Taking the Norwegian construction industry as its site of study, this article discusses under which conditions migrant workers in the Norwegian construction industry obtain the status as new speakers in the workplace. These conditions are determined by language proficiency requirements and speaker hierarchies that are constructed through language…

Current study investigated applicability of the 9th Grade EFL Program with regard to proficiency descriptors and educational principles of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Qualitative inquiry was followed by adopting a phenomenological approach to conduct the study. The data were collected through document analyses,…

There is much discussion about and many policies to address achievement gaps in education among groups of students. The focus here is on a different gap and it is argued that it also should be of concern. Speed gaps are differences in how quickly different groups of students answer the questions on academic assessments. To investigate some speed…

Task-based vocabulary learning has recently attracted lots of attention in the field of second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition. This article compares the effects of input and output tasks on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' acquisition of vocabulary knowledge. Four intact classes of EFL learners were randomly assigned to one of…

Task-based language teaching comprises both a novel language teaching approach and a burgeoning area of study in the field of second-language acquisition. This study investigated the effects of task type and planning conditions on the accuracy of learners' oral performance during pre-task planning. Eighty intermediate EFL learners were assigned to…

Gifted children are described as very talented children who achieve more than their age mates in one or more domains (Steiner and Carr in Educ Psychol Rev 15(3):215-246, 2003). These children potentially share a cognitive advantage enabling them to excel in language, but also in other domains. In the present study we explored whether gifted…

Prior studies of sex-based differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have yielded mixed findings. This study examined ASD symptom severity and functional correlates in a sample of 34 high-functioning females with ASD (HFASD; M age = 8.93; M IQ = 104.64) compared to 34 matched males (M age = 8.96; M IQ = 104.44) using the Social Responsiveness…

This paper focuses on the design and evaluation of a theory-based computer-assisted summary writing learning environment called Summary Writing-PAL (SW-PAL). The SW-PAL was developed based on four aspects: summarizing strategies, learning theories, prior knowledge, and cognitive load. A quasi-experiment that involved 58 undergraduates majoring in…

The use of peer assessment has been investigated for decades. However, the results of different studies are mixed. In this study, the implementation of peer assessment was attempted to assess students' reading aloud and oral presentation in two higher diploma/associate degree English language courses in Hong Kong. Students' opinions towards the…

In an effort to create enriched language learning environments, language teachers, program and course developers, and publishing companies have long sought novel ideas and alternatives. Thus, a wide range of information and communications technologies, which have manifested themselves in the form of virtual learning environments, web-based…

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to investigate the challenges and barriers that Saudi graduate students experience with the English entrance exam, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The sample of this study consisted of six Saudi graduate students and two English teachers from two different English schools in…

Language is a complex phenomenon whether it counts in speaking or writing. Teaching and learning English language is much demanded in today's globalization era. The increasing need of English language learning has demanded English language teaching around the globe. Therefore, the demand for language learning needs a tremendous quality in language…

The U.S. job market increasingly seeks culturally responsive, multilingual employees a goal poorly aligned with U.S. higher education policies. This paper reviews recent K-16 enrollment in foreign language courses, with a focus on higher education. The individual and societal case for foreign language immersion throughout the educational pipeline…

Research into the effects of extensive reading (ER) in second language acquisition has surged over the past few decades. Many studies report several benefits that come from engaging in ER, including reading rate gains. However, these studies almost exclusively focus on English language learners and tend to be limited by their lack of control over…

The Algerian English foreign language (EFL) baccalaureate is a high stake exam that assesses both students' learning and their critical thinking skills. Thus, devising appropriate and effective exam questions may be a problematic issue for tests designers. Under the requirements of the current Algerian English curriculum, the exam questions must…