Formulaic language represents a challenge to even the most proficient of language learners. Evidence is mixed as to whether native and nonnative speakers process it in a fundamentally different way, whether exposure can lead to more nativelike processing for nonnatives, and how L1 knowledge is used to aid comprehension. In this study we…

This paper is the third in a series concerning English language proficiency (ELP) assessments for K-12 English learners (ELs). The series, produced from Educational Testing Service (ETS), is intended to provide theory- and evidence-based principles and recommendations for improving next-generation ELP assessment systems, policies, and practices…

In these days of standardized assessments in education that seek to measure the rate of learning in all subject matters, the question is seldom asked, "Just how long does it take to become proficient?" No matter the subject, we all agree that some amount of practice is necessary for basic proficiency and that more will be needed to…

To measure individual difference in latent attributes more precisely, this study proposed a new cognitive diagnosis model (CDM), which is referred as the probabilistic-inputs, noisy conjunctive (PINC) model, by treating the deterministic binary latent attributes as probabilistic, and directly estimating the probability in the model. Simulation…

Over the past two decades awareness has been growing that English language teachers need good English language proficiency and professional training to teach effectively. To address this issue, a benchmark--minimum standards assessment test--was initiated, developed, and introduced in Hong Kong in 2001. Because more than a decade and a half has…

The number of internationally mobile students pursuing higher education increases each year, with 8 million students expected to study abroad globally by 2025 (Farrugia, 2014). Many English-dominant universities require international applicants to provide standardized test scores as evidence of English proficiency. Accordingly, millions of…

As new informational conditions contribute to the discovery of new ways to improve the quality of the educational process, a new integrated learning model was elaborated. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the students' engagement in a newly-introduced integrated learning model, identify the impact of such a model on students' learning…

In a language class, encouraging students' willingness to communicate (WTC) using the target language is essential, as it is a good signal whether or not the language has been successfully acquired. Given the importance of students' willingness to communicate in English class, the 2013 national education curriculum promotes students' oral…

Although fluency is an important subconstruct of language proficiency, it has not received as much attention in L2 writing research as complexity and accuracy have, in part due to the lack of methodological approaches for the analysis of large datasets of writing-process data. This article presents a method of time-aligned keystroke logging and…

Through self-study, students are believed to develop new learning strategies, new motivation, reflection and critical thinking. The current study was conducted in the College of Basic Education, the English Department--Kuwait. 324 female students participated in answering an extensive questionnaire related to the topic of self-study. In addition,…

Today it is imperative that preservice teachers become globally competent specialists to effectively work in diverse classrooms and school environments. The author briefly focuses on the contemporary globalization, characterizes the essence of global education, concentrates on some issues of developing future elementary teachers' global…

Dictionary is an acknowledged learning tool which has a tremendous role in acquiring a language. It has proved to be helpful in learning vocabulary and developing language proficiency. The use of monolingual dictionaries is thought to be very fruitful for learning vocabulary. The present study used survey method to gain the perception of the…

Determining how and why adult outcomes of heritage speaker (HS) bilingualism differ from monolinguals is difficult because it requires the reconstruction of developmental paths from end-state data. In an effort to address this issue, we examine HSs of Turkish in Germany at an early age of development (10-15 years old, n = 22), as well as…

The study was conducted to investigate the L2 acquisition of English generics by L1 Arabic speakers. The present study considered the two types of genericity (NP-level vs. sentence-level). Since generics in Arabic are always definite, the study investigated whether L1 Arabic speakers perform similarly in both types. The study recruited 43…

Higher education institutions must take into account the changing nature of the world of work. They must understand the capacities and competencies demanded by graduates of universities because in an unpredictable world, careers will undergo permanent changes and must respond to the changing needs of the labour market. In this article, we present…