Research into second language acquisition (SLA) has shown that individual difference (ID) variables can be strong predictors of language achievement (e.g., Dornyei, 2003; Skehan, 2003). Traditionally, this research conceptualized ID variables as static and monolithic variables (e.g., Dornyei, 2010). More recently scholars have questioned this…

Teacher preparation has the insurmountable task of preparing candidates for classrooms with constantly changing demographics and demands. Whether it is contemporary pedagogical practices or understanding the needs of a multilingual/multicultural student body, TESOL teacher preparation programs (TPP) are trusted by accrediting bodies to produce…

Research on language motivation has tended to focus on the phenomena of demotivation and remotivation in the English classroom. This study utilized Q methodology to analyze the dynamics of demotivation and remotivation among 15 Chinese university students during their English learning process from primary school to senior middle school. Informed…

Teacher motivation has only recently been explored in relation to higher education teachers (Sahakyan et al., 2018; Sampson 2016). This is also true for English for Specific Purposes (ESP) lecturers, who teach specialized English in other disciplines. These teachers often face unique challenges, including teaching content outside their expertise,…

Learner emotions represent sudden, dynamic, and complex adaptations to the language classroom environment. Recent Second Language Acquisition research calls for a more holistic perspective in approaching classroom emotions, one that considers emotional variations between and across learners, and which foregrounds the interconnections among…

In the field of applied linguistics, Diane Larsen-Freeman is widely recognized, among her numerous contributions, as the originator of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST). Over the years since her seminal publication (Larsen-Freeman, 1997), CDST has evolved into a meta-theory that guides the field's thinking on a variety of developmental…

This study compares two leadership styles, emergent leader (EL) and assigned leader (AL), to explore effective leadership in second language (L2) group work. ELs were spontaneously chosen by the group, while ALs were pre-assigned by teachers before the task. The study involved 45 university students, who were divided into seven EL groups (n = 21)…

From the complex dynamic systems theory perspective, evaluating CALL pedagogy involves miscellaneous variables. It seems the ecosystem of the CALL environment necessitates an array of extralinguistic (Ecolinguistically situated) issues to be considered in any appraisal of the CALL milieu. To this end, this paper aims to develop and validate a…

The United Nations' (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to create a sustainable world and provide permanent solutions to major social, ecological, and economic problems affecting the world. Education holds a central position in disseminating and achieving these goals with a thorough understanding. From this stance, English language…

While many previous studies focused on English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) teachers' teaching practices in urban schools, little study has been indulged regarding pre-service English teachers' (PSTs) challenges and experiences to practice teaching in a rural school. This study aimed to explore various difficulties encountered by urban PSTs during…

Foreign language enrollments in U.S. higher education are falling at an unprecedented rate since the 1980s. This mixed methods case study sought to investigate this phenomenon by examining the motivational and attitudinal profiles of 89 beginning-level learners of foreign languages (Spanish, French, Arabic, Japanese) and the contextual factors…

This study employed dynamic network analysis to investigate the role of central relational links within the motivational system of 59 English for Academic Purposes (EAP) learners. The findings suggest that these links are best understood as central relational nodes, which act as hubs that give structure and stability to the network and enable the…

Following Dynamic Systems Theory (Thelen & Smith, 1994) and Sociocultural Theory (Vygotsky, 1978), this study compared the developmental paths of low and high-achieving EFL individuals and dyads, considering production features of complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF). The participants included six MA students majoring in Industrial Design…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the formation of sustainable development competencies (SDCs) in future primary school teachers during English for specific purposes classes, and to assess the correlation between English proficiency and the development of SDCs, including Collaboration, Strategic thinking, Critical thinking,…

This study investigated phase transitions in EFL students' speech fluency development using a complex dynamic systems perspective. Two students with different proficiency levels were selected from an intact speaking class. These students learned and practiced specific strategies to improve their speech fluency. Phase transitions were analyzed…