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This paper reports a case study focusing on naturalistic communication between a Chinese beginning non-native speaker of English (NNS) and an English native speaker (NS). The participants engage informally in a form of tandem learning, with each in turn taking the dominant role in the conversation through teaching the other vocabulary items in their L1 (English and Chinese). The study sheds light on some of the conversational and linguistic features of the autonomous Chinese beginner's construction of English conversation. From the conversational patterns identified, we conclude that: (1) NS-beginner NNS conversation works best when it follows a tight turn-by-turn structure; (2) the beginner's initiation of insertion sequences and overlapping can expand conversation; and (3) both beginner NNS and NS need to make great efforts to complete question-answer adjacency pairs in order to manage the conversation. The study also highlighted how a focus on the beginner's L1 enabled them to take greater control in the conversation, despite their very limited L2 speaking ability. In these sections of NNS-dominant communication, the L2 beginner demonstrated greater language creativity. This study has implications for how NS-NNS communication might be facilitated in English-immersion contexts as well as project implications for autonomous learners and teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed communicative language education to assist a subset of a public school in Tondo, Manila, Philippines, especially the Junior High School Grade 7 students, in improving their Englishspeaking abilities. The researchers used the Direct Teaching Method to conduct a teaching and learning process (Pre-test). The students were then given a speaking test. Following the pre-test, the researchers started the teaching-learning process by teaching Communicative Language. After two months of using the communicative language education strategy, the researcher repeated the speaking test (posttest). Compiling the data and calculating the speaking test scores. The following statistical instruments were applied to the data collected for analysis and interpretation: t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances, Weighted Mean, Frequency and Percent Distribution, Standard Deviation, One-Way ANOVA [Single Factor], and the findings of the pre-test and post-test show a considerable improvement in the selected students' speaking ability. Task-based learning is excellent for cultivating language ability because it allows students to participate in natural conversation. The task-based approach gives learners a natural setting in which to utilize language. There are several opportunities for interaction while students try to finish an assignment. Such engagement is said to help with language development since it forces students to converse with one another and articulate their meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the impact of dynamic assessment (DA) on the development of speaking skills, a case study was conducted, recruiting a non-English major undergraduate. DA was constructed following the design combining sandwich and cake format with an interactionist approach. To collect data, a profile was designed in accordance with the China's Standards of English Language Ability (CSE) to record the learner's changes. A semi-structured interview was conducted to reveal his perspectives on DA. The generated profile with specific mediator-learner's moves revealed the learner's microgenetic development in both organizational knowledge and oral expression strategy ability. The thematic analysis of the interview demonstrated the learner's positive experience with DA, while also unveiling the weak points of DA. Finally, the operational framework for applying interactionist DA in the oral classroom was discussed, and the complementary relationship between DA and traditional teaching and testing practices was highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing the lack of English tests that measure critical thinking (CT) abilities of EFL learners, this study aims to develop an English Critical Thinking Test (ECTT) designed to measure the consistency, analysis, and inference CT skills. It is a follow-up to a pilot study to accumulate validity evidence for the use of the ECTT. A total of 262 Japanese EFL learners who were first-year college students took the ECTT, a Japanese Critical Thinking Test (JCTT), and an English proficiency test (EPT). The result of the internal structures of ECTT and JCTT revealed that both CT tests fit two-factor models better than three-factor models, with consistency as one factor and analysis and inference as the other factor. This implies that it is difficult to measure the CT skills' hierarchical nature. However, the model that included the three tests fit the data well and indicated moderately high correlations between the ECTT and EPT (r =.64) and between the ECTT and JCTT (r =.55). In addition, we confirmed that the skills that test-takers needed most in solving questions in each of the three CT sections (i.e., consistency, analysis, and inference CT skills) of the ECTT were as intended. Based on these findings, the validation of the ECTT has been improved; ECTT can be used for EFL learners at upper secondary and university levels in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted with the title Analysis of the second semester students' ability of the English Education Study Program in understanding reading texts. The purpose of this research is to examine the students' ability to understand the text. This study uses a qualitative method. The population used is the second semester students of HKBP Nommensen Pematangsiantar University for the 2020/2021 academic year. The sample taken is 32 people. The research data were collected from the given text. During the test, 30 questions were given. The type of test given is an objective test. After collecting the data, the writer then analyzed the students' scores. From these students, it was found that almost all students could not understand the text. There are 19 students (59.37%) who score below 65 and that makes them still need more attention than to help them improve their ability to understand the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research explored the effect of learning a model of critical discourse analysis (CDA) on the performance of university students' reading comprehension across different levels of proficiency. Through Oxford Placement Test, 96 EFL undergraduates participating in this study were divided into three various levels of language proficiency. A journalistic reading comprehension test selected from a series of TOEFL tests were administered to all of them as a pretest. They received the same test after a treatment of van Dijk's model instruction in the class. The analysis of results of the posttest through one-way ANCOVA showed that CDA positively affects learners' reading comprehension. Then, a post hoc comparison applying the Bonferroni test clarified that the highly proficient group performed significantly different from the low and mid proficiency groups. Also, the mid proficiency group significantly differed from the low one. Taken together, these findings suggested that CDA training had an effect on L2 learners' reading comprehension for high and mid groups. So proficiency of the language learners has a direct role in the extent to which boosting knowledge on a model of critical discourse analysis can promote students' reading comprehension ability. The outcome of this research can inspire the curriculum designers as well as the teachers to include critical discourse analysis techniques not only in teacher training courses but also in language learners' textbooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is conducted to determine if academic self-efficacy and English language competency are correlated. Survey instruments on academic self-efficacy and English language competencies were administered to 221 college freshmen. Academic self-efficacy and English language competencies composed of vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension were determined using the mean, while the Kruskal Wallis test was used for differences and the Chi-square Test for relationships. Significant differences were evident in the level of academic self-efficacy and the level of English language competencies when grouped according to program enrolled and academic self-efficacy is significantly related to the English language competency of college freshmen. Future research will be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reading contributes to vocabulary development and is regarded as an efficient pedagogical approach to vocabulary learning. Through reading, learners are exposed to new words in their rightful context of use. This study investigates the effects of input enhancements on incidental academic word learning through reading English academic texts among English as a Second Language (ESL) undergraduates. The study compares different input conditions, gloss, contextual clue and no clue. Twelve academic words from Coxhead's Academic Word List (AWL) were selected as the target words for this study. Three vocabulary tests were employed to assess academic words learnt incidentally from the texts in terms of their form, meaning recognition and ability to recall. Seventy-nine proficient and less proficient Malaysian ESL undergraduates participated in this study. Findings revealed that proficient participants recognised more target words compared to less proficient participants. In addition, gloss increases the noticeability of the target words, at least at the form recognition level. The study's findings suggest that input enhancement would better impact vocabulary learning if integrated into a reading task or facilitated by vocabulary learning instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to determine the need for English reading teaching materials for Vocational High School students majoring in Fashion Design, and to determine the need for English reading skills in the world of work. Data were obtained from questionnaires and interviews. The subjects studied were students of SMK Rahmatutoyibah Gunung Kaler, grade X majoring in Fashion Design, and grade X English teaching materials for SMK. This research was conducted with a mixed-method design. The data were collected through questionnaires and structured interviews. This questionnaire is based on the SMK English learning curriculum. The results of this study indicate that Vocational High School students majoring in fashion need teaching materials that are by their majors, namely reading materials related to the fashion department as well as material that introduces a lot of the industrial world and can support the field they are engaged in. Furthermore, Grade X Vocational School students majoring in Fashion Design need English reading learning media to encourage easy understanding of English reading material, namely media in the form of interesting and contemporary digital applications. Furthermore, the need for the world of work for their English reading skills requires skilled workers who have good English reading skills, which include the ability to read manual books, the ability to read company regulations, the ability to read travel documents, the ability to read English messages, the ability to reading notes, the ability to read e-mails, the ability to read employment contracts, and the ability to read cooperation agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher beliefs affect choices of methods, representations of learning, and classroom practice, and are important in understanding primary EFL teaching in France, where language teaching has been a compulsory subject entrusted to generalist class teachers for 20 years. This quantitative study explores questionnaire data from 254 primary teachers, associating teacher beliefs and classroom practice. With respect to views of language teaching and learning, the study reveals a three-way division of teachers between grammar-oriented teaching (PPP), communicative-language teaching (CLT), and 'sceptical' teachers. The PPP (n = 72) group employed the smallest range of teaching activities and rarely taught older pupils. The CLT group (n = 60) tended to have higher English proficiency and more in-service training and offered the widest range of oral activities. The sceptical group (n = 85) took no strong theoretical position, had lower English proficiency, and focused on listening and speaking skills. We found no correlation between teacher age and language learning beliefs or teaching practices. However, teachers who offered a wider range of activities in any of the five competences tended to have more in-service training and higher English proficiency. Further correlations were found between oral language teaching and technology integration, and written language teaching and teaching experience. The paper concludes with links to previous teacher cognition research and suggestions for teacher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a latent profile analysis, we attempted to categorize Ghanaian pre-service teachers according to the levels of their English language linguistic challenges and to investigate how these challenges relate to their teaching self-efficacy beliefs. A sequential mixed method approach was adopted, surveying 300 participants and followed by eight interviews. We found that speaking skills were the most challenging for the participants. Qualitative results revealed that the participants have limited vocabulary, difficulty in developing coherent paragraphs, challenges with pronunciation, inadequate orthographic knowledge, and grammatical challenges. We observed that the higher the participants' linguistic challenges, the lower their self-efficacy beliefs. • A latent profile analysis of pre-service teachers' EMI linguistic challenges. • Pre-service teachers were categorized into four profiles according to the levels of their linguistic challenges. • Productive English language skills pose the greatest challenge to participants. • Participants with higher linguistic challenges reported lower teacher self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore English as a foreign language (EFL) students' classroom relationships (i.e., teacher-student relationships and peer relationships) and understand how these relationships contribute to English language proficiency between boys and girls. This paper discussed and highlighted the mediating role of self-regulated learning (SRL) strategy use. Self-report questionnaires with 436 4th-5th graders were adopted in a Chinese cultural context. Results of MANOVA revealed that there were generally no gender differences in teacher-student relationships and peer relationships. However, girls tended to use more SRL strategies (i.e., metacognitive and social strategies) than boys, while boys reported a higher level of English language proficiency than girls. Importantly, results from Multi-Group Structural Equation Modelling (MGSEM) suggested that the mediation effects of SRL strategy use between classroom relationships and English language proficiency were significantly different between boys and girls. Specifically, while boys' teacher-student relationships predicted their English language proficiency through metacognitive SRL strategy use, girls' English language proficiency was influenced by their peer relationships through the mediation of metacognitive SRL strategy use. Implications for classroom instructions and EFL teachers to promote boys' and girls' English language learning through classroom relationships and SRL strategy use in a Chinese cultural context are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to identify the different student-related and teacher-related factors that influence the English language proficiency of freshmen students enrolled in the College of Education of a university in the Province of Bulacan for School Year 2018 - 2019. It looked into their level of proficiency as to gender, tracks and strands, type of school, honors received and language exposure. It also identified four (4) teacher-related factors like gender, educational attainment, teaching experiences and teaching styles. The descriptive correlational research method was employed. There were three (3) standardized instruments used in gathering the necessary data. Mean, Pearson r, and Multiple Regression Analysis were used to generate the findings of the study. The findings revealed that the freshmen education students' English language proficiency level is at Intermediate level. It also revealed that gender, track and strand, type of school, and honors received do not significantly influence the students' proficiency level. However, some language exposure indicators revealed an influence in varying extent. The study also revealed two (2) teacher-related factors are influential and these are teaching experience and teaching styles. Gender and educational attainment of the teachers were found correlated but not to a significant extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author offers insights on a study published within the issue which focused on the language policy for non-native English language-speaking international teaching assistants (ITA) at the University of Minnesota. Topics discussed include the evolution of the English language proficiency requirements for teaching purposes, the ideologies regarding language and education that need to be acknowledged by higher education administrators, and the observed decline in popular publications about ITA.

The author offers insights on a study published within the issue which focused on the language policy for non-native English language-speaking international teaching assistants (ITA) at the University of Minnesota. Topics discussed include the concerns of U.S. colleges and universities with regard to the teaching ability of ITA in the English language, the materiality perspective on the teaching practices of ITA, and the cultural issues regarding communication skills and teaching quality.

The computerized adaptive tests (CAT) apply an adaptive process in which the items are tailored to individuals' ability scores. The multidimensional CAT (MCAT) designs differ in terms of different item selection, ability estimation, and termination methods being used. This study aims at investigating the performance of the MCAT designs used to measure the language ability of students and to compare the results of MCAT designs with the outcomes of corresponding paper–pencil tests. For this purpose, items in the English Proficiency Tests (EPT) were used to create a multi-dimensional item pool that consists of 599 items. The performance of the MCAT designs was evaluated and compared based on the reliability coefficients, root means square error (RMSE), test-length, and root means squared difference (RMSD) statistics, respectively. Therefore, 36 different conditions were investigated in total. The results of the post-hoc simulation designs indicate that the MCAT designs with the A-optimality item selection method outperformed MCAT designs with other item selection methods by decreasing the test length and RMSD values without any sacrifice in test reliability. Additionally, the best error variance stopping rule for each MCAT algorithm with A-optimality item selection could be considered as 0.25 with 27.9 average test length and 30 items for the fixed test-length stopping rule for the Bayesian MAP method. Overall, MCAT designs tend to decrease the test length by 60 to 65 percent and provide ability estimations with higher precision compared to the traditional paper–pencil tests with 65 to 75 items. Therefore, it is suggested to use the A-optimality method for item selection and the Bayesian MAP method for ability estimation for the MCAT designs since the MCAT algorithm with these specifications shows better performance than others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims at illustrating the importance of applying Suggestopedia as a contemporary method in teaching and learning the English language skills: Writing and Speaking at Schools of Excellence in Iraq. The method is a quantitative analytical one in which categories data are done of Yes - No questions with the type of questionnaire that is held in Wasit Province - Wasit Educational Directorate in Preparatory Stage of Wasit School of Excellence - Boys only in the year 2022. The statistical methods are used Chia-square, T-test, and F-test to get the analysis that Suggestopedia is the salient for creation, innovation, and progress in learning and teaching the English language skills: writing and speaking as the ratios of (0.05), (3.0322865-13), and (0.034) of the calculated and scheduled values, The values have reflected initiation, willingness, eagerness, and keenness to apply the method in School of Excellence urgently as students' views have clarified consequently. Also, the study infers and finds out that students are understanding, comprehending, and recognizing that the contemporary methods are so important in learning the English language skills: writing and speaking as the hypotheses have shown significance, salience, and importance of such assets to be carried out by teachers and instructors with its factors and principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher education students in English medium instruction in non English-dominant countries use L2 to share ideas and demonstrate learning thorough the medium of English and are often required to enhance their ability to communicate in this language while studying. However, the conditions provided for these students in university courses may or may not be conducive to the development of their skills to effectively communicate in speech in academic contexts. This exploratory study presents preliminary results of a larger research project, conducted to design, implement and evaluate a theoretically-driven, genre-based L2 speaking course for academic communication. Drawing on skill acquisition theory and activity theory, in order to understand how aspects of the learning activity enable or hinder the development of genre-based L2 speaking, this study captures the experiences of ten participants – Polish undergraduate English Philology students – with various facets of the course. The results bring to the fore the teaching and learning strategies that the students most value and most frequently use within their educational context. Additionally, the study, being part of a broader design-based research project, offers draft principles for course design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proficiency in English politeness is an invaluable tool in maintaining effective communication. Differences in beliefs, culture and customs, values and norms exist between English and other languages. Non-native English speakers encounter difficulties when making apologies and greetings in the language. The research examined politeness of English and Tshivenda apologies and greetings. The research paper adopted a qualitative research approach designed to build a holistic narrative description concerning social or cultural phenomenon. Formal and informal interviews were carried out ethnographically to collect data from selected 15 historical experts at Phawe, Zoutpansberg in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Data were quantified, simplified, organised, and interpreted using an 'emic' approach because they were interpreted from the perspective of the population under study. The research found that some Vhavenda people could narrate stories around politeness in their society. The research recommends the continuous practice of apologies and greetings to preserve the Vhavenda culture and custom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vlogging can help language learners to practice and improve their speaking skills. The objectives of the research are to explore the non-English students' perception and their problems of making an "English Vlog" project at ITB AAS Indonesia in the academic year 2020/2021. This research applies the quantitative method. The analysis shows that most students strongly agree that speaking is the most challenging skill. But, they agree that the English vlog is an interesting and fun task in English class in making them dare to speak in English. The topic/theme of "My Description" is interesting. Before, most students prepare a draft before recording an English vlog and prepare by writing an Indonesian draft first. They do the exercises repeatedly to get the best result with more than five times in making an English vlog. But, the students also face problems in making English vlogs. Most students having difficulty in grammar when speaking English. Most students use a phone in recording their vlogs and they do not use additional devices when recording English vlogs. The audio and video quality on their device affects their vlog quality. Besides, most students have technical problems in light conditions. They are easily distracted by their surroundings, lose concentration, feeling bored, feeling insecure when recording a vlog in front of the camera, and fear when making mistakes during speaking English. Through this vlogging, the students can improve their speaking skills in a more fun way, practice expressing themselves, increase self-confidence, and follow trends in the digital era. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confronted with the challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic, students, teachers, educators and other stakeholders have to make the best of online learning from home and look at ways of optimizing remote learning experience. Embedded in the nature of inclusive schooling and organized in a specific public secondary school in Victoria, Australia, this study explores the effectiveness of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) on English as an additional language (EAL) students' online learning proficiency. The research findings indicate that in the discipline of EAL, with the assistance of multiple means of representation, expression and engagement as well as a range of information-communication technologies (ICTs), UDL has positive effects on students' academic performance and can trigger their positive attitudes towards online learning experience. This sheds light on the feasibility of improving remote learning quality and promoting inclusive online schooling that engages every student via the implementation of UDL integrated with different assistive technologies, which can be summarized as that UDL is one of the possible solutions to online learning that affords ample opportunities or more precisely, technical promises for the implementation of UDL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Framed within the perspective of Vygotskyan sociocultural theory and models of third language learning, this study examined the impact of differing linguistic backgrounds and learning experience on the nature of dyadic interaction during task completion in the divide between true L2 and L3 learners. It was conducted in an EFL classroom with eight leaners of English as first and eight learners of English as second foreign language after French. Their measured English proficiency corresponded to A2 level. They were presented with two similar grammar-based tasks on sessions 11 and 12 with different pairing configurations and an isomorphic version of both tasks on session 13 to be completed individually. Data from pair talks and individual performances were analyzed in three stages to: a) find the major factors distinguishing the quality of interactions, b) compare the quality of L2ers and L3ers' interactions when they were matched or mixed, and c) examine the learning benefits of the interactions across L2ers and L3ers in terms of transferring knowledge from interactions to their subsequent individual productions. The findings indicated a role for linguistic background in mediating the nature of pair interactions and shaping dyadic relationships by impacting L2ers and L3ers' perception of each other's proficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines university students' perceptions of their motivation, attitude, and self-efficacy in online English proficiency classes. Existing research indicate that these individual differences directly affect learning especially during the period of online instructions; as students may suffer from the feeling of isolation and loneliness, being far away from an immediate learning community. A set of questionnaire score was created from the adaptation of five existing surveys to measure the individual differences. It was distributed to 270 participants via convenient sampling at a university in Malaysia. The results of this study demonstrate the students' perception of a strong self-efficacy of their digital and technical ability in managing, completing, and submitting English language tasks via online medium. Relatedly, students perceive a high positive attitude and decent motivation for online English learning. Furthermore, the students demonstrate a preference for a synchronous session, which is linked to forming a community of learners as an academic support system. The findings are discussed in relation to human factors and pedagogy. It considers students' needs for engaging sessions, and teachers' limitations in creating content while emphasising creative and fun language activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although most international students arrive with required language qualifications, many struggle with the linguistic demands of their programmes. This study explored whether the test-preparation industry undermines the qualifications with which students arrive. English proficiency of 153 Chinese student in the UK was tested on the Duolingo English Test and a C-test. Students who attended IELTS-coaching programmes scored lower on both measures compared to students who met entry requirements without such help. Furthermore, the number of attempts to achieve a particular IELTS score was negatively correlated with the other English proficiency scores on arrival. The results confirm that coaching, and to some extent repeated test-taking, boost IELTS scores without generalising to other proficiency measures. The effects were, however, small so that despite the observed inflation, IELTS scores were a reliable predictor of academic success: the rise of one IELTS band resulted in the average grade increase of 9 and 4 points (out of 100) in linguistically more and less demanding disciplines, respectively. The results underscore the important role that language plays in study success, and show that many international students get accepted with levels of English that limit their academic achievement. The test-preparation industry contributes in part to this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of National Education / Millî Eğitim Dergisi is the property of Milli Egitim Bakanligi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of HOW: A Colombian Journal for Teachers of English is the property of Asociacion Colombiana de Profesores de Ingles and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Speaking a foreign language is a complicated process that involves linguistic competence, skills, and strategy use. Communicating through English in English for Academic Purposes courses is a basic requirement for EFL learners, but it can be a challenge. To improve the quality of speech, strengthen components of speaking competence, and raise learner awareness of metacognition, Goh and Burns (2012) propose an integrated pedagogical approach featuring a teaching cycle for developing and assessing students' speaking. The present study accordingly aimed to test how far the teaching-speaking cycle was able to develop low-intermediate Taiwanese EFL university students' speaking ability. Sixty university students participated in the study, which employed a quasi-experimental design. The Experimental Group (EG) received Goh and Burns' integrated pedagogical approach for 18 weeks, whereas the Control Group (CG) simply practiced speaking as regular in-class activities. Speaking tests and questionnaires were used. The results showed that the EG adopted the rehearsal and social strategies more frequently than the CG. In the case of speaking performance, the EG students steadily improved their speaking ability through the semester. The speaking performance of the CG students, however, was limited. A close inspection of the scores revealed marked improvements in particular speaking components for the EG participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the relationship between a large-scale and high-stakes English test and test takers' learning behavior. Specifically, it explored whether and how the National Matriculation English Test (NMET) influenced test takers' extracurricular English learning activities under the Chinese Mainland educational context. Based on Bandura's triadic reciprocal determinism theory, this study proposed a distal mediation model and employed covariance-based Structural Equation Modeling to test the model. The data were collected via a cross-sectional survey with 470 test takers. The results showed that test takers' perceptions of the examination exerted direct and indirect effects on their extracurricular English learning activities, and that test takers' perceived self-efficacy for self-regulated learning and academic achievement were two important factors mediating the relationship between their perceptions of the test and extracurricular learning. Furthermore, test takers' perceptions of the exam-approaching have diverse moderating effects on different mediation effects. This study suggests that introducing the triadic reciprocal determinism theory helps understand how an examination influences learning. It also highlights the role of test takers' perceptions of an examination and their perceived self-efficacy in predicting a test's impact on learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we make the case for Shared Language Erosion as a potential explanation for the negative outcomes described in the immigrant paradox for second- and third- generation immigrants (e.g., declines in physical, mental, and behavioral health). While not negating the important role of cultural adaptation, we posit that parent-child communication difficulties due to a process we are calling Shared Language Erosion is driving the observed affects previously attributed to changes in cultural values and beliefs. Shared Language Erosion is the process during which adolescents improve their English skills while simultaneously losing or failing to develop their heritage language; at the same time their parents acquire English at a much slower rate. This lack of a common shared language makes it difficult for parents and their adolescent children to effectively communicate with each other, and leads to increased parent-child conflict, reduced parental competence, aggravated preexisting flaws in parent-child attachment, and increased adolescent vulnerability to deviant peer influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author offers insights on a study published within the issue which focused on the language policy for non-native English language-speaking international teaching assistants (ITA) at the University of Minnesota. Topics discussed include the English language proficiency tests that universities tend to administer to ITA, the assessment of the university teaching competence of concerned ITA, and the costs associated with extending the language proficiency assessment policy to all teachers.

Registered Migration Agents (RMAs), the practitioners who assist with Australian visa applications and appeals, play a crucial role in navigating these complex legal procedures. RMAs' registration requirements, including those relating to English language proficiency (ELP), have thus garnered much attention, leading to government-commissioned reviews and inquiries, and amendments to regulations. The most recent changes have attracted scrutiny by the Australian Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights, due to the unequal burden to prove ELP placed on different applicants based on their backgrounds. However, these new requirements ultimately came into force without the government satisfying the Committee that they were human rights-compliant. This article examines the most recent ELP rules for RMAs and the Immigration Minister's justifications for these. Drawing on sociolinguistic scholarship, it finds that rules requiring general ELP tests, and categorically exempting certain applicants from testing, rely on problematic assumptions about the nature of language, and are therefore unnecessarily discriminatory. Given the government aims to ensure specific communicative competencies within the migration advice setting, the analysis concludes that these specific competencies should be the focus of any required assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the profile of language abilities in a sample of high‐achieving English speaking adults with developmental disorders. Ninety‐seven adult participants were recruited: 49 with a dyslexia diagnosis (dyslexic group), 16 with a diagnosis of a different developmental disorder including dyspraxia, autism and SpLD (non‐dyslexic developmental disorder group) and 32 with no diagnosis (non‐disordered group). Dyslexic and non‐dyslexic developmental disorder groups demonstrated similar impairments across measures of word reading, working memory, processing speed and oral language. Dyslexic participants showed the usual pattern of impaired phonological skills but spared non‐verbal intelligence and vocabulary. There were also some suggestions of impaired structural oral language skills in this group. A data‐driven clustering analysis found that diagnosis was not a reliable predictor of similarity between cases, with diagnostic categories split between data‐driven clusters. Overall, the findings indicate that high‐achieving adults with developmental disorders do demonstrate impairments that are likely to affect success in higher education, but that support needs should be assessed on a case‐by‐case basis, rather than according to diagnostic label. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International education constitutes a key industry in Australia and international students represent a third of university students at Australian universities. This paper examines the media representation of international students in terms of their English language proficiency. The study applies Critical Discourse Analysis to the multimodal data of an episode of a current affairs TV program, Four Corners, and social media comments made to the episode. Using Social Actor Analysis, the study finds that the responsibility for declining standards at universities is assigned to international students through representations of their language use as problematic. This is supported by the visual representation of international students as different. By systematically mapping out the English-as-a-problem discourse, the paper finds that the media representation of language proficiency and language learning is simplistic and naïve and the social media discussion reinforces this. This further contributes to the discursive exclusion of international students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern, globalised world English language has an important role as a means of communication. The use of language in business environment facilitates communication and economic efficiency. Global language survey, carried out in 2013 in 60 countries worldwide, links English language proficiency to economic and social development (ICEF Monitor, 2014). Results of the survey indicate that the countries with higher levels of English language proficiency have stronger economies and higher per capita income levels, and thus a better quality of life. Nevertheless, due to globalisation process and the Internet, the role of English has changed in so far as English proficiency is not only an economic advantage but also a basic skill needed for the entire workforce (ICEF Monitor, 2014). The aim of this paper is to give an insight into attitudes of students of economics and business economics on the significance of English in the business environment. The paper analyses differences in students' attitudes in relation to the gender and the year of study. For that purpose, the research was carried out among the students enrolled in undergraduate study programmes at the Department of Economics and Business Economics. As the research instrument, the Questionnaire "English in Business Environment" has been applied. The research results indicate that the participants consider English language to be an important factor in economy and their future business environment. There were no statistically significant differences relating to gender while some statistically significant differences for the year of study have been found. This paper suggests further research based on a contextspecific approach, to be carried out in other educational contexts, encompassing different study programmes and levels of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the influence of certain academic and demographic variables upon the academic performance of Chinese students enrolled in a cooperative Bachelor's degree program in Pure and Applied Mathematics. The program is English taught and jointly organised by Jiangsu University, China and Arcadia University, USA. Data from a sample of 166 students is processed using inferential and path analysis, as well as mathematical modelling. As evidenced by the inferential and path analysis, no steady improvement in the English proficiency of students has been observed, while the latter has been found to be influenced by gender and to strongly influence academic performance in Mathematics courses. The effects of negative social influences are assessed via a qualitative analysis of the mathematical model. Threshold quantities similar to the basic reproduction number of mathematical epidemiology have been found to be stability triggers. Possible interventional measures are discussed based on these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent developments concerning the use of foreign languages in the academic world have strongly favoured English, which has become the preferred medium for international communication in many contexts. This spread of English as a lingua franca has had relevant implications for teaching and research purposes, due to the need for a common language for the development of specialised communication at a global level. This paper investigates the present globalising phenomenon in the academia, highlighting not only its recent trends but also the main problems that these recent developments have created. The first part of the paper explores the globalising effects of the use of English as a lingua franca in the world of research and the complex nature of its linguistic realisations, highlighting both homogenising and localising trends. The second part of the paper is devoted to the analysis of another phenomenon which is quite topical in the academic context at a global level, i.e. the use of English as a medium of instruction in higher education in many non-English-speaking countries. The implementation of these 'international' courses has opened up new opportunities for learning the English discourses relating to the specialised disciplines taught, but has also aroused dilemmas connected with language proficiency and the level of content competence acquired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposed changes to citizenship requirements in Australia have an increased focus on English language competency and on 'Australian' values. The dominance of the English language on the global stage can reinforce the hegemonic nature of the English language, which is becoming increasingly embedded in the image of an Australian citizen. This raises questions on what is motivating the centrality of English language testing for citizenship, and how these shape conceptions of Australian identity. This research is a thematic content analysis of media releases from newspapers, government statements and other grey materials on the recent changes to Australia's citizenship requirements, particularly English language testing. The research found that English language testing can be seen as a form of cultural hegemony, which is shaped by a discourse of social integration and border security. Implications for understanding diversity and working with diverse language groups are explored in light of the English language testing and citizenship discourses in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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