English Language Learning Beyond the Borders: Constructing E-Collaborative Learning between Students of Different Regions

Gamification in English language learning comprises of game mechanics which involve points, badges, leader boards and rewards. It is one of the approaches that has been used by the educators to change the pace of lesson in learning English. This approach has been used in the class because of the benefits that it can offer in English language learning. This paper focuses on the use of gamification in English language teaching (ELT) and learning by looking at the advantages it has brought to language skills. Gamification can be used in the teaching of the different skills in English and in terms of its benefits to English language learning, gamification makes learning more effective by making grammar learning more pleasurable, vocabulary memorisation more successful, communication and cooperation easier to be practiced and others. It is hoped that this paper will add to the literature on the applications of gamification in ELT and lead to the betterment of ELT in second language setting particularly in Malaysia.

Qatar is a Gulf state undergoing a sweeping educational reform where educational development is linked to ICT and the English language. ICT is promoted to upskill the future generation or the “digital natives”. English is seen as a key to a myriad of doors and a passport to a world class education. In all public schools, English is a compulsory subject taught from grade one where learners are exposed to English for more than 500 teaching hours every year. It is also the medium of instruction for maths and science. The purpose of my year-long study was to investigate the effectiveness of ICT in supporting the learning and teaching of English language in the Qatari context. It was guided by the critical paradigm and employed action research as the investigative methodology. The initial data collection process was carried out through a survey instrument. More than 200 students answered questions about their attitudes, perceived values, current uses and issues with ICT. The findings of the study have identified a number of challenges. One of which is the minimal support that ICT is providing to the teaching of the listening skill. An intervention programme was later designed in a form of a webquest lesson based on CLIL (content and language integrated learning) and informed by the survey findings, student’ voices and previous research in the field. After that, the intervention programme was trialed with two classes (n=50) and evaluated by qualitative (classroom observations) and quantitative instruments (questionnaires). Evidence from the evaluation data showed that ICT has the potential to support the teaching and learning of English language through its positive impact on autonomy and motivation. The results also revealed that teachers have limited knowledge of the potential of ICT and they could play an indirect role in impeding its use. This study has shown how action research, as a self-reflective inquiry, could broaden our understanding of the role of ICT in language classes. The study concluded that ICT-supported teaching of English in Qatar should be accompanied by a positive ICT culture, reflective research, proper staff training, teacher networking and supportive educational leadership.

Educational psychology has recently reflected a policy shift from focusing on “what goes wrong” in schools, including psychological, physical, and educational disabilities, to recognizing and promoting strengths and positive aspects of students and their environments. Within this scope, some lines of research have examined the extent to which setting personal high standards influences such positive outcomes as educational achievement and high level of motivation. The present study was motivated by the concern that Iranian English language teachers' setting high standards, i.e. perfectionism, may predict English language learners’ motivation and language achievement. Through cluster random sampling, a total of 30 English language teachers with more than one year of experience and 300 elementary English language learners were selected from English Language Institutes in Fars province, Iran. Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism scale and Motivations Underlying English Language Learning questionnaire were used to measure teachers' perfectionism and learners’ language learning motivation, respectively. The learners' final scores in the English courses were collected as a measure of their language learning achievement. The result of simple regression analysis revealed that the teachers' perfectionism did not predict English language learners’ motivation and language achievement. In other words, Iranian English language teachers' perfectionism did not account for any variance in these two variables of interest. Keywords: Perfectionism, Motivation, Language Learning Achievement

In the past, English language teaching (ELT) put more emphasis on the teaching of structure of the language. Meaning and contexts seemed to be neglected. However, over the past few years, the trend has changed. Grammar and structure (language forms) are not the single element of language learned in English language learning. Context should be taken into account when teaching and learning a language. In this paper, I shall discuss the relationship between contexts and language teaching, particularly English language teaching. In other words, this paper discussess discourse analysis in regard to ELT. Keywords : discourse analysis , English language teaching

Given the widened access to Chinese higher education, a large proportion of students studying at Chinese colleges come from rural lower-class families and encounter different challenges in English language learning. By using Bourdieu’s social theoretical lenses, this case study explores how the interplay of capital, habitus and social fields affected ten rural lower-class college students’ English language learning. This study finds that these students inhabited difficult and inferior positions because they lacked different forms of capital needed for accessing language and cultural learning resources, solidifying their English language foundation, and developing intercultural understanding and competence. Their narrow, test-oriented focus, and the lack of confidence and initiative in English language learning stemmed from their habitus formed in their situated socio-cultural and educational fields. Through reflecting on these complexities and conditions in English language learning, teachers and rural lower-class college students may move from a deficit lens in terms of their knowledge foundation and learning styles, which leads to the lack of confidence in teaching and learning; instead, they might collaboratively explore appropriate strategies and resources that cultivate students’ comprehensive English language competence and intercultural competence.

The paper intends to discuss English Language teachers' and students' perceptions and preferences toward English Language Teaching and Learning through online or virtual classes. The COVID 19 outbreak and the nationwide lockdown created a new set of environments for all. All educational institutions were closed down to prevent the widespread of the virus as a result the teaching and learning activities were disrupted extensively. All sorts of activities, including teaching and learning, were being carried out through online mode. Traditional classroom teachings shifted to online classroom teaching in order to continue with teaching and learning practices. The online mode of teaching became an effective strategy to continue the teaching and learning process without any interruption. The closure of educational institutions affected a large number of students. The abrupt change in teaching and learning methods impacted both the teachers as well as students. The main purpose of the study was to examine the perception and preferences of learners and teachers towards online learning and teaching. The study adopted the questionnaire method, and the data were collected from undergraduate students (Currently in B.A Third Semester) of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Madhya Pradesh by sending a questionnaire to participants' email ids. The English language teachers and students were selected for the present study. English language course is taught at this university as a compulsory subject for first-semester undergraduate students. Two questionnaires, one for the teachers' group and another for the students' group, were prepared to know the opinion of both the participant groups. The study reveals that students are more satisfied with face-to-face teaching than the online mode. All learners believe that learning and speaking English is an advantage, but they prefer classroom teaching over online. Similarly, the teachers’ group also showed their preferences for offline teaching over online teaching. The present paper elaborates on the findings of the present study.

English language teaching (ELT) in the era of globalization does not simply equip learners with linguistic competence. English language learners need to develop intercultural communicative competence (ICC) - one of the indispensable skills in the 21st century. To develop ICC for learners, teachers should incorporate intercultural attitudes, knowledge, and skills into the language classroom. For this purpose, the current study was conducted to explore EFL high school teachers’ perceptions of ICC in language teaching and investigate their practices of ICC integration in EFL classes. The study was designed as qualitative research. The data from both classroom observations (n=8) and semi-structured interviews (n=4) were examined to have insights into the teachers’ perceptions and practices. The findings showed that despite their positive attitudes towards ICC teaching, their practices of ICC integration in EFL classes were at an average level and they tended to prioritize linguistic proficiency over cultural competence. Furthermore, the results indicated that they were in favor of and integrated ICC knowledge in their teaching rather than ICC attitudes and skills. Notably, the preferred activities that most of the participants consider the most effective way to include ICC are role-play and video watching. It is implied from the research findings that EFL high school teachers should master not only instructional goals to know how to adapt teaching materials in compensation for lack of cultural content but also intercultural teaching stages to know the way of creating strategies appropriate for each stage and integrating ICC into their classroom practices.

This paper conceptually discusses why it is essential to foster intercultural responsiveness through learning a language other than English (LOTE) and developing intercultural communication competence at Australian universities. Learning a LOTE is meaningful and helps second language learners develop social skills and cognitive competence, understand the linguistic system of the LOTEs, and sense differences between their home language/culture and target language/culture, and then pave the way to developing intercultural communication competence. However, a LOTE as a compulsory unit has little presence in Australian university curricula. No Australian universities require that students need to learn a LOTE to meet the course requirements. Learning a LOTE is conducive to both bilingual/multilingual and intercultural communication competence development. Furthermore, most current work studies intercultural verbal communication competence more than intercultural nonverbal communication competence. While intercultural verbal communication is audio-oriented, voiced, and externalized with open messages, intercultural nonverbal communication is visually oriented, silent, and internalized with hidden cues. Only when both components are considered can people achieve effective intercultural communication. The implications for learning a LOTE and developing intercultural communication competence are discussed.

Linguistics as the scientific study of language has very crucial role in running language instruction. Changes in language teaching-learning method reflect the development of linguistic theories. This paper describes how the three broad views of linguistic theories, namely traditional grammar, generative grammar, and functional grammar work in relation to English language teaching and learning. Since both linguistics and language learning have the same subject to talk about, the knowledge of the language, then, is the core. Linguistic features analyzed are on the levels of Phonology, Morphology, Syntax, Semantics and Discourse as the basic components, supported by Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics. In relation to language teaching and learning, especially English, such knowledge on the English language gives learners the chance to apply in social communication and in any occasion. The use depends on the viewing of linguistic theories (English) in certain era, which reflects the need of learners in using English. It is assumed that the more linguistic competence someone has, the easier he/she can run his/her instructional activities. As the consequence, in the English language learning, the syllabus designer should notify the mentioned levels of linguistic components while constructing English instructional materials, methods, and evaluation based on the stage of learners to avoid misunderstanding in use. In this case, English instructors/teachers should also update their linguistic competence, especially on Psycholinguistic and Sociolinguistic points of view. Key words/phrases: linguistics, English, language instruction, linguistic competence

The technology advancement in this era of globalization promotes the innovation and transformation in English language teaching and learning especially for EFL students. The innovations in English Language teaching and learning have fostered the variations of teaching strategy and method. One of the recent strategies proposed in pedagogical context is inquiry-based teaching strategy. Since the recent issues of active learning have been discussed in some school of thoughts, it is closely related to the importance of critical thinking students should have. In order to achieve English language learning goals, which is to enhance the students’ skill, competence, and also critical thinking, the teaching and learning process has to be designed more innovatively and effectively. Nevertheless, the implementation of this strategy should be adjusted in accordance to the students’ capability in learning English in class. Therefore, teachers have to understand well the characteristics of inquiry-based teaching before implementing it in class. This paper attempts to explore the use of inquiry-based teaching in promoting students’ critical thinking, especially in reading comprehension. This paper discusses the issues of this strategy based on theoretical frameworks and provides the example of an activity using 5E that can be applied in class. The reading activity through inquiry-based teaching can be constructed by the teacher by considering the students’ condition and environment.

English language learning and teaching in Libya has a chequered history. It has come in and out of favor over the last 50 years. It has been a necessary commodity in the oil economy, a pariah during the Gaddafi era, and an enduring source of cultural capital in the twenty‐first century. However, to most Libyans, English language also represents the threat of cultural and linguistic displacement of Libyan culture; other invaders have attempted to do this in previous centuries. Against this historical background, in a country struggling to repair its governance and economic stability after a decade of civil unrest, English language teaching and learning in Libya is faced with some insurmountable challenges. These challenges also include systemic corruption and mismanagement in education in general, and a deeply ingrained culture of nepotism at all levels of politics and public administration.

This study investigates how world Englishes (WE) and translanguaging may be combined to enhance intercultural competence in intercultural communication. First, this paper reviews WE contributions to intercultural communication and explores the potential of translanguaging in facilitating intercultural competence in intercultural communication. Second, semi‐structured interviews were conducted to explore the perceptions and practices of WE, translanguaging, and intercultural competence in intercultural communication among Chinese university students with the aim to investigate how their experiences of WE and translanguaging enhance intercultural competence in intercultural communication within both local and global contexts. The findings revealed the possibility of integrating WE and translanguaging into the promotion of intercultural competence in intercultural communication. Such an integration of WE and translanguaging through the intercultural dimensions in English language learning can help enhance linguistic and cultural diversity, and equip individuals with the skills to effectively navigate the multilingual and multicultural world in response to diverse communicative needs.

This research study investigated the attitudes and motivation toward English language learning in senior high schools using Accra Senior High School as a case study. The study employed a quantitative approach using descriptive-correlational design to investigate the relationship between students’ motivation and attitude in the learning of the English language toward their English language achievement. This study adopted a questionnaire to gather data from 100 English students and 5 English teachers who were randomly selected through a simple random and convenience non-probability sampling technique. The findings revealed that students are instrumentally driven to learn the English language in comparison to integrative and personal motivation. The majority of the students indicated they learn English because they need it for their studies. The majority also indicated they learn English because it makes it easier to contact English-speaking people and get a well-paid job. Second, students' attitude towards the learning of the English language was found to be positive. The study revealed students were very interested in speaking the English language. The teachers attested to this and revealed students take active participation in class and make an effort to speak English. Lastly, there existed a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between English learners' motivations (r = .45) and attitudes (r = .35) towards the English language with their English performance. It was concluded that as English learners’ motivations and attitudes in learning the English language grow, their English Performance improves. In addition, there existed a strong positive correlation between English learners' motivations in the English language and their attitudes towards the language. This implied that learners' motivation in learning English had an influence on their attitude towards the English language. The study recommends that instructors or teachers should assist in the creation of an environment that is favourable to reducing feelings of nervousness or shyness.

This research aims to evaluate the possible positive aspects of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in English language teaching that occur when training learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) or English as a Second Language (ESL). The study seeks to understand how AI technology and methodologies enhance language learning and teaching, including the unique possibilities that arise when considering learners and educators with an evolving role in increasingly larger education systems and educational environments. It seeks to understand the potential of AI for personalizing English language training. Also, by asking the question study, if there are methods including Natural Language Processing (NLP), Machine Learning (ML), and AI-based analytics or tools, can they personalize learning experiences for EFL-ESL learners? A qualitative study was completed through interviews with learners from different experience levels engaged in EFL or ESL programs that used AI-based tools in the pedagogy. The results demonstrate that AI has positive opportunities for personalized language education in the EFL and ESL contexts, the ability to enhance language skills in specific domains, and offer customized language learning experiences. This research has indicated challenges that surround cultural elements, technical challenges, and distinctly human teaching and learning elements. The research also offers helpful information for English language learning and recognizes the shifting nature of personal learning experience whether enhanced through AI, the practical requirement of incorporating AI will also provide a unique lens and perspective in English language learning and teaching, recognize the affordances AI can offer, alongside students and language learning never being exclusively cultural or human.

Various learning resources are designed and used to enhance students’ English speaking skills because the speaking skill plays a significant role in communication and in language acquisition. For the past few decades, the rapid development of information and communication technologies have made a significant contribution to English language teaching and learning. In other words, the development of technology has been the driving force that leads to a transformation in English language learning. Particularly, the mushrooming online learning resources have been providing valuable support for students when it comes to learning English speaking skills. Nonetheless, not many studies have looked into how low-proficiency English learners utilized the online technology resources for English speaking skills. Thus, this study aims to study the online technology resources used by low-proficiency English learners to improve their communication and speaking skills. This study adopted a quantitative approach. The instrument used to elicit the data for the study was questionnaire. A total of 62 undergraduate students were recruited as the respondents of this study. The results of the study showed that YouTube (58%) was one of the most popular online technology resources used by students to improve their communication and speaking skills. Most of them perceived that online technology resources helped to build their confidence and reduce their speaking anxiety (32%). However, internet/Wi-Fi (26%) problem was the biggest challenge encountered by them. It is believed that this paper could make a contribution to the body of knowledge as it explored students’ experiences in using online technology resources. Lastly, the recommendations for future studies and limitations were also discussed in this paper.