Task motivation is critical to learners' task performance. However, scant studies have examined learners' task motivation in the translation continuation task based on the "xu"-argument, an emerging view on language acquisition. This exploratory study examined how Chinese English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners' task motivation…

Conducting a survey research on demotivating factors in business English majors can enrich the theoretical research findings on demotivation and meanwhile help to explore effective methods to enhance the students' learning motivation. This study explores the construct of demotivating factors in business English majors in a Chinese university, the…

The practice of English-medium instruction (EMI) is increasing worldwide. While various obstacles and challenges facing EMI have been reported, little is known about the learning strategies employed by students to cope with EMI courses, especially among students of different disciplines. This study investigated the strategies used by students in…

This study first validates a survey on self-regulated vocabulary learning strategies. It then examines the effects on the acquisition of new second language (L2) words from a reading text of three word-focused exercise conditions: reading + marginal glosses, reading + gap-fill and reading + sentence writing. It also evaluates the extent to which…

Although grit has been an important individual factor contributing to learning, studies are limited regarding second/foreign language (L2) specific grit. Additionally, most approached it without disentangling the differential role of its two dimensions, and the context was restricted in traditional face-to-face language learning. It remains…

A handful of second/foreign language (L2) studies have examined the effects of practice schedules and reported the advantage of interleaved practice (i.e., practice multiple skills simultaneously) over blocked practice (i.e., practice one skill first and then proceed to the next one). However, no studies in the realm of L2 pragmatics have explored…

Background: Second language (L2) reading is a complex process in which two languages constantly interact. L1 reading and L2 proficiency are two well-acknowledged factors contributing to L2 reading comprehension. Other factors, such as strategy use and anxiety, might also predict L2 reading comprehension, but their roles have not been examined in…

Studies have shown that informing language learners about the literal underpinning of idioms can help them to remember these expressions. It has also been suggested that prompting learners to guess the meaning of lexical items may be beneficial because it can pique their curiosity and promote cognitive engagement. In the case of idioms, the…

This extension study investigates the relationship between self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies and first language (L1) Chinese and second language (L2) English reading test performance among 190 primary six students in mainland China, building upon the findings by Tse et al. (2022). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the acceptable…

This research examines the impact of online help-seeking strategies--both adaptive and peer-based--on promoting self-regulated and collaborative learning skills, as well as language learning outcomes, among Chinese EFL learners in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) environments. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study triangulates…

Despite the large quantity of research projects about online learning, studies on students' language learning motivation, self-efficacy belief, and metacognitive strategy use in the online learning setting are limited. The present paper aims to fill this gap through assessing learners' metacognitive strategies, language learning motivation,…

Studies on epistemic beliefs in L2 research are in a nascent stage. Acknowledging deeply rooted and complex intersections between prevalent cultural norms within a society, individually held beliefs, and mutually shared opinions among members of a social group, this Q methodological study explored Chinese university students' rationales for…

Although EFL engagement has gained increasing attention, factors and mechanisms of EFL writing engagement have been rarely explored. Inspired by the ecological systems theory, the current study aims to explore the joint effect of perceived classroom environment, socio-emotional learning competence and motivation regulation strategy on writing…

This longitudinal mixed-method study investigated effects of the reading-while-listening mode on the incidental learning of two dimensions of vocabulary knowledge, namely receptive knowledge and productive knowledge, in a Chinese EFL classroom context. Additionally, EFL learners' attitudes toward the reading-while-listening mode of incidental…

The primary goal of the present study was to examine the relationship between academic buoyancy, academic emotions, and self-regulated learning (SRL) writing strategies in the second or foreign language (L2) writing context. Particularly, we aimed to investigate whether the relationships between writing buoyancy and SRL writing strategies…