The Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) is a widely used test of receptive vocabulary, but no researchers to date have examined the performance of low-educated, low-literate L2 adults, or compared these individuals' performances to their more highly educated peers. In this study, we used many-facet Rasch analysis and mixed-effects linear…

Recently, research in second language acquisition has seen an increased attention on low-educated low-literate (LESLLA) learners. However, few of the existing instruments to measure L2 proficiency have been validated for use with this population. In this paper, we examine how adult L2 learners with diverging educational backgrounds perform on and…

Due to immigration, globalization and a changing labor market, there is a recognized need for flexible learning. In Europe, second language (L2) acquisition specifically has become of vital importance. Research on less commonly taught languages (LCTL), however, is scarce and focuses mainly on foreign language acquisition, compulsory education and…

Understanding reasons for drop-out, factors contributing to student satisfaction and strategies for enhancing student retention is fundamental to the success of online (language) courses. This study examines drop-out rates, student satisfaction, retention rates and attainment in fully online elementary-level courses for Dutch as a second language…

This study critically addresses the assumptions made by educators and providers in the field of Dutch second language (L2) acquisition about the online learning of Dutch L2. These include assumptions about advantages and disadvantages of online language learning, such as flexibility, learner autonomy, enhanced opportunities for remediation and…

Socio-political and demographic developments in Western Europe make diversity and multiculturalism a relevant line of research and emerging topic in education sciences. This paper discusses a case study that investigates Belgian pre-service teachers' attitudes towards ethnic diversity in their classrooms, how their teaching caters to student…

This study examines educators' and providers' perceptions of constraints and critical success factors of the development and implementation of online L2 learning. The focus is on Dutch L2 learning in adult education in Flanders. Semi-structured interviews with seven educators (shaping pedagogies/curricula) and six providers (organizing/offering…

ELBEP (Eliminating Language Barriers in European Prisons Through Open and Distance Education Technology) is a multilateral project funded by the European Union (EU) Lifelong Learning, Grundtvig (Adult Education) Programme. It aims to overcome language/communication problems between prison staff and foreign inmates at European prisons via online…