The use of AI-powered chatbots has recently been extensively examined for second language (L2) learning. While their positive effects have been widely reported regarding L2 English learning, studies involving less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) are scant. The current study incorporated an AI chatbot called Iruda in L2 Korean teaching, to…

Autonomous learning is extensively acknowledged as a desirable goal in undergraduate education as it is found to comply with learner-centered approaches and enable learners to pursue life-long learning. However, very few empirical researchers have closely examined the actual practices of autonomous learning in the Afghan context. Therefore, the…

This research examined the possibility of using Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR), Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), and Total Physical Response (TPR) as a new method of teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students. This study sought to explore the potential benefits of this integration of methodologies in order to facilitate…

This study applied expectancy-value theory (EVT) to examine the impact of diagnostic language assessment (DLA) on the learning activities of a group of Chinese learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). A model of test impact on learning was conceptualized by integrating EVT and DLA theories. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed…

Whereas scholars have extensively researched the pedagogical potential of 4/3/2 activities (i.e. increasing time pressure in task repetition) for enhancing second language (L2) fluency, its impact on L2 accuracy remains unclear. To help L2 learners improve both fluency and accuracy, the present study examined the effects of adding accuracy…

This study applies Activity Theory to describe and analyze an out-of-school project in which eight Chinese university students utilized a massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) to learn English. Based on data collected through questionnaires, gaming journals, gaming recordings and interviews, thematic analysis was performed to identify the…

Second language (L2) learning has largely occurred in the traditional lecture-based classroom setting. Studies show that the lecture format has an impact on student outcomes and perceptions of classroom learning. Negative impacts include insufficient time for reinforcement activities, reviewing lecture materials, and engaging in conversation…

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…

Emotion research in second language acquisition has flourished under the growing influence of Positive Psychology in recent years. The present study focuses on foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) of 263 Chinese undergraduates in relation to learner variables as well as the sources of enjoyment and anxiety…

This lesson plan aims to teach second year senior high school students how to communicate when making and cancelling an appointment, and responding to an appointment using short video clips on YouTube. A student evaluation chart for the teacher to use following the lesson plan is included.

Though it is not easy for Western learners to master, the Chinese language has gain its popularity in the United States in recent years. Modern digital instructional technologies can address some of the issues in learning difficulties of the language. This study examined the effects of Quizlet-based learning activities on the attitudes, beliefs,…

This research employed a case study to examine motivational factors which influenced two learners' participation in course-adjunct English activities. The first participant was a high-motivation learner who joined many of the activities, while the second one was a low-motivation learner who rarely attended the activities. An in-depth interview was…

With the wide adoption of the blended approach by language practitioners, blended language learning (BLL) has developed into a new area in applied linguistics. Much research has been conducted on pedagogical innovation, technological tools, users' perceptions and the creation of the BLL environment. Concerning the establishment of a BLL…

This article reports on using a strategy-based simulation designed to engage intermediate Spanish learners with issues of drug trafficking and violence at the US-Mexico border as an avenue to cultivate an empathetic frame of mind and global perspectives. Using self-reported responses on pre- and post-reflections as well as face-to-face and digital…

This study investigated the relationship between a large-scale and high-stakes English test and test takers' learning behavior. Specifically, it explored whether and how the National Matriculation English Test (NMET) influenced test takers' extracurricular English learning activities under the Chinese Mainland educational context. Based on…