Attaining a high level of proficiency in speaking a second language (L2) is a formidable challenge, particularly in many English as a foreign language (EFL) settings, such as Taiwan. In such environments, students often encounter limited opportunities for English-speaking practice within formal classroom settings due to the prevalence of…

The current study set out to examine to what degree age of acquisition (AOA), defined as a learner's first intensive exposure to a second language (L2) environment, mediates the final state of postpubertal, spoken vocabulary attainment. In Study 1, spontaneous speech samples were elicited from experienced Japanese users of English (n = 41) using…

In the assessment of second language oral communication, the video-call speaking test has received increasing attention as a test method with higher practicality than its in-person counterpart, but still with broad coverage of the test construct. Previous studies into video-call assessment have focussed on the individual (as opposed to paired or…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate how the amount of home language use between the primary caregiver and bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking children with hearing loss who use cochlear implants (CIs) versus their bilingual age-matched peers with normal hearing (NH) can impact speech outcomes in the home language. Method:…

To date there have been a lot of currently emerging studies focusing on English speaking anxiety experienced by Indonesian university students. Nevertheless, particularly the studies have not investigated university students in Lampung region as the new context. This study aims to describe the level, attitude and perception, and the causes of…

Research on the factors influencing the acceptance of GenAI in language learning has expanded widely; however, few studies have focused on the role of language learning emotions. To enhance the effectiveness of GenAI-powered English-speaking instruction and the learning experience, this study expands on the Integrated Model of Technology…

As the global educational landscape undergoes rapid transformation, "Education 4.0" emerges as a cutting-edge paradigm that harnesses advanced technologies to revolutionize the learning process. This study investigates the impact of Education 4.0 on improving English proficiency among engineering students in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Using a…

The current study explored and compared the employment of interactive and interactional metadiscourse markers (MDMs) by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) speaking test takers at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. To conduct this discourse analysis research, a mixed-methods approach with concurrent transformative…

Background: Previous studies on language production in normal ageing have primarily focused on distinct dimensions of older adults' spoken language performance, such as fluency and complexity. However, little attention has been paid to the complex, interconnected relations between these dimensions. Additionally, older adults have been treated as a…

High-Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) has demonstrated effectiveness in second language (L2) acquisition. This study utilizes a meta-analysis to explore the influence of high variability on learning L2 pronunciation and identifies the factors that moderate this impact. The studies were collected using a keyword search in the SCOPUS database.…

The primary objective of this study is to enhance the English language proficiency of undergraduate students pursuing bachelor's degree programs. This is achieved through the development of a mandatory English course based on Interest-driven creator (IDC) principles within a blended learning environment. The IDC course was implemented over a…

Research has indicated that lexical richness is an important indicator of second language (L2) proficiency. However, most research has examined written, cross-sectional English L2 corpora and does not necessarily indicate how spoken lexical use develops over time or whether observed trends are stable across L2s. This study adds to previous…

Although lexical diversity is often used as a measure of productive proficiency (e.g., as an aspect of lexical complexity) in SLA studies involving oral tasks, relatively little research has been conducted to support the reliability and/or validity of these indices in spoken contexts. Furthermore, SLA researchers commonly use indices of lexical…

Background: This study examines the evolution of English speaking proficiency test methods, which have traditionally relied on face-to-face interactions to assess communicative language competence. Recently, computer-based language tests have also been used on a larger scale, albeit with concerns about their impact on measurement. Objectives: This…

Role-play tasks have long been used by researchers and practitioners to observe L2 (Second language) speaking performance. This social-situated simulation allows students to employ their language skills to converse about real-life themes. While role-plays are highly plausible to actively engage students in interactive learning environments, it has…