Language learner attitudes have been linked to motivation, willingness to communicate, and attainment in second language (L2) learning research. Yet, explorations of learner attitudes remain scarce, especially concerning learners’ perspectives on the language instruction they receive in schools. To contribute to a more complete picture of L2 English instruction, we gathered data from 2,721 adolescent

This study explored the role of dinner table conversations in language socialization within three Chinese immigrant families in the U.S., examining how these interactions shape linguistic competence and cultural transmission. Analysis of audio recordings revealed that children in these families actively participated in language socialization, with older children playing a key role in socializing younger

Language learning behaviors, such as procrastination and engagement, are concrete actions closely linked to learning outcomes, but our understanding of them, especially procrastination, is limited. Boredom is a ubiquitous negative emotion among second language (L2) learners. In researching learning behaviors and boredom, previous L2 studies have rarely considered all the core motivational variables

While researchers in the second language (L2) field often consider that L2 anxiety determines subsequent L2 achievement, an emerging line of research suggests that language skills better predict L2 anxiety. This viewpoint has yet to be experimentally evaluated, and thus it motivated the present study. Two groups of university language students enrolled in the Department of English as an L2 were followed

This study investigates the relative online effects of structured-input practice on the acquisition of English passive and active sentences. The main purpose of this study is to compare native and non-native processing of English active and passive sentences. Non-native Chinese first language (L1) learners (26 participants) received structured-input instructional treatment on the target feature under

English is widely recognized as the language of science in the globalized world, with many higher education institutions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) adopting it as their medium of instruction. This study used the qualitative research approach of phenomenography to investigate engineering students’ experiences and conceptions of learning English as a foreign language at a university in the UAE

Despite the growing interest in evaluating contextualized task-based language teaching (TBLT), evaluation studies in ‘difficult contexts’, such as monolingual English as a foreign language (EFL) contexts with low-proficiency learners, remain limited. Employing a macro-evaluation framework, this study evaluates a TBLT program implemented in English for specific purposes (ESP) classrooms with low-proficiency

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) writing tools in second language (L2) academic writing presents both opportunities and challenges for medical education. This study employed a SWOT (strengths–weaknesses–opportunities–threats) analysis to examine medical students’ perspectives on using AI writing tools in their academic writing practice. Forty-two medical students from a major Iranian

This article reports on a systematic review of oral task repetition research carried out between 1996 and 2023. This review focuses on the methodological features of these studies, specifically on issues related to how tasks have been spaced and repeated within this body of research. This review starts with an overview of the concept of input spacing and the major methodological paradigms that have

Foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE), a recently conceptualized notion of language teachers’ positive emotion, has received a burgeoning interest in positive psychology studies and in the field of second language teaching research. However, due to the pure novelty of the concept of FLTE and the excessive reliance on quantitative research methods in capturing its correlates, the way FLTE can be

Teacher burnout and attrition are significant concerns in the United States and globally, particularly in high-needs areas such as world language (WL) teaching. Despite extensive international research on teacher burnout and attrition, few studies have specifically examined how demographic characteristics may influence burnout and intent to quit among WL teachers. To address this gap, this study employed

Teaching critical literacy (CL) as an explicit intended learning outcome is essential for operating in a global and interconnected world. Considering the limited research on in-service teachers’ development and enactment of critical literacy practices, particularly in second language education, this study explores a professional-development (PD) intervention aimed at promoting critical literacy practices

This study examined the perceptions and motivation of 64 pre-service English language teaching (ELT) teachers at an international university in North Cyprus towards technology use in online language education. It employed a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS 25 while the analysis of the qualitative data involved a combination of thematic analysis performed manually

In contexts of both English as a second language (ESL) and English as a foreign language (EFL), there is an ongoing effort to incorporate online graded reading materials into extensive reading programs designed for second language (L2) learners. However, it remains largely unknown to what extent these texts are suitable for L2 learners in terms of lexical demand. Based on a large corpus comprising

Considering the contribution of intelligent personal assistant (IPA) platforms to English as a foreign language (EFL) speaking courses and the insufficiency of research in this regard, the current study applied a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach to explore the impact of Google Assistant, an IPA platform, on EFL learners’ International English Language Testing System (IELTS) speaking test

This article presents and discusses findings of project-based (language) learning and teaching (PBLT) research published in English between 2002 and 2024. The purpose of our qualitative research synthesis (QRS) is to identify the macro and micro contexts, research foci, theoretical and methodological orientations, technology use as well as benefits, challenges, and regional understanding of PBLT in

Theorizing teacher identity is an important component of effective language teacher education. The current study maps the professional identities of 20 practicing teachers of English as an additional language (EAL) from two distinct contexts: Sri Lanka ( n = 10) and Australia ( n = 10). Data tapping each participant’s professional identity was elicited with semi-structured interviews structured around

It is often assumed that the most frequent English words are known by post-beginner second language learners. Yet the sheer frequency of these words and the important roles they play in discourse mean that confirmation of whether they are indeed known would be valuable for understanding second language vocabulary development and reading comprehension. This article reports on a study in which university

This article aims to explore second language (L2) teachers’ attitudes to working with multilingual refugee learners in the context of a sudden shift towards an increasingly multilingual environment caused by the influx of Ukrainian refugee children in 2022 to Polish schools. The teachers have been prepared to teach predominantly monolingual classes and have not obtained any training to meet the needs

For language learners, intonation is widely considered to be important in communicating meaning in context, but intonation is also considered by teachers to be difficult to teach, and some have even argued that it may be unteachable. This exploratory study examines whether explicit teaching of three final intonation contours (falling, rising, falling–rising) led to improved perception and production

Although recent research on both agency and social justice has paid attention to the role of these constructs in teachers’ professionalism, the scope of research on how language teachers’ agency and social justice intersect is limited. Drawing on an ecological perspective that captured teachers’ temporal and spatial perceptions, and how structural forces shape teacher agency, we explored agency and

This article reports the findings of a multiple-case study on four teachers of German as a third language (GL3) at a Swedish lower secondary school (year 7). To gain a better understanding of third language (L3) teachers’ pedagogical perceptions and practices about grammar teaching to young beginners, teacher emotions are used as a theoretical frame. The data consist of individual interviews, lesson

This article describes how a new, discourse-focused course on English for nursing purposes (ENP) was developed from scratch to fill a critical needs gap: competence in what this article calls ‘nurse–patient communicative engagement’. A needs analysis conducted for this study revealed a gap between how experienced nurses and nursing students viewed engagement. This is a key concept that the present

Exploratory talk is increasingly recognized in formal education for its role in enhancing students’ critical thinking and literacy skills, which are crucial for quality education both within and beyond school contexts. However, research shows that students often lack opportunities for inquiry-based learning and rarely receive explicit guidance on using language for reasoning, particularly in second

In response to the growing prevalence of online second language learning and the burgeoning field of international Chinese language education, this study examines the impact of multimodal inputs (MMI) on vocabulary acquisition within online environments among learners of Chinese as a second language (CSL). A teaching intervention was conducted with 90 Mongolian CSL learners, who were grouped into audiovisual

This article reports on a study that explored Japanese university students’ evolving motivational regulation by mapping its changes over one year of their studies in a collaborative project-based learning environment. An autonomy-supportive collaborative intervention was delivered to the 19 participants with varying or no experience of communicative language teaching and study abroad. Our cluster-based

In the field of English language teaching, the deeply entrenched dichotomy between ‘native English-speaking teachers’ (NESTs) and ‘non-native English-speaking teachers’ (NNESTs) has forcibly positioned NNESTs as linguistically and pedagogically inferior to their native counterparts. The prevalence of native-speaker ideologies marginalizes NNESTs in professional settings and impedes their agency enactment

This study investigates the relationship between students’ English language proficiency, their reported levels of academic English literacy, prior content knowledge and their attainment of content knowledge in English medium instruction (EMI). The study also examines students’ perceptions of difficulties with academic English literacy at different levels of English language proficiency. Pre-course

This study examines whether learners exposed to specific example sentences through data-driven learning (DDL) can not only identify generalized linguistic patterns but also apply the patterns to other expressions, thereby demonstrating that DDL is a learning method based on a usage-based model. Forty-three Japanese learners of English participated in DDL activities to study the use of six verbs from

To enhance the visibility of pragmatics in second language (L2) teacher education, this study observed the development of a Spanish-speaking graduate teaching assistant (GTA) regarding his pragmatic knowledge and reflections on potential application during a 12-week pragmatics seminar at a US public university. The Spanish GTA taught the language as the teacher of record while participating in the

With the existing research gap regarding the validation of the effects of teacher feedback, the relatively limited exploration of the correlation between teacher feedback and speaking performance, and the inadequate examination of emotions, this study endeavored to investigate the efficacy of teacher feedback in digital storytelling among learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Emphasis is

English is increasingly reinforcing its worldwide well-established position as facilitator of cross-cultural communication. This status has enhanced the use of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in European universities. As a result, a deeper understanding of all the elements participating and converging in the teaching–learning process (T-L) in EMI settings seems necessary and beneficial in

In Australia, the teaching of pronunciation is embedded in the curriculum of a national adult migrant English program offering English as an additional language (EAL) tuition to newly arrived migrants. Students in the program who have had limited opportunities to develop print literacy in English or their first languages are offered tuition in pre-level EAL classes. Teachers of these students lack

In many compulsory second language (L2) classrooms, learners routinely encounter linguistically difficult L2 reading tasks. However, it is unclear (1) how learners behaviorally engage and perform on such tasks, (2) what motivational characteristics predict their reactions, and (3) whether maladaptive learner reactions can be ameliorated. This study examined the role of two motivational constructs (attributions

The purported foreign language gains of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) over traditional EFL (English as a foreign language) programs with young learners are still unclear. Specifically, little is known about how CLIL time and timing impact grammatical complexity. Additionally, mediating factors such as socioeconomic status (SES) and extramural exposure have been rarely controlled in

With the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) tools available to anybody with internet access, English language learners are increasingly turning to these resources to improve their writing skills. By examining their utilization of AI tools to improve their writing proficiency, this research examines the perspectives of Turkish English language learners enrolled in a preparatory program at a state

While research on student engagement with oral and written corrective feedback (CF) in second language acquisition (SLA) is well established, the study of such engagement within the context of interpreting, which requires bilingual conversion, is not as developed. Building on Ellis’ tripartite conceptualization of student engagement – comprising affective, cognitive, and behavioral responses – this

This study investigates the intricate dynamics of student–faculty interactions in asynchronous online communication, focusing in particular on professors’ responses to non-native English-speaking students’ (NNSs’) favor-asking during online exchanges. Through qualitative analysis of email exchanges, this research examines how students articulate their concerns and requests for grade reassessment, and

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools have shown great potential for assisting teachers in their teaching routines. However, there is an urgent need for more empirical research to investigate the implementation and effectiveness of these tools. This study aimed to explore how teachers in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context perceived and used a generative AI-based tool, ChatPDF, to

This study explores some of the implications of policy changes relating to the composition and use of word lists for French, German, and Spanish as foreign languages in secondary schools in England. Against the backdrop of literature relating to word list creation and use, we review requirements for the vocabulary content of high-stakes examinations in these languages under current and new policy,

This study addresses the long-observed phenomenon of foreign language learners avoiding particle verbs from a novel perspective. Departing from the decades-old debate about the uncertain grammatical status of particle verbs, recent studies have proposed to reconceptualize particle verbs not as words or phrases but as constructions. Constructions are holistic form–meaning representations of usage regularities

This study examined learners’ perceptions of telecollaboration, specifically an email exchange between learners in the US and Germany, and of peer and teacher corrective feedback (CF) during the exchange. Participants were 38 learners from a second-semester German course at a US university. Their virtual exchange partners were learners of English at a German high school. Learners were assigned to a

Although the number of studies into grit in second/foreign language (L2) learning is on the rise, available empirical evidence is still scant, particularly in relation to links between the two facets of (L2) grit (i.e. perseverance and interest), positive (i.e. enjoyment, curiosity) and negative (i.e. in-class and after-class boredom, anxiety) emotions as well as motivation. In addition, most research

This introduction to Language Teaching Research’s Special Issue “Challenges and Practices to Advance Sustainable and Inclusive Practitioner Research” introduces readers to central themes and issues surrounding inclusive and sustainable Practitioner Research (PR). Three traditions that foreground practitioners as active agents (Action Research, Exploratory Practice, Reflective Practice) are discussed

Reflecting the increased importance of early English foreign language education globally, Austrian primary English as a foreign language (EFL) education has recently been substantially reformed, ‘upgrading’ EFL classes to a mandatory graded subject. With the backdrop of these imminent curricular changes, this study examined the perspectives of 27 Austrian primary school teachers from all provinces

A significant body of research supports the affective benefits of drama activities in foreign language (FL) learning, yet little is known about how to train teachers to implement such activities. In this study, we tested a professional development program (PDP) aimed at galvanizing FL teachers to integrate improvisational drama techniques (IDTs) into their repertoire. IDTs are defined here as activities

The concept of willingness to communicate (WTC) is pivotal in understanding student engagement in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms. As a dynamic and multifaceted construct, WTC is subject to continual fluctuations throughout the communication process, often changing situationally. Traditionally, learner silence in class or during second language (L2) conversations is perceived negatively

Taking the perspective of a language program director (LPD), this practitioner research (PR) study describes how analysis of learners’ reflections written for an advanced undergraduate German course in the United States helped an LPD see how students had experienced learning grammar in lower-level instruction. The study analyses a semester-long project based on the PR framework of exploratory practice

Second language acquisition is a complex process that involves numerous challenges and is influenced by various factors, including linguistic competence and classroom settings. This study examines the concerns and emotions experienced by 43 adult international students learning Maltese as a second language. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the research collected both qualitative and quantitative

Although multiple factors influence language proficiency in instructed settings, the prevalence of content and language integrated learning (CLIL) research in recent decades has placed intensity of exposure (via CLIL lessons) at center stage, sidelining other variables. This study aims to rectify this by examining the impact of CLIL alongside three additional factors: extramural English (EE), socioeconomic

The potential of model texts as a feedback instrument (MTFI) in second language (L2) writing has been explored for about two decades and continues to receive increasing interest from L2 scholars. However, to date, there is still an absence of a comprehensive review of studies in this particular area. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) procedure

Research into second or foreign language (L2) learning has demonstrated that L2 anxiety, perceived proficiency, and L2 willingness to communicate (L2WTC) profoundly impact language learning outcomes. However, the complex interplay between these variables has yet to be fully explored, as these factors are dynamic and context-specific and can vary across different learners and learning environments.

This study explores the interplay between task repetition and task motivation in second language (L2) writing, specifically focusing on syntactic complexity, accuracy, and lexical complexity (CAL). Aligning with Dörnyei’s call to balance cognitive and affective factors in task-based language teaching (TBLT), the research involved 100 advanced mid-level learners of English as a second language (ESL)

Evidence from recent studies has shown that sustained perseverance and passion for long-term goals in the domain of second language (L2) learning – a personality trait called L2 grit – is associated with various aspects of language learning, including positive psychological attributes (e.g. motivation, beliefs, and emotions), actions (e.g. learning efforts and strategy use), and achievement (e.g. course

While existing research has documented that the reading medium significantly impacts language learners’ reading comprehension processes and outcomes, empirical evidence on how the reading medium influences reading emotions is lacking. The present study contributes to the field by investigating whether reading emotions (i.e. enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom) of learners of Spanish as a second language