that gap, this study aimed to give some contribution in offering some answers regarding the role of age in second language acquisition. The result of this study indicated that age can be a contributing factor in someone’s second language acquisition. However, it is not the only driving factor since there are still so many variables that can affect one’s ability to acquire a second language.

Study on the Relationship between Self-Control and CET-4 from the Perspective of Positive Psychology

In recent years, the perspective of positive psychology has been highlighted in the new trend of second language acquisition research. Self-control is one of the important variables that affect the success of second language acquisition by foreign language learners. Guided by June P. Tangney's theory of self-control, this study explores the relationship between self-control and CET-4 scores of 189 Chinese non-English majors. Its main contents include investigating the level of students' current self-control abilities; whether there are individual differences and gender differences; whether there is an imbalance in the five self-control dimensions; whether there is a correlation between students' self-control abilities and CET-4 test scores. The results show that: 1) Students' self-control abilities are at the middle and slightly higher level, and there are great individual differences; In addition, reliability shows the highest score, but work Ethic is the lowest. 2) Students' self-control, self-discipline, deliberate/non-impulsive action, health habits and work ethic are significantly and positively correlated with their CET-4 scores. 3)There is no significant gender difference between self-control and CET-4. This experiment proves that there is a correlated relationship between self-control and CET-4. Students may better understand their own self-control abilities, which can help them apply useful strategies to improve foreign language learning performance, thereby increasing the effectiveness of second language acquisition.

Language learning motivation of Vietnamese EFL students and their attitudes towards classroom factors

Motivation has long been considered as a significant factor, remarkably contributing to the success of second language acquisition. The current study focuses on investigating the socio-psychological orientations of Vietnamese-speaking English learners. A survey was administered to 74 non-English majoring undergraduates in four IELTS preparation courses at the pre-intermediate and intermediate levels. The questionnaire included ten statements on the students’ integrative and instrumental motivations for language learning, as well as ten questions about their attitudes towards four classroom factors: physical conditions, teaching styles, teachers, and success. SPSS was utilized to analyse the collected data by percentage, mean of frequency, and standard deviation. The statistics revealed that participants were generally motivated at a high level with an inclination towards instrumental motivation. Additionally, the participants of the study expressed positive attitudes towards physical classroom facilities, teaching methods, teachers, and learning achievements in their classrooms, which significantly influenced their decision to enroll in English courses. The study’s findings were used to generate discussion and pedagogical implications concerning approaches for increasing students’ enthusiasm to learn a foreign language. Some recommendations were made for further research on what motivates people to learn a foreign language.

THE EFFECT OF USING BALL TOSS STRATEGY IN TEACHING VOCABULARY AT THE FOURTH GRADE OF SDN 023 PANDAU JAYA

The purpose of this research was to find out there was significant effect of the students who were taught by using ball toss strategy better than the students who were not taught on vocabulary mastery at the fourth grade of SDN 023 Pandau Jaya. This research was Quasi Experimental research. The population of this research was the the fourth grade of SDN 023 Pandau Jaya. The number of sample was 56 students; Experimental class was IV.A consisting of 28 students, and Control class was IV.C consisting of 28 students. After calculating U-Mann whitney test, the researcher found that Asymp.Sig 2 tailed < Significant level (0.00 < 0.05), so that Alternative Hypothesis was accepted, it meant that there was significant effect of using Ball Toss Strategy toward students’ vocabulary mastery at the fourth grade of SDN 023 Pandau Jaya and the average post-test score of experimental class was 71.42, increased from pre-test score 54.10. The average post-test on control class was 63.57 was lower than Experimental class. N-Gain of this research was 0.35, it was categorized middle. As the conclusion, there was different vocabulary mastery of the students who received in class instruction of ball toss strategy than students who did not receive instruction of ball toss strategy. REFERENCES Aefsky, Fern. 2000. Making decision about diverse learners. United States. Handbooks, manuals. Allen, Janet. 1999. Word and Word in teaching Vocabulary in Grade 4-12. Portland: Stelhouse Publishers. Alicia. 2010. Teaching Vocabulary by Using Ball Toss Review Strategy at Elementary School 144 Padang. Retrieved on April 2014. http://ejournal-s1.stkip-pgri-sumbar.ac.id/index.php/Inggris/article/view/737/728 Asfiyah. 2011. The Use of Ball Toss Strategy to Improve Students Vocabulary in Concrete Noun (An Experimental Research at the Second Grade of MTS. Mafatihut Thullab An-Nawawy Surodadi Jepara in Academic Year of 2010/2011. Retrieved on April 2014. Unpublished Thesis: http://library. walisongo.ac.id/digilib/files/disk1/115/jtptiain-gdl-asfiyah-5707-1-053411341.pdf Creswell, Jhon W, 2005. Educational Research Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Second Edition. USA: University of Nebraska-Linclon. Eckersley, C.E. 1960. A Comprehensive English Grammar for Foreign Language Students. London: Longman. Hasanah. 2013. Teaching English Vocabulary Using Ball Toss Strategy at the Fourth Grade Students of SDN Cibeber Mandiri 1 Cimahi in Academic Year 2012-2013.Retrieved on April 2014. Unpublished thesis: http://publikasi.stkipsiliwangi.ac.id/wp-content/blogs.dir/2 /files/ 2013/11 /0922055567-Hasanah. Hornby, AS.2000. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Oxford university Press. Khaty. 2010. 40 active strategy learningstrategies inclusive Classroom. United States. Lybrary of congres catalog. Leaver,et al.2005. Achieving Success in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge University Press. Linse, Caroline. 2006. Practical English Language Teaching: Young Learners. NewYork: McGraw Hill. Meltzer,D.E. 2002. The relationship between Mathematics Preparation and Conceptual Learning Gains in Physic: A possible: “hidden variable” in diagnostic pretest score. American Journal. Nunan, David. 1991. Practical English Language. America: Cambridge University Press. Septiani. 2013. Teaching Vocabulary Using Ball Toss Strategy on Students of Elementary (A Case Study at the Sixth Grade SD Pandu Bandung. Retrieved on April 2014. Unpublished thesis: http://publikasi.stkipsiliwangi.ac.id/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2013/11/09220536-Septiani. Sugiyono, Prof.Dr. 2010. Statiska Untuk Penelitian. Bandung. CV.Alfabeta Toby. 2002. Strategies for teaching. San Francisco: Market Strevrt. Ur, Penny. 1991. A Course in Language Teaching: Practiceand Theory. Cambridge University Press. Zulkarnain. 2010. Statiska Penelitian. Pekanbaru: Cendekia Insani Pekanbaru.

The Difference of Second/ Foreign Language Acquisition and Learning for Adults and Children (A Qualitative Study on Steinberg’s Research (1982 and 1993))

This paper is based on the research by Steinberg in 1982 and 1993 to answer the question of how children and adults control second/foreign languages with the focus on giving more reasonable answers whether the children are better than adults in the mastery. The process of obtaining second language can be from the natural/social/acquisition and from class/learning. The learner's internal factors such as the role of the first language, motivation, and attitudes are also very important in determining the success of second language acquisition. Steinberg et al. try to draw the conclusion that the decrease in memory power for learners is associated with age. Age cannot be a benchmark for the success rate of mastering a second/foreign language other than mother tongue as long as the involved people have desire to use the foreign language or the second language for the purpose of integrating and socializing.

The Effective Provision of Preschool Bilingual Education (On the example of Greece)

The present article: ″The Effective Provision of Preschool Bilingual Education (on the example of Greece)″ aims to study and analyse the problem of bilingualism, bilingual education at pre-school age, bilingual memory and the relationship between first and second languages in this context, innovative methods of teaching a second language and psychological factors influencing a child. Some main factors that influence success in second language acquisition: integration, motivation, instrumental motivation, language skills self-esteem and child's nursery self-concept. The interest of the given research contains: the observation on kindergartens pupils in the city of Athens and Attica region. One of the core objectives of the research is to determine amount of bilingual children in the kindergartens every year, the teachers’ and pupils’ role in learning foreign language. The article focuses on the questions regarding the use and development of language of bilingual children in a kindergarten, aims at studying psychology related to bilingual children, using different approaches of modern methods, creating an effective teaching plan intended to meet learning outcomes relying on good results at the end of the year, making parents aware of children's problems, arranging frequent contacts between parents and teachers, exchanging of the ideas as well. We have conducted extensive research and interviews among teachers in kindergartens. According to the interviews we found out that, kindergartens are quite highly developed and among twenty three interviewed teachers we can say that they are sufficiently qualified and adequately prepared in order to give all bilingual children opportunities for a good quality education relating to learning the Greek language easily. Bilingual education can completely promote positive attitudes to a child. Developing learning skills of two languages simultaneously is important in the child's daily experiences

Environmental Aspects of Successful English Language Teaching Practices in Rural Sabah Low Enrolment Schools

This study explores the environmental aspects or concepts underlying successful English Language Teaching (ELT) as well as the support needed and the challenges that are faced by a group of primary school teachers in the context of a low enrolment school in a rural area in Sabah, Malaysia. This study adopted an exploratory qualitative approach which involved seven English language teachers who have had more than five years of teaching experience. A set of semi-structured interview questions were formulated to elicit data on the concepts and the conditions that could either help or hinder the incorporation of those concepts in ELT. Qualitative analysis of participants’ interview data indicated that exposure to the target language, motivation and goals were the environmental aspects of language teaching practices that affect students’ success in second language acquisition. Support from parents, teachers and school authorities were essential in assimilating these aspects in the teaching practices. It was found that the participants expressed tension between what they believed to be good practices and what they were restricted to do due to contextual barriers. Among the main barriers identified in this study were changes in education policy, insufficient financial support and infrastructure as well as lack of monitoring of the execution of activities in schools. Findings in this study have important implications to policy makers and curriculum developers.

An Empirical Study of the Language Learners’ Dynamic Process of Motivation

Many researches emphasize the importance of the integrative motivation and these researches seem to marginalize the instrumental motivation and the dynamic change of the learning motivation. An empirical study is conducted in this thesis. 22 English major graduates from Henan University of Economics and Law are as subjects. Mainly by doing the questionnaire and interview, the data can be collected. The result shows the instrumental motivation helps learners’ success of second language acquisition. And the learning motivation can be dynamic because of some impacts. Besides, the transformed motivation can last long.

Using Google Apps as Learning Strategy to Enhance ESL Writing

ICT has given a lot of assistance to advance teachers’ pedagogical approaches. Every moment our education strategies have been evolving with the advent of new technology that simplifies teachers’ workload in preparing materials and aids students engaged in their learning. In fact, there are lots of research papers about the effectiveness of using ICT that could engage students in their learning. Writing, known as the hardest skills to master by students as it could be a boring and labouring task. Furthermore, the lack of vocabulary had contributed little confidence and high level of anxiety that made them struggle to write. Based on Krashen’s Affective Filter Hypothesis, learners with low affective filter, high motivation, self-confidence and a low level of anxiety are better equipped for success in second language acquisition. It is believed that ICT integration using Google Apps in the learning process would enhance students’ writing skills. Thus, this conceptual paper attempts to discuss the potential benefits of using Google Apps as learning strategy to enhance ESL writing. Some implications and recommendations are also discussed in the conclusion.

Taking Technology to Task: Technology-Mediated TBLT, Performance, and Production

ABSTRACTOver the last few decades, task-based language teaching (TBLT) has garnered increasing attention from researchers and educators alike. With a strong and growing body of research demonstrating the efficacy of tasks to support and facilitate second language development and performance (e.g., Keck, Iberri-Shea, Tracy-Ventura, & Wa-Mbaleka, 2006), TBLT has become a leading pedagogical approach. Similarly, computer-assisted language learning (CALL) has also grown as a field, with the use and integration of technology in the classroom continuing to increase (Petersen & Sachs, 2015). As these fields have matured, a reciprocal relationship has developed (Lai & Li, 2011), with the literature on tasks and technology seeking to not only examine how technology might support and facilitate language learning, but how TBLT might serve as a framework to more thoroughly investigate CALL. In light of the expanding research on tasks and technology, this review article aims not only to provide a current state of the art of how technology-mediated TBLT facilitates and supports second language development and performance, but also to describe how technology can contribute to our understanding of how features of TBLT, such as task design features and task implementation, influence the success of second language acquisition. Suggestions for possible research agendas in technology-mediated TBLT are also made.

Improving English Listening Proficiency: The Application of ARCS Learning-motivational Model

Language learning motivation is one of vital factors which strongly correlates to the success in second language acquisition. Listening proficiency, as one of the basic language abilities, is paid much attention in English instruction, but presently the college English listening teaching is a weak link in English language teaching in China, which means listening practice occupies so much time but the gains are so limited. Therefore, promoting the performance of listening proficiency is still a hot topic in English language teaching. The ARCS model, which includes four categories, is both motivational and also teaching model. So, this model can be utilized in college English listening teaching and learning to discuss how to stimulate the listening motivation and to improve listening proficiency as well as teaching performance.

The Good Language Learner Revisited: A Case Study

This study sought to explore, through a case study, the notion of the Good Language Learner in an attempt to identify the key prerequisites for effective second language learning. Data were gathered from an interview with a successful, polyglot second language learner with the aim of gaining an understanding of the approaches, strategies and activities he adopted and utilised as an effective language learner. Analysis of the interview data showed that the subject of the case study exhibited many of the characteristics of the hypothetical Good Language Learner identified from a review of relevant literature. The conclusion is that when learners accept responsibility for their language learning and actively engage in language learning activities, they have a much greater chance of success in second language acquisition.

What should be explicit in explicit grammar instruction?

AbstractThis article proposes an approach to explicit grammar instruction that seeks to develop metalinguistic knowledge of the L2 and raise L2 learners’ awareness of their L1, which is crucial for the success of second language acquisition (

BEING BILINGUAL IN EARLY AGES: IS IT ADVANTAGEOUS?

Age as a factor to succeed in children’s second language acquisition (SLA) has been a controversial issue for over a period of time. Some studies analyzing the issue found that age is the main factor to determine children’s success in SLA. Responding to the issue, this paper aims at exploring the notion of early bilingualim compared to monolingual children. In addition, this paper mainly focuses on the advantages of being bilingual in a earlier ages. The discussion reveals that bilingual children get more benefits in their language performance than monolingual children. As conclusion, it is suggested that “additive bilingualism” could be applied in Indonesia which English as the foreign language is used at school, while using Indonesian is still maintained at home.

Helping Students Get it: How Law School Instructors Can Use Four Characteristics of Successful Second-Language Acquisition Pedagogy to Create Successful Law Students

Law students may come to law school with no training in how to learn. While many new legal educators have strong academic and professional experience, they may have little, if any, training in how to teach before teaching their first law school class. Because learning the law shares epistemological similarities to acquiring a second language, legal educators should apply four characteristics of successful second-language acquisition pedagogy to help law students evaluate and improve their learning skills. This article explains these characteristics, based on language acquisition theories, and how each characteristic applies to legal education, providing specific examples of strategies and techniques legal educators can use to help law students succeed. These characteristics will help make law students metacognitive about their legal education, thereby making them more likely to succeed on law school exams, on bar exams, and as practicing attorneys.