Vocabulary plays an important part in an EFL/ ESL textbook. The language input contained in textbooks and the representation of dimensions in vocabulary activities may have various impacts on learners’ language acquisition and development. According to Webb and Nation, vocabulary development requires the establishment of certain learning situations. It is imperative to analyze whether the vocabulary exercises presented in the book serve the desired purpose or not. The present research analyzed present General English textbook to ensure that it fulfills the learning needs of students. During the analysis, it was found that most of the sections of the vocabulary are well presented with proper context. However, there were some sections which do not contextualize the vocabulary as presented in the book. These items need to be substituted. Certain sections of the vocabulary are above the level of learners and need to be replaced with the easy ones.

This paper investigated (1) English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ expectations of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities in a Vietnamese context, and (2) factors related to teacher demographics affecting their expectations of CPD activities. The study followed a mixed-methods approach, using a questionnaire to collect quantitative data from 224 Vietnamese EFL teachers, and individual semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data from six teachers. The results revealed that among five domains in light of the Vietnamese English Teacher Competence Framework, including subject knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, learner knowledge, professional attitudes and values, and knowledge of teaching practice and context, the participants desired to learn about pedagogical knowledge the most (M=4.14). The study also indicated that factors related to age, teaching experience, and field of study at undergraduate level differentiated the teachers’ expectations of CPD activities. Basically, the younger and less experienced teachers desired to participate in the CPD activities more than their counterparts. Moreover, the teachers with degree in teaching EFL expressed their eagerness and willingness to participate in the CPD events more than those holding a degree in English Linguistics and Literature. This paper also suggested recommendations for further studies in the field of CPD.

Listening skill plays an important role in studying a foreign language, especially English. However, students face a lot of difficulties in English listening. The research was carried out to find the problems that the sophomores encounter in English listening. The participants of this research were seventy-five English majored sophomores of English classes, course 14 at Tay Do University. Questionnaire and paper interview were delivered to collect problems. This was a quantitative and qualitative research. The results of the study showed that vocabulary, pronunciation, background knowledge and psychological factors were the major listening comprehension difficulties. Basing on these difficulties, English learners can find out suitable learning ways to improve their listening skill. The results of this study may also be useful for those who are interested in this field.

A number of researchers in language education have investigated the effects of language learning emotions. Burnout, a negative affective factor, is deemed a shared phenomenon among language learners. In the context of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) in China, Chinese EFL learners, especially senior high school students, seem to be vulnerable to English learning burnout (ELB). ELB is a three-dimensional concept derived from job burnout in psychology and academic burnout in general education. It possesses three principal components: Exhaustion, Cynicism, and Reduced Efficacy. The present study aims to explore ELB levels, gender dissimilarities, and English learning performance differences in ELB among Chinese senior high school students. We administered the Maslach Burnout Inventory-EFL Student Survey to a sample of 377 Chinese senior high school students, analyzing the collected data through descriptive statistics, an independent sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0. Our significant findings are as follows: 1) Chinese senior high school students had low overall and dimensional ELB levels; 2) there was no significant gender difference in students’ ELB levels; and 3) the students’ English learning performance levels significantly differentiated their ELB levels. Some theoretical and practical implications are provided.

The pronunciation patterns of most speakers of English as a second language are characterized by regional and ethnic phonological features of their native language. This study sought to examine the consonant articulation of Hausa speakers of English in broadcasting industry in Nigeria. The research was guided by Optimality Theory framework (OT). Participants were drawn from four electronic media in Bauchi State, Nigeria and data were elicited through production test and recording of news broadcasts live from the stations. The findings revealed that the participants ranked IDENTCONT as a high ranked constraints which allowed the importation of voiceless bilabial fricative /ɸ/ from the phonemic inventory of Hausa language into English spoken by the subjects. The results further discovered that /p/ is substituted with/ɸ/ and /θ/ is substituted with /t/, /d/ or /s/. Similarly, /ð/ is realized as /d/ or /z/. /ʒ/ is produced as /dʒ/ or /ʃ. These deviations from RP were caused by phonological processes of spirantinzation/Frication, stopping and affrication.

One of the problems of English learning in Indonesia is the low effectiveness of formal instruction in secondary schools. This study investigates how an extracurricular program (namely English Camp) conducted by an Islamic State School based in a rural area in Riau province, Indonesia, was managed to enhance their students' English proficiency. We collected our qualitative study's data through a semi-structured interview with the English Camp initiator and analysis of a webinar conducted by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and recorded on YouTube. We analyzed our data inductively and thematically to recognize major themes that will later enable us to answer our research questions. We found that the English Camp had comprehensive course contents covering the four English skills. In terms of learning methods, it applied some 'out of the box' strategies that are inspired by a contextual approach to learning. The school decided to go beyond the normal mainstream national curriculum practiced in such a state Islamic high school. Among the featured programs of the English Camp are taking the pledge (collective commitment) for English use, English Zone, weekly roleplay performances, and public speaking exams with university lecturers. Based on our findings, we suggest that other schools study the school's breakthroughs, especially with their "out of the box" and contextual programs to help students develop their English skills.

Implementing an English curriculum, especially one from outside Indonesia, is risky. Some schools produce positive outcomes, while others produce the opposite. This study aims to evaluate the difficulties of learning English from writing abilities using the Cambridge Curriculum in Indonesia. This study employed a qualitative approach that included interviews with students, school administrators, English instructors, and curriculum coordinators (n = 7) and documentation and observation, which served as data validation instruments. The results of the study indicate that, of the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, the scores for reading and writing skills were not as predicted. The maximum score for Cambridge English was 6, and of the two skills measured, notably writing, the score was 3. This conclusion highlights the need to prepare English teacher credentials per Cambridge standards. This research has consequences for the design of learning English, which can help students improve their writing skills to meet Cambridge's maximum grade criteria.

This study deals with the English language teachers’ perceived beliefs on how to improve English language students’ learning skills. English language teachers’ level of competencies on how to improve language skills of their students is the main focus of this study. Therefore, the domain, “Improving Language Skills,” defined by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) in Türkiye in the field of “Subject Specific Competencies for Teaching Profession” has been used. This specific domain includes seven competency performances and 63 related performance indicators at three levels: A1, A2, and A3. This study, first, aims to develop a new “English Language Teacher Competency Scale” under the light of MoNE descriptors; second, it aims to observe the English teachers’ competency levels following the suggested performance indicators. The participants of the study were 100 English language teachers, teaching at public and private primary schools in Türkiye. Accordingly, the teachers responded to the mentioned scale, including other variables; such as gender, professional experience, educational background, and the type of schools they worked in. The findings indicated that there was no significant difference between the teachers’ competency beliefs about their professional experience, gender, and educational background; however, there was a significant difference in terms of the type of schools the teachers worked in. Also, this study revealed feasibility of developing the “English Language Teacher Competency Scale,”, and made the scale available to use for evaluating English Language Teaching teachers’ competency levels on how to “Improve Language Skills” in class.

Understanding the level of English learning self-efficacy (ELS) and its influencing factors is significant for cultivating students’ self-confidence, enhancing their initiative, and stimulating their interest in English learning. Therefore, this study focused on levels of ELS levels and influencing factors among Chinese senior high school students. A mixed-method study was conducted using self-efficacy theory: a survey was administered to 325 high school students, and semi-structured interviews were carried out with nine students. Using the General Self-efficacy Scale (Schwarzer & Jerusalem, 1995), this paper explored the basic situation of senior high school students’ ELS. It aimed to answer the following questions: 1) What is the level of Chinese senior high school students’ ELS? and 2) What are the influencing factors related to Chinese senior high school students’ ELS? The data analysis led to the following conclusions: 1) Chinese senior high school students showed a medium ELS level; and 2) the differences between the ideal and real selves, learning experiences, academic emotions, and learning strategies influence students’ ELS.

Since language use is at the center of language learning, learners’ active engagement in learning activities is crucial for successful language learning. Answering the call for positive language education, the present study investigated the levels and influencing factors of engagement in English learning among 437 Chinese senior high school students. This study employed an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, collecting data through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that students were generally well-engaged in English learning. Moreover, students were more inclined to engage in English learning behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively. Students’ agentic engagement in English learning was relatively low and mainly reflected after English classes. The relatively low agentic engagement might be shaped by a series of personal and contextual factors, including the traditional Chinese concept of “honoring and respecting the teacher”, teachers’ teaching strategies, students’ learning strategies, English proficiency, learning climate, and teaching styles. Pedagogical implications for English teachers concerning enhancing students’ English learning engagement were provided.

This study used a qualitative method to explore a teacher’s use of motivational strategies in an English for specific purposes (ESP) course and students’ perceptions. An English teacher in a business English class and her 32 students were recruited. The class was observed three times: at the beginning, in the middle, and at the end of the course. Two semi-structured interviews with the teacher were conducted: one before classroom observation, and the other after observation. Interviews with the students were conducted after each classroom observation. The teacher used seven motivational strategies to create a supportive and relaxed classroom atmosphere, and five strategies to facilitate students’ language learning. Most students’ perceptions of the teacher’s use of motivational strategies were positive. However, the students perceived a gap between their expectations for the course and their experiences. Finally, the article concludes by offering insights into the implications and constraints related to pedagogy.

This study delves into understanding the determinants of grit in English learning among Vietnamese students, highlighting both external and internal factors. Utilizing qualitative interviews, the research engaged with a cohort of 15 students, aiming to unearth the intricate interplay of influences that bolster their commitment and persistence in English studies. External factors emerged prominently, with teacher influence playing a significant role. Teachers’ motivational techniques, personalized feedback, and the establishment of a nurturing learning environment were underscored as pivotal in shaping students’ determination. On the internal facet, personal goals and aspirations, self-efficacy, intrinsic curiosity for the language, adaptive learning strategies, peer comparisons, and reflective self-assessment were identified as central elements. Insights from Constructivism and Socio-Cultural Theory were instrumental in interpreting the findings, revealing how individual experiences intersect with broader societal and cultural narratives. The study uncovered that while personal motivations and aspirations drive the students, they are simultaneously influenced by societal values, especially in the Vietnamese context, where education is deeply revered. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on grit in educational settings, shedding light on the unique cultural and individual determinants in the context of Vietnamese students learning English.

Skinner’s behaviorist theory delineates how a child acquires L1; notwithstanding, what sets the present study apart from Skinner’s findings can be culled-out from the research context itself. This paper validates the principles behind behaviorist theory as proposed by Skinner (1985) taking into account applied linguistics context. Careful scrutiny of data reveals that the explored theory also plays a vital role in the gradual L2 acquisition through meaningful linguistic attempts (e.g., There are persons cutting trees without replanting; His friends Marilyn and Alicia clean the classroom) and reading activities by fostering affirmative learning atmosphere to induce positive language attitude towards L2 acquisition and functionality. Negligible errors in the process of L2 acquisition are attributed to linguistic variability, interlanguage, and inflectional morphology component. This study is advantageous to EFL learners and teachers globally for it highlights some linguistic implications indispensable to interpret the learning rate, lexical range, comprehensible input (CI), and language cognition of L2 students specifically in early language education. EFL educators may be able to provide meaningful linguistic activities by considering the essential tenets of this academic piece as well as the multiculturalism factor to L2 acquisition.

Boredom is a commonly experienced unpleasant emotion in foreign language classrooms and may negatively influence students’ learning status and outcomes. Unfortunately, limited attention has been directed to classroom boredom among students while learning foreign languages. To address this gap, this study adopted a mixed-methods approach to investigate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom boredom experienced by students. We invited 675 Chinese senior high school EFL students to participate in the questionnaire survey about their classroom boredom, and 4 of them voluntarily participated in semi-structured interviews. The results of quantitative data analyses indicate that Chinese senior high school EFL students experienced medium levels of classroom boredom, with male students feeling significantly more bored than females and no difference in boredom in terms of grade and class type. Qualitative data also reveal students’ preferences for challenging language learning activities and learner-centered pedagogy. Our findings shed light on ways of improving EFL learners’ classroom learning experiences and emotional status.

Mindset theories have been applied to study motivation in various domains, with researchers talking about different mindsets in diverse academic domains. The domain specificity of mindsets has led second language researchers to suggest distinct mindsets concerning language ability and learning outcomes. While there is no lack of research on the application of mindset theories, a systematic synthesis of the literature on mindset theories focusing on the language education domain has remained relatively unexplored. The literature in this study was identified by conducting keyword searches in Scopus and EBSCOhost research databases using a combination of the following terms: “mindset theories”, “English as a foreign language”, “English as a second language”, and “teacher training”. The search results were limited to research articles published in English-medium refereed journals from 2013 to 2023. We scrutinized the titles and abstracts of 128 articles in the initial round of screening and did a second round of close reading for relevance to the synthesis focus. This chapter synthesizes 40 research papers on the application of mindset theories in the domain of language teaching and learning, including 1) studies on language skills such as writing, 2) studies related to language teachers’ role and teacher training, and 3) theoretical and practical applications of mindset theories. The conclusions drawn will be used to recommend future directions in research and practice. The chapter will contribute to the field of mindset theories in language education in terms of research and practice for educators and researchers.

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.

The advent of the "positive psychology turn" in applied linguistics has brought increased attention to psychological constructs such as hope, which significantly impact students’ academic performance, including their effort. However, the intricate relationships among these factors remain underexplored. To address this gap, the present study employs a mixed-methods approach to investigate how specific dimensions of students' hope influence their efforts. A sample of 711 Chinese senior high school students studying English as a foreign language participated by completing questionnaires assessing their levels of hope and effort. Findings from structural equation modeling indicate that pathways, a dimension of hope, directly and positively affect students' efforts in learning a foreign language. This research provides valuable insights for educators, highlighting the importance of fostering hope in English learning to enhance students' strategic approaches to language acquisition and support their academic progress.