Although the TOEFL iBT Listening test is sometimes used for other purposes, it was designed primarily for use as a college entrance examination. Item difficulty in TOEFL iBT Listening tests is the product of interactions between two sets of complex relationships: 1) relationships among numerous item characteristics themselves, and 2) relationships…

This study investigated the effects of different feedback types and English achievement levels on students' oral presentation performance in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Specifically, the research aims were four-fold: 1) to compare the effects of oral teacher feedback, oral peer feedback, and online written peer feedback on…

This study is classroom-based research in an English listening-speaking class at a Thai university. A dialogic teaching methodology was used in parts of the classroom tasks to encourage students to speak more English and build a learning community where they learn from each other and consider different voices. The purpose of this article is to…

The roles of grammar in the teaching of English as a foreign language (EFL) have long been discussed. This study explored viewpoints of five categories of local stakeholders regarding the roles of grammar in the Thai EFL context. Questionnaires were administered to two groups of Thai university students, and focus-group and semi-structured…

This paper reports on the washback effects of Malaysia's School-Based Assessment (SBA) on Form 4 students after almost a decade of its implementation in the country. It critically examines how SBA has affected Form 4 students' overall perceptions about the learning of the English language at school. This study also investigates the challenges that…

The purpose of this study was to explore the development of students' engagement in oral interactions using conversation analysis (CA, hereafter) tools. A qualitative design of a CA approach was used to understand the role of conversation analysis. Here, CA was used both as a data gathering tool and an analysis technique. Oral tasks were provided…

The Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, which was originally meant for the European context is now being widely accepted by many non-European countries. The education system in Malaysia, as outlined in the English Language Education Roadmap for Malaysia (2015-2025), has adopted the framework. Although this has taken place…

English oral communication becomes essential, especially for business English students since their future careers require a good command of English. The purposes of this study were to determine if the integration of flipped learning and three types of role-plays (i.e., scripted, semi-scripted, and non-scripted) could enhance English oral…

In the age of globalization, proficiency in English communication plays a crucial role in police missions. Consequently, the development of appropriate materials and suitable modes of instruction for an ESP course that is based on the specific needs, contexts, and characteristics of Thai Metropolitan police officers is instrumental to the success…

There is a common, but mistaken, assumption that language teaching should best be placed in the hands of native speakers. Although the misperception of the superiority of native speaker teachers has been challenged in the professional ELT literature, many continue to hold fast on this misguided belief, often resulting in discriminatory practices…

Fluency development is one of the prominent components of a well-balanced language course. In particular, speaking fluency interests second language (L2) researchers who have continuously tried to look for the finest approach for helping L2 learners attain a certain level of fluency to achieve effective communication. To this end, the primary…

Gamification is a controversial topic in the field of education, with both proponents and opponents. However, what exactly gamification is and why it has become popular are worth exploring. This academic article first defines the terms "game" and "gamification" in order to differentiate them. Next, the article provides core…

Pronunciation in a foreign language does not have to be native-like. However, intelligible and comprehensible pronunciation is required for understandable communication. How to teach pronunciation in a foreign language classroom matters because the effectiveness of the activities determines the learners' success. The use of songs in teaching has…

Many studies acknowledge that English proficiency contributes to academic performance, eventually affecting one's career. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate whether English proficiency (EPT) could predict students' academic performance at a state Islamic university in Indonesia. A quantitative approach was used, in which the data of…

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of the popular Duolingo App on learning English in Thailand. Parts of the Duolingo English course for Thai speakers were used in a classroom-based intervention with two sections of English for Professional Purposes courses at a Thai university (n = 128). The students were split into two…