This research formulates and tests an AI-integrated e-book to increase English for Specific Purposes (ESP) learning by health science students in order to enhance speaking performance. Conventional ESP materials in health sciences are typically static and non-interactive, limiting opportunities for real-time communicative practice. Using a…

Early Words with Childminders is a programme aiming to support the practice of childminders by providing them evidence-based activities and strategies that foster children's early language development, and confidence and skills to engage with parents. Piloted between September and December 2023, the programme provides practitioners with training…

Getting it Right from the Start (GIRFTS) is a research study that aims to implement a response to intervention (RTI) framework in early primary school (Foundation and Grade 1) to improve oral language and reading. RTI is a multi-tiered conceptual framework that supports student learning through delivery of high-quality classroom instruction, early…

This paper investigates the implementation of a reading program designed for third grade elementary school classrooms in Austria. Using a mixed-methods approach, lesson types were identified, respective class compositions analyzed, and the effects on students' reading gains examined. The results show that the lesson types seem to reflect learner…

International and cross-cultural experiences are critical to effectively prepare language teachers for the increasingly diverse classroom, as they promote language proficiency and cultural awareness and sensitivity. This research captures the multi-national engagements of pre-service language teachers enrolled at a Turkish university. Participants…

This case study examines the integration of a picture book app in an after-school program in Switzerland, focusing on challenges, benefits and chances of promoting reading as part of the after-school program through the perspectives of caregivers. The study explores the potential of digital media, particularly picture book apps, to enhance…

A relatively small body of research has been conducted on the near- and long-term effects of study abroad (SA) to date. This existing research suggests that SA effects on language skills tend to be volatile, while the impact on various aspects of learners' personal, academic, and professional development may be longer-lasting. Yet, learner…

While internationally there is long-standing research activity on the effectiveness of language contacts (especially in the form of mobility stays) at tertiary level and a number of literature syntheses on this field have been published, research projects at the primary and secondary level are still comparatively rare and the results are often not…

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of remedial programs on the performance of low achievers in English language departments at Yanbu English Language Institute and Preparatory Year Program (YELIPYP). The purpose of the current paper seeks to highlight the key elements of the role of remedial programs and subsequently aims to develop…

Foundational literacy is a crucial step in a child's development. The shift from "learning to read" to "reading to learn" marks a critical turning point, opening the door to all subsequent steps of their education. Yet in Egypt, nearly six in ten children are unable to read or write a simple story by the age of 10. This…

Numerous studies suggest that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encounter language problems related to syntax. In particular, these children face difficulties in comprehending and answering complex language structures in Arabic. This paper examines whether a prototype Arabic assistive application can have an impact on the ability of…

This study explores the results of an eTwinning project involving four countries, with a focus on collaboration between students from historically distant backgrounds: Turkey and Greece. It primarily aims to foster empathy and understanding, alleviate language anxiety, and enhance foreign language competence among the participants. Using a…

Service learning is a collaborative approach to teaching and learning built around reciprocal relationships between universities and community organisations. Recently, the University of Canberra established the 'Good Start in Life' (GSIL) service-learning program to address growing gaps in all domains of child development. This study explores…

This paper describes the research protocol for the Educational and Developmental Gains in Early Childhood (EDGE) Study, which will examine the implementation of two years of funded kindergarten prior to the first year of school in Victoria, Australia. EDGE will examine whether children's language, cognitive, social-emotional, and behavioural…

Children with developmental language disorder (DLD) are known to present difficulties in storytelling, both in macrostructure (i.e., narrative scheme) and in microstructure (i.e., language complexity). Studies also show that children with DLD can improve their narrative macrostructural performance through specific intervention. While most…