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ABSTRACT Artificial Intelligence (AI)‐driven chatbots, such as ChatGPT, have significantly impacted education, especially for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. However, there is paucity of empirical evidence concerning the role of chatbots in psycho‐emotional constructs like well‐being and emotion regulation. It is important to address this issue because it can further our understanding of the ways through which using ChatGPT affects psycho‐emotional constructs in EFL learners. This study aimed to unpack the intersection between using ChatGPT and well‐being, with a focus on the mediating role of emotion regulation in the EFL context of Iran. Using convenience sampling, 492 EFL learners (205 males and 287 females) were invited to complete validated scales measuring ChatGPT use, well‐being, and emotion regulation. The outcomes of structural equation modelling revealed a strong mediation effect of emotion regulation in the relationship between using ChatGPT and well‐being. Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between using ChatGPT and both well‐being and emotion regulation. Besides, a significant positive relationship was established between emotion regulation and well‐being among the EFL learners. The results imply that the integration of ChatGPT into the Iranian EFL learning environment can be beneficial, considering its positive correlations with both well‐being and emotion regulation among the Iranian EFL learners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the sense of belongingness plays a major influence in fostering intrinsic motivation and psychological well-being, scant research attention has been given to English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ belongingness in relation to peers and teachers and its outcomes in L2 learning contexts. Additionally, despite the importance of emotion regulation in L2 education, little is known about its role in mediating the impact of L2 belongingness on self-assessment of L2 proficiency in online L2 learning environments. Therefore, the present study used survey data to examine the associations between learners’ sense of class belongingness, their preferred emotional regulation strategies (reappraisal vs. suppression) and self-perceived English proficiency, in a sample of 191 Turkish EFL university students. Path analysis results indicated significant direct paths between social belongingness with peers and academic belongingness with teachers, respectively, and the emotional regulation strategy of reappraisal. Further analysis indicated a significant indirect association between social belongingness with peers and perceived L2 proficiency through the measure of reappraisal emotional regulation. There was also a significant indirect relationship via reappraisal between academic belongingness with teachers and perceived L2 proficiency. The results are discussed in connection with self-determination theory and social identity theory, and implications are drawn for teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, teacher identity has been a popular topic in the field of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching. As a construct that is socially constructed, teacher identity is influenced by situational contexts and is not fixed but multifaceted. While many studies have examined pre‐service and novice teachers’ identities, relatively fewer paid attention to experienced language teachers’ identities and the conflicts they may encounter. This study investigates one seasoned EFL teacher's multiple identities and the tensions that existed in her identity in a Chinese university setting. Data included a semi‐structured interview, class recordings, a stimulated recall, and artifacts such as the teacher's materials for classroom teaching. Findings demonstrated that the teacher practiced three sub‐identities in her teaching, namely, an English language teacher, a guide, and an academic advisor. Additionally, tensions within her identity as an English educator were identified, consisting of the popularity of technology‐driven tools in students’ English learning activities and the need to conduct research while not possessing sufficient research skills. The pedagogical insights generated underscored the importance of teachers’ agency and institutional support in resolving the tensions to facilitate experienced language teachers’ ongoing professional development and identity construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflexive interpretation is a pivotal aspect of discourse comprehension, which usually reveals consistent challenges for Chinese EFL learners. These learners often breach the locality constraint of reflexive pronouns, exhibiting a persistent tendency towards optional reflexive comprehension. Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of the priming technique in altering biases among L2 learners in anaphora resolution. However, no existing studies have investigated comprehension priming in the context of reflexive interpretation among Chinese EFL learners. This study addresses this gap by conducting a sentence comprehension experiment with 36 high school students to explore the potential of comprehension priming in modifying L2 learners' reflexive interpretation biases and examining the persistence of the priming effect. The findings reveal immediate and cumulative priming effects, with no discernible effect observed after 1 week. The results suggest that comprehension priming can occur universally, even without lexical overlap, previously assumed to be a prerequisite. While the priming effect lacks statistical significance after 1 week, there is a numerical increase in participants consistently interpreting the target structure correctly. Thus, comprehension priming emerges as an effective method for L2 learners to internalize more abstract linguistic rules. Further research on comprehension priming across diverse L2 populations and language structures is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming L2 education, yet its specific impacts on English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers and language learners' engagement remain understudied. To address this deficiency, this study, grounded in Fredricks, Blumenfeld, and Paris's (Review of Educational Research, 74, 109) three‐dimensional engagement model, explored the impacts of AI on the behavioural, cognitive and emotional engagement of EFL teachers and language learners through semi‐structured interviews with 24 EFL teachers and 38 college language learners, followed by a thematic analysis with MAXQDA to uncover the effectiveness of AI. The study found that behavioural engagement showcased the integration of AI tools, highlighting increased frequency of use and their practical applications in enhancing language acquisition tasks. Cognitive engagement was marked by the recognition of AI capacity to augment teaching strategies and learning processes, although it also surfaced concerns about the potential overreliance on technology. Emotional engagement reflected a complex interplay of attitudes, with most informants viewing AI positively but acknowledging concerns about job displacement, and its impacts on emotions of students and teachers as well as the relations between them. The study concluded that while AI held promise for L2 education, the integration must consider its limitations and ethical implications. The research provided valuable insights for educators, learners, technology developers and policymakers, encouraging innovative practices and informed decision‐making in L2 education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the widespread use of Learner-Oriented Assessment (LOA) in (English as a Foreign Language EFL classes, concerns persist regarding its suitability for contexts such as Iran. Drawing on Carless's (SHE, 31:219-233, 2006) criteria for LOA, the present study examined the effectiveness of peer and teacher feedback in an academic writing course. To this aim, a total of 124 intermediate language learners who were homogenized in terms of language proficiency, based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), were randomly assigned to an experimental and a control group. A 12-session writing instruction course with specific writing tasks was developed. One group received feedback from peers, while the other group received feedback from the teacher. Findings revealed that peer feedback resulted in better writing in terms of language, content, and organization. It was also found that the peer feedback group could retain their learning in the long run. These findings underscore the effectiveness of peer feedback within the framework of LOA, particularly in teacher-directed settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The process of revising writing has provided valuable insights into both learners' written output and their cognitive processes during revision. Research has acknowledged the emotional dimension of writing revision, yet no studies have delved into models that connect all of these domains. Given the interplay between these domains, it is crucial to explore potential associations between writing revision and writing quality in terms of emotions. Purpose: This study aims to shed light on the emotional shifts that occur as learners transition from a focus on form to an emphasis on content, refining fundamental aspects of writing revision, and investigating potential challenges and strategies. Methods: A total of 320 Chinese-speaking learners (188 female and 132 male) participated in weekly writing classes. We used subsequent investigation aimed to probe the specific writing revision practices contributing to both form and content revisions and semi-structured interview from collection, representation, marking, and stimulated recall to elicit participants' perspectives on various aspects, including the number of writing revisions, recurring errors, emotional processes, efficacy of writing revision, cognition of writing revision, attitudes towards writing revision, and emotional changes. Results: The findings reveal a positive correlation between writing revision and the quality of writing. EFL learners' rationale for revising centered on the imperative need to address new structural nuances or incorporate additional elements such as vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation. Additionally, form revision garnered significantly lower scores compared to content revision. Finally, EFL learners deduced the form revision governing target content through repeated revisions of the manuscript throughout the time points. Conclusions: The results indicate that the outcomes of form-focused revision or content-oriented approaches are linked to the quality of writing and contribute to the development of writing skills. Moreover, psychological processes assist English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in enhancing their self-efficacy in language acquisition. Implications: This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by highlighting the importance of understanding the emotional dimensions of writing revision. The practical implications of these findings extend to both learners and educators, offering insights into how to enhance self-efficacy in language learning and teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the bewildering array of spatial configurations that languages build around spatial relations, the acquisition of English spatial prepositions is a daunting task for learners of English as L2. For instance, while the embodied meanings of contact and containment are expressed in English through on and in, respectively, Spanish conveys such configurations through en (in). Furthermore, spatial prepositions bear non-geometric senses, especially those imbued with metaphorical configurations. Accordingly, in addition to its spatial configuration of motion, to, for example, may denote a metaphorical (He gave a questioning look to someone) or attachment sense (The building next to the hospital). Teaching English as L2, however, does not provide learners a conceptual guide to how these senses are related and thus does not render them amenable to systematic, enduring learning. Premised on the assumption that these senses are schematically related through the Principled Polysemy model (PPM), this study assesses whether instructing Spanish learners of English at B1 level on the usages of on and to applying this model will lead to learning benefits. Participants (n = 90) were randomized to receive instruction on the usage of such prepositions based on Collocation Approach (experimental group 1), PPM (experimental group 2), or not receive such instruction (control group). Then they completed a cloze test containing different usages of the target prepositions on three instructional conditions: pre-, post-, and delayed post-test. Differential mean scores were computed using planned contrasts, which indicates a statistically significant effect for PPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on a World Englishes perspective, this article revisits foreign language confidence (FLC) and elaborates on the development and validation of a three‐factor Foreign Language Confidence Scale (FLCS) including Foreign Language Competence, Sense of Linguistic Security, and Sense of Linguistic Ownership. It first critically examines the existing understanding and measurement of FLC. Then it offers a theoretical and empirical justification for the three‐factor proposition in the FLCS. To examine the psychometric quality of the FLCS, two datasets (Sample 1: N = 673, Sample 2: N = 380) were collected from 1053 undergraduate English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) learners at a top‐tier university in China. Results of exploratory factor analysis using Sample 1 demonstrated a stable three‐factor structure in the FLCS with sufficient factorial eigenvalues and strong item loadings. The confirmatory factor analysis based on Sample 2 cross‐validated the FLCS's underlying factor structure and substantiated the reliability and validity (e.g., convergent and discriminant validity) of the three‐factor 16‐item FLCS. This article also discusses the psychometric properties of the FLCS and points out its potential use for future teaching and research purposes against the backdrop of decolonizing English language education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the realities of feedback practices and activity uses in writing classrooms is key to optimizing them. This study attempted to profile Saudi university English writing teachers' uses of feedback delivery modes, error correction strategies, and learner-centered feedback activities. The study drew upon the qualitative approach by using an open-ended questions to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of teachers' feedback provision practices and activity uses. Open-end questionnaire responses were collected from 74 English writing teachers working at eight Saudi universities. The results revealed that handwritten and oral feedback modes are more dominant in the teachers' practices than electronic and audio-recorded modes. Additionally, a relatively larger number of the teachers reported using direct and comprehensive error correction strategies more than indirect and selective ones. A considerable number of the teachers were found to use combinations of feedback modes, direct-indirect and comprehensive-selective error correction forms. With regard to their use of learner-centered feedback activities, a larger number of the teachers reported making use of peer feedback in their classes but neglecting student self-evaluation and automated writing evaluation activities. The paper discusses the implications pertinent to improving feedback provision practices and activity uses in the Saudi university context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposed a three-step writing conference in which foreign/second language (L2) students, under the guidance of their writing instructor, first fastened their attentional focus on a form-related error, analysed a collection of standard L2 samples to deduce the underlying knowledge, and then planned for their error correction as well as future learning of this knowledge. The ultimate goal of this formative assessment practice was to scaffold student engagement with written corrective feedback (WCF). Using a between-group experiment design, the present study compared the effects on the success rate of error correction and L2 uptake of the above writing conference (n = 14) against those brought about by a typical Teacher–Student (n = 12) and a typical Student–Student one (n = 12). Research participants were 38 intermediate learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) recruited from three intact classes at a language-learning center in Vietnam. The suggested writing conference was indeed found to yield better error correction and L2 uptake than the other counterparts. A closer look at the students' mental engagement with WCF revealed that such engagement was moderately correlated with their L2 uptake. These findings altogether suggest that student engagement with WCF should not be taken for granted or, in other words, this engagement should be contingently supported by the writing instructor in order to foster learning from WCF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Addressing an underappreciated research area, this study reports on how two English language teachers in a Turkish tertiary education context use a global coursebook. At the beginning of the study, a metaphor elicitation task and pre-study interviews were employed to detect the teachers' coursebook conceptualizations. Then, a total of 12 lessons were video-recorded and adaptations were identified using a research-informed framework developed for this study. The participants examined and evaluated their own practices in stimulated recall sessions, reflective conversations and journal writing. The study was concluded with post-study interviews. Data revealed that the teachers' instructional practice was driven by the coursebook to a large extent as they stuck to minor adaptations and followed the guidance given by the coursebook. Along with the institutional constraints, the teachers' practices were influenced by their own personal preferences, attempts to make coursebook tasks accessible to learners, lack of planning and the highly structured delivery of tasks in the coursebook. However, pedagogic considerations were not foregrounded by the teachers. The results of the study call for professional teacher development on coursebook utilization, coursebook-based instead of coursebook-led program planning alongside redesign of coursebooks as resources rather than instructions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present descriptive content analysis study aimed to analyse the activities of the Sunrise12 EFL textbooks based on Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and quantify and classify the lower and higher order thinking activities. It also tried to determine the frequencies and percentages of these activities in the six levels of the cognitive domain including lower and higher-order thinking skills according to this model to assess the proportionate distribution of these activities within the textbooks. The results revealed an unbalanced distribution of the total lower and higher-order thinking activities in Sunrise 12, as well as the cognitive domains in both lower and higher-order thinking activities. The number of lower-order thinking activities was higher than that of higher-order thinking activities. Out of 459 activities, the frequencies and percentages of the former were 311 and 67.8, while the frequencies and percentages of the latter were 148 and 32.2. Therefore, Sunrise 12 EFL textbooks placed more emphasis on the lower-order thinking activities. Also, the frequencies and percentages of the first three cognitive levels, i.e., Remembering, Understanding, and Applying which refer to the lower-order thinking skills, were 118,25.7%, 156,34%, and 37,8.1%, respectively. The second three cognitive levels, including Analysing, Evaluating, and Creating which belong to the higher-order thinking skills, were 58, 12,6%, 64, 13.9%, and 26, 5.7%, respectively. Consequently, it was found out that there is unequitable distribution even among the included cognitive levels in each lower and higher order thinking activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This commentary presents a nuanced, dialectical, and empowering perspective on research pertaining to language teacher emotions, drawing upon empirical research papers featured in this special issue, as well as other relevant literature in the field of language teacher education. Recognizing the embodied, dynamic, and potentially contested nature of teacher emotional labor, the paper emphasizes the importance of presenting a nuanced portrayal, adopting a dialectical approach, and embracing an empowering mindset when investigating language teacher emotions. It also highlights important directions for future research, advocating for a conceptual shift toward examining teacher emotional labor as a distributed practice with a participatory and transformative orientation. Furthermore, the significance of both "looking inward" to delve into specific types of emotions and their interactions as well as "looking outward" to explore how emotions relate to other crucial dimensions of language teachers' professional practices such as identity, mindfulness, and resilience, is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teaching is by no means 'an emotion-free zone', and teachers are often emotionally challenged in front of their students. When teaching and learning takes place via a second language, the emotional landscape of the classroom becomes especially charged. Often there is a notable gap between expected emotions or 'emotional rules' in English as a Second Language (ESL) classrooms and genuine emotions which results in 'emotional labour' for ESL teachers. Especially, 'English only' language policies and monolingual ideologies can lead ESL teachers and students to experience a range of emotions around authentic language use in the form of translanguaging. While research on students' attitudes toward translanguaging has mushroomed in recent years, fewer studies have concentrated on the emotions of teachers in relation to translanguaging in the ESL classroom. To bridge this research gap, this study investigates six university teachers' emotions related to translanguaging via semi-structured interviews in ESL classroom settings across three Asian countries (Mongolia, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates). The study revealed complex and conflicting teacher emotions around translanguaging including pride, comfort (related to feelings of safety), shame (related to linguistic inferiority complexes), guilt, and frustration. Based on the findings, practical recommendations are provided on the need for greater awareness and open dialogue on emotions in ESL classrooms for improved teacher and student wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While various aspects of language teachers' emotional experiences have been gaining attention, including emotion labor and emotional capital, less attention has been placed on the emotional experiences of teacher educators supporting language teachers in emotionally challenging situations. Following calls to examine language teachers' emotional experiences ecologically and as socially and institutionally shaped, we engaged in collaborative autoethnography to explore how language teacher and teacher educator emotion labor reflects answerability to multiple commitments in the face of external feeling rules. Our findings highlight how language teacher–teacher educator collaboration can mitigate as well as reproduce emotion labor. This study contributes to research on language teacher emotion labor by focusing on the role of the teacher educator in supporting language teacher emotional capital and highlighting the complexity underlying emotion labor and emotional capital as multi-directional. Furthermore, the study illustrates how collaborative autoethnography can generate reflexivity and emotional capital for language teacher educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, research on the emotional side of language teachers' work has grown exponentially. One progressively-developing subset of this line of inquiry concerns how institutional discourses/expectations interact with teachers' internal feelings, which bears on how they manage their emotions in response to such an interaction and is known as emotion labor. One type of institutional expectation of concern to the present study is the feedback that institutional supervisors provided for the teachers and could be a source of emotion labor. Motivated by this consideration, this study explored 12 Iranian EFL teachers' emotion labor in relation to supervisor feedback on their classroom instruction. The context of the study was a language school governed by mostly top-down policies, especially those of classroom observation, realized mainly through providing post-class feedback by school supervisors, with little interaction between them and the teachers. Drawing on data from interviews and narrative frames, we report on how supervisor feedback on the teachers' classroom instruction functioned as a source of emotional tension for the teachers and how they engaged in surface- and deep-acting management of their emotions to navigate the supervisory feedback. Based on the findings, we provide implications for teacher educators and school supervisors to reconsider their post-class supervisory feedback so that teachers experience less emotional tension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper seeks to explore the contextual factors shaping the emotional labour experiences of secondary school teachers and explain the ways these educators manage their emotions. Data were generated through a series of 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with modern language (ML) teachers in the UK. The findings showed that teachers experienced primarily negative forms of emotional labour and these experiences were driven by five interrelated contextual factors: the lack of institutional support, heavy workload, low perceived status of MLs, students' lack of motivation, and classroom misbehaviour. To manage their emotions, the study reveals that teachers used a wide range of coping mechanisms such as suppression, venting, social support, positive reframing, and the development of positive student–teacher relationships. In light of our results, we call for the emotional dimension of teaching to be better integrated into training programmes, an improvement in working conditions and better support mechanisms for teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While a number of studies have documented the significant role of emotions and the emotion labor produced in English language teaching, research exploring English instructors' emotion labor in transnational higher education contexts such as international branch campuses (IBCs) and within Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs is lacking. Arguably, these neoliberally-driven and educational neocolonialist endeavors can produce intense emotion labor for English instructors. This study employs a collaborative autoethnography (CAE) methodology to investigate what provoked emotion labor for expatriate instructors, who teach English courses to Qatari national students at an IBC in Qatar. Taking a poststructural approach to emotion labor as our theoretical framing, we collaboratively examined our emotion labor in audio-recorded weekly meetings and then engaged in further dialogues and writings about our emotion labor. We reflect on two themes that produced emotion labor as well as emotional capital for us: 1) navigating our purpose teaching English to engineering majors and 2) confronting our roles as English instructors within a context of educational neocolonialism. Our study adds to the knowledge base of English teachers' emotion labor in transnational and STEM spaces, while also showcasing CAE as a transformative methodology to explore language teachers' emotion labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief Commentary examines how the nine articles in the Special Issue on Second Language Teacher Emotion Labor build on sociologist Arlie Hochschild's conceptualization of emotional labor as well as more recent poststructuralist orientations to language teacher emotion labor by scholars in applied linguistics. To that end, it focuses on two common themes that run throughout these articles: the effects of feeling rules on language teachers and the role of power and its beneficiaries. It discusses how the articles in this Special Issue expand and develop our understanding of language teacher emotion labor through applying it to new contexts by drawing on additional, complementary theoretical perspectives, and through using a broader range of research methods. Recommendations for future research are offered in the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been many studies on teachers' emotional labor and on how the ethics of caring affect teachers' emotional labor. Yet, little research has examined teacher emotional labor under current neoliberal discourses in the education systems in Brazil. Using interviews and diaries, this study investigated the emotional labor of a Brazilian school teacher of English when teaching according to critical literacy studies. The findings indicated that her emotional labor was related to the political situation in Brazil, neoliberalism discourses and emotional rules, as well as clashes between teacher roles and her desire to teach critically. She felt torn between acting according to what she believed was good for her students and her critical literacy practice versus obeying the emotional rules for teachers' and students' roles at her school. As she did that, she experienced both domination and resistance. The study concludes with implications about neoliberalism as related to teacher emotional labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tensions between external sources of power and internal feeling rules in the workplace, i.e., emotion labour, can have a profound effect on professional dimensions. The purpose of this article is to report on a study that explored a secondary language teacher's emotion labour and its influence on her professional (de)motivation and agency. Framed in narrative inquiry, this longitudinal study collected data through narrative interviews and drawings between February 2020 and March 2022. The participant was an EFL (English as foreign language) teacher who held teaching posts at three different state secondary schools and a private language centre in Argentina. During this period, the teacher grappled with emergency online teaching due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lengthy teacher strikes. Drawing on analysis of the short stories constructed from the narrative interviews, the tensions between external and internal feeling rules and their interplay with (de)motivation and agency are chronologically mapped out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the recent attention to language-domain-specific grit in the field of SLA and the scarcity of research on the antecedents of L2 grit, we proposed a model that links L2 learners' basic psychological needs (BPN) (i.e. autonomy, competence, and relatedness), L2 grit (i.e. perseverance of effort (PE) and consistency of interest (CI)), and L2 achievement (measured by students' scores on English courses). L2 Saudi undergraduate students who study English were invited to participate. The findings indicated that except for the path from competence to achievement and from CI to achievement, all direct paths in the model were significant. More specifically, only PE, but not CI, was positively associated with L2 achievement. Also, all constructs of BPN have a positive influence on PE, but only autonomy has a positive link with CI. The findings illustrated plausible antecedents of L2 grit and showed pathways in which L2 grit operated as mediators in the association between BPN and L2 achievement. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to examine the mediational model allowed us to predict unseen scores on the outcome; thus, providing support for the out-of-sample predictive power (predictive validity) of our structural model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While L2 grit has been increasingly related to language learning outcomes, scant attention has been dedicated to the investigation of the antecedents of L2 grit. To partially address the issue, the present multicultural study models the relationships among L2 grit, academic buoyancy, and self-efficacy. A total of 824 English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students from Iran and China completed three questionnaires. A hypothesised model of the interrelationship among variables was tested using Mplus. According to the final model, L2 grit was significantly influenced by learners' academic buoyancy and self-efficacy. The findings imply that efficacious and buoyant students are more likely to be gritty, and to cultivate L2 grit, the teachers should encourage efficacious and buoyant EFL learners by attending to students' emotional and motivational drives instead of merely cognitive ones. To sustain efforts and interests in language learning, L2 learners need to be more oriented towards belief in personal competencies, positive acceptance of academic life, and autonomy in overcoming difficulties in learning an L2. The findings implied that language teachers might need to better capitalise on learners' self-efficacy and academic buoyancy in order to assist them in improving their L2 grit. Finally, suggestions for future research are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon a collection of curriculum proposals and reflections and informed by a textual analysis approach, this study investigated how 234 university teachers planned to enact and reform their English-medium instruction courses (n = 66) in an English as a foreign language (EFL) university context. Results reveal that the teachers tend to adopt a student-centered teaching approach with a focus on content learning. Teacher collaboration and technology use were two facilitative factors for EMI curriculum operation in different disciplines. In addition, the teachers attempted to evaluate and reform their courses through multiple paths including internet survey, material analysis, and classroom-based research. On the other hand, the study also identifies some challenges encountered by the teachers in their EMI curriculum development, namely, a lack of language awareness, limited cross-disciplinary collaboration, and relatively low level of professional development. Based on the research findings, practical implications are provided to enhance EMI teaching and teacher education in EFL tertiary institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hague, the third largest city of The Netherlands, is a multicultural and multi-ethnic urban centre with many migrant churches scattered across the city. This article examines the linguistic presence and identity of a select number of English-speaking churches and their identification through Linguistic Landscaping. Our findings show that, while it is claimed that Dutch society is becoming increasingly secularised, the many migrant and other international churches currently present in The Hague suggest the opposite. In addition, it appeared that English-language churches in The Hague attract large numbers of Dutch congregants for whom English is their second language. Reasons for this are that English is perceived as a lighter language than Dutch for practising their religion, and that it brings fresh perspectives to their faith. The use of English is thus expanding to the religious domain in The Netherlands in a new way (cf. Edwards, A. 2016. English in the Netherlands: Functions, Forms and Attitudes. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins). Applying Linguistic Landscaping as a research tool was found to work only for older heritage-language churches, which have a more established and sometimes even officially recognised position in the city, than newer migrant churches, whose presence is often transient in line with the changing nature of superdiverse cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilises a holistic approach of positive psychology (PP) in the second language acquisition (SLA) domain to test a model of willingness to communicate in English language (L2WTC) among 328 Saudi learners. The model examines how potential connections among learners' negative emotions (anxiety and boredom), positive emotions (enjoyment and grit), and motivation have a positive effect on learner L2WTC. Questionnaire data were analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis to identify and verify direct, indirect, and total effects in the model. The final model adequately fit the data. All learner emotions except boredom significantly directly predicted L2WTC. The strongest direct predictors of L2WTC were motivation, followed by anxiety. Grit directly affected motivation, and enjoyment mediated the relationship between motivation and L2WTC. Significant negative direct paths were detected from anxiety to motivation, enjoyment, and grit, and indirect paths from anxiety to L2WTC were shown through the mediation of these variables. Anxiety had the largest total effect on L2WTC, followed by motivation. These findings support the feasibility of a holistic perspective of PP in the SLA by which positive and negative emotional/affective variables can inherently interact to account for L2WTC via classroom pedagogical interventions for emotion regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of positive emotions on learners' achievement and well-being highlight the need to delve into foreign language enjoyment (FLE) in different contexts and from different perspectives. This study uses Q methodology to explore English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' subjective perspectives regarding FLE during a period of online learning necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A Q sort of 47 statements was administered to 41 Thai tertiary-level students. Data were analysed using principal component analysis and varimax rotation to extract common patterns across the Q sorts. The results reveal three distinct viewpoints. Viewpoint A focuses significantly on teachers' characteristics and practices, whereas Viewpoints B and C lean towards learner autonomy and social experiences, respectively. Also found is that the emergence of these factors came at the expense of other factors; for example, peer-to-peer interactions were sacrificed as classes were oriented towards independent learning. The heterogeneity of EFL learners on what constitutes enjoyment in online learning reinforces the idea that online instruction should be delivered and organised in such a way as to emphasise interconnected factors to secure learning enjoyment and achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to the ongoing scholarly debate about linguistic privilege in academia. The article pushes this debate forward by considering the role of English in the career development of academics in Anglophone universities. More concretely, our study empirically explores the career trajectories of multilingual scholars in Ireland who speak English as an additional language (EAL). Adopting a Bourdieusian lens, the article conceptualises academia as a locus of competitive struggle over authority, recognition, and prestige, in which scholars avail themselves of different kinds of capital, including linguistic capital, and deploy strategies to flourish. Through a qualitative approach, the article examines data from university documents and procedures, from interviews with EAL scholars in different disciplines and at different stages of their career, and from interviews with academics holding senior management positions in three universities in Dublin. We analyse the language-related challenges that EAL scholars encounter and the affordances with which Anglophone universities provide them, as well as the ways in which language impacts on their career progression. The empirical data reveals a complex and nuanced interplay between language and other academic factors. Our findings suggest the need to go beyond simple hierarchies of academic privilege or disadvantage based on a scholar's first or additional language alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to explore the perception and usage of epicene pronouns in English among Chinese EFL teachers, as gender fair language becomes increasingly important for promoting inclusion, respect for identity and expression. This study employed a survey of 284 EFL teachers along with a follow‐up written task to assess their views and actual use of epicene pronouns. The results indicate that while English teachers in China are familiar with the increase of they as an epicene pronoun, the use of he or she is their preferred choice in the survey, with generic he being more common in the written task. The study further reveals that the selection of the epicene pronoun is influenced by factors such as the antecedent type, social gender and the teachers' socio‐cultural background. Promoting gender‐fair language in L2 English teaching in China is crucial. Efforts are needed to increase awareness and usage of gender‐neutral language among Chinese English teachers, emphasizing the importance of incorporating actual language use and adapting to grammatical changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, permeating every aspect. One area where technology has shown potential to enhance English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning is through the use of animated movies. Despite the growing significance of technology in education, research is scarce in this specific area. Therefore, the aim of this study, conducted in 2023, was to investigate the impact of animated movies on the development of speaking abilities among motivated EFL learners. A total of 370 elementary students studying EFL in various institutions participated by responding to questionnaires. A multiple‐stage cluster sampling approach was employed to select the participants. The students were divided into two groups: the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG). The selection of 15 animated films from a pool of 50 was performed using the Lawsh CVR (content validity ratio) and CVI (content validity index) algorithms, following validation by professionals. The study was designed as an experiment, and descriptive statistics and the ANCOVA test were employed to analyse the quantitative data. The findings revealed a significant difference between the pre‐test and post‐test results of the EG in English‐speaking skills, vocabulary learning, English pronunciation skills, understanding and recognition. According to the study, animated movies have the potential to aid teachers and EFL students in enhancing their speaking skills. This research sheds light on the benefits of incorporating animated movies into language learning environments, offering valuable insights for both educators and learners alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classroom, speaking is a relatively marginalised learning activity, often employed merely to facilitate transition between activities which prioritise communication skills deemed more important. A significant consequence of this privation is limited practice in situated discourse. This paper presents a theorised account of an instance of situated discourse: Quality Talk in a reading circle within an EAP classroom. With reference to a single dialogic spell unfolding around a specific issue, I examine participants' verbal transactions and the ways in which these enhance high-level comprehension of text. Overall, this account seeks to highlight the efficacy and affordances of situated discourse as a social mode of cognition in EAP instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second language (L2) learners hold different learning beliefs that influence their interpretation of classroom experiences and their L2 learning process. Developing a thorough understanding of such beliefs is therefore imperative. This article reports the representations of Iranian English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language (EFL) learners' beliefs about L2 speaking fluency as revealed by elicited metaphors and follow‐up interviews. A group of 24 Iranian EFL learners majoring in teaching English as a foreign language were asked to conceptualize L2 speaking fluency through metaphor. Learners' metaphorical representations were examined using metaphor analysis and organized into eight metaphor themes through thematic analysis. The findings suggest that metaphor is a suitable tool for gaining insight into learners' beliefs about L2 speaking fluency and capturing its complex, multifaceted nature. Various aspects were conceptualized, which revealed that learners had a deep understanding of L2 speaking fluency and could represent its multifaceted nature in the learning process. Additionally, this research sheds light on contextual factors that might contribute to learners' beliefs. The findings fill a gap in research concerning EFL learners' beliefs about L2 speaking fluency and have useful implications for L2 teachers, learners, and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay explores the relationship between language and Hip-Hop in Tanzania. The author argues that when Tanzanian Hip-Hop artists rap in English, they are often compared to American artists, which exposes flaws in their work. However, when artists use Swahili, they can connect more with the people. Swahili is preferred by many artists because it has a larger audience base in Tanzania and other African countries. The essay also discusses the changes in Hip-Hop after it became commodified, with money becoming a motivating factor. The author reflects on the early years of Hip-Hop in Tanzania when artists were motivated by the love of the culture rather than financial gain. The essay concludes that language is not the critical factor in the success of a Hip-Hop performance, but rather the connection between the artist and the audience. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the interplay between perceived employability (PE), mental health, and equity group membership amongst students at a large public urban university in Australia. The article reports from a study conducted between 2017 and 2022, during which students self-assessed their PE. Differences in PE by equity group membership were assessed using responses to structured fields in the questionnaire (n = 24,329). Custom measures were constructed using student responses to open-ended fields to proxy student wellbeing based on sentiment analysis and mention of mental health or synonymous terms (n = 12,819). Analyses included two-way tests of differences between groups and multivariate analyses considering the effect of equity group membership and mental health concerns on employability beliefs. Results indicate that students with a disability, with English as a second language, or with wellbeing concerns report lower perceived employability. Of all the PE dimensions, academic self-efficacy is most consistently affected by equity group membership and wellbeing concerns. Further, wellbeing concerns are more prevalent for students with disabilities. The findings strengthen support for policy and institutional initiatives focusing on student wellbeing in general but also specifically for equity groups that are already associated with poorer employability beliefs. In particular, students with disabilities appear to have poorer self-esteem and academic self-efficacy and are more likely to have mental health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applied linguistics has recently seen a surge in research and methodological approaches to do stronger studies. One important factor affecting such a new movement is the researchers' individual differences in shaping their research repertoire. Therefore, this study, which employs a path-analytic approach, investigates the interrelationship between three significant individual factors in the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) context: research self-efficacy, anxiety, and motivation. This nationwide survey included 561 male and female Iranian MA students studying TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). The researchers administered three adopted instruments, namely the research motivation scale, the research anxiety scale, and the research self-efficacy scale. The path-analytic findings revealed such interrelationships among the three factors. In particular, the findings indicated that there is a negative relationship between research anxiety and motivation to conduct research. In our study, however, the relationship between research self-efficacy and motivation is positive. These evidence-based findings can help policymakers shape an evidence-based research policy. Recommendations and implications of the results for policymakers, research methodologists, research instructors, and MA students are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercultural competence refers to people's ability to understand and respect each other across all types of cultural barriers, and racial literacy stands out as a fundamental component of this competency. Particularly, in Korea, which has recently rapidly become a multicultural society, understanding diversity and cultivating racial literacy are important competencies. To achieve this goal, the teacher's role is important in developing and operating English classes using various teaching materials. This study introduces the development and application of an innovative online intercultural exchange programme conducted in a middle school using multiple technology resources. Going beyond dealing with superficial textbook coverage of multiculturalism, this programme encourages students to reflect on their own prejudices and share cultural experiences through engaging in technology-based open discussions and critical thinking about sensitive issues. In this paper, we first introduce the online intercultural exchange programme and teaching materials that we designed and operated for one semester and then carefully examine each class activity aimed at improving students' intercultural competence and racial literacy. Finally, we report the presiding teacher's reflections on the impact of this programme on the students in the class and suggest points for further discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been a growing interest in social justice language education, with the goal of challenging entrenched social, cultural and economic hierarchies within educational institutions and the society at large. Contributing to this line of research, the present study focused on an online conversation club that aimed to develop EFL learners' communicative skills and critical literacy through the discussion of social justice issues which have traditionally been deemed 'taboo' and 'controversial'. Data were collected online via demographic information survey, the recordings of the conversation club sessions, facilitator's field notes and reflective journals, and student interviews. The results revealed several discursive moves adopted by EFL learners, which mostly revolved around that's our responsibility vs others in relation to environmental issues; and that's the government's-job when it comes to themes related to immigration. The findings illustrated the potential of social justice-oriented conversation clubs to foster diverse perspectives and authentic conversation in language classrooms, and to cultivate EFL learners' critical literacy. The study provides insights into how language educators can integrate social justice issues into the language curriculum in ways that help language learners question their already-existing beliefs and take action for a socially just world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using literature, more specifically poetry in English as F/L2 has grown over time. However, scholars disagree as to whether it makes any difference to language learning or what functions it serves. The purpose of this study is to examine what discourses poetry embodies, what identities it shapes, and whether it can confront dominant ideologies in English language textbooks in Pakistan. Based on Fairclough's dialectical-relational approach and Bakhtin's ideas on dialogism and heteroglossia, we analysed 12 Pakistani English language textbooks. Findings suggest poetry texts embody a variety of ideological themes, including linguistic sexism, nationalistic sentiments, and religious and spiritual ethos. These discourses tend to shape learners' identities. In addition, we also found references to poems that offer learners alternative perspectives and ways of being. In certain poems, for instance, curiosity, questioning, struggle, and recognising truth as a multifaceted entity are evident, allowing spaces for heteroglossia. Using these insights, teachers, curriculum developers and textbook writers will be able to better reflect on their pedagogical approaches and content embedded in textbooks to ensure justice, equality, and inclusion for students from a variety of socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This narrative inquiry investigates an English as a Foreign Language teacher's storied experience of 30‐year extensive reading (ER) implementation, with the aim of exploring the formation of language teacher identity (LTI) of this individual teacher. Two narrative interviews were conducted, respectively focusing on the holistic story and detailed accounts of some critical incidents and significant others. Two researchers played different roles: one insider, conducting, transcribing, translating, and analysing interviews; one outsider, analysing the data with a relatively neutral perspective. Data analysis adopted an ecological approach and a three‐level framework (societal, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels). Findings highlight the complex links between discursive features, personal experience, teacher emotions, and power differentials in shaping the dynamic and multi‐faceted nature of LTIs. Meanwhile, the considerable evolution of the teacher's ER implementation validates the importance of teacher training, especially opportunities for teachers to gain experiential knowledge which further contributes to teacher identity development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite an increasing research interest in subject-specific teacher knowledge, there is limited research on teachers' knowledge of English as a foreign language (EFL) in early childhood education (ECE). This paper, therefore, reports a mixed-methods study which investigated the relationships between ECE EFL teachers' knowledge and their practices in the Chinese context. Four hundred and twenty-four Chinese kindergarten English teachers completed questionnaires and six of them participated in stimulated recall classroom observations. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses revealed two knowledge factors that had significant effects on the teachers' practice, namely pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and knowledge of context. There was one common classroom practice, influenced by PCK and knowledge of context. This was the process-product-mixed pedagogy. In addition, not all teacher knowledge could be applied in practice because contextual factors intervened in the process. The study revealed the complexity of ECE English teaching and the influence of teacher knowledge. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an urgent need in the educational community to explore the potential impact of advanced language models powered by artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, on thinking skills and creativity. These models hold significant promise for enhancing teaching and learning, but it is crucial to investigate their potential effects on these critical areas of cognitive development. This study employs a narrative inquiry approach, utilising weekly written narratives and qualitative interviews for analysis, to explore and understand student teachers' experiences, perceptions, and reflections on using ChatGPT in their teaching practices. Exploring the experiences and perspectives of 12 English student teachers, this research scrutinises the influence of ChatGPT on the development of thinking skills and creativity during the practicum part of a teacher education programme. Through narratives and interviews the study uncovers the benefits, challenges, and strategies for optimising the use of ChatGPT in pre-service language teacher education. Key findings reveal the importance of human-computer co-creation, engaging in critical analysis, and fostering collaboration to maximise the educational benefits of ChatGPT. These insights contribute to the ongoing discourse on the effective integration of AI in teacher education and offer practical recommendations for educators and students navigating the complex interplay between AI tools and independent thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of English Teaching & Learning is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of English Teaching & Learning is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of English Teaching & Learning is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The advancement of technology in the current world is leading to the changing of the learning process in the educational field. This study aimed to explore the use of Wattpad to enhance the writing skills of EFL learners following the integration of ICT for educational purposes based on the effect of the application and the student’s perceptions. The study used a mixed method to examine the data provided both numerical and non-numerical. The samples of this study were 80 participants at a state university in Central Java, Indonesia. The investigation conducted was related to EFL. The data of this study were collected through tests and a survey which was distributed online. This study revealed that there was a significant difference between students who were taught using Wattpad and those who were taught using paper-based writing (sig. 0.016 < α). Moreover, there were positive perceptions from the participants toward the use of Wattpad to enhance writing skills. Wattpad was perceived as a pleasurable media of learning where students could express various emotions, ideas, and thoughts. It gave chances to students to develop their writing. Further, this study is expected to give insight into future research related to the investigation of the use of Wattpad in developing writing skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EFL teachers’ and 60 students’ perceptions of the knowledge needed to translate English proverbs into Vietnamese. The study used an online survey to collect the two groups’ responses. The survey used a five-point Likert scale ranging from 1 for strongly disagree to 5 for strongly agree. The results showed that most teachers were aware of teaching their students the necessary knowledge to help them translate English proverbs into Vietnamese. Similarly, most students were mindful of the knowledge required for translating English proverbs into Vietnamese, and they perceived that translating English proverbs was a demanding task. For an open-ended question, many valuable ideas regarding translating English proverbs to Vietnamese were collected and used as references for future proverbial translation teaching and learning. Suggestions and limitations of the study were also included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the effect of EFL teachers assuming the role of activists in promoting dialogues regarding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among university-level students. The study aims to quantitatively assess the influence of EFL teachers who adopt an activist attitude on the knowledge, involvement, and understanding of global sustainability concerns among a particular group of first-year students at the university level. These students, ranging from 19 to 22 years old, were native Arabic speakers from Saudi Arabia. Through a quasi-experimental structure, this investigation compares the results obtained from an experimental group, which undergoes an instructional regimen that integrates SDG-focused activism, to a control group that receives traditional EFL instructions. Data collection is structured around pretest and posttest assessments. The results are anticipated to emphasize the effectiveness of incorporating ecolinguistic principles and activist teaching approaches in language education. The observations mentioned above have the potential to substantially impact the ecolinguistic study field and instructional approaches designed to cultivate a more profound comprehension and dedication to sustainability goals. This study not only emphasizes the capacity to utilize language teaching to promote awareness of sustainability among young students but also establishes a model for forthcoming investigations into the function of education in tackling global environmental and societal predicaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study explores the comprehension challenges related to synecdoche among EFL students at the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS). Recognizing a gap in the literature, the study aims to understand the difficulties students face when dealing with synecdochical contexts and to identify contributing factors. Two instruments were employed: a synecdoche comprehension test and a student questionnaire, completed by 96 MCBS students. Additionally, a teacher questionnaire was administered to 10 participants to gain further insights. The results reveal a wide range of understanding, with only 31 out of 69 participants passing the comprehension test, indicating a prevalent misunderstanding of synecdochical phrases. The teachers’ questionnaire highlighted important variables affecting students’ comprehension of synecdoche. The findings suggest a need for targeted teaching strategies to improve comprehension of synecdoche among EFL students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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