German university degrees, at least in some countries, offer students only German literature courses in addition to language courses. Linguistics is often not a core component of German degree programmes. As a result, students who are not familiar with basic linguistic terminology do not know how languages work, including their mother tongue, or…

In the last decade, Language MOOCs have attracted a lot of interest for their potential to enhance language learning. However, how learners engage with MOOC environments and realise their benefits, remains unclear. The current study adopts activity theory (Engeström in J Educ Work 14:133-156, 2001) as a lens to comprehend the affordances and…

Responding to Donato and Brooks's (2004) call for undergraduate students to have more opportunities to engage in discourse at the advanced proficiency level, collaborative dialogues provide students with a situation conducive to language production and learning (Swain, 1997). As most of the research on collaborative dialogues has focused on the…

Post-communicative methodologies nowadays provide instructors with multiple curricular models to reimagine their syllabi, design creative assignments, and prepare their lessons. Yet, challenging topics are still often avoided, fearing students' limited language proficiency. Conversely, compelling content--carefully presented and pedagogically…

English-medium instruction (EMI) is gaining popularity in higher education (HE) worldwide, with the aim of enhancing students' English proficiency and professional abilities. However, many students still struggle with learning various subjects in English. While the challenges in EMI are widely discussed in many studies, it is necessary to look…

Foreign language (FL) acquisition requires not only the development of target language skills, but also a cultural understanding of the region and its people. While this article addresses the development of an advanced Chinese language and culture course using film, the principles illustrated can be adapted for use in other advanced-level FL…

Given the acknowledged and undeniable advantages of literature in language education, it has been integrated into EFL curricula for undergraduate students as an essential subject. In the Algerian English departments before the reform introduced in the last two decades (the Licence, Master, doctorate system), literature used to have a privileged…

To help ESP college instructors improve the English curriculum taught at polytechnic institutes, colleges and universities, the current study proposes a model for designing English for Polytechnic Purposes (EPP) courses for undergraduate students majoring in mechanical engineering, chemistry, technology, economics, textile industry and other…

This mixed-methods study explored the effects of employing a genre-based approach (GBA) to descriptive report writing on the understanding of text structure and ideational, interpersonal and textual meanings among Japanese university students of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) over a 15-week course divided into three units. Applied within a…

Vocabulary knowledge strongly predicts second language reading, listening, writing, and speaking. Yet, few tests have been developed to assess vocabulary knowledge in French. The primary aim of this pilot study was to design and initially validate the Context-Aligned Two Thousand Test (CA-TTT), following open research practices. The CA-TTT is a…

This study examines the factors influencing students' under-performance in an advanced financial reporting course. Specifically, this study examines four factors which may influence the accounting students' under-performance in an advanced financial reporting course, namely class attendance, curricular activities, internship experience and English…

In education, as in all areas of our lives, the rapid development of computers and the Internet has brought about radical changes. The variety and use of technology in the educational environment is becoming increasingly widespread. A qualified teacher should have a personality that is in a state of constant renewal and development, which is…

Self-regulated learning and EFL speaking competence are seen as crucial abilities for students to acquire in the twenty-first century. However, EFL students' performance in self-regulated learning and speaking has not been optimal. Therefore, the implementation of flipped classrooms aims to achieve a breakthrough in self-regulated learning and EFL…

Previous research on how UK schools can meet the needs of refugee students has not focused on Ukrainian refugee students' learning of mathematics. This group faces specific challenges, simultaneously studying different mathematics curricula, face-to-face in the UK and by distance in Ukraine. We examine the experiences of Ukrainian refugees in UK…

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…