This study explored appropriate speaking activities for speakers of different proficiency levels by measuring the changes in their brain blood flow with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Fifty adult speakers and learners of English of various proficiency levels participated in the study by undertaking four types of task: a single-speaker picture…

Proficiency in a second language depends on different factors; some of these are individual, while others depend more on the social context where the learning takes place. This article describes a study that examined variables that can lead to proficiency in English as a second language. The study was carried out among first semester university…

Linguistic research on bilinguals has sometimes focused on either first vs. second acquired language or dominant vs. non-dominant language despite situations in which the dominant and first language are no longer the same. Many bilinguals in the U.S. and other countries experience a change in language dominance from a home language to a majority…

This study investigated the effects of two different planning time conditions (i.e., operational [20 s] and extended length [90 s]) for the lecture listening-into-speaking tasks of the "TOEFL iBT"® test for candidates at different proficiency levels. Seventy international students based in universities and language schools in the United…

Students' attitudes toward mathematics play a key role in their academic achievements. Still, concerns regarding the low grades in mathematics tests of engineering students have raised questions about the reasons for their poor performance. Prior research has mentioned the impact of engineering students' attitudes on their grades. Few studies have…

This study investigated the issue of L1 use in the L2 classroom from the students' perspective. Specifically, the focus of this study was on the characteristics of learners who desired L1 classroom support in their L2 learning. For the purposes of the study, a convenience sample of 380 Japanese university-level EFL participants completed a series…

In recent decades, there has been an attempt to introduce the concept of "assessment for learning" into English language classrooms based on a belief that assessment can be utilized to assist learners in the learning process, not just for teachers to make judgments and decisions. In so doing, the learning-oriented assessment frameworks…

In an EFL context, writing in English is often considered challenging for second language learners. Previous studies (Khumphee & Yodkamlue, 2017; Owu-Ewie & Williams, 2017; Richard & Renandya, 2002) suggest that a lack of sufficient cognitive and rhetorical skills for generating ideas and producing coherent compositions can be one of…

Translanguaging as pedagogical practice and a theory of language has gained increasing importance in recent years. However, little research has reported Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language students' perceptions of translanguaging; neither has research examined the predictive effects of the factors contributing to the amount of student…

This study investigated the effects of advance organizers on Taiwanese middle school students' English listening comprehension after they watched videos. The participants were 82 eighth-graders in Taiwan, and they were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control and two experimental groups. Two language proficiency levels- low-to-medium…

EFL teacher-educators and teachers are seen as ignorant of teaching aural skills for referring to resource shortages is a common mechanism for their scapegoating. It hinders students' opportunity to boost oral proficiency in the abundance of their smartphones in the classrooms to learn aural and oral skills. Hence, Moodle 3.0, a learning…

This mixed method case study examines South Korean university students' social and academic interactions with international students. Data included a closed-ended survey, an open-ended survey, and a focus group. The participants comprised university students studying at a mid-sized university in central South Korea. Results indicate that students…

This study examined the impact of learner proficiency on the occurrence and resolution of language-related episodes (LREs) in rehearsal of interactive speaking tasks and on the subsequent use of language items from LREs during performance of the same tasks in front of the class. Forty-eight learners from six intact English as a foreign language…

This study sought to investigate the impact of using Cambly, a computer-mediated communication tool, on the speaking proficiency of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. Further, it aimed to explore the participants' perceptions of using Cambly. The study employed an experimental design featuring a mixed-methods approach to data collection…

Over the last several decades, graduate students from engineering courses have faced a challenge of regular rejections in the work market despite their outstanding academic qualifications. In response to this challenge, many universities across the globe have introduced in their curricula the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses tailored to…