This article by Dr. Mahmoud M. S. Abdallah provides a comprehensive guide to formulating a research problem in education and language learning, particularly for TESOL/TEFL researchers. It emphasizes the importance of a well-defined research problem as the cornerstone of any research project, guiding the selection of methods, data collection, and…

As Larsen-Freeman (2018) wrote in her own historical account of second language acquisition (SLA) 'it is important to understand ideas at the time they originated' (p. 56). This is certainly true of the field of second language acquisition (SLA). Rod Ellis adds that it is also important to understand how the ideas that motivated a field of enquiry…

Engaging in ethnographic sibling research, my brother and I intended to contribute to the knowledge of a multilingual learner's literacy practices via Zoom. We discuss agency and negotiated interaction between the ethnographer and sibling-participant. We examine data from field notes, interviews, and participant artifacts using a social semiotic…

This paper engages with the negotiation of insider and outsider researcher identities in the context of Welsh-English bilingualism in Wales. It aims to develop a reflexive approach to researching bilingualism, foregrounding the actions and experiences of doing bilingual research in a minority language context. Taking data from education and…

This bibliometric study reveals the dominant research topics, methodologies, contexts, and publication outlets utilized by researchers in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT) in Thailand from 2010 to 2024. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2019 and VOSviewer 1.6.19 as research tools. The dataset was retrieved from…

This paper discusses collaborative ethnographic work investigating multilingualism within education in Botswana, Tanzania, and Zambia. The paper takes a reflective perspective on how research is conducted and the role that multilingualism and collaboration can play in the research process itself. As a team of thirteen individuals, working across…

Consistent with recent calls to bridge the research-practice divide in second language acquisition, this article reports on the findings of a collaborative autoethnographic study that we, authors of this article, conducted as critical second language teacher educators. Conducting a series of constructive dialogues among ourselves for a semester,…

Recently, there has been a significant increase in research on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the domain of second language (L2) education. Given the limited resources, it is essential for GenAI research to focus on key areas. However, there is still uncertainty about which topics should be prioritised. Research priorities are often…

The past decade has seen increased attention paid to the ethical complexities of educational research undertaken in sensitive or 'fragile' settings, where trauma, marginalisation and socio-political precarity are prevalent. Yet, despite increased awareness of micro-ethical issues encountered in the field, there is limited research that engages…

Despite their diversity, UK school pupils with non-English home languages are uniformly labelled English as an additional language (EAL), presupposing linguistic deficiencies and academic challenges; thus, equating multilingualism with vulnerability. As part of a researcher-practitioner collaboration with a London primary school, we explore how…

This article explores ways in which a dialogue between researchers and practitioners can be bidirectional, effective, and beneficial for the two professional communities. We suggest concrete directions for second language (L2) research: (a) a collaborative mindset, (b) the nature of research, (c) venues for dialogue, and (d) institutional support.…

The university curriculum plays a role in motivating students to take up research. This 2-year action research explored the curriculum in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and its influence on student further engagement in research work. The data were collected from University Master's students through two questionnaires given to them before and…

Action research has been advanced as one way that second language (L2) teachers might raise their awareness of the complexities of their work. Yet, while the publication of action research into L2 learning and teaching has gained some traction in recent years, reports naturally tend to focus on research outcomes. In the current article, I argue…

Purpose: Despite the growing interest in the applicability and value of educational research for improving educational policy and practice, few studies have demonstrated how English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teachers apply research findings in their second language (L2) teaching. This paper reports on a study in which four Hong Kong ESL teachers…

Teacher research can be defined as research carried out by teachers for teachers. This type of educational research emphasises a transformative perspective through which teachers become agents of change. In the case of teacher research, it is hoped that findings resonate with other teachers in the broad contexts in which they originate and that…