Near-peer models are well-established within the medical field and the benefits of these models have been demonstrated convincingly by research. However, near-pear practices and research exploring these practices seem to be scarce in humanities and especially in the context of language teaching and learning. With a noticeable disparity in research…

This case study builds on Bourdieu's theory of practice to explore the ways in which two rural lower-class EFL learners--Andy and Xu--developed contrasting digital literacy trajectories in non-instructional and naturalistic settings. This study also seeks to examine how different online literacy trajectories impact rural lower-class students'…

This paper illustrates how spaces were created for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to emotionally engage in traditional Chinese literacy practices in a primary school in Sydney, Australia. The ethnographic data allow insight into how ordinary activities organised around character tracing and writing can…

This article investigates the effect of concept-based instruction (CBI), a pedagogy based on Vygotsky's sociocultural theory, on second language (L2) learners' writing development. A quasi-experimental intervention lasting 16 weeks was conducted involving 88 first-year Chinese university students of English. The participants were assigned to three…

Focusing on English picture books, this study comparatively examined the effects of dialogic reading with empathetic questioning and standard dialogic reading on the reading outcomes of elementary school students. It evaluated eye movement metrics and measured reading comprehension among 54 fifth-grade elementary school students in China. By…

The increasing use of digital platforms in education has opened new avenues for peer interaction, particularly in the realm of language learning. This study explores the role of informal peer feedback on reflective blog posts in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. Drawing on sociocultural theory and the concept of dialogic…

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots, such as ChatGPT and ERNIE Bot, are documented to influence student learning experience and student engagement. However, factors affecting student engagement in GenAI chatbots learning context are less understood. Self-determination theory (SDT) suggests student basic needs…

This study investigates the role of Write & Improve, an Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) tool, in fostering autonomous learning among EFL students. Additionally, it examines students' perceptions of AWE as a tool for enhancing writing proficiency. Adopting a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 53 students enrolled in an English…

This study explores the effectiveness of a curriculum designed to teach the Simple Past Tense to high school preparatory students within a communicative and student-centered framework. The participants were 24 male students, aged between 14 and 15, all possessing A2-level English proficiency. Through a combination of pre- and post-tests, the study…

English Language MOOCs (LMOOCs) employ multimodal resources to enhance second language learners' engagement and motivation. This study examined the multimodal instructional discourse in English LMOOCs in a Chinese MOOC platform, focusing on the rhetorical relations between the linguistic mode, termed verbiage, and two non-linguistic modes, namely…

This study examined the effectiveness of teaching phoneme categorization and segmentation to EFL underachievers using songs and rhymes as instructional materials. Two distinct groups of 11th-grade EFL underachievers from Taiwan participated in this quasi-experimental study. The instructional materials consisted of lyrics sourced from online…

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is actively involved in many areas of contemporary society. As in many other fields, it has pioneered a significant transformation in language education. As today's preservice teachers will shape the future, it is crucial to understand their attitudes toward using AI in language classrooms. Hence, this study aims to…

This research was conducted to investigate AI integration in the development and evaluation of English oral communication skills, within both academic and professional practices. This study used a mixed-methods design, combining data from a quasi-experiment with qualitative data collected through interviews with students and instructors. Results…

Using Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory as a theoretical framework, this study explores the relationships between gender stereotypes and language learning experiences, particularly in the context of learning English as a foreign language (EFL). It aims to provide a better understanding of the role of gender stereotypes in the language…

Starting from a justification of explicit approaches to grammar teaching, this article discusses grammar materials used within a hybrid learning context at the Open University in the United Kingdom and the cognitive principles reflected in their design. The authors argue that as part of a socio-cognitive theoretical approach, explicit…