The relevant studies using a cross sectional view of speech organs supplemented with visuospatial cues and verbal text to explore EFL learners' learning effectiveness and behavior through mobile devices when learning English phonetics are scarce. This study was attempted to investigate whether the presence of visuospatial cues can benefit EFL…

This study investigates the potential of a podcast-based approach aimed at helping foreign language learners improve their pronunciation of features that tend to be fossilised in their interlanguage. Training took place over a period of three weeks in which podcasts were used for perceptual and productive practice as well as for peer evaluation.…

This collaborative research project developed out of an undergraduate German class in an abroad context, which had the goal of assisting students in maximizing their experience through awareness-raising activities including action research. Here we focus on the collaborative action research projects conducted by the students. Each of the five…

An enduring question is whether language learning aptitude is a stable trait or is one influenced by experience, such as living with two languages. We investigated aptitude in bilinguals and treated their bilingual experience as an aggregate of variables, focusing on how individual differences in (a) language experience variables of proficiency,…

This study employed a targeted phonetic instruction to explore the mechanisms that underpin second language (L2) phonetic acquisition. Broadly, two general approaches to phonetic acquisition have been previously proposed. A segmental approach suggests that learners acquire a series of individual, discrete phonemes (e.g., Flege, 1995), while a…

Prior research suggests that viewing still images and iconic gestures depicting concepts facilitates the learning of concrete words in the initial stages of second language (L2) acquisition. To date, however, the effect of viewing iconic gestures and images hasn't been systematically compared to the effect of glosses in the learning and retrieval…

This paper investigates the extent of second language (L2) use in domains belonging to inner speech. The participants consist of 149 highly educated L2-competent sequential Polish-English bilinguals resident in the UK*. The independent variables include acculturation level, social network profile, length of residence, and predicted future…

Junctures are specific phonemes in English language and work like what the traffic lights do in the structures of phrases at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. They indicate both the pauses and continuation in the flow of speech in between or among the utterances some of which can be the…

The article proposes a framework for integrating English as a lingua franca (ELF) research in English language teaching (ELT), predominantly pedagogy, but also teacher education, materials development and evaluation, policy design and planning, assessment and testing. The main concept here is ELF awareness, which orientates a set of principles…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a mother's motivation for providing English education to a young child on the provision of English education and the child's interest in learning English. Also, the mediating role of the type of English education provided (English interaction at home and English private lessons) between a…

There are some factors affecting the development of the speaking skill in the process of learning a foreign language. One of the factors hampering the speaking process is the anxiety state of students. A student who thinks they will make mistakes in classroom activities or while talking to a person speaking that language experiences anxiety at a…

There is a growing body of research recognizing the relationship between learner strategy use and learning proficiency. The need for life-long learners with advanced learning skills and the ability to self-regulate has motivated this deeper exploration of the ways to enhance learner strategy use towards more self-regulated and skilful learners.…

The focal point of most investigations into classroom discourse tends to be on the institutionally sanctioned and legitimized on-task exchanges between teachers and students with particular attention to the I-R-F (initiation-response-follow up/feedback) structure. Liminal spaces of interaction such as during the small talk just before the 'lesson…

Drama courses are widely set up in K-12 education in Western countries, and drama in education promotes both language acquisition and drama acting in the West. Therefore, in the current K-12 education curriculum in China, the practice of offering English drama courses is in line with the needs of students' core competencies development. Drawing on…

Special education policies recognize the need for developing and preserving the heritage languages of individuals with disabilities. Yet there seems to be a disconnect between policy and practice. Should the heritage languages of bilingual individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders be incorporated into interventions? This review evaluated 18…