We tested whether second language (L2) learners rely more on explicit memory during structural priming at lower than at higher proficiency levels (Hartsuiker & Bernolet, 2017). We compared within-L2 priming with lexical overlap in 100 low and 100 high proficiency French L2 speakers under low versus high working memory load conditions induced…

Vocabulary experts recommend first language (L1) translation equivalents for establishing form-meaning mappings for new second language (L2) words, especially for lower proficiency learners. Empirical evidence to date speaks in favor of L1 translation equivalents over L2 meaning definitions, but most studies have investigated bi- rather than…

Second language implicit learning research has shown that a variety of linguistic features can be acquired without awareness. However, this research overwhelmingly uses comprehension tests to measure implicit learning. It remains unclear whether newly acquired implicit knowledge can also be recruited for production. To address this question, we…

We investigated indexical variation as a variable that promotes second language (L2) vocabulary learning across language modalities. In three experiments, we presented Catalan Sign Language signs (Experiments 1a and 1b), pseudowords (Experiment 2), and English words (Experiment 3) to participants in three conditions that varied in the number of…

The purpose of this paper was to study the effectiveness of language acquisition using speaker instruction and listener instruction and examining the emergence of bidirectional intraverbals using a non-sense language. Current research suggests that speaker type instruction is more effective in aiding untrained relations (Contreras et al., 2020;…

The present study examines the effect of adjunct questions on the reading comprehension of English-speaking learners of Chinese as a second language (L2). In Experiment 1, fourth-year (advanced) learners (n = 42) read two texts, either with or without adjunct questions, and completed a multiple-choice cloze. In Experiments 2 and 3, second-year…

Derivational knowledge, the ability to understand and produce derivatives of a word, is essential for vocabulary learners to expand their lexical knowledge. Earlier research (e.g., Schmitt & Zimmerman, 2002) has shown that L2 learners may have limited ability to produce derivatives compared to L1 speakers. However, the degree to which…

Aim: From the perspective of cognitive load theory, the present study examined the relative effectiveness of the sequential use of L1 and bilingual subtitles on incidental English vocabulary learning. Methods: A total of 162 upper-intermediate Chinese learners of English as a foreign language watched an English clip in one of 4 subtitling…

This study investigates the effects of multilingualism and the degree of proficiency in different languages on vocabulary knowledge among Spanish language learners. Participants completed a 160-word meaning recall test designed to measure their knowledge of the 8,000 most frequent Spanish words and a self-assessment questionnaire on their…

Previous works reveal that there is potential in the use of mobile devices as a useful tool to help learn new vocabulary and it allows the learning materials can be displayed with different Learning Content Representation (LCR) types. Nevertheless, there are no conclusive results about which LCR type is better to improve L2 vocabulary acquisition…

The 2025 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages was held in Kansas City, Missouri on March 13-15. This year's theme, "Global Goals, Global Languages," highlighted the partnership of the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals) and language curricula. The Global Goals were created to address…

In this study, we examined the effect of previewing unfamiliar vocabulary on the real-time reading behavior of first language (L1) and second language (L2) readers. University students with English as their L1 or L2 read passages with embedded pseudowords. In a within-participant manipulation, definitions of the pseudowords were either previewed…

Despite an increasing research interest in subject-specific teacher knowledge, there is limited research on teachers' knowledge of English as a foreign language (EFL) in early childhood education (ECE). This paper, therefore, reports a mixed-methods study which investigated the relationships between ECE EFL teachers' knowledge and their practices…

With the aim of investigating effective approaches to extensive reading in Thailand, this study examined the vocabulary uptake and retention rate from reading 350 headwords graded reader. To determine the effects of reading a graded reader on students' vocabulary knowledge and retention, 20 words within four bands of different frequencies of…

This study examined the relationship between lexical coverage (i.e., the percentage of known word tokens in a text) and second language (L2) reading comprehension. Several studies have suggested that adequate comprehension occurs between 95% and 98% coverage, but no study has investigated beginning-level learners reading under the conditions of…