Failure in visual word recognition brings about frustration and failure in reading which impinge on the achievement and reading progress of learners. In order to contribute towards assisting every child to achieve minimum proficiency in reading, this investigation examined the impact of podcasts on the abilities of second language learners in sight word recognition. The study which is quasi-experimental, made use of the pre-test post-test nonequivalent groups method. The study participants who were purposively sampled from a privately owned primary school in Enugu urban, South East, Nigeria comprise thirty elementary two learners. Pre-and post-tests were administered to the participants who were grouped into intervention and control groups. The intervention group listened to podcasts in word recognition skills while the control group learned word recognition through the usual method. Statistical tools such as means, standard deviation and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were utilized to analyze the data collected. The research question was answered through Standard Deviation and the learners’ mean achievement scores, while the hypothesis, which was set at <0.05 level of significance, was tested with the ANCOVA. The results of the investigation showed that podcasts facilitated improvement in the word recognition skills of English as a second language (ESL) learners. The study concluded that the use of podcast proves to be an efficient instructional media capable of promoting achievement in word recognition skills of learners in an ESL classroom. On the basis of the results, exploring the use of podcasts in the teaching of word recognition skills among ESL learners was recommended.

This two-year action research study examines how incorporating ‘The Writing Revolution’ (TWR) strategies and adapting task complexity can improve TESOL students' expository writing in secondary education in Cyprus. A total of eighty-three students (12-17 years old) from various first language (L1) backgrounds and CEFR levels (A1-B2) participated from six lower secondary (LS) and upper secondary (US) state classrooms. The methodology involved spending one-quarter of students' weekly class time on the learning and application of TWR techniques in their L2/EFL writing. Overall, 90-180 activities were completed successfully, and cognitively undemanding and context-embedded writing tasks gave way to more complex and cognitively demanding tasks to suit students’ differing proficiency levels. Qualitative analysis of students’ writing and focus group discussions indicated that writing improved coherence, organization, and complexity. Students expressed feelings of reduced anxiety and improved confidence in English writing. These findings highlight the importance of dedicating time to teaching writing explicitly in L2/FL classrooms and gradually increasing task complexity beginning at the sentence level. This study’s unique contribution demonstrates how TWR strategies can be effectively tailored to L2/FL contexts and offer practical implications for TESOL curriculum developers, researchers, and educators seeking to improve students’ writing confidence in FL and lessen writing anxiety in the classroom.

A large body of evidence demonstrates that cooperative learning promotes reading achievement.  Cooperative learning is based on Social Interdependence Theory, which holds that learners benefit from leveraging cooperative effort to achieve individual and mutual goals. Student-generated questioning (SGQ) is a cooperative learning strategy that promotes learning through an iterative self and peer-assessment process. SGQ has yielded mixed results among lower-proficiency language users, where linguistic and cultural barriers can impede efficacy. Providing students with pre-training, procedural prompts, and language modeling has proven effective. A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design was employed to determine the impact of a highly scaffolded SGQ strategy on reading comprehension in two intact CEFR-A2 reading classes (n = 62) over a 16-week semester at a Japanese university. The Cambridge A2 Key Test was administered before and after the reading intervention. Parametric test results revealed SGQ had no significant effect on any of the five reading subskills. Further discussion of findings and recommendations may prove instructive for reading educators and researchers of low-proficiency English students in Japan and other East Asian contexts.

This study aims to assess the Social-Emotional Learning Instructional Competence (SELIC) of English as a foreign language pre-service teachers (EFLPTs) at a pedagogical university in Vietnam (VPU). It employed a mixed-methods design, which combines qualitative classroom observations with quantitative questionnaire responses from 351 EFLPTs to evaluate EFLPTs’ proficiency in SELIC – the competence to implement Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in teaching practices. The results reveal both strengths and deficiencies in EFLPTs’ demonstration of SELIC. They demonstrated a strong ability to apply psychological and pedagogical principles as well as to organize activities that promote students’ social-emotional skills; however, they encountered difficulties in explicitly addressing social-emotional issues that may arise in EFL classrooms, with some EFLPTs neglecting or failing to respond to students’ social and emotional needs. Additionally, there were notable inconsistencies in EFLPTs’ modeling of social-emotional competences during their teaching practices, as some EFLPTs effectively demonstrated empathy, relationship skills and emotional management, while others faced challenges. The least developed component of SELIC was their ability to evaluate students’ social-emotional skills. These findings highlight the necessity to enhance comprehensive and explicit integration of SELIC in teacher education programs, ensuring that EFLPTs are sufficiently prepared to foster both academic achievement and social-emotional growth in their future classrooms.

Early childhood is a critical period for growth and language development, including the ability to communicate effectively. In modern educational institutions, alongside Indonesian as the mother tongue, English is often introduced as a foreign language. Teaching English to young children is approached through engaging and educational activities designed to enhance their language skills. This study employs Participatory Action Research (PAR) involving 41 kindergarten students as participants. Effective methods include singing, reading bilingual storybooks, giving instructions in English, and role-playing. Singing helps children recognize English sounds and rhythms naturally, while bilingual storybooks enrich vocabulary by linking English words to familiar contexts. Role-playing, particularly bilingual mini-theater, stands out as a prominent method. In this activity, children interact using a mix of Indonesian and English dialogues, fostering both language skills and enjoyment. By participating in such dialogues, they deepen their understanding of English words in context. Additionally, instructions given in English during role-play help children familiarize themselves with hearing and responding to the language, promoting internalization. The findings highlight that the bilingual mini-theater approach fosters a dynamic learning environment that promotes vocabulary acquisition, expressive communication, and practical language application. These creative activities make learning interactive and enjoyable, effectively supporting early childhood English language development.

The study aims at a deeper understanding of English classroom environment (CE) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE) in the context of a Chinese university and further explores the relationship among CE, FLE, and students’ performance in learning English as a foreign language. The 336 participants in this study were mostly from science departments, and about one-third of them came from Tibet and Xinjiang Autonomous Region. The findings indicate that the participants’ CE and FLE were at a moderate level and that significant positive correlations were detected among CE, FLE and English performance. The study has some practical implications for EFL (English as a foreign language) teaching and learning: (a) The establishment of a good healthy CE can effectively promote students’ performance; (b) The students’ FLE can help them learn English better; (c) Teachers and students should attach importance to the process of English learning, where teachers ought to actively play their part in building a healthy CE and enhancing students’ sense of FLE in English learning.

Speaking is one of the most challenging skills in studying English, raising concerns among many English teachers about how to help improve their students’ speaking performance. While many shy students prefer to work individually, others indicate their competence in group work. Therefore, this study investigates the effect of group discussion in authentic role-play on the speaking performance of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) young learners at a suburban primary school in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Participants in this study include 80 students: an experimental group (N=40) and a control group (N=40). During six weeks of the role-play session, experimental group students will work in groups, whereas the control group’s participants will prepare individually. Pre-tests and post-tests were employed to examine the students’ speaking performance, and interviews are conducted to compare students’ perceptions of the two role-play formats. The results from the speaking test show that the scores of the experimental group were higher than those of the control group. In the experimental group, five components are improved: pronunciation, content, vocabulary, grammar, and fluency. In contrast, only three components (pronunciation, content, and grammar) are enhanced in the control group. The findings from the interviews revealed that students of both group discussion and individual work engaged in role-play activities and substantially improved their language skills. However, they also faced some challenges in effectively using the two formats of role-play during speaking lessons.