The role of informal digital learning of English and L2 motivational self system in foreign language enjoyment

This interdisciplinary research examines how Informal Digital Learning of English (IDLE) and the L2 Motivational Self System (consisting of the ideal L2 self and the ought-to L2 self) are linked with Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE). Together, these are flourishing research areas in computer-assisted language learning, second language acquisition and positive psychology. Using a purposive sampling technique, three cohorts of English-as-a-foreign-language learners (N = 661) are surveyed in South Korea: middle school (n = 173), high school (n = 374) and university students (n = 114). Results of hierarchical regression analyses show that IDLE and the ideal L2 self are significantly predictive of all groups’ FLE, while the ought-to L2 self predicts only middle school students’ FLE. These results suggest that students’ engagement in extramural digital activities and their motivational mindset (shaped through different socio-educational contexts) may have influenced their emotions in learning their target language. Informed by these results, teachers can help increase students’ L2 learning enjoyment by supporting their language learning in out-of-class digital settings as well as promoting their ideal L2 self-images. Concurrently, teachers and parents can enhance younger learners’ enjoyment of learning L2—especially in test-oriented Asian contexts—by setting higher L2 learning expectations.     

Modern foreign language learning and European citizenship in the Irish context

This paper presents some of the findings of a study investigating young people's attitudes towards Europe and the European Union and their self-reported learning about European citizenship in Ireland. The paper considers adolescents’ attitudes and motivations for language learning in light of recent literature arguing for the role of modern foreign language instruction in the teaching of European citizenship. Findings based on the results of a knowledge test regarding the rights and opportunities offered through European citizenship are also included. Data provide evidence that Irish students possess more knowledge than their counterparts in England, Spain and France on the subject, while showing more positive attitudes than other students. The paper considers the contribution of modern foreign language teaching to this knowledge and their positive attitudes, drawing some possible inferences for other European member states.     

Computer-assisted foreign language learning: Effects of text,context, and gender on listening comprehension and motivation

A computer-based foreign language lesson was developed to study the effects of text, context, and gender on listening comprehension and motivation. A total of 109 fifth grade students responded to spoken commands, with text and a story absent or present. Presenting spoken language with text appeared to assist the development of listening skills. When text was present, students made fewer errors on the subsequent comprehension test and gave higher relevance and confidence motivation ratings than when text was absent. Girls demonstrated higher achievement than did boys and rated the lesson higher, indicating that girls tend to like different kinds of software than do boys. An interaction between context and gender regarding achievement was significant: Girls, but not boys, made fewer errors after a story-embedded lesson.     

Understanding L2 French teaching strategies in a non-target language classroom context

This research explored the congruence and disparity between teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards French as a second language (L2) teaching strategies in a non-target language classroom context in the USA. The findings suggest students’ and teachers’ attitudes towards the direct and indirect teaching strategies were generally consistent, but not in terms of the collaborative teaching strategies. The findings also indicate that the beginner and elementary level students held different preferences for all the three teaching strategies. The underlying reasons could be learners’ different language proficiency levels, and how well teachers execute these different teaching strategies in class. This study concludes with some implications for foreign language teacher education.     

Identifying native language difficulties among foreign language learners in college: a "foreign" language learning disability?

The present study compared successful and unsuccessful college foreign language learners on measures of intelligence, foreign language aptitude, native oral and written language, and math. Unsuccessful students had received petitions to waive the foreign language requirement. No significant differences between groups were found on intelligence and reading comprehension. Significant differences were found on the Modern Language Aptitude Test, on tests of written and oral language in the syntactic and phonological domains, and on math calculation. Authors suggest that students with foreign language learning difficulties may have underlying native language problems manifested especially in the areas of syntax and phonology. Suggestions for diagnosing a foreign language disability are made.     

应该二语自我、学习经历和动机行为关系的实证研究——以某高校大学英语重修班学习者为例

基于唐耶(D9rnyei)的二语动机自我系统理论的实证研究是对大学英语重修班的41名非英语专业学生的应该二语自我、学习经历和动机行为关系进行的,旨在发现该学习群体的在上述维度的现状以及三者间的关系,以便更有针对地提高学习积极性,促进动机行为。教师在教学中应有意识地帮助学习者提高应该二语自我水平,在课堂内外为学习者创造积极的学习经历,从而增加动机行为,使学习者更积极地进行自主学习。     

Phonological attainment and foreign language anxiety in distance language learning: a quantitative approach

Learning a language through distance means is becoming increasingly widespread. The investigation reported in this paper was part of a large study (n = 590) carried out in 2011, which examined the experience of English-speaking students learning French pronunciation in a distance setting. This paper explores the hypothesis that there is a link between foreign language anxiety (FLA) and phonological attainment when learning in a distance setting. Quantitative methods included a questionnaire which explored FLA and learning pronunciation of English-speaking students learning French in a distance setting (n = 590). Pronunciation competence and FLA were measured using two instruments: an adapted version of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale, which was part of the questionnaire, and a phonological attainment rating table, assessed through a reading activity. A significant correlation was found between good pronunciation skills and low levels of FLA.     

外语学习动机及其激发与培养策略

动机作为语言学习诸个因素中最具有能动性的主观因素之一,对学习效率的影响不容忽视。通过对外语学习动机的释义、类型的分类,对教师在外语教学过程中激发和培养外语习得者的学习动机的做法加以归纳和探讨。     

Pre-service English as a foreign language teachers' perceptions of the relationship between multiple intelligences and foreign language learning

The relationship between intelligence, language, and learning is a challenging field of study. One way to study how this relationship occurs and works is to investigate the perceptions of advanced language learners. Therefore, this paper reports a study that was conducted to explore 160 pre-service English language teachers' perceptions about which type(s) of multiple intelligence(s) play a role in foreign language learning. The findings of the study indicated that virtually all participants (97%) agreed on making use of all intelligence types in the process of foreign language learning and linguistic intelligence alone does not guarantee success in learning a foreign language. The results of the study also illustrate that multiple intelligences and foreign language learning have an ongoing, complex, and interactive relationship. Finally, a foreign language learning discipline MI profile is suggested.     

Case studies of learning disabled students with deficient syntactic control in English as a foreign language

This paper discusses a mini‐experiment; an exercise was devised to investigate the effects of repeated articulation on the acquisition of syntax. The main participants of the experiment are two Hebrew‐speaking students, one formally assessed as having reading disabilities, one female age 14 (Q) and one dyslexic male age 16 (W). Q has been learning English at school for 4 years; she is in eighth grade. She is in the group for weak learners of English and does not show signs of a reading disability. She has taken private tuition once a week for approximately 5 months. She had not previously studied the target structure in the experiment. The results are discussed in light of the literature review findings, and some applied implications and conclusions were drawn for learning disabilities (LD) teaching.     

论移情及其在外语学习中的作用

论述什么是移情,移情与文化休克的关系,移情在文化差异敏感性中的地位.并详细探讨了移情在英汉两种语言的语音、词汇、语法、语义各个层次上的对比,提出了移情的双向原则和一些培养方法.     

后方法视角下外语教学中的项目学习框架

项目学习作为世界范围内外语教学实践中的一个重要模式,已经成为应用语言学领域的新的研究焦点.研究从后方法视角,根据我国宏观的社会环境和特定的教学环境,剖析了项目学习的要素、内涵、特征、步骤及其影响因素,构建出我国外语教学环境下的项目学习框架,旨在加强本土化项目学习的理论研究.为项目学习在我国外语教学中的实施提供理论依据.     

Action learning: developing leaders and supporting change in a healthcare context

This account of practice outlines how action learning was used as the key component of a leadership development initiative for managers in an acute hospital setting. It explains how the initiative was conceived, why action learning was chosen and how action learning principles were incorporated. Insights into the outcomes and considerations for the future are also included.     

Effects of motivational regulation strategies on writing performance: a mediation model of self-regulated learning of writing in English as a second/foreign language

Motivational regulation has long been recognized as an essential but insufficiently investigated aspect of self-regulated learning (SRL), especially in relation to learning English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) writing. This study intends to fill the gap by investigating the predictive effect of motivational regulation strategies on EFL students’ writing performance mediated by SRL strategies. Data were collected from undergraduate students in mainland China (N = 512) through self-report questionnaires and an English writing test. Results of structural equation modeling (SEM) confirmed a partial mediation model in which motivational regulation strategies, as a whole, not only had direct and indirect effects on students’ writing performance but were also significantly correlated with their reported use of SRL strategies relating to cognition, metacognition, and social behavior. In addition, only cognitive and metacognitive strategies were found to be significant mediators in the model while social behavior strategies were not. The findings suggest that cumulative knowledge of motivational regulation is an antecedent of the reported use of other SRL strategies in affecting EFL writing performance. The inclusion of SRL strategies in the mediation model also contributes to a clear understanding of L2 writing processes within the SRL mechanism for improving writing outcomes.     

Exploring teachers' language use in university foreign language classes and its effects on students' second language learning

This study aims to explore teachers' language use in foreign language classes and its effects on students' second language learning. Data was collected from postgraduates class in a quantitative way, the research findings showed that students have positive attitude towards the first language use in foreign language classes, which is for better understanding and acquire other information out of the class. Students, for their part,based on their previous socialization as instructed FL classroom learners, may also not realize that they are entitled to and might benefit from greater exposure to the TL in these courses.     

Accelerating decoding-related skills in poor readers learning a foreign language: a computer-based intervention

The results of Fast ForWord® training on English decoding-related skills were examined. Finnish fifth-grade students were identified as having reading fluency problems and poor skills in English as a foreign language learned at school and were randomly assigned to either a training group (TRG) or a control group. The TRG (n?=?13) received 50?min of daily computer program-based training for a period of approximately 10 weeks. Students in the first control group (n?=?11) received the school’s regular instructional programme. A second control group was composed of 14 average readers. The students’ English skills were examined in pre-test, post-test and follow-up measurements. The TRG students saw an acceleration in decoding-related skills. The educational implications of the results are discussed.     

外语学习的“文化适应模式”评析及适应对策

对外语学习的研究导致了一系列理论模式的产生，这些模式为我们从不同的角度去了解和探讨影响外语学习的各种因素提供了理论框架。笔通过对舒曼的“化适应模式”进行评析发现：社会化前景知识是影响外语学习的最重要因素，而外语学习是一个心理过程，也是不同系统沟通融合的过程。合理吸收外国化中积极因素有助于外语学习。在教学过程中要适当地把化融入教学。     

Influence of grade level on perceptual learning style preferences and language learning strategies of Taiwanese English as a foreign language learners

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between grade level, perceptual learning style preferences, and language learning strategies among Taiwanese English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in grades 7 through 9. Three hundred and ninety junior high school students participated in this study. The instruments for data collection were the Perceptual Learning Style Preference Questionnaire (PLSPQ) and the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL). Results showed that statistically significant relationships were found to exist between grade level and kinesthetic learning style preference (p = .001), tactile learning style preference (p = .047), and individual learning style preference (p = .02). Results also showed that statistically significant relationships were found to exist between grade level and the use of memory strategies (p = .005), cognitive strategies (p = .02), metacognitive strategies (p = .000), affective strategies (p = .000) and social strategies (p = .000). Implications are that it is critical for classroom teachers to be more aware of the differences in their students and ensure that their courses present information that appeal to students in different grade levels.     

学习迁移理论在德语二外教学中的应用研究

随着经济全球化的发展,各国贸易日渐频繁,国家之间的关系随之密切,外语教学的地位显著提升。我国各高校都开设有第二外语专业,且历史悠久、经验丰富。在第二外语的学习过程中,语言迁移的影响很大。德语是我国很重视的第二外语,随着语言学的发展和教育水平的提高,德语教学取得了前所未有的成绩,但还存在一些问题。因此,如何有效利用语言迁移策略提高德语教学的质量是外语教育者思考的重要课题。本文对迁移的概念和内涵进行了阐述,指出了德语中语言迁移想象的体现,分析了语言迁移对于德语教学的重要意义,提出了借助语言迁移理论指导德语教学的有效措施。