This article challenges the current framing of English as a dominant global language and focuses specifically on African international students' investment in Chinese language learning and the enactment of imagined identity in China. Drawing upon Darvin and Norton's theorisation of "Identity and a model of investment," we present an…

How does cultural background moderate the relationship between enjoyment and willingness to communicate in second language (L2) Chinese learning? This study addresses this question through an empirical investigation involving 457 international L2 Chinese learners in Shandong Province, China. The participants completed a paper-based questionnaire.…

This study expands on the practical application of the critical role of auditory processing in the rate of naturalistic L2 speech acquisition. In Study 1, the prosodic production of English by 46 Chinese college students was tracked over a five-month study abroad program in the UK. Learners with extensive L2 input opportunities demonstrated…

In order to explore the cognitive mechanisms and processing involved in incidental vocabulary acquisition, this study examines whether two crucial cognitive factors, attention and working memory, influence incidental vocabulary acquisition during second language reading. Employing a combined online-offline approach, attention, working memory, and…

This study explored how Chinese and Scottish student-teachers from two case-study universities perceived their experiences in foreign language learning in both formal and informal contexts within their home countries, and how the status of a foreign language learner shaped their empathy for culturally and linguistically diverse pupils through a…

This paper is concerned with the integration of informal language learning into university language modules in a foreign language environment. It begins by exploring the evolving nature of formal and informal language learning. This is followed by analysis of a pedagogic innovation intended to integrate foreign language activities in an informal…

Learner autonomy is a vibrant and diverse field. In its approximately 40-year history, it has drawn liberally on theoretical constructs and research methodologies from other disciplines. In turn, it has contributed to the field of applied linguistics by drawing attention to the fundamental importance of understanding the language learner as an…

This research explores why Cambodian and Thai students choose Indonesia to study Arabic, despite linguistically authentic Arab countries. Using narrative inquiry, data were collected through group discussions with eight international students studying in Indonesia for two years. Three main factors influenced their decision: quality Arabic…

English is especially challenging for English second language (ESL) learners because of its significant cultural and societal implications. For example, idioms--multiworded expressions with multiple meanings--are problematic for ESL learners because of ambiguity in literal translation and reliance on the societal context. This quantitative…

This study examines the second language academic discourse socialization of two Chinese students who attended British Columbia (Canada) offshore schools in China. After an overview of offshore school structures in China, this article describes the perspectives and experiences of recent offshore school graduates interviewed at a Canadian…

The successful launch of the One Belt and One Road Initiative in 2013, coupled with China's growing international influence, has stimulated global interest in learning Chinese as a Second Language (CSL). However, recent studies reveal several problems relating to international students' adaptation and adjustment in the distinct Chinese study…

Studying abroad entails international students' identity (trans)formation and social network development, but individuals' decisions and choices while engaging in these processes remain underexplored. Informed by the notion of agency in second language socialization theory, this longitudinal case study examined the interplay of identity and social…

Learners' engagement with feedback, recognized as an essential factor for influencing the learning process, is pivotal for enhancing learning outcomes. Despite its growing attention among researchers, it remains understudied in the field of second language acquisition, particularly within the context of learning Chinese as a second language (CSL).…

Guided by Expectancy-Value Theory, this quantitative cross-sectional survey examined the relationship between learning attitudes, course satisfaction, and learning outcomes among non-degree international students (N=390, 97.5% response rate) from three Sichuan universities, predominantly from Southeast Asia. Measurement validity was established…

This study aimed at evaluating the explanatory value of basic psychological needs (BPN) for foreign language-related motivation and activities in a sample of higher education students and volunteers abroad. According to the self-determination theory, satisfaction of the BPN facilitates forms of motivational regulation and in turn promotes foreign…