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Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Are they part of the equation? – foreign language teachers versus language attrition A diagnostic study

Małgorzata Szupica-Pyrzanowska , Katarzyna Malesa

Language: EN | Published: 12-12-2017 | Abstract

Non-pathological language attrition has been thoroughly investigated in the context of first as well as second language (for review, see Bardovi-Harlig & Stringer, 2010; Schmid & Mehotcheva, 2012). However, still not enough is known about language attrition in a different population. Foreign language teachers, who often fight an uphill battle trying to prevent their learners’ lack of progress, may also face a different challenge. Namely, their own linguistic skills may regress as well. Therefore, the inquiry should be extended so as to include this population. As a result, in the present study we aim to investigate the extent to which FL teachers are aware of the phenomenon of language attrition. The diagnostic study was motivated by anecdotal evidence and frequent interactions with foreign language teachers. Our observations rested on the assumption that FL teachers may experience stagnation in the language they teach or may even be on the verge of language regression. 21 primary school non-native foreign language teachers (mean age 29) representing both rural and urban areas participated in the study. All participants had a B.A. in elementary education and were pursuing their M.A. in language teaching. In our pilot study, they were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire including both closed-ended and open-ended questions. The preliminary analysis reveals factors contributing to language loss among foreign language teachers and suggests future research directions.

2017-12-12



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Some Libya EFL University Students’ Attitudes towards Using Authentic Materials for Reading Classes Abstract This study investigates the attitudes of 100 Libyan English foreign language (EFL) university students towards using authentic materials in the l

Salama Embark Saleh

Language: EN | Published: 30-06-2017 | Abstract

This study investigates the attitudes of 100 Libyan English foreign language (EFL) university students towards using authentic materials in the language classroom. The quantitative data of this study was collected through close-ended questionnaire. The majority of the students believed that exposing foreign language (FL) learners to authentic materials has a positive impact on developing their reading skills and on enhancing their awareness about the culture of the target language. However, they emphasize the importance of introducing these materials in small portions and the need for promoting teachers’ and students’ motivation and interest in these materials

Despite the challenges and the difficulties that may impede the process of introducing authentic material in the FL classroom, it represents a valuable and useful resource for teachers to use in order to motivate students and develop their language proficiency.

2017-06-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

New Conceptualizations of Language Aptitude - The Potential of Working Memory in Second Language Acquisition (SLA)

Beata Grymska

Language: EN | Published: 25-06-2016 | Abstract

The chapter sheds light on new conceptualizations of foreign language aptitude by emphasizing the role of working memory (WM). It is organised into 3 sections. The first section presents a brief historical overview of the research on language aptitude based on John Carroll’s work. The second part elaborates on working memory construct discussing Baddeley’s multi-component model of WM and its functions.

The paper proposes incorporating working memory as a crucial component of language aptitude construct. In the light of the issue mentioned above, the third section of the article focuses on the newest and original empirical evidence which supports the role of WM in different aspects of L2 learning, i.e. reading, listening, speaking, writing and bilingual interpretation as well as vocabulary and grammar learning. Its concluding part reflects upon the relevance of language aptitude paving the way for future research.

2016-06-25



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Another Look at the L2 Motivational Self System of Polish Students Majoring in English: Insights from Interview Data

Mirosław Pawlak

Language: EN | Published: 10-08-2016 | Abstract

One of the most recent theoretical developments when it comes to the role of motivation in second language learning is the theory of the L2 motivational self system (e.g., Dörnyei, 2005). It has been proposed in recognition of the fact that learning a foreign language does not only involve acquiring a new communicative code, but also affects the personality of an individual, the difficulties involved in applying Gardner’s (1985) concept of integrativeness to foreign language contexts, as well as the mounting empirical evidence (e.g., Dörnyei & Csizér, 2002), demonstrating that key components of motivation, such as integrativeness, instrumentality, attitudes towards L2 speakers or manifestations of motivated learning behavior are intricately interrelated. As a result, the notion of integrativeness has been reinterpreted as the L2-specific aspect of an individual’s ideal self and the motivational system is believed to comprise the following three dimensions: (a) ideal L2 self, which is related to the abilities and skills that learners envisage themselves possessing, which may trigger a desire to reduce the distance between their actual and ideal selves, (b) ought-to L2 self, which is connected with the attributes that the learners believe are important in the eyes of significant others, and (c) L2 learning experiences, which is a context-related factor reflecting the nature of the immediate learning environment and learning experiences. This framework was applied in a qualitative study, the participants of which were 28 English majors in the last year of a three-year BA program who were interviewed about their motives for learning the target language. The analysis revealed that although motivational influences which have traditionally been regarded as important do play a role, there are a number of factors, such as family influence, instrumentality, knowledge orientation or international posture, that are also of vital importance.

2016-08-10



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Do Girls Have All the Fun? Anxiety and Enjoyment in the Foreign Language Classroom

Jean-Marc Dewaele , Peter MacIntyre , Carmen Boudreau , Livia Dewaele

Language: EN | Published: 25-06-2016 | Abstract

The present study focuses on gender differences in Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) among 1746 FL learners (1287 females, 449 males) from around the world. We used 21 items Likert scale ratings reflecting various aspects of FLE (AUTHORS), and 8 items extracted from the FLCAS (Horwitz et al., 1986).  An open question on FLE also provided us with narrative data.  Previous research on the database, relying on an average measure of FLE and FLCA (AUTHORS) revealed significant gender differences.  The present study looks at gender differences in FLE and FLCA at item level.

Independent t-tests revealed that female participants reported having significantly more fun in the FL class where they felt that they were learning interesting things, and they were prouder than male peers of their FL performance.  However, female participants also experienced significantly more (mild) FLCA: they worried significantly more than male peers about their mistakes and were less confident in using the FL. Our female participants thus reported experiencing both more positive and more mild negative emotions in the FL classroom.  We argue that this heightened emotionality benefits the acquisition and use of the FL.

2016-06-25



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Age Factor in the Foreign Language Class: What Do Learners Think?

Simone E. Pfenninger , David Singleton

Language: EN | Published: 25-06-2016 | Abstract

The present paper analyzes beliefs about the age factor of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) with different starting ages (early vs. late starters), in different grades (in Year 7 at the beginning and in Year 12 at the end of secondary school), and with different levels of EFL proficiency (high achievers vs. low achievers). The sample for the study was drawn from a larger sample of 200 secondary school students who were part of a longitudinal study, undertaken in Switzerland between 2008 and 2015. From this sample we selected 10 early starting high-achievers, 10 early starting low-achievers, 10 late starting high-achievers, and 10 late starting low-achievers. A qualitative analysis of language experience essays written at the beginning and at the end of secondary school revealed that learners with different starting ages, in different grades, and with different levels of proficiency displayed different beliefs about the age factor.  The overall lack of age effect on FL achievement found in our previous studies may be explicable in terms of a number of affective factors (e.g. disengagement of the early starters due to language practices of the classroom) and contextual factors (e.g. transition from English in primary to English in secondary).

2016-06-25



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Positive institutions: Case study

Katarzyna Budzińska

Language: EN | Published: 14-12-2018 | Abstract

Positive psychology was founded on three main pillars: positive emotions, positive character traits associated with good living and positive institutions that create conditions for students to flourish (Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi, 2000). Nevertheless, the research in psychology so far has been concentrating on positive emotions and character strengths. Enabling institutions have been the least well studied of the three pillars. A salient additional perspective, as MacIntyre and Mercer (2014) propound, would be to concentrate on the context in which students can experience enjoyment and flourish in foreign language learning. I try to fill the niche by analyzing a language school in the further education context in Poland which seems to be a positive institution. I base my study around the two criteria: enabling success and promoting positive language learning environments or student well-being. The language school is analysed from three different angles: physical, pedagogical and psychological by means of an ethnographical research method and participant observation. The study is carried out in order to answer the research question: Can the school be labelled as a positive institution? The results demonstrate that the institution enables success as well as provides a positive learning environment and thus could be regarded as positive. The study is hoped to have contributed to positive psychology research by demonstrating what it means to be a positive institution in practice. 

2018-12-14



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Advanced FL Students’ Self-perception of their Language Identity

Dorota Owczarek

Language: EN | Published: 01-12-2015 | Abstract

This article reports the results of a study of self-perception of their language identity by advanced FL students. The aim of the study is to observe what students’ language choices are and what guides them in these choices.  The concepts related to bi/multilingualism are taken into consideration, following Cook’s opinion (1992: 558) that L2 users should be compared to bilinguals rather that monolinguals. The perception of the language self is related to language competence acquired in formal education. The findings will be referred to recent research on language and identity in a foreign language context conducted elsewhere, and  suggestions for further study in the field will be provided.

2015-12-01



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

An Analysis of the Higher Eductional Systems of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language in Poland and China

Katarzyna Elżbieta Bańka

Language: EN | Published: 30-06-2017 | Abstract

Nowadays, we witness changing trends in terms of the interest in language learning. In Poland, more and more higher education establishments, not only public, but also private, introduce various types of majors concerning oriental languages, such as Chinese translation programmes.
The aim of this paper is to compare the Chinese learning process in China and in Poland. In the first part, a comparative outline of both types of learning processes will be introduced, on the base of author’s few years of experience gained while teaching and studying in both of those countries. Furthermore, the author will investigate the results of teaching Chinese in Poland, a place of very few Chinese native speakers, as compared to teaching Chinese in the mainland of China. In the end, the proposals on what to do to improve the Chinese learning system in non-Chinese speaking countries will be introduced.  

2017-06-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Classroom learning environment and its influence on selected aspects of foreign language attainment. Insights from students.

Anna Michońska-Stadnik

Language: EN | Published: 14-12-2018 | Abstract

The twenty first-century learning environment, the classroom in particular, is believed to create conditions for a language learner to engage in autonomous and cooperative learning activities. It is also believed to develop and sustain motivation, to foster self-regulation and – last but not least – to facilitate the learning process. The learning environment is composed of the learner, other students, the teacher and the physical environment, i.e. the furniture and equipment. The research presents students’ opinions concerning the positive and negative influences of selected aspects of the classroom environment on their language learning process, motivation, ability to self-assess, self-confidence and attitudes to the target language and culture. As seen from data analysis, it is the teachers whose knowledge, behaviours and attitudes appear to have the biggest influence on students’ learning process. The opinions are collected from students’ written guided interviews and may become an inspiration for teacher educators at the university level.

2018-12-14



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Foreign Language Students’ Perceptions of Their Identity

Liliana Piasecka

Language: EN | Published: 30-06-2019 | Abstract | pp. 93-112

Foreign language learning innvolves cognitive, affective and social functioning of the persons involved in this experience. As a social practice, it is also related to the learners’ perceptions of their identity, specifically to their language identity which refers to the relationship between one’s sense of self and the language used to communicate. This implies that using a system of communication, the speaker develops a new sense of self that remains in a dynamic relation with other senses of self, based on (an)other language(s) the person knows.

Language learners’ identity is no longer defined as fixed and stable but as “complex, contradictory and multifaceted” (Norton 1997, p. 419). It is dynamic because learners enter into various discourses and negotiate their position within different communities of practice. Language both shapes and is shaped by identity of its users.

This article discusses how students of English as a foreign language perceive the role of this language in their construction of selves/identity. First, postmodern conceptualisations of identity and identity categories are presented along with their relevance to the field of Second Language Acquisition. Second, selected empirical studies pertaining to adult immigrant contexts, foreign language contexts and study abroad contexts are briefly reported. Then the results of an empirical study on the students’ of English (n=83) perceptions of their identity in the context of foreign language study are introduced. The study revealed that most of the participants realise complex relations between language learning and their identity and are aware of the effects that studying English (as well as other foreign languages) has on them. English gave them new possibilities in life, allowed them to communicate with people worldwide and make friends with them. They have new and interesting prospects for the future. It affected their personality by making them more open-minded and tolerant of otherness. The knowledge of English gives the students power, prestige, and opportunities to live and work in a changing world of complex social relations.

2019-06-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Gure Ikastola en tres languages: the teaching and learning of trilingual oral expository skills by means of a didactic sequence

Ana Aldekoa

Language: EN | Published: 14-12-2018 | Abstract

The aim of this presentation is to analyse the development of trilingual oral expository skills in sixteen-year-old Spanish L1, Basque L2 and English L3 students in the framework of a multilingual didactic sequence. The promotion of multilingualism including a minority language such as Basque is a major specificity of the Basque educational system (Cenoz, 2009; Idiazabal et al., 2015), and the Integrated Teaching of Languages (ITL) is highlighted as a relevant approach for multilingual education both in the Basque and European contexts (Gobierno Vasco, 2015; Troncy, 2014).

Initial and final oral expository texts produced at the beginning and at the end of a didactic sequence by trilingual students constitute the empirical data of this study. Both texts were addressed to students’ school community as well as to foreign students with the aim of presenting their school. We followed text genre-based criteria in order to analyse students' trilingual productions (Dolz & Schneuwly, 2016).

Results show that students did improve their oral expository texts overall, although to different extents: among the aspects that showed a greater improvement, we can name the explicit mention of core elements at the introductory section in Basque, the more consistent use of topic introducers regardless of the language and the more regular use in English of resources to clarify those concepts whose meaning could be difficult to grasp for foreign students. Among those aspects where improvement is notably less, we could mention that students hardly ever addressed the audience in English and thus failed to catch their interest; also, the production of target-deviant past tense verb forms in English remains quite problematic.

From the perspective of the ITL, we will conclude that this analysis shows that teaching oral expository skills from an integrated perspective fosters multilingual development, being inter-linguistic discursive transfer a relevant didactic resource (Cummins, 2008).

2018-12-14



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Role of Social Support Systems in Adolescent Foreign Language Learning

Ewa Piechurska-Kuciel

Language: EN | Published: 10-12-2017 | Abstract

Ewa Piechurska-Kuciel
Institute of English
Opole University

Abstract

In adolescents the main groups of social support are their family, peers and teachers with whom they interact most frequently. They play a buffering role between stress and psychological well-being by helping to cope with adverse challenges, and by providing social integration. Consequently, it is believed that in the situation of stress caused by the necessity to learn a foreign language (FL) as a compulsory subject, social support can be viewed as an important factor that may positively influence learners’ academic achievement, exposing the role of the perceived availability of significant others’ help in achieving FL success. To date, in spite of the call for research on the general functioning of the language learner as a member of the society, the study on the role of social support in the process of foreign language learning is still scarce. The existing research has tough proved that perceived social support significantly predicts resilience in foreign language learning. The feelings of closeness and support the learners receive from the support network protect them from stressors, and they validate the feelings of self-esteem, competence, and personal control in the face of stressful situations. The three main support groups (parents, teachers and peers) help learners develop their social competence, problem-solving skills, autonomy, and sense of purpose.

Keywords: social support, parental support, teacher support, peer support

2017-12-10



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Immersion learning activities: developing communicative tasks in the community

Jorge Pinto

Language: EN | Published: 07-03-2018 | Abstract

This paper examines the out-of-class Portuguese language teaching activities for foreign students learning Portuguese at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lisbon and their results in the output of learners. Even in contexts of immersion, students have a tendency to focus only on class activities and not on community activities that involve face-to-face contact with native speakers. To change this situation, we have created a new subject, built on task-based language teaching, called "Immersion Activities", for the Portuguese Foreign Language Annual Course. We present the preliminary results of a study carried out with eighty students and twelve teachers, whose objective is to verify up to what extent this subject translates into a more effective learning of the language and if students' perceptions, at the end of the semester, regarding the learning outcomes, coincide or not with those of the teachers. From the results, it is possible to observe that the students’ and teachers’ opinions converge in the same sense: immersion activities provide a better development of students' communicative competence in Portuguese.

2018-03-07



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Phonotactic Probabilities and Sub-syllabic Segmentation in Language Learning

Eva Maria Luef , Pia Resnik

Language: EN | Published: 07-04-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-31

High phonotactic probabilities are known to exert a facilitative effect on word learning in children and adults in their first language. The present study was designed to investigate the role of phonotactic probabilities when learning a foreign language. Focusing on Austrian and Korean learners of English, we investigated two hypotheses related to phonotactic frequency effects: (1) High-frequency segments have more deeply entrenched phonetic representations, with more automatized pronunciation patterns, rendering phonetic learning of homophonous segments more difficult; (2) High-frequency segments are associated with higher phonetic variability in the first language, which can facilitate phonetic learning in a foreign language. Additionally, the locus of phoneme/ bigram frequency effects was analyzed in relation to left-branching and right-branching syllable structure in German and Korean. We found that proximity to English voice-onset time is correlated with phoneme and bigram frequencies in the first language, but results varied by learner group. Sub-syllabic segmentation of the first language was also shown to be an influential factor. Our study is grounded in research on frequency effects and combines its central premise with phonetic learning in a foreign
language. The results show a tight relationship between first language statistical probabilities and phonetic learning in a foreign language.

2023-04-07



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Self-reported Difficulties in Learning English as a Second Language for Third-age Students in Poland

Łukasz Matusz , Anna Maria Rakowska

Language: EN | Published: 30-06-2019 | Abstract | pp. 113-130

The problem of teaching English to third-age students is among the issues in ELT which have gained increasing attention and interest in recent years. The aim of this paper is to identify difficulties in learning English as a foreign language reported by students taking part in language courses at third-age universities in Poland. The research is based on the questionnaire distributed among the group of 70 third-age students of English. The results show that the problems the learners report are cantered around their age- and health- related conditions, as well as their general attitudes concerning foreign language learning. It is hoped that the present study will constitute a minor contribution to the study of learning needs and expectations of senior students in Poland.

2019-06-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Lexical Availability and Foreign Language Teaching: Main Contributions of a Growing Field

Marta Sánchez-Saus Laserna

Language: EN | Published: 12-03-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-20

Teaching vocabulary presents a significant challenge in foreign language instruction. This article discusses the advantages that the results obtained in studies on lexical availability offer for foreign language teaching. The methodology of lexical availability, which involves extracting vocabulary that is closely associated with specific lexical categories, was first developed in France in the 1950s, and since then, it has been predominantly used for teaching Spanish as a first language. More recently, in the past 15 years, it has also been employed for teaching Spanish as a foreign language. This article examines the origins and methodology of lexical availability, with a particular focus on two significant applications related to teaching Spanish as a foreign language. From a cognitive standpoint, the article discusses studies analysing the configuration of the mental lexicon using available vocabulary data. From a didactic perspective, the article explores how lexical availability can be used to improve the selection of vocabulary in teaching materials for Spanish as a foreign language.

2024-03-12



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Gender-based Differences in EFL Learners' Language Learning Strategies and Productive Vocabulary

Alejandra Montero-SaizAja

Language: EN | Published: 09-07-2021 | Abstract | pp. 83-107

Gender is a key factor in the field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA), where its impact on language learning strategies (Aslan, 2009; Oxford & Nyikos, 1989; Sumarni & Rachmawaty, 2019) and productive vocabulary (Canga Alonso & Arribas García, 2014; Fleckenstein, 2018; Jiménez Catalán & Moreno Espinosa, 2004) has been investigated. However, to our knowledge, there is a lack of research of gender on language learning strategies in relation to productive vocabulary in English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The present study aimed to pursue three objectives. The first one was to ascertain whether males or females employed more language learning strategies. The second objective was to determine whether males or females had more productive vocabulary. Finally, the third objective was to investigate whether there was a statistically significant relationship between language learning strategies and productive vocabulary. The sample consisted of 51 EFL learners (20 males and 31 females) at the second year of Spanish non-compulsory Secondary Education (equivalent to 12th grade). The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) questionnaire (Oxford, 1990) and the Productive Vocabulary Levels Test (PVLT) (Laufer & Nation, 1995, 1999) were the instruments employed in order to measure informants’ language learning strategies and productive vocabulary respectively. Afterwards, students’ answers were processed electronically and analyzed quantitatively. Results revealed that females use language learning strategies significantly more than males, but there were not statistically significant differences between them regarding productive vocabulary. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between language learning strategies and productive vocabulary.

 

2021-07-09



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Ratings of Affective and Non-Affective Aspects of German Idioms in Second Language Processing

Teodor Petrič

Language: EN | Published: 30-06-2019 | Abstract | pp. 11-42

Abstract

In this paper psycholinguistic and emotional properties of 619 German idiomatic expressions are explored. The list of idiomatic expressions has been adapted from Citron et al. (2015), who have used it with German native speakers. In our study the same idioms were evaluated by Slovene learners of German as a foreign language. Our participants rated each idiom for emotional valence, emotional arousal, familiarity, concreteness, ambiguity (literality), semantic transparency and figurativeness. They also had the task to describe the meaning of the German idioms and to rate their confidence about the attributed meaning. The aims of our study were (1) to provide descriptive norms for psycholinguistic and affective properties of a large set of idioms in German as a second language, (2) to explore the relationships between psycholinguistic and affective properties of idioms in German as a second language, and (3) to compare the ratings of the German native speakers studied in Citron et al. (2015) with the ratings of the Slovene second language learners from our study. On one hand, the results of the Slovene participants show many similarities with those of of the German native speakers, on the other hand, they show a slight positivity bias and slightly shallower emotional processing of the German idioms. Our study provides data that could be useful for future studies investigating the role of affect in figurative language in a second language setting (methodology, translation science, language technology).

2019-06-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Ali H. Al-Hoorie and Peter D. MacIntyre (Eds.) (2020), Contemporary Language Motivation Theory. 60 Years since Gardner and Lambert (1959) (Bristol: Multilingual Matters)—by Anna Mystkowska-Wiertelak

Anna Mystkowska-Wiertelak

Language: EN | Published: 29-01-2021 | pp. 149-153

2021-01-29



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

L2 proficiency as a function of cultural identity in interlingual couples

David Singleton , Simone E. Pfenninger

Language: EN | Published: 07-03-2018 | Abstract

The “love factor” has increasingly figured in SLA research. Thus, Piller (2002) studied the language “glue” between cross-lingual couples; Marinova-Todd (2003) found a link between L2 proficiency and co-habitation with native speakers; Muñoz & Singleton (2007) reported a romantic connection between successful late L2 learners and native speakers; Gonçalves (2013) explored hybridity in bicultural relationships; and Kinsella & Singleton (2014) found that the participants in their study of late L2 learners whose L2 test results were all within native-speaker range had native-speaker life-partners. This issue is now being taken very seriously, as Dewaele & Salomidou’s (2016) recent article on “loving … in a foreign language” demonstrates. In the present article we report on the results of some recent qualitative research, based on interview data collected from five individuals who are involved in intercultural and cross-lingual relationships. The research shows the L2 learning process to be clearly influenced by the affective context in which it occurs. The data also suggest that identity construction may be moved in a particular direction by the language principally adopted by the couple, and that, for the partner for whom this language is an L2, the results can be dramatic in terms of both linguistic and cultural affiliation.

2018-03-07



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Syntactical Modifications in Teacher Talk of Native and Non-Native Speakers in EFL Classrooms

Arzu Ünel , Meryem Mirioğlu

Language: EN | Published: 01-12-2015 | Abstract

Classroom language in EFL classrooms comprises the core of communication between teachers and learners. Teacher talk plays a central role in understanding the nature of classroom language in this respect. According to Krashen input hypothesis, teacher talk also constitutes an important source of comprehensible input for the language acquisition of the learner (Krashen, 1981). To make the input comprehensible, teachers may make modifications in their vocabulary, syntax, rate of speech or discourse. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to discover whether native speakers of English and non-native speakers of English make any syntactical modifications in their teacher talk at elementary and pre-intermediate levels and to try to find out what kind of syntactical modifications they make if they modify their syntax during their speech. The study was carried out with eight EFL instructors (both NSs and NNSs) at Çağ University in Turkey using their audio-recordings, a questionnaire and interviews. Antconc 3.2.1 Programme and SPSS 17.0 Programme were used to analyse the quantitative data. The findings of the data were incorporated with the results of interviews forming the qualitative part of the study. The results of the data revealed that native speakers of English and non-native speakers of English made syntactical modifications in their teacher talk at elementary and pre-intermediate levels. They ranged from subordinate clauses to the types of sentences. The findings of the study also demonstrated that syntactical modifications in the teacher talk of native speakers and non-native speakers at both levels depended on the proficiency level of the learners although not all of these modifications formed a statistically meaningful difference.

2015-12-01



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Social constraints of aspirations for second language achievement

Joanna Rokita-Jaśkow

Language: EN | Published: 07-03-2018 | Abstract

Educational aspirations are dfined a ;educational goals students set for themselves' ( Trebbels, 2015:37). They are widely studied in psychological and sociological research, in which it was found that 1) they form in late adolescence and early childood, 2) their goal and level (i.e. high vs. low) are determined by the social environmnet they come from, i.e. their family background, peer and school influence.

The paper presents the results of the qualitative study, in which 56 students of English philology in one of the vocational schools in the south of Poland expressed their aspirations in reference to their future foreign language attainment and associated vocational goals. The results showed that in the majority of cases the aspirations are not so high and fully-formed, which, it is hypothesised is rooted in the social background the students come from.

2018-03-07



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Intra-individual Variability in the Emergence of Lexical Complexity in Speaking English at Secondary School

A Case Study of a Good, Average, and Poor Language Learner

Katarzyna Joanna Rokoszewska

Language: EN | Published: 08-06-2020 | Abstract | pp. 107-142

Complex Dynamic Systems Theory (CDST) focuses on second language development (SLD) as opposed to second language acquisition (SLA). Emphasising internal complexity of the language system as well as dynamic and non-linear nature of language development, it represents a new approach to the role of variability which is rooted in developmental psychology. This approach agrees with research findings from the 1980s which identified different types and causes of variability, but it treats variability as the main factor responsible for language development and not as a peripheral phenomenon. Intra-individual variability, defined as differences in the level of a developmental variable within individuals and between repeated measurements, is said to have a positive influence on language development at various levels of proficiency. The present paper describes the third part of the case study whose aim is to analyse intra-individual variability in the emergence of lexical complexity in speaking English as a foreign language at secondary school in the case of a good, average and poor language learner. The first part of the case study examined this phenomenon with respect to general measures of complexity, accuracy and fluency, whereas the second part–with respect to specific measures of syntactic complexity. The results of the third part of the case study show some significant differences between the learners in terms of lexical variation as opposed to density, sophistication and frequency but hardly any such differences in intra-individual variability, pointing at the same time to a weak positive relationship between this type of variability and the rate of development.

2020-06-08



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Impact of Foreign Language Anxiety on the Utterance Fluency of International Students in the UK: Does the Presence of an Audience Matter?

Does the presence of an audience matter? (ICFSLA 2023)

Jasrael D. Stokes

Language: EN | Published: 25-04-2025 | Abstract | pp. 1-30

Foreign language anxiety (FLA) can have a detrimental impact on language production, which can have dire consequences for students completing a degree in a language other than their mother tongue. Studies have shown speakers to cope with FLA by using time-gaining mechanisms, manifesting in utterance disfluencies. Research exploring the mechanisms in which FLA impacts oral fluency measures is limited particularly among learners completing a degree abroad immersed in the target language, where FLA can impact life both inside and outside of the classroom. The current study investigated the impact of FLA on the English utterance fluency of international students undertaking a degree in the UK and examined how the presence of native-speaker listeners affected this relationship. After the completion of questionnaires regarding FLA, the participants took part in an online Zoom call and completed a monologue-style speaking task. They were randomly allocated to either a control condition or an experimental condition, which had four native-speaker listeners in the audience. Speech samples for the speaking task were then analyzed for utterance fluency variables. The results showed that the participants scoring higher on FLA produced a significantly higher percentage of utterance disfluencies while speaking. Contrary to expectations, the participants allocated to the control condition were no less anxious than participants in the experimental condition, indicating possibly high FLA merely due to the requirement of speaking. The findings of this study provide important implications for educators in understanding how FLA may impact students’ utterance fluency when required to speak in class.

2025-04-25



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Acquisition of Structures at Syntax-Discourse Interface: Post-Verbal Subjects in L2 English

Liljana Mitkovska , Eleni Bužarovska , Natasha Stojanovska-Ilievska

Language: EN | Published: 18-08-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-22

The present study explores the acceptability of postverbal subjects by intermediate and advanced L2 English learners with L1 Macedonian, a pro-drop Slavic language with rich verbal morphology. The two languages differ regarding the distribution of subject-verb inversion (SVI): in Macedonian, it is a default pattern in thetic sentences, but English severely restricts SVI to specific contexts. To test the hypothesis that Macedonian learners encounter difficulties in acquisition of English SVI because of crosslinguistic influence, a grammaticality judgement and correction task was administered to two groups of Macedonian learners of
English and a control group of English native speakers. The results revealed that L2 learners find English VS sentences and VS + it-insertion examples more acceptable than the native speakers, but the performance of the advanced group is closer to the native speakers than to the intermediate learners. Both non-native groups accept more readily inappropriate English sentences that conform to typical L1 structures.

2023-08-18



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Dyslexia, Self-efficacy, and Language Instruction in Foreign Language Learning -- A Mixed Quantitive-qualitative Study

Bogusława Maria Gosiewska-Turek

Language: EN | Published: 28-01-2022 | Abstract | pp. 71-84

The aim of the research is to investigate the interdependence between dyslexia, self-efficacy, and foreign language instruction. The author of the study applied a mixed-method: quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative data were collected through self-efficacy questionnaires filled out by dyslexic and non-dyslexic students, and the qualitative data were collected during a case study conducted with a dyslexic student. The research findings in the first quantitative part of the study reveal that self-efficacy in dyslexic students is substantially lower than in non-dyslexic students. According to the results of the second mixed, quantitative - qualitative part of the study encompassing a case study, foreign language instruction has an impact on dyslexic students’ self-efficacy and appropriate language instruction rises self-efficacy in students with dyslexia.

2022-01-28



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

When “grass was greener”*: Longplay Album Covers and Learning English. A Retrospection

Liliana Piasecka

Language: EN | Published: 31-05-2022 | Abstract | pp. 1-18

This paper brings together several important threads accounting for learning English as a foreign language, that is, language learning experience, material culture as an element of this experience as well as a component of the learning environment, motivation and music. Material culture has recently attracted the attention of researchers interested in foreign/second language learning and multilingualism because it provides a rich context for many multilingual practices. Longplay album covers are an excellent example of artefacts that combine the verbal with the material. Music and songs, pop songs in particular, are an important motivating factor in learning languages.
The aim of this paper is to share with the reader the author and her generation’s encounters with pop music of the 1960s, focusing on language learning experience based on the material aspects of these encounters, that is, longplay record covers. The paper, then, is the author’s personal reflection based on her own experience as well as on the multiple discussions she has had with friends and colleagues whose teenage years spanned the 1960s. Also connections between music and language learning are discussed along with suggestions of activities capitalizing on learners’ interest in music in the teaching process.

2022-05-31



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Chinese University Students’ Beliefs about English Language Learning and Self-efficacy

Meihua Liu

Language: EN | Published: 06-02-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-25

Learners’ beliefs on language learning and perceived self-efficacy are important to the success of their second/foreign language (SL/FL) learning. To reveal the general profiles of and relationship between Chinese students’ beliefs about English learning and self-efficacy, the present study examined beliefs about English learning and self-efficacy held by Chinese university EFL (English as a FL) learners at differing English proficiency levels. A total of 1,698 students from a top university in Beijing answered a battery of questionnaires. The results revealed a general overview of the students’ beliefs about the nature of language learning and the roles of teachers, feedback and learning strategies, and self-efficacy. Another major finding was that participants at different English proficiency levels differed significantly from one another in beliefs about language learning and self-efficacy.

2023-02-06



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Digital Game-Based Language Learning (DGBL): An Analysis of Polish and Spanish Teacher Candidates’ Knowledge and Attitudes

Jose Belda-Medina , Miguel Luis Poveda-Balbuena

Language: EN | Published: 30-09-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-25

The digital gaming industry is experiencing rapid growth and presents significant potential for implementation in educational contexts. Despite a significant body of literature on Digital Game-Based Language Learning (DGBL), the focus has primarily been on students as game players rather than on teacher candidates as future educators. This study aimed to examine the attitudes and knowledge of 205 teacher candidates from Poland (n = 79) and Spain (n = 126) regarding digital games’ potential for foreign language learning. Convenience sampling was used, and a mixed-method approach was taken to collect quantitative and qualitative data via pre-post surveys, digital game presentations, and class discussions. Participants undertook various DGBL activities and were grouped into teams to choose games for language learning, create infographics, and share their insights in a collaborative learning environment. Statistical analysis indicated differences in the first-time technology access and gameplay frequency between the Polish and Spanish cohorts. The Wilcoxon-signed rank test revealed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in two of the five scale dimensions: usefulness (U) and preference for digital games (PDG). The findings suggest that while teacher candidates hold a positive view of DGBL’s potential, they lack practical knowledge of its implementation in the language classroom.

2024-09-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Learning Styles of Technical Students and Their Role in Learning English as a Foreign Language

Petra Langerová

Language: EN | Published: 03-06-2025 | Abstract | pp. 1-22

The paper presents the results of mixed-methods research into the English language learning styles of a sample group of students from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC) of the Brno University of Technology (BUT). In the quantitative phase of the research, students were questioned using an adapted Ehrman and Leaver Questionnaire (2003) with a bipolar scale of ten learning styles to identify commonly shared dimensions of learning styles of English among the sample group. The questionnaire also determined how flexible or rigid students were in their preferences and identified students with strong preferences for particular dimensions. The research then moved to a qualitative phase in which selected students who had stated a preference for commonly shared learning styles in the questionnaire were asked to participate in a semi-structured interview in which they discussed how their learning styles are reflected in their experiences of learning English and evaluated the success of their chosen approaches. Students were also asked about their willingness to change their learning styles if they had failed to make progress. The interviews offered valuable insight into students’ learning preferences, with most students showing rigidity in their learning styles.

2025-06-03



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Chinese Teachers' Attitudes Towards Translanguaging and its Uses in Portuguese Foreign Language Classrooms

Jorge Pinto

Language: EN | Published: 08-06-2020 | Abstract | pp. 11-30

Recent research has shown that L1 use can serve important cognitive, communicative, and social functions in communicative foreign and second language learning (Turnbull & Dailey-O’Cain, 2009). In the context of Chinese universities, Meij and Zhao (2010) argue that is widespread agreement among administrators that the L1 should not be used in L2 classrooms. Both teachers and students should follow this norm. However, in their study, they found that translanguaging practice is perceived by teachers and students as a useful approach to achieve desired learning outcomes. Other studies (Cai & G. Cook, 2015; Littlewood & Fang, 2011) show that teachers use the L1 in L2 class to specific functions: addressing personal needs, giving direction in class, managing class, and ensuring student understanding. The aim of this paper is to present a study about university teachers' attitudes towards and uses of translanguaging in Portuguese foreign language classrooms. The participants involved are 31 Chinese teachers (n=31), all native speakers of Mandarin, in mainland China. They answered a questionnaire that aims to get information related to the importance that teachers assign on different uses of translanguaging. Findings indicated that the majority of the teachers believe that the use of the students’ L1, by the teacher or by students, could improve Portuguese learning in various ways, especially in the first levels.

2020-06-08



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Hopeless Cases or Just Hard Nuts to Crack? Stories of “Difficult” Foreign Language Learners

Katarzyna Nosidlak

Language: EN | Published: 20-07-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-24

In accordance with the assumptions of the sociologically grounded labelling theory, an individual’s self-perception and, consequently, their actions, might be influenced by words used to describe them. Also, in the context of education, including the field of foreign language learning, such a process of defining learners in a simplified way, has been proven to have profound consequences of psychological nature. The main purpose of the article is to outline the results of a study in which 37 teachers of English shared the stories of their most
“difficult” students. The qualitative analysis of the gathered descriptions allowed the identification of some common features characteristic of, so-called, hopeless cases, among which motivation-related problems are the most often enumerated ones. Additionally, many teachers wrote about their struggles while teaching students with special educational needs. The views expressed by the participants of the study might help understand the way in which opinions about students are formulated as well as point to the need for significant changes to be made in the area of foreign language teacher education and training.

2023-07-20



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Contextualising the Hyflex Model of Instruction for Language Classes

Robert Oliwa

Language: EN | Published: 12-03-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-23

The paper discusses a possible, practical application of the hybrid flexible (hyflex) model of content delivery in a tertiary context. The model may as well be applied in foreign language instruction. It is the author’s belief that there are convincing reasons for employing digital competences and skills acquired over the last two years to enhance teaching and learning. AnMappropriate contextualisation of the hyflex model may further encourage the retention of theMalready attained competences and skills in the new normal. It may also allow to combine
the traditional, in-class instruction with the new, online interaction both synchronously and asynchronously. The possibility of hyflexing language courses can be a challenging, however responsible, prospect because the restoration of the education we used to know might not be easy. Although theoretical, the paper provides practical guidelines as well as offers a selection of online tools to contextualise the hyflex model in language teaching. The paper may also constitute a strong claim for the practical application of the hyflex model especially when combined with an in-depth analysis and research of the model in various educational
contexts. As the future is hard to envisage, various models and approaches might be taken into account so as to appropriately respond to the challenges and requirements education is likely to be confronted with.

2024-03-12



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety in Emergency Remote Instruction

Katarzyna Budzińska

Language: EN | Published: 15-03-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-26

Although language anxiety is the most widely studied emotion in second language acquisition, the extent to which emergency remote teaching (ERT) provokes anxiety is still insufficiently understood. The present research fills this gap by analyzing variables affecting anxiety in the new mode of instruction, while also exploring apprehension-relieving pedagogical approaches. This qualitative study was conducted among 218 university students and data were obtained by an online questionnaire and a focus group interview. Additionally, an
online questionnaire was used to find out how teachers adapted their approaches to ensure student wellbeing in ERT. The findings reveal several factors affecting anxiety levels as well as pedagogical approaches that students find effective for anxiety reduction. On the whole, the study extends language anxiety research by looking closely at the variables affecting FLCA increase and decrease in a new, insufficiently explored mode of instruction.

2024-03-15



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Graphemic Awareness Development of Polish Learners of Chinese as a Foreign Language

Zuzanna Wnuk

Language: EN | Published: 29-03-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-27

Metalinguistic orthographic awareness plays a crucial role in the development of Chinese language proficiency: writing, reading, and learning new words. However, few studies have explored the topic using qualitative methods. The aim of this work is to explore how the perception of Chinese characters of Chinese foreign language learners changes along with their proficiency. The responses were collected from 43 Polish university students of Chinese with the use of a graphemic awareness test during which participants were to decide on correctness of presented pseudo-characters. The results of this study show that beginners focus first and foremost on correctness of the strokes, the intermediate learners’ attention shifts to character elements and their correct position, and the advanced learners analyze the characters taking into consideration both character elements and structure of characters. It is suggested that the overall rapid development of graphemic awareness in the study group might be due to the explicit instruction. The conclusion can be drawn that the described shift in learners’ perception is a result of them learning to direct their attention towards the critical orthographic aspects of the characters.

2024-03-29



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Are Portuguese Higher Education Students Motivated to Study English as a Second/Foreign Language?

Luciana Cabral P. Bessa , Elisabete Mendes Silva , Galvão Meirinhos , Rui Silva

Language: EN | Published: 11-10-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-18

Being motivated is fundamental for any individual to achieve personal and professional success. In the context of learning in Higher Education, Motivation is crucial for achieving this success. Understanding the motivational state of students is essential for higher education managers and teachers. Understanding students’ Amotivation, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation can provide vital information to initiate changes in teaching and learning. In this sense, measuring Amotivation, Intrinsic Motivation, and Extrinsic Motivation allows for understanding the general state of students’ Motivation. This study aims to analyze the Motivation of 145 Portuguese Higher Education Students (70 Male and 75 Female) aged between 17 and 47 years old who studied the second/foreign language (English) in Portugal during the Academic Year of 2020/2021. We used the Academic Motivation Scale to measure Motivation to study English. The results show that students are not demotivated. The Motivation that prevails in the results is Intrinsic Motivation, and Extrinsic Motivation was insignificant. This study’s results contribute to the literature on Motivation to study Second Language, especially concerning the need to understand why students are only intrinsically motivated. Are the lessons, the teaching methodologies, the techniques and the contents not able to motivate them?

2024-10-11



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Pronunciation learning environment: EFL students’ cognitions of in-class and out-of-class factors affecting pronunciation acquisition

Magdalena Szyszka

Language: EN | Published: 07-03-2018 | Abstract

The way a foreign language (L2) learner perceives his or her educational environment may affect their processes of L2 acquisition. The aim of the study presented in this paper is to explore English as a foreign language (EFL) students’ cognitions of their teachers’ pronunciation, in-class and outside-class factors regarding pronunciation acquisition, such as pronunciation activities, recordings, focus on form, peer pronunciation, listening to music, to mention a few. A group of 89 participants responded to a survey, via which the data necessary to respond to the following three research questions was collected. How do EFL learners perceive their teachers’ pronunciation? What is the relationship between EFL learners’ perceived level of their L2 teachers’ pronunciation and perceived L2 teachers’ classroom language use? What factors, in the view of L2 learners, contribute to their pronunciation acquisition? The results indicate that there are significant differences in the perception of teachers’ pronunciation at different educational levels. Also, in L2 pronunciation learning the EFL students report the following factors as moderately important: L2 teachers’ pronunciation, in-class L2 use, pronunciation error correction, and in-class and out-of-class exposure to multimedia that provide access to a broad range of L2 pronunciation varieties. 

2018-03-07



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Influence of Living and Working Abroad on the Identities of Researchers and Native Speaker Teachers

Teresa Maria Włosowicz

Language: EN | Published: 18-01-2021 | Abstract | pp. 35-65

The study investigates the influence of living and working abroad on the identities of researchers and native speaker teachers. Following Block (2009), Hall (2012) and Pavlenko and Blackledge (2004), identity is assumed here to be dynamic and multiple, where the different identities of a person can be more or less relevant in a given context (Hall, 2012, p. 33). Moreover, identities at the time of globalisation tend to be hybrid (Marotta, 2011) and, in the case of migration, they can be bicultural (Comănaru, Noels & Dewaele, 2017), but as Comănaru et al. (2017, p. 539) observe, each bicultural person’s identity is different, depending on his or her life history, language proficiency, psychological traits, etc. Simultaneously, there is  evidence that multilingualism increases cognitive empathy (Dewaele & Wei, 2012) and makes people more open-minded (Wlosowicz, 2019), so it could be assumed that the participants would recognise their hybrid identities as an enrichment rather than a threat to their native identities, even though identification with their native languages and cultures, with their families, etc. would remain an important part of their identity. The research tool used in the present study was a questionnaire completed by forty native speaker teachers and researchers living abroad. As the results show, the participants’ identities are indeed highly complex, hybrid and influenced by different factors, however, the native language and the family remain very important components of identity, unlike, for example, one’s profession. Still, they also admitted that foreign language knowledge enriched them culturally, intellectually and emotionally.   　   　   　  　  　

2021-01-18



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Assessing English Writing Skills of Students from Bilingual and Non-bilingual Schools in Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. A Comparative Study

María Begoña Ruiz Cordero

Language: EN | Published: 17-12-2019 | Abstract | pp. 95-113

The teaching of foreign languages and the use of CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) methodology is hugely popular in Spain nowadays. Many families are interested in this type of academic training because they are convinced the academic results are positive, but the question is whether it is in fact the case that foreign language level increases. The aim of this study was to analyse the different level of English writing skills of 4th grade students from both compulsory bilingual and non-bilingual secondary schools in Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). From the results of the study, we were able to examine whether bilingual programs help students improve their English writing skills as well as to compare the results obtained by bilingual schools in Castilla-La Mancha with those developed in other Spanish, or even European, regions.

2019-12-17



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Rethink your old teaching methods: designing a pronunciation course for young teenagers

Dorota Lipińska

Language: EN | Published: 07-03-2018 | Abstract

ABSTRACT

 

Numerous studies (e.g. Lipińska, 2014; Majer, 2002; Nowacka, 2003; Sobkowiak, 2002; Szpyra-Kozłowska, et al., 2002; Szpyra-Kozłowska, 2008; Waniek-Klimczak, 2002; Wrembel, 2002) have shown that although teaching L2 pronunciation is included in university curricula, it is at the same time virtually absent at lower stages of education. Moreover, it has been noticed that teaching phonetics to younger learners is advisable and may be really effective (e.g. Lipińska, in press a; Nixon and Tomlinson, 2005). Undoubtedly, one can say that there are a lot of books and courses designed for adults written by and for Polish learners of English (e.g. Porzuczek et al., 2013; Sawala et al., 2011) or dedicated to international users (e.g. Baker, 2006; Hancock, 2008; Hewings, 2010). But the materials and methods used while working with adult learners and university students are no longer applicable if one wants to teach phonetics in a different environment and create an attractive and efficient course for children or young teenagers, since, as e.g. Komorowska (2011) notices, each foreign language course has to be characterised by realistic goals and appropriate methods and components.

The aim of this paper is to present various methods and materials which can be successfully applied while teaching English pronunciation to 11-13-year-olds. They have been used in three groups consisting of such L2 learners, and their usefulness and effectiveness have been proven by studies on both speech production and perception (e.g. Lipińska, in press b).

2018-03-07



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

ICT as material culture in CALL

Elżbieta Gajek

Language: EN | Published: 30-06-2017 | Abstract

Human and technology interactions are two directional. A human makes use of the technology available, but the technology enhances human potential and creates opportunities for further development in the use of technology. This mutual influence will be presented on the example of the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in language learning and teaching LL&T. Both historical perspectives on CALL and the contemporary practices illustrate interrelations between material artefacts and their use for learning purposes in the multilingual reality of the Internet. The results of research on teachers of foreign languages show that material culture gives ground for social and pedagogical practices but human perceptions, opinions, and actions constitute the actual use of it.

2017-06-30



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Probabilistic Analysis of English Dative Constructions in Academic Writings of English EFL Learners

Fatih Ünal Bozdağ

Language: EN | Published: 29-03-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-24

Grammatical patterns in learner writings are among the most investigated topics in second/foreign language acquisition, gaining particular momentum thanks to corpus studies. English dative constructions are among those for which comprehensive literature is also available, consisting of different perspectives to explain the linguistic phenomenon on various theoretical grounds. However, except for rare instances, the foci of interest have constantly been on comparing learner data to native speaker data, particularly in terms of frequency of use in the second/foreign language learning environment. Different from other studies, the current study investigated English dative alternation in learner data with a probabilistic point of view, scrutinizing 27 learner corpora of learners with different L1s. Results showed that differences in learners’ native languages had little added value to variations among learners. Moreover, a tendency similar to priming the verb ‘give’ in dative constructions was observed for the other variables in the construction.

2024-03-29



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Academics’ Motivation to Learn Foreign Languages: The Case of English

Katarzyna Morena

Language: EN | Published: 18-04-2025 | Abstract | pp. 1-21

Teaching and research are central aspects of university scholars’ work. To provide a high quality of teaching and research, scholars are required to continually learn and develop professionally. Only recently have some empirical studies that focused on academics’ motivations and emotions attempted to explain key outcomes related to their research, teaching, and professional development. This study adopted a self-determination lens to explore academics’ motivation to learn foreign languages, an area that has hardly been scrutinized due to an assumption that academics are highly motivated. The sample consisted of 593 academics (330 women) from nine public and one non-public higher education institutions in Krakow, Poland. The participants also self-rated their level of proficiency in English, French, German, Spanish, and Russian. The results from the Polish version of the Language Learning Orientations Scale—intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, amotivation (LLOS-IEA) (Noels et al., 2000) showed that these university academics were characterized by both intrinsic motivation and the most internalized form of extrinsic motivation (identified regulation). These have been considered to be optimal forms of motivation with positive outcomes. Statistically significant differences were found between scholars’ motivation to learn languages and age, gender, and job seniority. The analysis performed for English indicated that scholars rated themselves as having a proficient level (C1) in reading and an independent level (B2) in writing skills.

2025-04-18



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Polish-English Code-Switching in the Language of Polish Facebook Users

Daria Pańka

Language: EN | Published: 29-01-2021 | Abstract | pp. 99-120

Social networking services, such as Facebook, are important channels of communication both for monolingual users and for those having various degrees of proficiency in L2, with the latter deploying expression both from L1 and L2. It can, therefore, be presumed that communication on FB plays a role in practicing the use of L2. One of the phenomena that can be examined in relation to that are various forms of code-switching. There is an
immense research gap related to Polish-English code-switching appearing on this SNS. To obtain a full picture of the issue, the paper identifies and discusses types, strategies, and functions of Polish-English code-switches found in posts and comments published by Poles on Facebook in 2014–2019. It also indicates possible applications of FB tools and materials including CS in foreign language teaching and learning and shows how Facebook enables “social learning” (Mallia, 2013). The research is based on a corpus constructed by the author of this article. An integrated approach with both qualitative and quantitative methods of analysis is used in the paper. Three main CS types (intrasentential, intersentential, and tag-switching) and strategies (alternation, insertion, and congruent lexicalisation) have been attested in the material. The code-switches mostly indicate in-group membership but also, for example, introduce humor, quotes, and signal a lack of L1 equivalents. The study points out that there are certain relations between the types, strategies and functions. The results
of the research are collated with the recent studies on Polish-English and Indonesian-English CS on Facebook.

2021-01-29



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Sounds of Conflict: Lexical Representation of Anger in Listening Activities from Modern ELT Coursebooks

Łukasz Matusz

Language: EN | Published: 15-10-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-18

Modern coursebooks serve a fundamental function in contemporary ELT practice. This paper discusses the problem of representation of anger in listening activities from selected ELT coursebooks issued by leading publishing companies. Thirteen coursebooks form three internationally-recognized ELT series for adult learners of English were analysed for the conflictive dialogues presented in their audio materials, as well as for the ways in which the anger of the Speaker(s) was expressed. The result of the analysis shows that interpersonal exchanges portrayed in the database coursebooks were largely oriented towards the expression of polite interpersonal beliefs, the culture of positivity and attitude of agreement and cooperation. In situations where conflict was presented in the recordings, anger was expressed primarily through prosodic features of speech, followed by the presence of exclamations and certain non-verbal vocalisations. No instances of swearing and expletive interjections, a common way of expressing negative emotions in everyday informal communication, were found in the database. The analysis confirms some of the observations and criticisms concerning the global ELT coursebooks. While understanding publishers’ caution and decidedly refraining from advocating unrestricted use of taboo language in recorded ELT materials, this paper points to the importance of realistic representation of conflictive and argumentative interpersonal communication, not just for the aim of presenting different contexts of English use, but also for the practical applications outside the realm of foreign language learning.

2024-10-15



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Context-related Beliefs about L2 Language Learning and Teaching of the Millennial Pre-service EFL Teachers as a Prognosis for Future Classroom Actions

Magdalena Szyszka

Language: EN | Published: 02-02-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-20

The qualitative study presented in this paper aimed to collect beliefs about learning and teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) from individual representatives of the generation frequently referred to as the millennials. The participants were 47 pre-service EFL trainee teachers from four socio-cultural contexts: Finnish, Israeli, Polish, and Spanish. Their voices have been considered because beliefs are dynamically related to actions and soon the millennial EFL teachers may implement them in the course of their teaching. The contextual approach, followed in this research, provided opportunities for discussing similarities and differences in the beliefs of Finnish, Israeli, Polish, and Spanish pre-service teachers. The identified similarities lead to outlining a tentative picture of a universal, future, post-pandemic EFL classroom.

2023-02-02



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Impact of Individual Interest and Proficiency on Self-Efficacy Beliefs in Foreign Language Listening

Hyang-Il Kim

Language: EN | Published: 28-01-2022 | Abstract | pp. 53-70

Interest and self-efficacy beliefs are important components of motivational constructs that share some common characteristics and influence learning. Studies examining how these two relate to each other, however, appear to be few, especially in the area of language learning. To fill this gap, this study aims to investigate how interest in learning English and proficiency influence self-efficacy in listening, using a pre/post-design. This study focused on exploring the role of interest on the development of self-efficacy in 107 EFL Korean university students, with a low-intermediate English proficiency. Despite the participants' proficiency, they were found to possess and maintain relatively high interest over the English course they were enrolled in. Regression analyses revealed that, unlike at the beginning of the course, individual interest was found to be a significant factor in the development of advanced skill self-efficacy around the end of the semester, even predicting it more than proficiency did. 　   　   　  　  　

2022-01-28



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Investigating Code-switching in a Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) Classroom

Katarzyna Lidia Papaja , Marzena Wysocka-Narewska

Language: EN | Published: 08-06-2020 | Abstract | pp. 51-63

The aim of this article is to provide an outline of the research on code-switching in CLIL, starting with a brief description of code-switching and its main causes. The study, which is to be presented, was conducted among Secondary School CLIL learners and is based on a questionnaire especially prepared for this study. The main aim of the study was to investigate the situations in which CLIL learners switch the codes. Additionally, the researchers were trying to find out the positive and negative impact of this phenomenon on the foreign language being acquired.

2020-06-08



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Nexus between Social Factors, Basic Psychological Needs and Task-value of Tertiary EFL Learners: A Bangladeshi Perspective

Marzia Shurovi

Language: EN | Published: 25-10-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-23

This paper aims to explore the impacts of social factors and basic psychological needs of tertiary EFL learners on their task-value to learn English. Though ample studies have investigated EFL learners’ socio-economic status and basic psychological needs, there is a dearth of studies of their effects on their task value in English as a Foreign Language learning. Hence, this study has employed a quantitative research design with a questionnaire to collect data from 110 EFL tertiary learners of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A correlation using SPSS and path and mediation analyses using IBM SPSS AMOS were conducted to analyze the data. The results revealed a positive and significant correlation of learners’ task value with their social factor—school location and two basic psychological needs (BPN): factors-competence and relatedness. Fathers’ education among social factors and autonomy among BPN factors had the largest effects on task value. School location significantly influenced learners’ autonomy and competence. Both autonomy and competence in turn significantly and positively affected learners’ task value. Autonomy and competence also mediated in the relationship between learners’ school location and task value in the EFL context. In addition to adding new insights to the existing EFL achievement motivation literature, the paper also discusses the pedagogical implications of the findings.

2024-10-25



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Exploring FL Readers’ Metacognitive Beliefs: Narrations from Learner Diaries

Monika Kusiak-Pisowacka

Language: EN | Published: 05-04-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-26

Metacognition is a complex construct widely investigated in SLA studies, also those that focus on reading skills and reading comprehension. Ample research points to metacognition as a strong predictor in developing foreign language reading skills, thus promoting metacognitive strategies in FL education is highly recommended. This paper presents a report on a study in which Polish FL learners kept a diary for a period of one month and wrote comments in reference to the reading classes in which they participated. The data obtained from the students’ narrations allowed to examine the learners’ metacognitive beliefs defined in the study as knowledge about cognition, consisting of three components: person knowledge, task knowledge, and strategy knowledge (Flavell, 1981). The diary data were analyzed in a global narrative way, which enabled the researcher to examine a complex character and a dynamic nature of metacognition in relation to the reading lessons. The findings underline a double role that learner diaries played in this study: as a research tool useful in investigating learners’ metacognition and an effective task that seemed to facilitate the learners’ reflection skills.

2023-04-05



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

The Dynamics of Needs in a Course in English Phonetics for In-Service Primary School Teachers of English

Oleksandr Kapranov

Language: EN | Published: 18-01-2021 | Abstract | pp. 107-132

This article presents a study that seeks to explore the dynamics of needs experienced by a group of in-service primary school teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who are enrolled in a course in English phonetics at a regional university in Norway. The course in English phonetics is designed for the group of EFL teachers (further – participants) who combine working full-time with taking in-service EFL courses. The aim of the study is to explore how the dynamics of the participants’ needs change within the time frame of two semesters. The study is based upon theoretical premises of needs analysis (further – NA) formulated by Hyland (2006), who regards EFL learners’ needs as a continuous process that changes over time. The results of NA indicate that whereas initially the participants explicitly express the need for obtaining tertiary-level education in English to be able to teach English at primary school, their needs change towards the end of the course to involve the focus on becoming role models in an EFL classroom, paying attention to speech fluency, intonation, and conducting English-only EFL classes. These findings will be further discussed in the article.

2021-01-18



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Mariusz Kruk and Mark Peterson (Eds.), New Technological Applications for Foreign and Second Language Learning and Teaching

Caterina Hauser

Language: EN | Published: 28-01-2022 | pp. 183-187

2022-01-28



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Can We Modify Teacher Mindsets: Towards Well-being in Education

Małgorzata Szulc-Kurpaska , Sabina A. Nowak

Language: EN | Published: 25-10-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-37

Following the impact of positive psychology on education, the term well-being has recently received more attention. However, there is not much research devoted to practical aspects of developing well-being. The studies that exist focus on mindset of novice (Dweck, 2014b) or pre-service teachers (Irie, Ryan, & Mercer, 2018; Haukås & Mercer, 2021). Therefore, there is still much to be done as far as teacher training and well-being development (TT&WD) is concerned. Inspired by Maslow’s study (1943) on self-actualised people, the main aim
was to present characteristic features of growth mindset teachers. A mixed method study (Cresswell & Cresswell, 2018, p. 304) was applied to analyse statements about pre-service teacher well-being. By focusing on teachers’ beliefs, the distinction was made between fixed and growth mindsets. In the first phase of the study, using Likert-scale, a set of 50 questions was created to capture nuances of positive and negative stance of pre-service teachers. The aim was not to verify the teachers’ “subjective well-being” (SWB) (Mazzucchelli & Purcell,
2015), but to focus on the “psychological well-being” (PWB) based on their beliefs and attitudes (Werbińska, 2011). In the second phase, a qualitative analysis of 15 narrative statements served as an indication of the pre-service teacher well-being. The narratives turned out to be the projections of either success or failure of the participants. Finally, a well-being intervention was used which aimed at influencing teachers’ mindsets by involving them in three tasks. The data also show subtle differences in respondents’ answers concerning the way certain students recognise and show their attitudes to life or the teaching profession, which correspond to fixed and growth mindset (Dweck, 2006). These findings highlight the importance of training pre-service teachers in well-being and offer some implications connected with developing a paradigm framework of teacher well-being.

2024-10-25



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

Diagnostic Abilities of Novice Teachers

Ewa Tołoczko

Language: EN | Published: 20-07-2023 | Abstract | pp. 1-26

This paper discusses diagnostic abilities of novice teachers of English as a foreign language in Poland as demonstrated through analyzing critical incidents (CIs). A case study, designed to explore patterns and regularities in cognitive processes that practitioners activate to examine disorienting situations in their educational context, provided evidence of effective mental work of beginner teachers at the verbal and conceptual levels. Specifically-structured written reports on what the instructors considered critical moments in their teaching practice served as a tool to verbalize how they represent, interpret, and value phenomena in the FL classroom by activating and integrating various sources of professional knowledge. The data analysis, which included both identification of the character of mental representations the subjects stimulated during the recall as well as higher order thinking operations on these representations, led to the conclusion that the inexperienced teachers show a degree of efficacy to register relations and variation in classroom realities, to problematize the unproblematic, to take position on matters, and to formulate relevant feedback for their future didactic moves. This encourages a hypothesis that teachers’ diagnostic abilities are not necessarily determined by the current state of their professional expertise and that limited classroom experience does
not suppress adequate cognitive and affective responses to problems in beginner practitioners.

2023-07-20



Journal: Theory and Practice of Second Language Acquisition

EFL Teacher Preparedness to Include Learners with Dyslexia: Israeli Context (ICFSLA 2023)

Joanna Nijakowska , Susie Russak

Language: EN | Published: 30-09-2024 | Abstract | pp. 1-30

The aim of this study was to investigate Israeli English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ perceived preparedness to include learners with dyslexia in mainstream classrooms (TEPID) and to verify whether there were cross-country differences in this respect. The study examined the effect of demographic variables on Israeli EFL teachers’ TEPID and identified their professional development needs around inclusive teaching. Principal components analysis of the TEPID scale led to a two-factor structure, that is, knowledge about dyslexia and self-efficacy in implementing inclusive instructional practices with dyslexic EFL learners
(F1), and stance towards inclusion (F2). Statistically significant effects were found for training, highest level of education, years and type of teaching experience with dyslexic learners, and type of certification in relation to F1, yet, only type of teaching experience with dyslexic EFL learners (direct contact and personal involvement in teaching) impacted teacher stance towards inclusion (F2). Additionally, Israeli teachers differed significantly from Polish and Cypriot teachers on both factors of the TEPID, but not from Greek teachers. Moreover, both
Greek and Israeli teachers evaluated their knowledge and skills (F1) as well as stance towards inclusion (F2) higher than Polish and Cypriot teachers. Teachers stressed the need for practical information and training about how to teach students with dyslexia. Implications regarding content of teacher training are discussed.

2024-09-30