Tertiary Level EFL Learners Research Articles

Unlocking the Potential: Attitudes of Tertiary Level EFL Learners Towards Using AI in Language Learning

In the current era of rapid change in which AI has become inevitable in foreign language education as in many aspects of life, this study, which aims to examine EFL learners’ attitudes towards AI and to analyse its future potential, was conducted with the participation of 772 English preparatory year students studying at A2, B1, and B2 levels in the schools of foreign languages of a state and a private (foundation) university in Türkiye. The data for the study were collected online through an attitude scale (MALL:AI) and an open-ended survey question. Quantitative results revealed that the participants had moderate attitudes towards the use of AI in EFL learning, with no clear tendency towards positive attitudes. While university type and gender were not found to be significant determinants of attitudes, engineering and natural sciences students showed more positive attitudes towards AI in EFL learning than those in the humanities and social sciences. In terms of proficiency level, A2 level participants reflected lower attitudes in the behavioural factor than B1 and B2 levels. Qualitatively, it was found that students had overwhelmingly positive perspectives on the use of AI, shared some negative approaches with reservations, and offered concrete suggestions for the integration of AI into ELT. With its intriguing findings, the present study sheds light on further studies and paves the way for educational administrators and EFL instructors to better make use of AI in language education.

Self-regulated learning strategies of tertiary level EFL learners

The study tries to find out if there is a significant relationship between self-regulated learning skills of EFL students in terms of gender and English proficiency level. The data of the research were collected from 96 elementary and 88 upper -intermediate level students studying in an intensive preparatory program. The instrument used in the study was The Self-Regulated Language Learning Strategy Usage Scale which consists of 35 items under 6 subheadings as Cognitive, Affective, Socio-cultural Interactive, Meta-Cognitive, Meta-Emotional, Meta-Socio-cultural Interactive, suggested by the S2R model. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 24 program and Independent variable t test. The results of the study revealed that there was no difference between the two student groups in terms of the use of self-regulated learning strategies. Based on the results obtained, some inferences were made about students becoming more autonomous by using self-regulated learning strategies outside the classroom.

Angažovanje i motivacija studenata anglistike za učenje na daljinu u periodu nakon završetka pandemije kovida 19

In the last few years, during and in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rapid development of technology has faced one of the greatest challenges yet, especially in the field of education. Even though traditional in-class activities may seem tedious, motivating students to actively participate in online classes occasionally poses an even greater challenge. Having the scarcity of research in the Serbian EFL context in mind, the present paper aims to explore the potential impact and outcomes of the pandemic, by investigating Serbian tertiary-level EFL learners' motivation and classroom engagement in an online environment. The primary instrument was a questionnaire consisting of three sections: a section related to motivation, which included four subscales (personal suitability, effectiveness, teachability, and study habits); a section on classroom engagement, which contained statements addressing behavioural, agentic, cognitive, and emotional engagement; and a section on the actual effects of the pandemic on students' motivation for online learning. A total of 82 English-major students participated in the study. The results indicate that, even though the pandemic has introduced new platforms and opportunities for online learning, students seem to be more motivated to learn in the traditional classroom, expressing particular doubts about the effectiveness of online learning. Students generally express positive attitudes towards personal suitability and teachability online; however, their study habits leave room for improvement. Students' cognitive engagement exhibits more positive tendencies than the other three types. The result that seems to have the most significant pedagogical implications is that the majority of respondents state that the pandemic made them feel tired of online learning, which underlines the need for reconsideration of the current practices and the importance of constant innovation of the teaching process.

Using corpora in teaching vocabulary to advanced EFL learners in a higher education context

Abstract This study focuses on the development of lexical competence of tertiary level EFL learners who have reached C1 level according to CEFR during their course of study, but who still have difficulty in recognizing and producing academic words in terms of their correct and appropriate use in various contexts. Following a data-driven learning (DDL) approach within an action research paradigm, this study aims to discover whether corpus investigation makes a difference in students’ vocabulary knowledge and how they react to corpus data in learning vocabulary. To this end, the study was carried out in a listening/speaking course of two C1 level classes in an EFL classroom at an English preparatory school in Higher Education. In one of the classes, conventional lesson materials, and in the other, corpus-based lesson materials were used to teach the selected vocabulary items. The effect of corpus-based lesson materials on vocabulary learning was examined in relation to conventional materials. The data obtained from pre and post-tests showed that although there was a significant increase in students’ scores from pre-test to post-test, corpus use made statistically no significant difference in their scores as compared to the conventional method that had been adopted during the regular course of study based on the contextual guesswork involved in the coursebook. Students’ reactions throughout the implementation of corpus-based materials and the feedback sessions held with the students, shed light on the results and suggested some pedagogical guidelines for using corpora in teaching L2 vocabulary.

An examination of digitalized self-directed language learning practices of tertiary level EFL learners in Türkiye

Research on self-directed learning practices has ascertained various potential benefits of learner achievement. As mobile technology offers highly practical and portable usage for self-directed learning, studies on language learning practices through technology-based applications have become prevalent among adult learners. This study aimed to examine learners’ digitalized self-directed language learning practices for enhancing their English language skills at the tertiary level. The study employed a mixed method design, and the data were collected from 182 EFL learners at a higher education institution in Türkiye. The data were analysed through descriptive statistics and content analyses. The results demonstrated that the majority of the participants use mobile phones besides computers and tablets. However, their level of frequency in using these digital devices in English signaled a low level. Furthermore, results in association with the self-directed practices of learners for improving language skills evinced distinct language learning practices supported by technology-mediated applications and platforms. It was also concluded that learners need a well-organised self-directed learning practice in digital platforms. The study addresses key attributes of practical implications adhering to digitalized self-directed language learning practices for more efficient outcomes in advancing language skills in EFL instruction.

Possibility of Using Jam board for Interactive Remote EFL Teaching and Learning: A Survey of Students’ Perception

COVID-19 has forced the world to encounter a new experience which has also brought an unforeseen revolution in the world education system. Traditional norms and practices of classroom teaching are being challenged continually. Chalkboards and whiteboards are now being replaced by multiple technological tools, teachers are delivering class lectures via various video teleconferencing software programs, and study materials are being published as pre-recorded video clips or uploaded on different sites. In such an era, Google Jam board can be utilized as a significant tool for transforming digital education into infotainment for the tertiary-level EFL learners of Bangladesh. The present study sought to investigate the possibility of using Google Jam board to create an interactive virtual classroom environment for tertiary-level EFL students. All the data for this study were collected using an electronic questionnaire survey from various departments of a private university in Bangladesh. The study found that EFL learners hold a positive attitude toward the use of Jam board for remote learning which can play a significant role in helping EFL learners to improve their English language skills. The study also recommends some of the best features of Jam board for EFL teachers. Keywords: COVID-19, ELT, technology in education, digital board, tertiary education

Possibility of Using Jam board for Interactive Remote EFL Teaching and Learning

Possibility of Using Jam board for Interactive Remote EFL Teaching and Learning

Possibility of Using Jam board for Interactive Remote EFL Teaching and Learning

COVID-19 has forced the world to encounter a new experience which has also brought an unforeseen revolution in the world education system. Traditional norms and practices of classroom teaching are being challenged continually. Chalkboards and whiteboards are now being replaced by multiple technological tools, teachers are delivering class lectures via various video teleconferencing software programs, and study materials are being published as pre-recorded video clips or uploaded on different sites. In such an era, Google Jam board can be utilized as a significant tool for transforming digital education into infotainment for the tertiary-level EFL learners of Bangladesh. The present study sought to investigate the possibility of using Google Jam board to create an interactive virtual classroom environment for tertiary-level EFL students. All the data for this study were collected using an electronic questionnaire survey from various departments of a private university in Bangladesh. The study found that EFL learners hold a positive attitude toward the use of Jam board for remote learning which can play a significant role in helping EFL learners to improve their English language skills. The study also recommends some of the best features of Jam board for EFL teachers. Keywords: COVID-19, ELT, technology in education, digital board, tertiary education

Possibility of Using Jam board for Interactive Remote EFL Teaching and Learning: A Survey of Students’ Perception

COVID-19 has forced the world to encounter a new experience which has also brought an unforeseen revolution in the world education system. Traditional norms and practices of classroom teaching are being challenged continually. Chalkboards and whiteboards are now being replaced by multiple technological tools, teachers are delivering class lectures via various video teleconferencing software programs, and study materials are being published as pre-recorded video clips or uploaded on different sites. In such an era, Google Jam board can be utilized as a significant tool for transforming digital education into infotainment for the tertiary-level EFL learners of Bangladesh. The present study sought to investigate the possibility of using Google Jam board to create an interactive virtual classroom environment for tertiary-level EFL students. All the data for this study were collected using an electronic questionnaire survey from various departments of a private university in Bangladesh. The study found that EFL learners hold a positive attitude toward the use of Jam board for remote learning which can play a significant role in helping EFL learners to improve their English language skills. The study also recommends some of the best features of Jam board for EFL teachers. Keywords: COVID-19, ELT, technology in education, digital board, tertiary education

Exploring the motivational states of English learning among Chinese EFL learners at tertiary-level: A perspective of Directed Motivational Currents.

Under the framework of Directed Motivational Currents (DMCs), the present study aimed to explore the motivational dynamics of Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners' English learning and to identify the possible parameters that influence Chinese EFL learners' DMC-typed motivational states in their English learning. Data were collected from 10 focal Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners through reflective journal, trajectory equivalent modeling and semi-structured interview over a two-semester-long IELTS training course. The collected data were examined with thematic analysis and the findings indicated that: (1) Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners experienced the clear DMC-typed motivational surges during their journey of English learning; (2) Chinese tertiary-level EFL learners' DMCs states were affected by various contextual factors which could be examined under three major themes, namely important others, instructional elements, and the exam pressure. The findings not only add to the literature on the validity of DMCs construct in the Chinese EFL context, but offer implications about how to facilitate the DMC-typed motivations in the classroom language instruction.

The Relationship between Tertiary Level EFL Learners’ Attitudes towards English and Technology and Their Autonomy Levels

Technology is a vital part of language learning, and thus, students’ attitudes towards it influence its effective use. Also, language learner autonomy is related to the use of technology. Thus, this study was conducted in a TELP (tertiary level intensive English program) to investigate students’ attitudes towards English and technology, their autonomy levels, and the relationship between two constructs. Having a quantitative approach, two scales were used to gather data, English and Technology Attitudes Scale (ETAS) by Kearney et al. (2020) and Autonomy Perception Scale by Demirtaş (2010). The data from the scales was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistical Package 22.0. The findings revealed that students mostly had very positive attitudes towards English and technology, and male students achieved significantly higher results in confidence in English and technology than female students. In addition, the students were not found to be effectively autonomous. Furthermore, there was a significant and positive relationship between autonomy and attitudes towards English and technology. It can be concluded that autonomy improves using technology to learn English, and students who use technology to learn English become more autonomous. Teachers are responsible for guiding their students in this process.

The effect of technology-assisted language programme on vocabulary learning among EFL students at the tertiary level

Mobile technologies have drawn the attention of the researchers and are gaining popularity in a variety of academic backgrounds. However, there is currently unavailability of studies on the benefits that various mobile technologies give to learning results. The objective of this current study was to examine how the mobile assisted language programme, WhatsApp affected Bangladeshi tertiary level EFL learners’ vocabulary learning. The study included sixty-four EFL students who had intermediate level of English competency, and they were chosen using random sampling. After establishing the learners’ homogeneity with a vocabulary examination/test, the researchers separated the participants into two categories, namely experimental group (N = 34) and control (N = 30) group, and then their vocabulary knowledge (i.e., synonyms and antonyms) was assessed. The research involved 14 session treatment with the control group using the usual traditional method and the experimental section using WhatsApp to teach new words. A vocabulary post–test for the both classes was conducted after the completion of the course. In addition, both groups were given an attitude questionnaire to see how they felt about the traditional vocabulary acquisition method and utilizing the WhatsApp approach. According to the findings of this study, the experimental group performed better than the control group. Furthermore, as compared to the other group, learners who utilized WhatsApp to improve their vocabulary skills showed a more favourable attitude toward learning foreign language vocabulary. The current research would have further ramifications for English instructors, learners, researchers, and other stakeholders as well.

Exploring university students' self-regulation in online foreign language education

With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, online education has been embraced as an instructional delivery mode to ensure continuity in all levels of education including higher education. Given the fact that the success of online learning heavily relies on the learner's ability to autonomously regulate their learning, this study focuses on self-regulatory behaviors of tertiary level EFL learners enrolled in an online intensive language preparatory program. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered to explore learners' perceived levels of online self-regulation; the predictive role of online learning self-efficacy beliefs in their self-regulation; and the strategies they used to regulate their learning in online education. Findings revealed learners' moderate level of online self-regulation predicted by their self-efficacy beliefs. Moreover, EFL learners used a variety of strategies to regulate their learning before, during and after synchronous online classes.

EFFECTIVE TEACHING STRATEGIES AND MOTIVATED LEARNERS CREATE AN AUTONOMOUS CLASSROOM

This paper addresses the issue of how to enhance motivation in tertiary level EFL learners to lead them towards achieving independence in learning. Based on a case study at the Global College of Engineering and Technology, Muscat, Oman, it critically examines the scope of application of John Keller’s ARCS model that exhibits four steps for enhancing learners’ motivation - Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction. It recounts how these motivational techniques have been used in classrooms and how each of these steps has enhanced the learners’ self-confidence and their interest in learning the language. The paper argues that efficient use of ARCS model can transform extrinsic motivation into intrinsic one. It recommends that educators should adopt the ARCS model to sustain learners’ interests and accomplishments of the set learning objectives. It makes students reach a level where they begin to take charge of their learning, resulting in strong learner-teacher autonomy in language acquisition.
 Key Words: Keller's ARCS model, Foundation program students, Index Terms-motivation

DMC and Individual Differences: A Path Analytical Investigation in Turkish EFL Context

Directed motivational currents (DMCs) is a novel construct investigated by motivation researchers. Earlier studies on DMCs have focused on explaining its unique nature while the individual difference (ID) factors impacting upon its power and long-term sustainment has been under-researched. The aim of this research study was to reveal the structural interactions among DMC dispositions, self-regulated strategy use, language learning effort, ideal L2 self and imagination capacity/vision of tertiary level EFL learners in Turkish higher education context. The study was conducted with 305 participants and it employed a quantitative research design. Data were collected using a composite survey instrument. Findings showed that imagination capacity, ideal L2 self, language learning effort, and self-regulated strategy use had direct or indirect effect on DMC experience. It is probable, therefore, that these ID factors could help explain long-term existence of DMCs depending on the strength of their predictive power. On the basis of these findings, providing learners with vision-setting and vision-sustaining activities, encouraging them to put effort into the learning process and teaching them how to self-regulate via some external interventions were proposed to enhance the strength and sustainment of this unique experience.

TWO HEADS BETTER THAN ONE? PAIR PRESENTATION IN THE EFL CLASSROOM – A PANACEA FOR ANXIETY?

While the role of emotions in language learning is getting more and more attention in second language research, relatively few studies have investigated emotions related to specific classroom activities. This mixed-method practitioner research examined tertiary-level EFL learners’ affective reactions to a specific type of oral presentation: the pair presentation. The aim of the study was to examine whether making a classroom presentation feels to be a more positive and less anxiety-provoking experience if done in pairs rather than individually. 33 English Studies students were asked to choose a presentation partner and give a 10-20 minute joint presentation in one of their regular language development classes. Immediately after the talk, they were asked to indicate on two 10-point rating scales how pleasant/unpleasant they felt during the task and how much anxiety they experienced. Additionally, they were invited to reflect on their experiences in greater depth within 24 hours, responding to a set of open questions. The results of the study are discussed in comparison to those of an earlier investigation in the same setting, which focused on the emotional experience of individual presentation (Tóth, 2019). While the numerical findings suggest that presenting with a partner is neither less anxiety-provoking nor a substantially more positive experience, the post-task reflections show that most participants approve of the idea of pair presentation and only a minority of them prefer individual presentation. Providing insights into the complexities of learners’ emotional experiences and the practicalities of how they prepared for the joint presentation, the study sheds light on these conflicting results and has important implications for language teachers.
 
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EXPLORING SEMANTIC PROSODIC AWARENESS LEVELS OF EFL LEARNERS THROUGH NEAR-SYNONYM WORDS

Near-synonyms are semantically similar words, but they are not always interchangeable, having a variety of collocational and semantic behaviours. Tertiary level EFL learners’ use of near synonyms demonstrates significant differences in terms of word choices. This article investigates (1) the level of semantic prosodic (SP) awareness in EFL learners, (2) the correlation between their SP awareness and English proficiency levels, (3) the ways EFL learners use semantic prosodic features in their speech and written productions and how they cope with challenges in SP and (4) the factors affecting their SP knowledge. The data were analysed quantitively and qualitatively. A proficiency test, a semantic prosody test, an open-ended questionnaire and a structured interview were used respectively. The findings reveal that learners’ SP knowledge correlates with language proficiency, but their awareness levels have little to do with the proficiency. One implication for the curriculum developers is that they should consider including relevant content related to the semantic prosody in syllabi so that the students will be able to create semantically relevant sentences like their native counterparts. 
 
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Developing individualized feedback for listening assessment: Combining standard setting and cognitive diagnostic assessment approaches

In this study, we present the development of individualized feedback for a large-scale listening assessment by combining standard setting and cognitive diagnostic assessment (CDA) approaches. We used the performance data from 3,358 students’ item-level responses to a field test of a national EFL test primarily intended for tertiary-level EFL learners. The results showed that proficiency classifications and subskill mastery classifications were generally of acceptable reliability, and the two kinds of classifications were in alignment with each other at individual and group levels. The outcome of the study is a set of descriptors that describe each test taker’s ability to understand certain level of oral texts and his or her cognitive performance. The current study, by illustrating the feasibility of combining standard setting and CDA approaches to produce individualized feedback, contributes to the enhancement of score reporting and addresses the long-standing criticism that large-scale language assessments fail to provide individualized feedback to link assessment with instruction.

Turkish tertiary level EFL learners’ recognition of relative clauses

This research study investigated Turkish Tertiary Level EFL learners’ recognition level of relative clauses. The study also examined the difficulty level of types of relative clause constructions for Turkish EFL learners and the effect of instruction on the learners’ acquisition of English relative clauses. The data were gathered from two different tests (a pre-test and a post-test) given to 30 philology students studying at the Preparatory School at Hacettepe University. The data obtained from the pretest indicated that the participants needed remedial teaching; therefore, relative clauses were taught to students through six-hour form-focused class instruction. Two weeks later, the post-test was administered to the participants to assess the effectiveness of instruction on students’ identification level of relative clauses. The data collected from the tests were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS. Findings showed that although most of the participants are good at identifying relative clauses, it is noteworthy that their recognition level of relative clauses changed significantly according to the various types of relative clause constructions. In addition, the results showed that the explicit instruction facilitated the acquisition of relative clauses to a great extent. Results of this study may provide English instructors and EFL curriculum designers with relevant information about teaching and learning of English relativization, and emphasizes the necessity of form-focused instruction.

Challenges of Materials Development for the Tertiary Level EFL Learners in Bangladesh: Materials Developers' Perspectives

Quality of language teaching and efficient learning by the learners are much influenced by effective materials. Materials developers also get perplexed to decide which materials will work more; many prefer to adapt or develop their own materials but doing so requires the developers overcome a number of challenges at different stages of materials development: conducting needs analysis, setting aims and objectives, planning, drafting, pre-use assessment, piloting, production, revision and finalization. This qualitative study aims at describing those challenges in depth. Two focus group discussions with fourteen materials developers from eight private universities were conducted to collect data on materials developers' perspectives on the challenges. The findings show that lack of infrastructure and other facilities, interpersonal conflict among the stakeholders, especially the teachers and materials developers, lack of motivation and learners' poor background knowledge beget a number of challenges. It was found that the challenges can be overcome if the stakeholders are little more considerate towards the materials developers and learners' needs. The findings and recommendations provide a) implications for the administrative heads and other stakeholders and b) some guiding principles for the material developers to overcome the challenges and develop effective materials for their learners.