High frequency words, which are key to a text, must be mastered to achieve minimum levels of reading proficiency. However, knowledge about the frequency of items in a language is very limited. Given this consideration, WordSift (www.wordsift.org), a word cloud tool based on high frequency and key words can assist English as a Foreign Language…

The availability of corpora has greatly strengthened the possibilities of identifying high-frequency lexical items in a more systematic and objective manner than has typically been used for vocabulary instruction. This article adopts a corpus-based approach to accommodate the vocabulary instructional needs of students enrolled in university…

Tablet devices, as assistive and instructional technologies, can be highly effectual pedagogical tools with multifaceted benefits, such as the ability to integrate multimedia and the ability to track student progress over time. The unique value of particular assistive and instructional technologies explains, in part, why they are more widely used…

The use of iPad and other handheld devices in classrooms is spreading. Their use can empower learners and expose them to a plethora of resources. Yet, when it comes to learning a foreign language, reasonably little has been done to empirically ascertain the influence of iPad apps on facilitating language learning as well as engaging language…

This study examines the impact of using a digital annotation tool (DAT) on second language (L2) socialization of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in a university-level advanced reading course. Theoretically guided by the paradigm of second language socialization (Duff, 2002) and pedagogically informed by bridging activities model…

This article details a study that was designed to explore the differences and similarities with deaf and hard of hearing students regarding learning new vocabulary knowledge through the sign language. The purpose of this study was to know whether or not students who are deaf and hard of hearing are similar to their hearing peers when learning new…

This edited book explores the integration of technology into English language education, with a particular focus on extracurricular and extramural contexts. The editors and an international team of scholars discuss how English teachers can critically and systematically design and implement language activities inside and outside the classroom to…

Two groups of freshman students, enrolled in a Vocabulary I and Reading I courses, participated in the study. Before instruction, both groups took a recognition (vocabulary) and a production (oral reading) pre-test. Comparisons of the pre-test scores showed no significant differences between the experimental and control group in decoding skills…

Many educators in public schools in the United States experience challenges in meeting the unique needs of the growing population of English learners who must simultaneously attain academic skills while acquiring English language proficiency. Such unique needs intensify for English learners with reading disabilities. Morphological awareness is key…

Vocabulary acquisition is central to language learning, and many instructors believe that technology can facilitate this core activity. While numerous websites and apps offer language-learning activities and games, not all provide evidence that their content and techniques are effective. VocabularySpellingCity (VSC), however, commissioned a study…

Students who are incarcerated in juvenile correctional facilities (JCF) often struggle with reading proficiency. Nevertheless, limited research addresses the academic needs of these vulnerable learners with reading deficits. The primary purpose of this survey study is to identify the reading instructional approaches used regularly by educators in…

The vocabulary learning is one of very important part in the college English teaching. Correct analysis of the result of vocabulary strategy instruction can offer feedbacks for English teaching, and help teachers to improve the teaching method. In this article, the issue how to use SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Science) to…

The theme for this year's College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa was "Engaged Language Research and Practice," with the plenary speech given by Dr. Kathryn A. Davis. Following a preface from the editors and plenary speaker highlights, contents of these proceedings include: Section I:…

Knowing the meanings of common root words, prefixes, and suffixes may help students read and spell the longer words they begin to run into in the upper elementary grades. This article describes how students can use the Kidspiration computer program to quickly and easily create word webs that illustrate the meanings of common root words and…

Describes how reading instruction in comprehension will be much like instruction in thinking and problem solving due to the capacity of computers to store data and retrieve literal information instantly. (CRH)