Although study abroad is an established research context for second language acquisition, the emotional experiences of U.S. students learning less commonly taught languages, such as Czech, require further research, particularly in settings where these languages lie outside students' primary academic pursuits. This study explores U.S. students'…

The study examines the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced gamification on learning outcomes and motivation in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. A mixed-methods approach and quasi-experimental design were employed to compare the effectiveness of three instructional strategies: adaptive learning paths, conversational agents,…

With the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) frameworks (e.g., the generative pre-trained transformer [GPT]), a growing number of researchers have started to explore its potential as an automated essay scoring (AES) system. While previous studies have investigated the alignment between human ratings and GPT ratings, few…

Gender disparities in literacy and numeracy continue to challenge equitable education, especially in linguistically diverse and indigenous communities. In East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, the integration of mother tongue-based instructional models offers a promising approach to address these inequities. While the benefits of mother tongue education…

This study aimed to compare the impact of e-portfolios on the motivation and autonomy of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. Ninety intermediate learners were selected from 120 volunteers at a Tehran Language Institute. They were divided into three groups: two experimental groups using eportfolios and the other using paper-based…

This research explores the integration of critical pedagogy in adult English Language Teaching (ELT) settings through a scoping literature review. The purpose is to map existing studies, identify gaps, and provide an overview of critical pedagogy practices in adult ELT settings. The current paper attempts to answer two research questions. (1) What…

This study investigates the impact of a seven-week extensive reading (ER) program integrated with a blended learning modality (face-to-face and online) on tertiary-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. In a mixed-methods research design, it investigated whether the systematic blended ER program affected learners' reading attitudes…

Many studies have reported language problems faced by international students in cross-cultural study-abroad settings. The present study investigated Chinese international students' linguistic insecurity during their study-abroad in Australia, and the strategies that they deployed to manage this. Based on interviews with ten students from two…

Vocabulary assessment is an important part of measuring language proficiency in both monolingual and bilingual children. The LITMUS Cross-Linguistic Lexical Tasks (CLT) provides a framework for assessing the vocabulary of monolingual and bilingual children using a standardized procedure and comparable stimuli across languages. All language…

This study examines how language planning is deployed to address security concerns. Specifically, in a Foucauldian sense, it problematises the conditions, approaches and contexts of the language planning mechanisms Israel has used to communicate with Arab speakers in Gaza, the West Bank and neighbouring Arab nations, aiming to maintain security…

This study explores the interactions between a white, male, American English teacher and Korean students, focusing on how participants navigate intercultural tensions within the classroom. The analysis of ethnographic data reveals that while the teacher's background facilitates cultural exchange, he faces legitimacy issues and institutional…

In recent years, an increasing body of research has reported the contributions of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to various aspects of second/foreign language (L2) education. However, there is a shortage of evidence on the interplay of AI and teacher-student classroom rapport. To fill this void, this study used a qualitative design…

Language learners around the world are increasingly using applications (apps) to learn second/foreign languages (L2). However, research on the effectiveness of these apps for developing general language proficiency, particularly compared to classroom-based instruction, is still limited. This study examined the L2-English proficiency and lexical…

This autoethnographic research article explores the author's journey from a student from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background to a teacher from a CALD background and then a researcher from a CALD background. The autoethnography unfolds in three interconnected stages, analysed through the lens of Boundary Crossing Theory, which…

Possessive determiners (PDs) "his" and "her" are challenging for L2 learners to acquire, and this difficulty has been attributed to several factors, including negative L1 transfer effects (White et al., 2007). What researchers have not yet considered is how PDs are acquired by learners whose L1 predicts positive transfer…