This article introduces the structure and content of an online learning platform called "SMART Teacher Lab" (STL, henceforth) implemented at the authors' university since 2014. "STL" is an online platform specifically built for the professional development of pre- and in-service English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers,…

The enhancement of bilingual vocabulary in government secondary schools is essential for equipping students with the linguistic skills necessary for success in a globalized world. Despite the considerable benefits of bilingual education, challenges such as rigid curricula, inadequate teacher training, limited resources, and varied student…

This study explored the use of gamification when teaching Greek as a L2. It examined how Greek teachers in different schools in Cyprus use gamification and if it affects their students in learning. It explored their perceptions of the effects on student motivation and engagement. The study was of qualitative approach and semi-structured interviews…

This small-scale pilot study enquired into the Open Educational Practices (OEPs) that freelance English language teachers in Switzerland are engaging in and the role these played in their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Participants are members of a teaching association and work in adult education. Freelancers are often faced with…

The flipped classroom model has gained significant attention as an innovative pedagogical approach to teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This method promotes active learning, student engagement, and improved language proficiency by shifting content delivery to pre-class activities and dedicating class time to interactive and…

Engagement in extensive reading (ER) on the internet provides learners with unparalleled access to diverse digital resources, positioning online extensive reading (OER) as a transformative extension of traditional ER practices. OER combines the principles of ER with the affordances of modern technology, offering interactivity, multimedia features,…

Writing is an important skill for children's academic success, underlining the need for effective ESL writing instruction in the elementary classroom. However, there is a paucity of research on elementary ESL writing instruction in Canada. Specifically, we have little understanding about the pedagogical practices in this context. To fill this gap,…

Blythe Elementary School is one of 176 schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district, which serves about 147,000 students in the city of Charlotte and surrounding areas in the state of North Carolina. About 950 students are enrolled at Blythe, and almost a third are language-minority students, meaning they actively use a language other than…

This study evaluated the feasibility of the Knowledge, Language, and Inquiry (K.L.I.) intervention, designed to support Grades 3-5 multilingual students classified as English learners (ML-ELs) in building content knowledge, language skills, and reading comprehension through inquiry-based small-group instruction. Feasibility was examined across…

This paper seeks to understand the contextual influences that were considered important for shaping teachers' use of Assessment for Learning (AfL). Using the micro, meso and macro-level contextual framework, the content analysis of teachers' propositions drawn from semi-structured interviews and three group discussions unveiled both internal and…

The government funded two-year project, "Stepping Up in Modern Foreign Languages" (MFL), sought to align MFL teaching across the transition between primary and secondary schools. This paper describes the results of the project evaluation that was conducted using Cultural-historical Activity Theory as its research approach. This approach…

Professional development (PD) has received a growing attention in teacher education research since it has the potential to affect teacher learning. More recently and in particular as an aftermath of COVID19 pandemic, online PD modes have overtaken more traditional face to face approaches. Despite this, studies on language teachers' preferences for…

This study evaluated the feasibility of the Knowledge, Language, and Inquiry (K.L.I.) intervention, designed to support Grades 3-5 multilingual students classified as English learners (ML-ELs) in building content knowledge, language skills, and reading comprehension through inquiry-based small-group instruction. Feasibility was examined across…

Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia are similar in many ways. Both were colonised by English-speaking British settlers, and English is a national language in each country. In recent years, both countries have become destinations for immigrants speaking languages other than English and international fee-paying students. Both have a chequered history…

This qualitative phenomenological study explores U.S. principals' challenges, successes, and best practices in leading Mandarin Chinese immersion programs in high-need rural schools in a Midwestern state. The study addresses cultural efficiency, increasing student enrollment through principalship preparation, and attracting the interest of parents…