Background: The rise of intelligent chatbots powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning has ignited interest in their potential for revolutionising second language (L2) acquisition and foreign language learning (FLL). While their potential seems vast, understanding their actual impact on learning outcomes requires comprehensive…

Background: While a substantial number of studies have investigated English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL/L2 English) anxiety, they predominantly examined it from a unidimensional perspective, overlooking the potential insights offered by examining language-skill-specific L2 anxiety from a multidimensional lens. Moreover, prior research has…

Background study: Although the number of computer-based instruction has increased drastically, the understanding of how design features of learning modality can affect learning remains incomplete. This partly stems from studies' heavy focus on modified output. Therefore, how interactive nature of computer-mediated learning feeds into learning is…

Background: Student engagement has been conceptualised and operationalised in various learning environments. However, there is currently a lack of established scales to measure student engagement in synchronous online learning. One possible reason is the existence of the conceptual and structural ambiguity regarding student engagement. Objective:…

Background: The use of chatbots as learning assistants is receiving increasing attention in language learning due to their ability to converse with students using natural language. Previous reviews mainly focused on only one or two narrow aspects of chatbot use in language learning. This review goes beyond merely reporting the specific types of…

Background: While automatic speech recognition (ASR) is increasingly used for commercial purposes, its influence on the learners' linguistic performance in terms of oral complexity, accuracy and fluency was under-explored. To date, few studies have been conducted to investigate how the dictation ASR technology could be incorporated into language…

Background: This study examines the evolution of English speaking proficiency test methods, which have traditionally relied on face-to-face interactions to assess communicative language competence. Recently, computer-based language tests have also been used on a larger scale, albeit with concerns about their impact on measurement. Objectives: This…

Background: Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots have shown great application potential and research value in the field of language learning, especially in second language acquisition (SLA). Objectives: This study aims to validate the value of GenAI chatbots for SLA and elucidate which moderating variables affect learning outcomes.…

Background: Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has long been advocated to promote students' language study outcomes. However, little is known about how using instant messaging applications (an example of MALL) affect student motivation, language anxiety, and actual achievement. Objectives: To help close this gap, we have conducted a…

Background: In a context where synchronous online teaching has become a new trend of instruction for online education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is valuable and insightful to examine what factors contribute to teachers' satisfaction with synchronous online teaching. Objective: Informed by the technology acceptance model (TAM), this study…

Background: Given the advancement of mobile and sensing technology, the incorporation of augmented reality (AR) in context-aware ubiquitous learning (CAUL) has offered significant benefits to oral communication development in foreign language learning. Although a great number of studies have been dedicated in this field, only a little research was…

This paper reviews the theoretical and pedagogical affordances and challenges highlighted in studies on correcting second language (L2) learners' errors via computer-mediated feedback (CMF) in blended and distance learning. The study aimed at understanding and conveying the reported challenges and affordances of CMF to inform the computer-assisted…

Integrating computer-mediated intercultural communication (CMIC) activities into language curricula has been discussed as an innovative approach. Despite the increasing number of successful examples reporting positive outcomes of adopting CMIC activities in language-learning environments, it has also been noted that there are significant…

This paper reports on a study investigating the potential effect of synchronous and asynchronous text-based computer-mediated communication (CMC) on oral fluency development of second-language (L2) learners. Sixty-three intermediate learners of English were randomly assigned to one of three groups (two experimental groups and one control group),…

Anxiety plays an influential role in foreign language learning. However, a lack of attention was paid to examining the effects of anxiety levels on learning performance and gaming performance in digital game-based learning. To this end, this study developed a game-based English learning system and investigated how different levels of anxiety…