The aim of this study is to discuss the need for improved intercultural communicative competence (ICC) training for pre-service Chinese as a Second Language (CSL) teachers who travel abroad to teach. Previous studies have shown that pre-service CSL teachers often struggle with intercultural communication, and this study investigates the reasons…

Dynamic assessment (DA) breaks the traditional dichotomy between assessment and instruction by including mediation in assessment procedures ((Poehner "Dynamic assessment: A Vygotskian approach to understanding and promoting second language development." Springer, Berlin, Germany, 2008)). The focus of DA is on how students or test-takers…

Extracurricular reading is important for learning foreign languages. Text recommendation systems typically classify users and documents into levels, and then match users with documents at the same level. Although this approach can be effective, it has two significant shortcomings. First, the levels assume a standard order of language acquisition…

This study explored the relationship between metapragmatic knowledge and transfer of learning from one speech act to another. Using a digital application, 105 Chinese learners of English received implicit instruction on how to formulate a high-imposition request to someone in a higher social status and larger social distance. Immediately after the…

Teacher beliefs have received substantial attention particularly in Chinese as a world language context due to the Chinese language proficiency challenges, Chinese character complexity, and cultural barriers. With the development of cutting-edge technology, Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) has played a pivotal role in Chinese language…

Using a thematic analysis methodology, this paper attempts a critical review of published articles on Chinese character teaching and learning in and outside China between 2005 and 2019, highlighting contributions scholars made to the current literature as well as identifying gaps in the research. The analysis reveals that there is a rather large…

We present "doing language testing" sequences; L2 learners decide for themselves to test themselves or each other explicitly on new linguistic items, outside the official task cycle with no professional present, investing extra time and energy. We examine how and why pairs of learners do this, and its impact on their learning. They use…

This paper presents a critical overview of studies on mobile assisted language learning (MALL) in teaching Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) during the period 2007-2019. In the review, keyword and reference searches were conducted to identify and select empirical studies during the review period. Thematic and frequency analyses were employed on…

Despite the growing body of research regarding the effectiveness of MALL (mobile-assisted language learning) technologies on foreign language (FL) learners' speaking skill development, a comprehensively quantitative meta-analysis regarding the effect sizes of these studies is still lacking. To solve the problem, this study reported results based…

There has been much debate in assessment research about the inclusion of Global English accents in high-stakes listening tests. This study explored test-takers' attitudes toward the inclusion of different English accents in the Duolingo English Test (DET) 2021 test version and their associations with listening test scores. One hundred sixty…

Learning analytics (LA) has been increasingly using in teaching and learning. However, in the field of applied linguistics, the use of LA has only begun to touch the surface. There is a need for understanding how LA and learning design (LD) influence each other and provide useful information to language teachers in the context of specific courses…

This study explores the relationship between the experience of confusion and the outcomes of Chinese character learning by learners of Chinese as a heritage language (CHL). Based on the claim that impasses triggering confusion can lead to deeper learning of conceptually difficult material, the study employed three impasse-driven tasks. The tasks…

Many people who learn Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) have encountered challenges when it comes to character writing. This was a follow-up study of our quantitative study in 2019 that showed that mobile app was a significantly more effective method than pen-and-paper method to learn Chinese character writing. Thirty beginning CFL learners…

This case study explored college students' use of interactive virtual reality tools (Google Cardboard and Expeditions) for learning Chinese as a foreign language. Specifically, the purpose of the study was to probe into students' perceived benefits and challenges of using VR tools for Chinese language and culture learning. Twelve students were…

To understand in-service language teachers' intrinsic barriers to technology integration in higher education contexts, this in-depth study investigated four teachers teaching Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) at a private university in Japan. The researcher trained the four teachers with varied digital literacy how to create and utilise online…