The perception of the teacher as the authority in the classroom is deep-rooted in education yet this notion seems to contradict the fundamental values of democratic education. Schools grant teachers an abundance of authority and decision-making power. The pedagogical implications of how teachers use this power in the classroom are not…

This paper reports on part of a larger study of critical language pedagogy (CLP) in university EFL classes in Japan. Through in-depth semi-structured interviews, we examined the philosophies, approaches, pedagogic choices, and adaptations of nineteen self-identifying critical pedagogues. Here, we focus on the theme of student receptivity to the…

Digital games are increasingly used in education to boost engagement and reduce stress. Digital game-based learning (DGBL) has improved the learning experience. However, further investigation is needed to determine the specific impact of commercially available, off-the-shelf (COTS) video games on English language skills. This study provides a…

The action-oriented approach (AoA) is a powerful basis to inform teaching, learning, and assessment in the classroom that identifies learners as social agents and focuses on language learning through language use. This paper answers the call for developments that help teachers teach and learners learn in an AoA-informed way. We argue that…

This study investigates whether Japanese university students' motivation to communicate in English was enhanced through the application of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) practices. Fifty-three non-English majors took a CLIL English class that utilized massive open online course (MOOC) content for a semester. They gave…

This book explores alternative approaches to foreign language education in a context which is traditionally dominated by English-only approaches, and widely viewed as highly monolingual. It examines the grassroots classroom practices of teachers and their assistants involved in plurilingual education in the first longitudinal research of its type…

Research on task-based language teaching (TBLT) has focused on the relationship between task repetition (TR) and the linguistic aspects necessary for the language success of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. Foreign language anxiety (FLA) is not an exception. However, very few studies have explored the influence of TR on FLA in young…

Vocabulary knowledge is of paramount importance when learning a second language. It requires effective and practical classroom vocabulary learning methods for long-term acquisition. Specific learning aspects helping the learner remember vocabulary such as spaced repetition and retrieval practice have shown efficacy but are often disconnected from…

The relationship between concepts of 'native-speakerism', English language education and their effects on local stakeholders are continually evolving. As such, this paper critically analysed native-speakerist ideologies in the Japanese EFL teaching context with the aim of illustrating the complicated nature of native-speakerism as it currently…

This qualitative, case-study research explores the English language learning history of a Japanese pre-service teacher by analysing five English-language poems and a self-reflective essay regarding her experiences of learning the target language. The methodology chosen in this study was a poetic inquiry through which the investigator reconstructed…

With the goal of contributing to ongoing efforts to decolonize ELT, this article addresses the potential of microanalytic research into classroom interaction in disrupting hegemonic forces of coloniality. Microanalytic research provides a step-by-step, minute examination of interactional discourse, and it has the capacity to reveal gaps between…

Although ostensibly a free and open society, Japan is often seen to be lagging behind in terms of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other (LGBTQ+) rights and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues. This lack of understanding leads to a high degree of invisibility for LGBTQ+ members and a lack of inclusivity in educational curriculums. In…

Despite the importance of speaking in developing learners' command of language, due to a paucity of research in the domain, little is understood of teachers' systematic strategy instructional practices to improve the quality of their students' utterances. This study sought to address this gap in knowledge through the study of the practices of an…

In this critical essay, Yumi Matsumoto uses the concept of English as a lingua franca to understand multilinguals' communicative practices and to support an alternative understanding of English language use among international students in US university classrooms. The essay draws on two examples of university classroom interactions involving…

Research in language learning indicates that process drama (PD), an educational approach where students and teachers work in and out of role to explore themes and issues, can be well suited to the Japanese higher education (HE) context. Despite the benefits highlighted in the literature, PD remains a niche approach to language teaching and…