Human agency theory has been known for more than two decades, but the applications in EFL learning are still insufficiently researched and the roles in enhancing English proficiency are still little explored. This study, thus, examined learners' agency in English learning and investigated the role in English proficiency. Using a quantitative…

The paper is basically a meta-analysis of the topic indicated in the title. It expounds the notion of context as an integral component in the process of teaching communication. In making an attempt to comprehend and subsequently produce a message, inevitably, it is the cohesive grasp of context that determines the rate of success in attempts to…

Language learning strategies (LLS) research began in the mid-1970s with the main idea of individual differences in learning a foreign language focusing primarily on the characteristics of a good language learner. In the literature review, the use of LLS has been reported to have a positive influence on proficiency. The goal of this research is to…

Language has always been considered the most effective medium of communication among humans to express their thoughts, opinions, and emotions. As a consequence of globalization, a lot of people end up living, studying, working, and travelling in countries where both their first and the second languages may not be used. This situation creates a…

This paper examines factors relating to teaching English at a public university in LAO PDR in order to, firstly, ascertain those issues that inhibit the development of proficiency in English and, secondly, to identify possible solutions. The following research question was posed: What factors are needed in Lao PDR to improve English language…

Mindfulness is a relaxation technique that has been associated with positive effects when used as a coping strategy for stress and anxiety. In this regard, the objectives of this article are to investigate how mindfulness could help improve adolescents' ability to regulate their attention, emotion, behaviour and thinking; learn English as a…

Affective factors play a role in learning in general and language learning in particular. The current study tried to empirically examine the influence of one of these factors namely 'Emotional Intelligence' to check its influence on Speaking Skill. Participants were Intermediate level students who took the IELTS test (International English…

Peer feedback is a topic frequently studied in the area of English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) writing. Many studies focused on the effect of peer feedback on students' writing ability. However, limited studies examined peer feedback uptakes and outcomes by considering sub-variables such as proficiency level. Therefore, this study…

The teaching and acquisition of foreign language pragmatics as a part of the communicative competence paradigm has been reported as essential since the deviation from the Chomskian competence-based model to a more performative one in the '80s. Despite this change, only a few course books include or are designed on a teaching pragmatics basis. As…

Speaking and communicating in English language can be a traumatic experience for many Chinese EFL university learners in class and in public. In many situations, they prefer to remain silent and passive listeners. This study aims to detect linguistic, psychological, socio-cultural hindrances and lends a sympathetic ear to Chinese university EFL…

Directed Motivational Currents (DMCs), as the latest theoretical development of second language (L2) motivation research, warrant more empirical investigations. In light of this, the present paper reports the results of a questionnaire survey on the features of DMCs among 245 English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) learners at a technological…

This study aimed to examine the relationship between Vietnamese university students' learning experience and their vocabulary learning strategy use frequency and perceived usefulness in English as medium of instruction (EMI) classes. The research involved 152 expert EMI students and 183 novice EMI students. A methodological triangulation was used…

The posing of Intensive Reading (IR) as a fundamental rudimentary reading act and the endorsement of Extensive Reading (ER) as supplemental reading practice seems to be essential for literacy educators. This study tried to unearth the nature of the interplay between intensive and extensive reading as experienced by graduate Arabic native speakers…

Students' attitudes towards learning English as a second language is not a new issue, yet much is to be known about the factors that actually affect the students' attitudes, especially those who live in rural areas that are known to have poor perceptions towards as well as poor performance in learning the English language as compared to Malaysian…

This study was primarily aimed at developing an English-speaking proficiency test and analytic rubrics designed to measure speaking proficiency of Malaysian undergraduates. On the basis of Littlewood's Methodological Framework and Long's Interaction Hypothesis, the researchers derived three speaking tasks from four sources: (a) syllabus of the…