The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education has heralded new paradigms for language learning, with conversational AI chatbots emerging as potent tools for fostering learner autonomy. Therefore, this article explores how conversational AI chatbots support and reinforce Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) in language acquisition. It…

Even though the importance of corrective feedback (CF) is widely recognized, there is no agreement on the most effective type of CF for promoting self-regulation. Thus, this study adopts a sociocultural perspective on learning and employs dynamic assessment (DA) as a CF form. DA is considered a theoretically promising approach to CF as it focuses…

Based on the concept of "learner agency", this single case study examines the self-instructed language learning process of a language learner with ChatGPT since May 2024. To serve the purpose of the study, qualitative data were collected through a semi-structured interview, the participant's chat logs with the bot, and his learning…

While much second language acquisition research has focused on characteristics of in-class language study, little is known about the characteristics and effectiveness of out-of-class language study. This exploratory study addresses this gap by analyzing questionnaire data from 707 adult students enrolled in intensive (6-16 months) language study…

There has recently been a growing interest in social justice language education, with the goal of challenging entrenched social, cultural and economic hierarchies within educational institutions and the society at large. Contributing to this line of research, the present study focused on an online conversation club that aimed to develop EFL…

In this preliminary study, we investigate distance Chinese language learners' social strategies in three learning contexts: self-directed learning outside synchronous online classes, assessment task completion online, and synchronous online class participation. In doing so, we hope to advance our understanding of what is involved in social…

Self-Directed Learning (SDL) has been the focus of attention on the part of scholars for at least four decades. However, it is with the advent of technology and the possibilities offered by the Internet that researchers and practitioners have begun to look more closely at what students do autonomously to support their own learning outside of the…

While primary studies on technology-mediated informal foreign language (FL) learning are increasingly popular, research synthesis on self-directed FL learning in incidental, out-of-class contexts are scarce. Therefore, this article seeks to address this gap in the literature through a qualitative research synthesis (QRS) on language learning in…

Although the literature on computer-assisted language learning has demonstrated that digital tools such as online translators and bilingual dictionaries offer affordances to second language (or foreign language) writers of English to solve linguistic (lexical and syntactic) issues, the extent to which digital technology supports multilingual…

YouTube polyglots are an online community whose origin can be traced to the late 2000s, when language learning forums and YouTube videos of language learning enthusiasts began appearing online. This article draws on critical discourse analysis to examine the discourses of language learning that are manifest in polyglot videos and websites. It also…

Online education transforms many aspects of teaching and learning in higher education. International students studying abroad already face considerable stress and negative emotions, and the transition to online learning can further intensify their learning anxiety. This study systematically investigated the factors associated with international…

Language MOOC research has evolved over the last three years to a more mature stage in which researchers have gained a deeper comprehension of the theories that enable effective language learning in this format. The application of these theoretical advances should be reflected in the instructional design of the courses. This study is based on this…

The paper presents the results of a study that aimed to investigate fluctuations in the levels of boredom in the virtual world of "Second Life" (SL) and factors accounting for such changes as reported by a single student of English philology. The participant took part in 15 sessions over the period of one summer semester. The learner was…

This innovations in practice article introduces a chatbot that was developed to support and motivate second language learners during the COVID-19 pandemic. The chatbot was designed to facilitate active, out-of-class language learning to supplement in-class input. It can adapt to learners' abilities and pace by chatting with them, thus providing…

By using small focus group discussions, the present study aims to gain insight into students' perceptions about the impact of WhatsApp use in their learning process. More specifically, this study presents a cross-cultural analysis of British and Spanish university students' personal beliefs about the effectiveness of using WhatsApp to complete…