This exploratory qualitative study intended to deepen understandings of learners' desires for English, the images they associate with the English language, and what these might suggest for an English curriculum. To do so, the study investigated the perspectives of southwestern Nicaraguan residents about the growing presence of English and English…

This study investigates students' motivation in college English learning under production-oriented approach by means of a questionnaire. Forty students in their first-year study participated in this survey. They came from four different disciplines: electronic engineering, automatic engineering, mechanic engineering and power engineering. They…

While regular reflection has been found to be a key practice in agile software development, the use of learning journals in computer information systems (CIS) education has yet to be studied systematically. Learning journals are writing-to-learn interventions that use writing as a medium to facilitate metacognition. A randomized controlled trial…

The L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) has been widely researched and used to explain L2 learners' motivational behaviors. However, important factors such as language learning anxiety, self-efficay and possible family influence need to be scrutizized in relation to L2MSS in order to expand our understanding of the second language learning…

Education is an ever evolving system, taking cues from past success to help educate future generations. With so many different views and influences contributing to modern education standards, it can be easy to lose the sight of where education should go and what it should be achieving. Education is thought to benefit more than the individual, it…

This study explores the pedagogical use of "Astronautes Français Langue Seconde (Astronautes FLS)", a cooperative digital game, in second/foreign language (L2) French teaching. It has two goals: (1) to introduce "Astronautes FLS" and its conceptualization, and (2) to report the results of a feasibility study in which we…

Motivational strategies help students attain the goals of learning a language and determine their ultimate success. Since motivation is a personal phenomenon, there are different ways to motivate each student. However, there is a scant body of literature on the potential usefulness of these strategies to Turkish students learning English language.…

This study explored the self-directed approaches to learning that young adults in Egypt pursue after college graduation through examination of their motivations for learning as well as the influence of the tools of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on their self-directed learning experiences. Using a mixed method design, a total of…

Learning English in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) can be a challenging experience. Nevertheless, being proficient in English language guarantees better job opportunities in various fields and thus learners need to acquire an acceptable level of proficiency. Recognizing its significant role in the learners' academic and professional excellence,…

This article discusses a quantitative study, gamification and motivation to learn math using technology which focused on gathering information to answer the questions "Can gamification motivate students toward learning mathematics?" Gamification, a method used to describe the use of game-based mechanics in nongame contexts, can influence…

The first step for teachers to be efficacious in teaching self-regulated learning (SRL) in their classroom(s) is to have clear understandings of what constitutes SRL and when to use it. This study examined how K-12 teachers (N = 128, 73% female, predominantly Caucasian) define SRL and identify students with deficient SRL by examining their…

For learners, it can be difficult to imagine how to perform a complex skill based on textual information from solely a text-based analytic rubric. Rubrics lack (1) the contextual information needed to convey real-world attributes (2) the dynamic information (such as gesturing in the complex skill of presenting) (3) the procedural information…

The present study proposed and tested a revision of the self-guides outlined in the L2 motivational self system (Dörnyei, 2005, 2009). Covering the previous conceptualization and measurement issues, ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self were bifurcated by own and other standpoints, and reoperationalized based on the fundamental tenets of…

The activity described in this article is a concept created by the author while watching a lip-syncing show. While doing this lip-sync activity in her English language class, she has found that they motivate learners to understand a listening text, support pronunciation practice, and--perhaps most importantly--allow learners to have fun while…

What is "productive giftedness" and why does it matter in talent development? Using the Productive Giftedness Model, the current study examines key environmental and psychosocial factors that influence productive outcomes (e.g., achievements, accomplishments, leadership, eminence). Defined as mastery and excellence, the "productive…