This article delves into the ongoing debate surrounding the role of age in second language acquisition, examining developments over the past three decades and highlighting contentious issues. We argue that the commonly held belief in age's pivotal role is frequently contradicted by empirical evidence. Additionally, we examine the agerelated debate…

This practice report describes a 12-week stand-alone course designed to address the challenges university students face in foreign language classes. Adopting principles of transformative language learning, course content, activities and resources were designed and implemented to dispel myths and preconceptions regarding language instruction,…

A research study on the L2 Motivational Self-systems (L2MSS) and technology acceptance of Foreign Language Learners (EFL) in relation to Language Massive Open Online Courses (LMOOCs) is warranted. In response, 336 Iranian EFL learners participated in three LMOOC platforms, learned language online in line with their language institutes, and…

This project studies how Spanish-Catalan early bilinguals use language learning strategies (LLS) differently depending on their order of language acquisition when they are learning French as an L4. Considering that the use of LLS has been pointed out as a sign of successful language learning, the study inquires whether being a simultaneous…

Language acquisition research has expanded foci to explore the social and metacognitive dimensions of learning, looking more at motivational, strategic, and psychological qualities that facilitate learner autonomy. Aligning with this trend, this study aimed to investigate the characteristics of self-efficacy (SE) in learning English among…

This study explores prototypical word associations in EFL learners' mental lexicon to determine how they categorize the words retrieved in response to prompts in a lexical availability task. We compare two groups of Spanish EFL learners: sixty children in the sixth grade of primary education and sixty adolescents in the ten grade of secondary…

This qualitative study uses a semi-structured interview to investigate why Saudi learners stop learning a third language and whether these reasons are permanent or temporary. The participants were six female master's degree students who had experience learning a third language outside of formal education or informal settings. This study identifies…

Motivation plays a crucial role in successful language learning, especially among last-mile learners who face distinct barriers due to geographic isolation and limited access to educational resources. This study aims to understand the key factors influencing English language learning motivation among last-mile learners, serving as a foundation for…

This mixed-methods study explores EFL teachers' attitudes toward socialemotional learning (SEL) and well-being in Poland and Ukraine, focusing on how sociodemographic factors and professional contexts influence these perspectives. Findings reveal that younger Polish teachers, generally more open to adopting innovative SEL strategies, demonstrated…

Learning a language is one typical and common cognitive phenomenon among human beings. What matters even most, is the additional language learning and advantages it may confer; an issue which cannot be simply overlooked in cognitive studies. The developmental effect of learning an additional language on memory is something that is confirmed in…

Incorporating effective reading strategies is vital to language learning, as reading is considered to be among the most fundamental skills in acquiring knowledge and achieving success. Research has shown that good readers are often high achievers, and with the support of technology and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) strategies, students can further…

Background Study: With the rapid transition to remote learning necessitated by the closure of traditional educational infrastructures globally, the arena of informal digital learning of English (IDLE) has received much attention, particularly among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in China. Objective: This study explores how…

Grit is among the individual difference (ID) variables that have recently come to the attention of researchers investigating second language acquisition. While some empirical evidence has been accumulated, it is clearly scant and limited, also because of the fact that many studies have looked into domain-general grit rather than this attribute as…

This study investigates whether demographics, L2 enjoyment, L2 anxiety, psychological well-being, or informal digital learning of English (IDLE) affect willingness to communicate in L2 (L2 WTC) at trait or state levels. Across two weeks, 16 Hong Kong EFL students completed pre-and post-trait-level surveys and generated 1,120 state-level responses…

The congruency effect--that is, faster and more accurate processing of congruent multiword units, has been demonstrated in multiple studies. It is still unclear, however, what its underlying mechanism is, and how congruency may interact with other factors. Using an acceptability judgement task, this study examined the congruency effect in…