Search

Abstract: Previous studies report that exposure to the Māori language on a regular basis allows New Zealand adults who cannot speak Māori to build a proto‐lexicon of Māori—an implicit memory of word forms without detailed knowledge of meaning. How might this knowledge feed into explicit language learning? Is it possible to “awaken” the proto‐lexicon in the context of overt language learning? We investigate whether implicit linguistic knowledge represented in a proto‐lexicon gives any advantages for intentional language learning in a tertiary educational environment. We conducted a three‐task experiment which: (a) assessed participants’ Māori proto‐lexicon, (b) assessed their phonotactic knowledge, and (c) tested them on Māori vocabulary that they had been exposed to during the course at two time points. The results show that students with larger Māori proto‐lexicons learn more words in a classroom setting. This study shows that proto‐lexicon acquired from ambient exposure can lead to significant benefits in language learning.

Abstract: Previous research has shown that non-Māori Speaking New Zealanders have extensive latent knowledge of Māori, despite not being able to speak it. This knowledge plausibly derives from a memory store of Māori forms (Oh et al., 2020; Panther et al., 2023). Modelling suggests that this ‘proto-lexicon’ includes not only Māori words, but also word-parts; however, this suggestion has not yet been tested experimentally. We present the results of a new experiment in which non-Māori speaking New Zealanders and non-New Zealanders were asked to segment a range of Māori words into parts. We show that the degree to which segmentations of non-Māori speakers correlate to the segmentations of two fluent speakers of Māori is stronger among New Zealanders than non-New Zealanders. This research adds to the growing evidence that even in a largely ‘monolingual’ population, there is evidence of latent bilingualism through long-term exposure to a second language.

Understanding the challenges faced by second language (L2) learners in lexical tone perception is crucial for effective language acquisition. This study investigates the impact of exaggerated acoustic properties on facilitating Mandarin tone learning for English speakers. Using synthesized tone stimuli, we systematically manipulated pitch contours through three key modifications: expanding the fundamental frequency (F0), increasing F0 (female voice), and extending the overall duration. Our objectives were to assess the influence of F0 expansion, higher F0, longer duration, and varied syllables on Mandarin tone learning and generalization. Participants engaged in a non-adaptive trial-by-trial tone identification task. Mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was used to analyze accuracy across learning phases, acoustic factors, and tones. Findings reveal improvements in accuracy from training to testing and generalization phases, indicating the effectiveness of perceptual training to tone perception for adult English speakers. Tone 1 emerged as the easiest to perceive, while Tone 3 posed the most challenge, consistent with established hierarchies of tonal acquisition difficulty. Analysis of acoustic factors highlighted tone-specific effects. Expanded F0 was beneficial for the identification of Tone 2 and Tone 3 but posed challenges for Tone 1 and Tone 4. Additionally, longer durations also exhibited varied effects across tones, aiding in the identification of Tone 3 and Tone 4 but hindering Tone 1 identification. The higher F0 was advantageous for Tone 2 but disadvantageous for Tone 3. Furthermore, the syllable ma facilitated the identification of Tone 1 and Tone 2 but not for Tone 3 and Tone 4. These findings enhance our understanding of the role of acoustic properties in L2 tone perception and have implications for the design of effective training programs for second language acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While feedback literate teachers play critical roles in enhancing feedback efficacy and students' learning, there is a paucity of studies on writing teacher feedback literacy. To address this issue, this study draws from the notion of teacher feedback literacy to explore two second language (L2) writing teachers' feedback practices in the context of L2 writing for doctoral publishing at a Chinese research-intensive university. The analysis of the interviews, classroom observations and such textual data as the participants' profile sheets and course materials informs the development of a contextualised, two-dimension framework of teacher feedback literacy, encompassing feedback design and process management. The first dimension features an integrated, purposeful and enabling design of feedback practices that aligns with the design of curriculum and teaching, and addresses specific pedagogical goals and practical constraints arising from the teaching context. The second dimension involves meticulous management of feedback process to ensure effective feedback enactment in teaching, contributing to developing student feedback literacy. This dimension underscores students' skills development, as well as internal and external feedback interactions characterised by varying patterns of student feedback engagement. The paper concludes with implications for L2 writing feedback research and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilises a holistic approach of positive psychology (PP) in the second language acquisition (SLA) domain to test a model of willingness to communicate in English language (L2WTC) among 328 Saudi learners. The model examines how potential connections among learners' negative emotions (anxiety and boredom), positive emotions (enjoyment and grit), and motivation have a positive effect on learner L2WTC. Questionnaire data were analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis to identify and verify direct, indirect, and total effects in the model. The final model adequately fit the data. All learner emotions except boredom significantly directly predicted L2WTC. The strongest direct predictors of L2WTC were motivation, followed by anxiety. Grit directly affected motivation, and enjoyment mediated the relationship between motivation and L2WTC. Significant negative direct paths were detected from anxiety to motivation, enjoyment, and grit, and indirect paths from anxiety to L2WTC were shown through the mediation of these variables. Anxiety had the largest total effect on L2WTC, followed by motivation. These findings support the feasibility of a holistic perspective of PP in the SLA by which positive and negative emotional/affective variables can inherently interact to account for L2WTC via classroom pedagogical interventions for emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many students exhibit Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. This makes ADHD relevant also for foreign language classrooms, especially because a connection between ADHD and foreign language competences is frequently assumed. However, L2-specific research on ADHD is still lacking. This article provides an overview on ADHD in school contexts, general language learning and L2-learning. It demonstrates that research has provided little evidence for (foreign) language-specific difficulties caused by ADHD, but that higher-order processes of reading and writing, which are particularly important for school success, can be affected by ADHD symptoms. However, they can be influenced by teaching. The special role of foreign language classrooms in the development of important competence dimensions for learners with ADHD and research desiderata are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the concept of inclusion often focuses on impairments and deficits, the concept of potential orientation emphasises the resources and strengths of learners. After clarifying selected key terms and approaches that are fundamental to potential orientation, the significance of this approach for contemporary skills-orientated foreign and second language teaching is outlined. Finally, we briefly discuss its important role in overcoming current challenges in education policy and society as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the need for a globalized approach to developmental science, as opposed to one that is primarily focused on North America and Europe. The lack of global diversity in research has led to a narrow range of cultures, experiences, and methods being represented, which limits the questions that can be asked about human development. The article highlights the importance of understanding the variation in development across different cultures and environments. The special issue of the journal includes articles from underrepresented regions, covering a range of developmental domains and methodologies. The authors argue that creating separate spaces for diversity-related topics can help address publication barriers and increase global representation in developmental science. They emphasize the need for a more valid, generalizable, and representative science of human development. [Extracted from the article]

Second language (L2) learners hold different learning beliefs that influence their interpretation of classroom experiences and their L2 learning process. Developing a thorough understanding of such beliefs is therefore imperative. This article reports the representations of Iranian English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) learners' beliefs about L2 speaking fluency as revealed by elicited metaphors and follow‐up interviews. A group of 24 Iranian EFL learners majoring in teaching English as a foreign language were asked to conceptualize L2 speaking fluency through metaphor. Learners' metaphorical representations were examined using metaphor analysis and organized into eight metaphor themes through thematic analysis. The findings suggest that metaphor is a suitable tool for gaining insight into learners' beliefs about L2 speaking fluency and capturing its complex, multifaceted nature. Various aspects were conceptualized, which revealed that learners had a deep understanding of L2 speaking fluency and could represent its multifaceted nature in the learning process. Additionally, this research sheds light on contextual factors that might contribute to learners' beliefs. The findings fill a gap in research concerning EFL learners' beliefs about L2 speaking fluency and have useful implications for L2 teachers, learners, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the relative benefits for vocabulary learning of exposure to two types of texts—literary or nonliterary—used with two teaching approaches. These approaches were termed functional and creative, respectively. In the former, learners' attention was drawn to factual information and linguistic features in order to develop their linguistic knowledge. In the latter, the aim was to stimulate learners' personal and emotional response, by drawing their attention to the text's emotional content and how language was used to express meaning. We analyzed data from 160 learners of French in eight schools in England. Learners in four schools studied French poems and those in another four studied French factual texts. Teachers in each text condition employed functional and creative methods of exploitation within a counterbalanced design. We assessed two types of vocabulary knowledge at pre‐ and posttest: meaning recall of vocabulary contained in the texts, and learners' general vocabulary size. Our results indicated learning gains across both text types. There were, however, important interactions between text type and teaching approach and between text type and the order in which the teaching approaches were used. Finally, we consider the implications of these findings for understanding of vocabulary learning through literature and for classroom practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second Language Pragmatics (L2 pragmatics) research focused on the study abroad (SA) context points out the benefits of this context for second language (L2) pragmatic development while also illustrating the non-linearity of this development, as it is shaped by different contextual factors and individual differences. Nevertheless, this research has primarily focused on adult learners, and little is known about how children and adolescents learn L2 pragmatics in SA. The present study investigates how pragmatic markers (PMs) develop in young English language learners in two learning contexts: SA and at home (AH). More particularly, the study examines differences in the frequency and type of PMs across these contexts. Thirty-four Catalan/Spanish girls aged 12, learning English at home (n = 16) and in an SA context in Ireland (n = 18), participated in the study. Participants were interviewed before and after their SA experience, and the results revealed no statistically significant differences from pre- to post-test in the AH group, with only one observed in the SA group. Only one significant difference was found between the two groups in favour of the SA group. Hence, the study sheds more light on the complexity entailed in the phenomenon of L2 pragmatic development during SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is the first to explore microdevelopment in sociolinguistic evaluative judgments of standard German and Austro‐Bavarian dialect by adult second language learners of German by using dense time serial measurements. Intensive longitudinal data (10 observations per participant) were collected from four learners at approximately weekly intervals over 3 months. We employed generalized additive models with superimposed periods of significant change to identify rapid developmental phases in individual developmental trajectories. By triangulating these models with qualitative introspective and retrodictive interview data, we identified environmental and psychological stimuli for change. Learners evinced increasing and decreasing periods of significant change, independent of length of residence. Dynamic constellations of identity‐ and agency‐related variables alongside more intensive social interaction with target‐variety speakers contributed to significant changes. We discuss findings from a complexity perspective and advocate for microlongitudinal studies in variationist second language acquisition to better capture stimuli for change in learners' emerging multivarietal repertoires. A one‐page Accessible Summary of this article in nontechnical language is freely available in the Supporting Information online and at https://oasis‐database.org [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the role of cue weighting, second language (L2) proficiency, and L2 daily exposure in L2 learning of suprasegmentals different from the first language (L1), using eye‐tracking. Spanish monolinguals, English–Spanish learners, and Mandarin–Spanish learners saw a paroxytone and an oxytone verb (e.g., FIRma–firMÓ "s/he signs–signed"), listened to a sentence containing one of the verbs, and chose the one that they heard. The three languages have contrastive lexical stress, but suprasegmentals have a greater functional load in Mandarin than in English. Monolinguals predicted suffixes accurately with both stress conditions and favored oxytones, but learners predicted suffixes accurately only with oxytones, the condition activating fewer lexical competitors. Monolinguals predicted suffixes accurately sooner but at a slower rate than did learners. L2 proficiency, but not L1 or L2 exposure, facilitated L2 predictions. In conclusion, learners of a contrastive‐stress L1 rely on L2 suprasegmentals to the same extent as monolinguals, regardless of their L1. Lower L2 proficiency and higher cognitive load (more lexical competitors) reduce learners' reliance on suprasegmentals. A one‐page Accessible Summary of this article in nontechnical language is freely available in the Supporting Information online and at https://oasis‐database.org. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relationship of linguistic complexity, captured using a set of lexical richness, syntactic complexity, and discoursal complexity indices, to second language (L2) learners' perception of text difficulty, captured using L2 raters' comparative judgment on text comprehensibility and reading speed. Testing materials were 180 texts abridged from college English coursebooks, and raters were 90 advanced Chinese learners of L2 English. Forty‐five raters read paired texts and determined which text was harder to understand in each pair, and another 45 raters read paired texts and determined which text they read faster in each pair. Two stepwise linear regression models containing lexical, syntactic, and discoursal features explained 48.1% and 54.6% of the variance in L2 learners' estimates of text comprehensibility and reading speed, respectively, outperforming four commonly used language readability models. These findings contribute useful insights into the relationship between linguistic complexity and L2 learners' perception of text difficulty. A one‐page Accessible Summary of this article in nontechnical language is freely available in the Supporting Information online and at https://oasis‐database.org [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of text length on the estimation of lexical diversity has captured the attention of the scientific community for more than a century. Numerous indices have been proposed, and many studies have been conducted to evaluate them, but the problem remains. This methodological review provides a critical analysis not only of the most commonly used indices in language learning studies, but also of the length problem itself, as well as of the methodology for evaluating the proposed solutions. Analysis of three data sets of texts produced by English language learners revealed that indices that reduce all texts to the same length using a probabilistic or an algorithmic approach solve the length‐dependency problem; however, all these indices failed to address the second problem, which is their sensitivity to the parameter that determines the length to which the texts are reduced. The paper concludes with recommendations for optimizing lexical diversity analysis. A one‐page Accessible Summary of this article in nontechnical language is freely available in the Supporting Information online and at https://oasis‐database.org [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To acquire language, learners have to map the language onto the environment, but languages vary as to how much information they include to constrain how a sentence relates to the world. We investigated the conditions under which information within the language and the environment is combined for learning. In a cross‐situational artificial language learning study, participants listened to transitive sentences and viewed two scenes, and selected which scene was described by the sentence. There were three conditions, involving different language variants. All variants had free word order but varied as to whether or not they contained morphosyntactic information that defined the subject and object roles of nouns in the sentence. We found that participants were able to learn information about word order and vocabulary from each variant, demonstrating that learners are not reliant on information within a language only, but can combine constraints from language and environment to support acquisition. Data and analyses are available at: https://osf.io/hxqzc/?view_only=ea6ba6fff6bb468e8de2e8596f029dca A one‐page Accessible Summary of this article in nontechnical language is freely available in the Supporting Information online and at https://oasis‐database.org [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arabic is understudied in second-language research (L2) and lacks rapid and adequate tools for measuring proficiency. Drawing inspiration from LexTALE and its extensions, this study created and validated a quick receptive vocabulary size test to estimate L2 Arabic proficiency. In Experiment 1, the initial version of LexArabic was designed and evaluated with 192 L1 and L2 speakers. Item analysis using point-biserial correlations and item response theory (IRT) was conducted to refine the test, resulting in a final version with 90 items (60 words, 30 nonwords). Experiment 2 assessed LexArabic reliability, validity, and accuracy using a new group of 260 L1 and L2 speakers. The validity of LexArabic was evaluated through objective tasks (a general Arabic proficiency test, L1 to L2 translation task, L2 to L1 translation task) as well as subjective tasks (self-rated proficiency). Results showed that LexArabic demonstrated good reliability (α > 90), validity (correlation with two objective tasks and one subjective task), as well as accuracy (AUC value =.88). The introduction of LexArabic has the potential to facilitate experimental research on both L1 and L2 Arabic speakers and contributes to the development of standardized L2 proficiency assessment across languages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-based applications has become increasingly significant due to its transformative potential in various fields including language learning. These applications have the potential to enhance second language (L2) learners' speaking proficiency, willingness to communicate (WTC), and perception, leading to improved learning outcomes by providing personalized and interactive language practice. Using the Speeko application, this study examines the influence of AI on L2 speaking proficiency, WTC, and perceptions. The study employed a mixed-method approach in which 66 participants were randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. A Speeko application was used in the experimental group, while traditional teaching methods were used in the control group. As part of the study, data were collected through a speaking test and WTC questionnaire administered at pre-test and post-test intervals, as well as a semi-structured interview. According to the results, the experimental group had significantly higher L2 speaking proficiency, WTC, and better perceptions than the control group. Based on the findings, the incorporation of AI-based applications in language learning has the potential to enhance language learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the application of Sociocultural Theory (SCT) in the field of second language (L2) education, specifically in conjunction with corpus linguistics. The authors outline the central principles of SCT and how they have been used to guide L2 development through pedagogical practices. They introduce concept-based language instruction (C-BLI), which organizes L2 curricula around linguistic concepts and uses corpora to support learner engagement. The article also explores Vygotskian SCT and its role in artificial development through education. It concludes by discussing the implementation of C-BLI programs and the potential use of corpora to identify learners' current understanding of language features. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the compatibility between Data-Driven Learning (DDL) and usage-based approaches to second language acquisition (SLA). Usage-based approaches emphasize the importance of language use and its impact on language development. DDL, which utilizes language corpora to study learner input and output, aligns with usage-based SLA by exposing learners to authentic usage data and helping them derive regularities and patterns. The article suggests future research directions, including the creation of DDL materials guided by usage-based SLA principles and longitudinal studies to examine the long-term effects of DDL. The author emphasizes the importance of establishing stronger connections between DDL and SLA theory to enhance language learning outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores whether nonverbal behavior during conversation is related to perceived fluency in second language (L2) learners. Topics include the three dimensions of fluency—cognitive fluency, utterance fluency, and perceived fluency—the impact of nonverbal behaviors on how fluency is judged by listeners, and the relationship between nonverbal cues and L2 speakers' perceived effectiveness in communication.

This document is an introduction to the special issues for the Association for Reading and Writing in Asia (ARWA) conference in 2022 and 2023. The Simple View of Reading (SVR) is a widely-cited theoretical framework for reading research, but researchers argue that its conciseness can lead to oversimplified instruction or policy. The Componential Model of Reading (CMR) is a more complex model built upon the SVR. The special issues feature nine selected papers that discuss the three domains of the CMR: cognitive, psychological, and ecological. The papers cover topics such as morphological awareness, cross-linguistic transfer, bilingualism, dyslexia, and digital word reading fluency. The research presented in the special issues demonstrates the broadening scope of reading research in Asia, with a variety of perspectives and methods being explored. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to explore the specific contributions of derivational, inflectional, and compounding morphological awareness to reading comprehension through decoding and syntactic awareness. A total of 181 Grade 3 and 4 Chinese primary school children learning English as a second language in Hong Kong participated in this study. The results of structural equational modeling show that all the three types of morphological awareness contributed to reading comprehension through decoding and syntactic awareness, and they explained about 66% of the variance in decoding and 47.2% of the variance in syntactic awareness. Derivational and inflectional morphological awareness affected decoding more strongly than compounding morphological awareness. Derivational and inflectional morphological awareness had stronger effects on decoding than on syntactic awareness, whereas compounding morphological awareness had stronger effect on syntactic awareness than on decoding. In addition, derivational and inflectional morphological awareness had unique direct effects on reading comprehension beyond decoding and syntactic awareness. The unique effect of inflectional morphological awareness was stronger than that of derivational morphological awareness. These results advance our understanding of the multiple roles of the three types of morphological awareness in reading comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past decades have witnessed a significant increase in the number of global Chinese as a second language (L2) learners. Accompanying the surge is the growing body of research on their motivational factors. This mixed‐methods study was primarily informed by Dörnyei's L2 motivational self system (L2MSS), aiming to scrutinize Chinese as a second language (CSL) learners’ motivational factors from the perspectives of selves and contexts. Leveraging the concepts of the ideal L2 self and ought‐to L2 self from L2MSS, the anti‐ought‐to‐L2 self was incorporated into the framework. The L2 learning experience was reframed into three contextual dimensions, including attitudes toward the L2 community, cultural interest and pedagogical influence. Data were collected from 231 international students from a Chinese comprehensive university. Factor analyses confirmed seven motivational factors. Findings revealed that the ideal L2 self, ought‐to L2 self, pedagogical influence and cultural interest were effective in predicting individuals’ intended learning effort. Significant differences were identified in the motivational selves based on demographic variables of employment status, gender and student type. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the motivations of languages other than English learners and the refinement of the L2MSS framework. It also offers CSL instructors pedagogical implications for developing targeted teaching strategies and promoting motivations among students from distinct educational and socio‐economic backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Second language learning is a multifaceted task that benefits across numerous neurocognitive domains including central auditory processing. Existing cross-sectional and longitudinal data show that performance on tests of central auditory processing [central auditory tests (CATs)] worsens with HIV infection. Second language learning may modify this relationship. To explore the relationship between second language learning, central auditory processing, and its interaction with HIV, we assessed the effect of learning English as a second language on CATs among children both living with and without HIV (CLWH/CLWOH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-two native Kiswahili speaking children aged 3-10 years old (196 CLWOH, 176 CLWH) were enrolled. Participants completed questionnaires about English language learning, socioeconomic status (SES), and health history. Three central auditory tests-the Triple Digit Test (TDT), the Staggered Spondaic Word Test (SSW), and the Hearing-In-Noise Test (HINT)-were used to assess each participant's central auditory processing abilities. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the effect of written and spoken English language learning at home and in school on CATs with age, HIV-status, and SES included in each model. Results: HIV status, age, and SES were all significant predictors of all three central auditory tests, with CLWH performing significantly worse on all three CATs than CLWOH. Children actively learning spoken and written English at home had significantly better central auditory processing abilities on the TDT compared to children not actively learning English at home (p < 0.01) independent of HIV status, age, and SES. Children learning spoken and written English at school performed significantly better on the HINT (p < 0.05) than those not actively learning English at school. Discussion: Learning English at home and learning English in school were associated with improved central auditory performance independent of HIV status, SES, and age. These findings also underscore the significance of second language acquisition as a potential mechanism of improving central auditory function within a Kiswahili-speaking cohort. This study found differences in central auditory processing between children exposed to English at home and in school, suggesting differences in language learning in both settings mediated by SES, and this benefit exists regardless of HIV status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated written corrective feedback (AWCF) has been widely applied in second language (L2) writing classrooms in the past few decades. Recently, the introduction of tools based on generative artificial intelligence (GAI) such as ChatGPT heralds groundbreaking changes in the conceptualization and practice of AWCF in L2 pedagogy. However, students' engagement in such an interactive and intelligent learning environment remains unstudied. The present study aims to investigate L2 writers' behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement with ChatGPT as an AWCF provider for writing products. This mixed-method multiple case study explored four L2 writers' behavioral, cognitive, and affective engagement with AWCF provided by ChatGPT. Bearing the conversational and generative mechanisms of ChatGPT in mind, data on students' engagement were collected from various sources: prompt writing techniques, revision operations, utilization of metacognitive and cognitive strategies, and attitudinal responses to the feedback. The results indicated that: 1) behavioral engagement was related to their individual differences in language proficiencies and technological competencies; 2) the participants have failed to metacognitively regulate the learning processes in an effective manner; and 3) ChatGPT ushered in an affectively engaging, albeit competence-demanding and time-consuming, learning environment for L2 writers. The study delivers conceptual and pedagogical implications for educators and researchers poised to incorporate GAI-based technologies in language education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on students' self-assessments has reported their usefulness in supporting their learning processes. However, little research has specifically focused on its role in students' use of open educational resources (OERs), which are important learning resources in the digital age. Consequently, this qualitative case study reports on university second language (L2) students' experiences with out-of-class (i.e., pre-class and post-class) learning with OERs, which contained supplementary information on their L2 learning, and with their required follow-up self-assessments. Through qualitative analyses of multiple data sources regarding an L2 writing course offered by a Chinese university, this study illustrated that when L2 students were instructed to conduct self-assessments during their pre- and post-class readings, they were motivated to reflect on and comprehend OERs and gradually became actively involved in practicing self-assessments for new OERs. Such enthusiasm for learning with OERs was found to accompany students' positive experiences with knowledge building, which they discovered through post-class assessments. Namely, the students realized that they were prepared for in-class learning by engaging in pre-class self-assessments with OERs, buttressed by in-class and individualized assistance from their teacher, and deepened by the knowledge expected from these resources. The study's conclusion confirms the pedagogical usefulness of incorporating self-assessment into L2 students' out-of-class use of OERs, along with teacher assistance in the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing popularity of ChatGPT and chatbot-assisted writing, research on the use of ChatGPT in second language (L2) writing classrooms remains insufficient. Using reflection papers and focus group interviews, the qualitative study examined doctoral students' views on the impact of using ChatGPT on L2 writing and their expected responses. Thematic analysis revealed that ChatGPT could support writers at the pre-writing, during-writing and post-writing stages and serve as a self-learning tool for writing and thinking development with its human and non-human features. Nonetheless, its generative nature also gave rise to concerns for learning loss, authorial voice, unintelligent texts, academic integrity as well as social and safety risks. Based on the benefits and drawbacks, the doctoral students expected the education sector to make concerted efforts for the effective, ethical and responsible use of ChatGPT in L2 writing. Suggestions are accordingly provided for future considerations in teaching and research to leverage ChatGPT for L2 writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the interplay between language anxiety of advanced foreign language learners and their speech fluency measured with temporal indices. Language anxiety levels of 59 university level students of English were identified with the Input, Processing and Output Anxiety Scale (the IPOAS; MacIntyre & Gardner, 1994. The effects of induced anxiety on three stages of cognitive processing in computerized vocabulary learning.’ Studies in Second Language Acquisition 16 (1): 1–17. doi:10.1017/S0272263100012560) and the Post-Session Survey on Anxiety. The former informed about the levels of anxiety experienced at three stages of linguistic processing, hence, input anxiety, internal processing anxiety, and output anxiety. The latter was applied to identify language anxiety levels exhibited during a monologue production, reported as task-specific language anxiety. Speech samples from the performance were analyzed for fluency breakdown (the number of filled and silent pauses), speed of speech (articulation rate), and composite measures (speech rate). The findings revealed that the advanced foreign language learners with higher levels of internal processing anxiety and output anxiety used filled pauses more frequently. Furthermore, the levels of output anxiety and task-specific language anxiety were inversely related to speech and articulation rate. The study also showed statistically significant differences in the production of filled pauses and speech rate between advanced foreign language learners with low and high levels of language anxiety as measured by the IPOAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a theoretical review of and methodological guidelines for the study of two key notions in second language acquisition research, complexity and difficulty. The term complexity has gained considerable currency over the past decades and has taken on a wide range of meanings. We argue for a more restricted interpretation, focusing exclusively on formal, structural properties of linguistic items. The less employed term difficulty in our account refers to the cognitive costs associated with learning and using such items. On the basis of our theoretical definitions, we critically review measures operationalizing these constructs and discuss their strengths, limitations, and potential applicability to second language research, in order to establish a small set of measures to be used routinely in the interest of replicability and knowledge accumulation in the field. In addition, we discuss the relationship between complexity and difficulty and the associated notions of proficiency and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Critical Period Hypothesis, successful language learning is optimal during early childhood, whereas language learning outside of this time window is unsuccessful. In this respect, early language acquisition is viewed as convergent and reliable but late acquisition is not. The present study revisits the idea of a critical period by investigating the grammatical attainment of early bilinguals/heritage speakers (HSs), late second/foreign language (L2) learners, and comparable groups of monolinguals by testing Greek-English bilinguals in the two languages they speak by means of a grammaticality judgment task. Our findings show that in English, HSs performed on par with monolinguals, both groups surpassing the late L2 learners, who performed about 2 SDs below the HSs and the monolinguals. In Greek, late L2 learners and monolinguals exhibited comparable performance, contrasting sharply with the HSs' significantly lower proficiency, which was on average about 5 SDs below the late L2 learners and the monolinguals. Consequently, our results show that the performance gaps between HSs and Greek monolinguals/late L2 learners were more pronounced than the differences between late L2 learners and English monolinguals/HSs, suggesting that the early bilinguals' success in English may come at the expense of their heritage language (Greek). Furthermore, we observe substantially more individual variation within HSs in their heritage language than within the late L2 learners for their second language. Thus, testing bilinguals in both of their languages allows us to unveil the complexity of grammatical ultimate attainment and prompt a re-thinking of age as the major determining factor of (un)successful attainment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal 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.)

While peer feedback has been a staple in second and foreign language (FL) writing for decades, most research explicitly examines the role of second language (L2) proficiency in written feedback among reviewer–writer pairs. The impact of L2 proficiency pairing in oral peer feedback remains under‐researched as does research on peer review among writer–reviewer triads, a commonly practiced peer review activity in FL classrooms. In the present study, 62 undergraduates participated in an oral peer feedback group discussion in an English as an FL writing context, providing and receiving oral peer feedback on two drafts of an argumentative essay topic. A rotary triadic role design was adopted to allow each group member to experience the role of both writer and reviewer, receiving two reviewers’ oral feedback as a writer and giving feedback for two writers as a reviewer in the same group. Self‐initiated L2 proficiency pairing was then examined from a reviewer–writer perspective in relation to the quantity and quality of oral feedback given and incorporated. Results showed significant differences in feedback quantity and uptake between different reviewer–writer pairings. Writers of high proficiency levels would receive and incorporate significantly more oral feedback when paired with reviewers of the same proficiency levels, compared to when paired with reviewers of different proficiency levels. Low‐level reviewers offered significantly more total oral feedback for low‐level writers than high‐level writers. Pedagogical implications could then be drawn as to how to pair learners of different L2 proficiency levels in oral peer feedback activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eye tracking has taken hold in second language acquisition (SLA) and bilingualism as a valuable technique for researching cognitive processes, yet a comprehensive picture of reporting practices is still lacking. Our systematic review addressed this gap. We synthesized 145 empirical eye‐tracking studies, coding for 58 reporting features and applying a gap analysis to the codings. Although certain aspects of reporting, such as descriptions of auxiliary assumptions, equipment, and setup, were consistently implemented, we found significant variation and sometimes complete omission of crucial details surrounding aspects of data quality and of data preprocessing and cleaning. This lack of information hinders the evaluation of methodological rigor and overall study quality of eye‐tracking research. We propose a set of field‐specific reporting guidelines in the form of a checklist to improve the quality of data collected and contribute to the larger goal of advancing the replication and reproducibility of eye‐tracking research in SLA and bilingualism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most second language acquisition (SLA) research has documented the processes involved in learning second/foreign languages, with few studies focusing on the durability of attained second language (L2) skills once instructed learners/users are no longer receiving formal instruction. The current study examines the effects of continued exposure and peak instructional attainment on the long‐term evolution of advanced, instructed L2 learners’ skills following a longitudinal mixed‐methods research design. Participants (n = 28) completed an oral proficiency test, an oral interview, and a vocabulary knowledge test at multiple times over an 8‐year period, 6 years of which were postinstruction. Results showed that continued exposure contributes to long‐term retention (and some further development) of oral proficiency and fluency and that peak attainment at the end of formal instruction is also an important variable for some areas of L2 performance. Additionally, even the participants with limited exposure demonstrated little attrition over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated writing evaluation (AWE) software has received much attention by researchers and practitioners as it has the potential of reducing the time necessary for providing second language (L2) students with written corrective feedback on their writing. While more practitioners are taking advantage of AWE affordances, research has indicated students engaged in untimed writing may still possess reservations about its usefulness as a feedback provider compared to that of L2 writing teachers. As trust affects student writer behavior, it is important to understand how the potential relationship between trust and writing outcomes are related to the source of writing feedback. This is especially important in contexts in which high stakes timed writing is the most frequent type of writing that L2 writers find themselves engaging in. Using a quasi-experimental design, we addressed these issues by examining the effects that perceived feedback source had on two groups of high-intermediate second language writers (n = 61 perceived teacher feedback group; n = 60 perceived AWE feedback group) enrolled in academic reading and writing courses in Northern Taiwan. Both groups received the same type of instruction and feedback for 18 weeks with the only caveat of perceiving the feedback source as coming from only the teacher or the AWE software. Results showed that the perceived AWE feedback group significantly outperformed the perceived teacher feedback group in their L2 writing by the end of the course. In addition, the perceived AWE feedback group put more trust in feedback on grammar rules and lexical choices than the perceived teacher feedback group. This indicates that high-intermediate L2 writers may trust AWE software more for specific types of feedback, such as those related to grammar and vocabulary. These and other results suggest decisions on providing AWE or teacher feedback should be made based on error type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review discusses the effectiveness of visual and haptic cues for second language (L2) lexical tone acquisition, with a special focus on observation and production of hand gestures. It explains how these cues can facilitate initial acquisition of L2 lexical tones via multimodal depictions of pitch. In doing so, it provides recommendations for incorporation of multimodal cues into L2 lexical tone pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach to build extended versions of the simple view of reading (SVR) model in second and foreign language (SFL) learning contexts (i.e., SVR-SFL). Based on the correlation coefficients derived from primary studies, we replicated and integrated two previous extended meta-analytic SVR models, that is, Quinn and Wagner's (2018) model with an English-speaking population with a cognitive factor and Peng et al.'s (2021) model with Chinese-speaking readers with metalinguistic skills. A total of 180 independent samples (N = 36,235) obtained from 152 empirical studies in SFL contexts were included in our meta-analytic structural equation model. The results revealed that the collected data successfully replicated H. Lee et al.'s (2022) SVR model in SL contexts (SV2R) in terms of overall model fit and moderation effects; in addition, the results confirmed that the data fit well with the extended SVR-SFL models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study adopts a sociocultural approach to examine the language socialisation of a lower age novice-newcomer recently arrived in a Finnish open day care centre. A mixed method approach combining ethnographic analysis and quantitative analysis has been used to analyse video-recordings. The results suggest that when educators recognise language novice-newcomer's diverse needs and deploy thereby multimodal socialising strategies (i.e. verbal, gestural), the novice-newcomer's language and interactive competences could ameliorate across time. Different from adults, the local children seem unconscious of the diverse needs of peers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, which sets out challenges for educators in balancing recognition of diversity with equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linguistic interdependence hypothesis posits the existence of language features common to different languages. This set of characteristics, known as Common Underlying Proficiency (CUP), is a powerful facilitating agent in second language acquisition. Fluid intelligence (Gf), on the other hand, is the construct that encompasses those cognitive resources devoted to general learning, and its involvement in second language acquisition is unproven. The aim of this study is to determine the direct and interactive effect of L1 knowledge and Gf on second language acquisition in language immersion learners across different linguistic domains. The study analyzed the proficiency of 131 Romanian students in Spanish and Catalan, the official languages of Catalonia. Mixed-effects regression models were used to analyze lexical, morphosyntactic, and orthographic aspects. The results were obtained using mixed-effects regression models, revealing a particularly noticeable interdependence effect in lexical, morphosyntactic, and orthographic aspects, with differences between Catalan and Spanish. Furthermore, Gf had an impact on the morphosyntactic component with similar intensity for both languages but did not moderate the interdependence effect. The study discusses the possible causes of these effects, as well as their psycho-pedagogical consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning English as a second language (ESL) has garnered significant attention from researchers and practitioners over the past few decades, with numerous ESL learning outcomes examined in the literature. However, self-sustained learning (SSL), a crucial factor in promoting students' sustained learning and development within a sustainable society, has long been overlooked. To deepen the understanding of SSL, especially in the context of ESL in China, this study examined the direct and indirect effects of intercultural communicative skills, language mindset, and positive L2 self on sustained English learning among 1238 Chinese college students through descriptive statistics and a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) mediation analysis. The results indicated that Chinese college students exhibited a strong language mindset and positive L2 self. They also scored high in intercultural communicative skills and long-term self-sustained English learning. SEM analysis showed that, after controlling for students' demographic characteristics, both intercultural communicative skills and language mindset positively predicted positive L2 self and self-sustained English learning. Moreover, intercultural communicative skills and language mindset had significant and positive indirect effects on self-sustained English learning through positive L2 self, underscoring the significant mediating role of positive L2 self in the relationships between intercultural communicative skills, language mindset, and self-sustained English learning. These findings suggest that, to promote self-sustained learning among English learners, instructors should enhance students' intercultural communicative skills, foster a growth language mindset, and cultivate positive language learning beliefs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In line with increasing attention being paid to the role of positive emotions in second language (L2) proficiency and knowledge, this study set out to examine the relationships between domain-specific emotions (L2 grit, language learning curiosity, foreign language enjoyment, and foreign language classroom anxiety) and L2 vocabulary knowledge. To this end, we administered a questionnaire consisting of domain-specific instruments, which purport to measure the target emotions, as well as two widely used L2 vocabulary tests. College students studying English in the South Korean context participated in the study, and they completed both the questionnaire and the vocabulary tests. The results revealed that participants' vocabulary test scores positively correlated with positive emotions, such as a sub-construct of L2 grit (consistency of interest), language learning curiosity, and foreign language enjoyment. In contrast, their scores negatively correlated with negative emotion – foreign language classroom anxiety. In the regression analysis, it was also found that a sub-construct of L2 grit (consistency of interest) and language learning curiosity were significant predictors for L2 vocabulary knowledge, while controlling for the effects of other variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of educational technologies, computer-assisted language learning (CALL) tools, like online dictionaries, are essential for acquiring a second language, especially new vocabulary. There has been no empirical focus on the usage of Ġabra online dictionary in learning Maltese, with a specific focus on international adults learning Maltese as a second language (ML2) and a lack of research in the pedagogy of e-dictionaries. This study aims to contribute to this research gap by exploring teachers' perspectives and pedagogy of Ġabra for adults learning ML2, which could refer to any other second language. Unstructured interviews were conducted to obtain qualitative data from eleven teachers of ML2 adult learners including refugee learners. According to the study's findings, Ġabra helps students learn new words, it is simple to use, it is a great resource and reference for ML2 learning, and it is convenient. The research also offers various pedagogical activities that illustrate how Ġabra is implemented in class. Another significant characteristic of Ġabra identified in this study is that students do not need to know the basic verb/noun/adjective to seek for a word, as they would in a traditional dictionary. Ġabra's shortcomings were its incompleteness, no pronunciation feature, lack of sentence examples and its dependency on internet access. Although Ġabra's benefits exceeded its disadvantages, it was recommended that Ġabra should continue to be corrected and to use artificial intelligence applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional L2 pronunciation teaching puts too much emphasis on explicit phonological knowledge ('knowing that') rather than on procedural knowledge ('knowing how'). The advancement of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) offers new opportunities for L2 learners to proceduralize their declarative articulatory knowledge into production skills more efficiently through systematic practice. Within the framework of skill acquisition theory, and using a mixed-methods design including production tests, articulatory awareness quizzes, and a semi-structured interview, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using an augmented reality (AR) filter app during pronunciation practice to improve Chinese L2 students' segmental production and articulatory awareness of the targeted English consonants (dark/ɫ/,/ð/and/θ/), and their attitudes towards this application. The experimental results indicate that the app with AR technology, facial detection technology, and digital zoom technology played a positive role in promoting students' segmental production and raising their articulatory awareness. The interview results show that the AR filter helped to alleviate the learners' speaking anxiety and embarrassment related to interacting with the teacher for corrective feedback, and encouraged daily practice by providing more fun. Combining all the qualitative and quantitative results, we conclude that an AR filter app can offer academic, psychological, and social support for L2 pronunciation skill learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second language (L2) learning research suggests that virtual reality (VR) has the potential to enhance the development of language skills due to its immersive nature and its situated learning opportunities. This quantitative, between-subjects study compared the effectiveness of three learning conditions. University students (N = 63) studied vocabulary annotated on: (1) 360° pictures viewed using a VR headset, (2) 360° pictures viewed on a desktop monitor, and (3) standard two-dimensional (2D) pictures viewed on a desktop monitor (control condition). After the experiment, the students completed productive and receptive posttests measuring vocabulary recall. Through multiple analyses of variance (MANOVA), the study revealed that learning new vocabulary with annotated 360° pictures viewed on a desktop monitor is associated with significantly higher posttests scores, compared with learning using a VR headset or standard 2D pictures. Kruskal-Wallis H tests showed vocabulary learning with 360° to be engaging, but effective only when studied on the 2D monitor. This study has practical implications for VR-assisted language learning and for the design of teaching materials to enhance L2 vocabulary learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learner‐to‐learner (peer) interaction has been integral to the second language (L2) classroom since the advent of communicative‐oriented pedagogies. Despite the well‐documented benefits of peer interaction, the extent to which learners benefit may be impacted by a range of factors, particularly their peers' proficiency levels. Yet studies on the influence of peers' proficiency have shown contradictory findings and are extensively focused on pairs rather than small groups. Furthermore, although low‐proficiency (LP) learners experience greater impacts from interaction with peers of different proficiency levels, their interactional patterns and perspectives are underexplored. This study investigates how six Latin American learners of English (core learners) co‐created learning opportunities as they interacted with non‐core learners (n = 33) in three proficiency small‐group interactions. A total of 18 group interactions were analysed for language‐related episodes (LREs) and turn‐takings. The results showed that core learners' (CLs) LREs and turns diminished as their peers' proficiency increased. However, fewer incorrect LRE resolutions were found when CLs were grouped with high‐proficiency (HP) peers. The CLs also perceived the interaction with HP peers as challenging but important for their L2 development. Additionally, aside from the proficiency level, CLs acknowledged the importance of their peers' positive attitudes for the success of their interactions. These findings provide important insights into employing mixed‐proficiency groups to create more optimal learning conditions, particularly for LP learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The earlier starting age for learning English is apparent in the non‐Anglophone world. However, in China, kindergartens are banned from delivering subjects that are designated for primary school level, including English language lessons, as part of reforms to eliminate "schoolification" of preschool education. This qualitative study takes a multi‐level approach to language‐in‐education planning to explore how local education authorities and different types of kindergartens in the city of Hefei, China, interpret and respond to this macro‐level policy. The findings reveal a disparity between officials and school participants in their attitudes toward preschool English language education, as well as divergence between public and private kindergartens in their current English provision. The study probes these disparities and their links to the interplay between the meso‐level local education authority and the different types of kindergartens, as well as the relationship between the government and the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of pronominal reference on the integration of syntactic and semantic information in second language (L2) processing. We conducted a self‐paced reading task involving 60 adult Korean‐speaking learners of English and 44 native English speakers. The experiment manipulated the semantic congruity between a subject and its adjectival predicate, as well as the reference type (pronoun vs. full noun) within the intervening relative clause. The results showed that the native speaker group consistently displayed sensitivity to the incongruity between the subject and the predicate, regardless of the reference type. Similarly, the nonnative speakers exhibited sensitivity to the mismatch in the critical region. However, this effect did not persist in subsequent regions including the spill‐over and wrap‐up regions. Instead, in the wrap‐up region, the L2 learners' processing patterns were affected by the reference type, with sensitivity exclusively observed in the pronoun condition. The L2 learners' processing pattern remained consistent across varying levels of English proficiency. These findings provide insights into the role of pronominal reference in L2 sentence processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]