This study suggests a conceptual framework for policy-driven test development and validation, using the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) as an example context. By linking the literature on policy analysis and argument structure in the validation of testing, the strong relationships between policy and testing are illustrated. This rationalizes…

Purpose: Students of mixed-ability learning together in one class is a challenge for all educators, especially in English as foreign language (EFL) contexts. Timed reading activity (TRA) is an activity that can help educators address the learning needs of students in such a context. The present study investigated the effectiveness of the TRA in…

The present research examines the effects of a number of factors on crosslinguistic influence (CLI) in bilin' third language (L3) writing. The main focus is on the levels of adapted and non-adapted loan words as illustrative of CLI. A quantitative analysis explores the impact of typology and proficiency in the target and the source-languages.…

Scholars in our profession have long called attention to the gap between language classes and upper-level content courses. Some current trends, such as decolonizing the curriculum and using the lens of social justice, are highlighting an additional gap, which they perceive in students' preparedness to deal justly with an unjust world. This article…

The current study used a drama technique to teach a speaking course to second-level English Department students. The primary goal of language learning is to be able to communicate effectively in the target language with excellent self-confidence. The research was conducted using an action research methodology within a qualitative research…

The present study examines the development of second language (L2) vocabulary in writing comparing two different learning contexts, formal instruction (FI) at home followed by a 3-month stay abroad (SA). Data were obtained from a group of 30 Catalan/Spanish advanced learners of English before and after each learning period by means of a written…

Contribution: This study examines the influence of English as the medium of instruction (EMI) in the engineering college of a public university in a non-native English-speaking country, Saudi Arabia. The study analyzes alumni grade-point average (GPA) records and their English proficiency levels at the first year according to their transcripts.…

High stakes test-based accountability systems primarily rely on aggregates and derivatives of scores from tests that were originally developed to measure individual student proficiency in subject areas such as math, reading/language arts, and now English language proficiency. Current validity models do not explicitly address this use of aggregate…

This dissertation contributes new data to the debate on the source and manner of transfer in third language (L3) acquisition. The "L1 Status Factor" (L1SF, e.g., Hermas, 2010; Leung, 2002; Lozano-Pozo, 2003) maintains that the transfer source is the native language (L1), whereas the "L2 Status Factor" (L2SF, Bardel & Falk,…

The literature on students' perceptions towards using Social Media (SM) for language learning reports mixed findings: while some studies indicate learners' positive perceptions of their use for academic purposes (e.g., Bani-Hani et al.), others suggest that learners' perceptions might vary due to their proficiency in the language (e.g., Gamble…

This study aims to investigate performances and strategies of EFL graduate students in terms of language proficiency, language background and type of writing task. The participants were 12 graduate students pursuing their doctoral studies in ELT at a Turkish university. A chosen text was used for data collection and the students' paraphrased texts…

The purposes of this exploratory case study were twofold: (1) to understand the strengths and challenges teachers experienced when designing and delivering language interpretation tasks for use with second- and third-grade bilingual students, and (2) to ascertain what teachers perceived to be the benefits and drawbacks of the instructional…

The potential of games to support language learning and acquisition -- be it in the digital wilds or in the foreign language classroom -- has often been discussed. In this article, I will look at digital games from an explicitly plurilingual perspective. I describe five existing games that demonstrate a plurilingual outlook (Romanica, MElang-E,…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of the vocabulary subsection of a high-stakes university entrance exam for Ph.D. programs using the argument-based approach. All the three different versions of the test administered in a period of five years and the responses of 12,500 test-takers were studied. The study focused on four…

This article reports on a longitudinal, quasi-experimental comparison of two English language development (ELD) models implemented from kindergarten through Grade 3 to support oral English language development among Spanish-speaking English language learners (ELLs). Specifically, the study examined oral English language proficiency among students…