This study investigated the use of virtual chatbots in a 3D multi-user virtual environment (3D MUVE) to enhance the communication skills of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) learners. Several virtual chat agents, developed using pattern matching techniques and embedded in Second Life, created a blended learning environment in which CFL learners…

The goal of this case study was to explore students' experiences in a study abroad program of the basic communication course. Thirty-six students enrolled in a study abroad program in the summer of 2023 participated in focus groups tasked to understand more about students' challenges and learning outcomes. Results from our study suggest students'…

Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a four-week summer enrichment program where high school students study a variety of STEM topics. This article explores how participation in the Mathematical Evolution course affected students' skills in research, communication, and scientific reasoning and changes in self-efficacy towards STEM. Data…

Peer mediated intervention (PMI) is an evidence-based approach to supporting social and communication development for children on the autism spectrum. For PMI to be integrated into everyday practice, it needs to be acceptable to stakeholders. This article engaged with autistic individuals, early childhood educators, parents, and speech and…

Background: Communication partner training (CPT) for people with aphasia (PWA) is an evidence-based approach that supports patients' abilities to effectively communicate with their healthcare providers. Efforts to create efficient training programmes, which aim to instil appropriate practices and attitudes prior to working with patients, have the…

Given the constant changes in the translation job market, translator training (TT) programmes need ongoing adaptation to continue training students to meet market requirements. This study aimed to explore the extent to which undergraduates of Arabic/English TT programmes in Saudi Arabia (SA) perceive their ability to help students acquire…

Purpose: An increasing number of autistic students are pursuing higher education to enhance career opportunities, achieve personal growth, and increase independence. Nonetheless, many encounter difficulties in transitioning to and thriving in this environment, despite the support offered by universities. Here, we review the preliminary data from a…

Background: Research suggests physicians may harbour paternalistic attitudes towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and lack the knowledge and skills to work with them. This study examined the impact of a brief intellectual and developmental disability curriculum intervention on these outcomes. Methods: First-year medical…

This embedded single-case study investigates four secondary school L2 teachers' perceptions of metacognitive oracy instruction (MOI) over a two-year Design-Based Research (DBR) project and examines the effects of the project on their declared practices almost a year after its completion. Questionnaires, learner notes, and interviews to the double…

This paper reports an attempt to enhance Japanese learners' Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) through an undergraduate English class in 2022. The students read essays on an American writer's experience living in Japan, exchanged thoughts, and gave individual presentations. They also learned and practiced discussion skills in the first…

This study aims to document the implementation of sign bilingualism and co-enrollment education in a kindergarten in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, to identify the major characteristics of the programme, and to report findings of children's language in terms of vocabulary and surveys on the views and attitudes of the stakeholders of the…

Service learning is a collaborative approach to teaching and learning built around reciprocal relationships between universities and community organisations. Recently, the University of Canberra established the 'Good Start in Life' (GSIL) service-learning program to address growing gaps in all domains of child development. This study explores…

This study explores the results of an eTwinning project involving four countries, with a focus on collaboration between students from historically distant backgrounds: Turkey and Greece. It primarily aims to foster empathy and understanding, alleviate language anxiety, and enhance foreign language competence among the participants. Using a…

This study attempted to examine the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and levels of Communication Apprehension (CA) among English as a foreign language (EFL) students and explore the students' perspectives of how extracurricular activities affect their communication skills. The study addressed the following two…

Background and aims: Caregiver-delivered programs are a recommended best practice to support young autistic children. While research has extensively explored children's outcomes quantitatively, minimal qualitative research has been conducted to understand caregivers' perspectives of program outcomes for themselves and their children. Hearing…