This book traces the motivational dynamics embedded within lifelong foreign language learning trajectories, examining the factors which generate and sustain motivation throughout a learner's life. Embracing a complexity approach, it views motivation as a long-term individual process that evolves along a narrative continuum, developing over the…

This study addresses critical gaps in English proficiency assessments, particularly for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students, by focusing on the foundational aspect of needs analysis in designing a platform to assist EFL students in preparation for real English proficiency tests. The existing tests, such as TOEFL and IELTS, often fail to…

This study examined the impact of a blended teaching approach versus traditional instruction on listening comprehension and strategy use among EFL students in a Taiwanese university. Using a quasi-experimental design, 103 low-intermediate students were divided into experimental (n=52) and control (n=51) groups over 18 weeks. The experimental group…

If maximal exposure were the key to success in language learning, then adult learners at the university level would be doomed to fail. Not only are they presumably too old to learn additional languages effectively, but target language (TL) input appears to be insufficient, especially when other languages are allowed in class. Nevertheless,…

This qualitative study investigated the perceptions of prospective teachers on critical thinking (CT) skills before and after completing the Functional English (FE) course at the Bachelor of Education Honors (B.Ed. Hons) and Associate Degree in Education (ADE). A purposive sampling technique was employed to select 40 participants, with eight…

This book takes a look at the affordances of engaging second/foreign language students in educational projects that bridge the gap between the classroom and the museum. Studies on language learning and teaching beyond the classroom have shown that students learn in different settings and through different types of activities and that their…

Researchers have been investigating motivation to learn second (L2) and foreign (FL) languages for decades, starting with the socio-educational model, moving on to the multi-dimensional model of motivational variables, and currently incorporating the complex dynamic system theory (CDST). The study examined changes in Dörnyei's L2 Motivational…

In this article, we delve into the application of the online game-based learning and testing platform Kahoot! with second language (L2) learners of Russian and explore how this tool can enhance our students' experiences. Following a brief overview of digital game-based learning (DGBL) and previous research on L2 learning through Kahoot!, we…

This meta-analysis aims to investigate gamification's impact on improving tertiary-level second-language learners' lexical repertoire. Forty-seven peer-reviewed works were evaluated for this analysis. The analysis focused on determining the effectiveness of gamified learning environments in the context of improving vocabulary and learning and…

The research study explored online language learners' self-directed language learning (SDLL) experiences, benefits, motivations, and challenges when employing educational tools like Duolingo in an out of classroom context. To gain insights into SDLL, in-depth and semi-structured interviews with 10 Duolingo users were conducted. Study results…

Taiwanese students learn Chinese from 3 years old using Bopomofo (Zhuyin Fuhao), but they still struggle with spelling and reading, even in middle school. Thus, we guided students still struggling to read Chinese text to use their logical skills and creativity to incorporate the Bopomofo phonetic alphabet into the Rummikub strategy board game.…

This study compares learner perceptions in a synchronous online versus face-to-face (F2F) learning context about four principles of communicative language teaching (CLT): promoting collaborative learning, using comprehensible input, considering affective factors, and providing corrective feedback. Data were obtained via online surveys from…

This complex article has six subsections. Following a brief introduction, one team of three co-authors and three single authors present compact statements of their distinctive individual research perspectives on second language acquisition and teaching (SLA/T): Atkinson, Mejía-Laguna, and Ribeiro offer a sociocognitive perspective; Cappellini…

Although study abroad is an established research context for second language acquisition, the emotional experiences of U.S. students learning less commonly taught languages, such as Czech, require further research, particularly in settings where these languages lie outside students' primary academic pursuits. This study explores U.S. students'…

The National College English Test Band 4 (CET-4) is a key test to assess the English language ability of Chinese university students, and the success rate of the test is important to improve the quality of their English learning. Artificial intelligence technology can be used to predict and explore the factors influencing the success rate. This…