Towards Lessening Learners’Aversive Emotions and Promoting Their Mental Health:Developing and Validating a Measurement of English Speaking Demotivation in the Chinese EFL Context

While a plethora of studies has been conducted to explore demotivation and its impact on mental health in second language(L2)education,scanty research focuses on demotivation in L2 speaking learning.Particularly,little research explores the measures to quantify L2 speaking demotivation.The present two-phase study attempts to develop and validate an English Speaking Demotivation Scale(ESDS).To this end,an independent sample of 207 Chinese tertiary learners of English as a Foreign Language(EFL)participated in the development phase,and another group of 188 Chinese EFL learners was recruited for the validation of the scale.Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA)and Confirmatory Factor Analysis(CFA)were employed to determine the factor structure of the scale.The EFA results revealed a six-factor solution with Teacher-related Factors in Learning Spoken English(TFLSE),Interest and Valence in Learning Spoken English(IVLSE),Self-efficacy in Learning Spoken English(SELSE),Negative Peer Influence in Learning Spoken English(NPILSE),Undesirable Environment for Learning Spoken English(UELSE),and Negative Influence of Assessment and Learning Materials in speaking class(NIALM).In the validation phase,Confirmatory Factor Analysis(CFA)was performed to validate the internal structure of the scale.The CFA results showed that the model fits the data well.Overall,the ESDS is a robust and trustworthy psychometric tool that could be utilized to examine L2 speaking demotivation.Implications for diminishing EFL learners’demotivation,lessening their aversive emotions and promoting their mental health are also discussed.

Research on the Training Mode of “the Combination of College Students’ Extracurricular English Autonomous Learning and Chinese Culture” Based on WeChat Platform

In today’s college English extracurricular learning,college students often neglect the combination of English language learning and the input of Chinese traditional cultural knowledge,paying too much attention to Western culture learning,ignoring their traditional culture and lead to be speechless when encountering cultural exchange activities.The author believes that college students should pay attention to the input of Chinese traditional cultural content in the process of independent English learning outside the classroom.The creative team of college students led by the author through the WeChat platform,in Xinjiang Agricultural University,conducted a combination of Chinese culture input and English autonomous learning,aiming at strengthening the effectiveness of English learning,improving the self-learning ability and intercultural communication skills.

Re-exploring Challenges and Strategies of English Learning for Chinese English-Learners

Chinese English-learners always face many challenges when they try to acquire English language,not only in China's Mainland,but in Chinese communities overseas.Despite the prevalent challenge,such as cultural differences,the present paper tries to re-explore and refine these challenges and strategies,analyze the specific factors,such as age,accent,and thinking difference by using cognitive perspective and sociocultural perspective.To enhance English teaching and learning,it also makes deep discussions and provides some suggestions for future use.

On Chinese Student Learning English

English is regarded as one of the most important languages in the world. It is an international official language used by more than half of the earth. As the pace of globalization speed up, different countries contact with each other more frequently. Under this circum stance, China appears a wave of interest in learning English. Today, China has become the largest market for English teaching in the world. The discussion in this paper is focused on the importance of English learning and some experiences in English learning. It gives us a vivid explanation about the interactive functions of English learning and Chinese language study.

Understanding the PAD-Based Class Acceptance among Modern Chinese College Students’English Learning

This paper gives an understanding of PAD-based class acceptance among modern Chinese college students’English learning.It first introduces the brief definition of what the PAD-based class is,as well as the situation of English language learning in present China,especially the learning amongst Chinese college students.And then it focuses on the acceptance of the PADbased class in the English learning of Chinese college students,including the breakthrough of the traditional Chinese classroom teaching mode and the innovation of the PAD-based class among Chinese college students’English learning.

A Brief Analysis of Inefficiency and Time-consuming in English Learning for Chinese Learners

Nowadays it is common to see inefficiency and time-consuming in English learning for Chinese learners. This paper makes a brief analysis of this phenomenon from two major aspects: internal factors and external factors. The former includes age factor, affective factor, efforts and gift and the mode of thinking. The latter includes linguistic factor, sociocultural factor and the examination system. And then some practical strategies are given on the basis of the Critical Period Hypothesis, considering affective factor, making enough efforts and taking advantage of gift, adapting to different modes of thinking, Krashen's Input Hypothesis, the Whorfian Hypothesis and perfecting the examination system in order to improve the phenomenon.

Agency Fluctuations and Identity Transformations in Chinese English-Majors on Their Learning Trajectories

This paper explores agency fluctuations and identity transformations in Chinese English-majors and how they are related to the process of English learning. By tracing a group of students for four years in a Chinese university and conducting qualitative analyses to their oral narrations of learning experiences at different periods, the study has found that most participants started and ended their university life at relatively high levels of agency, with inevitable ups and downs in between. Agency fluctuations in the learners are the result of their identity positioning and repositioning within a complex and ever-changing context. Concordant or conflicting identities may co-exist within an individual learner and keep changing across different situations. Learner identities will cause increase or reduction in their investment in English learning, while their learning experience will in turn reinforce or undermine their identities. The study sheds light on the intricate relationships between agency, identity and language learning and therefore has important implications for English learning and teaching in China.

An Empirical Study on the Effectiveness of Language Learning Strategy Training for Chinese Adult English Learners

This paper explores how to implement effective strategy training for part-time Chinese adult English learners in a tertiary FLT （Foreign Language Teaching） classroom. Through a study of threx~ semesters during which six sessions of learner training workshops and constant, integrated task-based instruction were carried out, empirical evidence was collected via the instrument of questionnaires, interviews, learners＇ regular written reports, and the findings indicate that： （1） The students reported a statistically significant increase of the overaU average frequency of language strategy use over all SILL （The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning） items with 2.95 at the beginning and 3.61 at the end; and （2） Well-organized, explicit, and discrete leaner training workshops combined with frequent, explicit, and integrated task-based strategy instruction are an effective and helpful way to improve learners＇ awareness, selection, and frequency of strategy use, which can further foster learner autonomy.

Impact of Cultural Identity on English learning for Chinese EFL Learners

Based on the literature view of some published articles that report on the impact of cultural identity on English learning for Chinese EFL learners, this paper examines the relationship between cultural identity and language learning. Through the review of earlier researchers, this study points out cultural identity not only influences L1 language learning but also L2 language learning.Although many studies showed that the home cultural identity of the EFL or ESL learners has a negative impact on their English learning, there are also researchers stressing its positive impact on those learners. Finally, the paper makes two instructional suggestions to improve Chinese English competence of EFL learners.

Application of Traditional Chinese Culture in Cross-Cultural English Education:A Case Study of the Maritime Silk Road in Guangdong Province

The phenomenon of aphasia in Chinese culture is serious.The existing English teaching materials emphasize too much Western culture education and lack traditional Chinese cultural elements.Therefore,this paper takes the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road as an example to study the specific application of traditional Chinese culture in cross-cultural English education.This paper first summarizes the significance of cross-cultural integration into college English education and then points out the serious phenomenon of Chinese cultural aphasia.Next,the paper focuses on English education,using English textbooks as a starting point to explore and integrate strategies related to excellent traditional Chinese culture from the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road.By integrating traditional Chinese culture into business English classes(with the Guangdong Maritime Silk Road as an example),the study explores the influence of such cultural integration on students’cross-cultural communication skills,cultural identity,and learning effects.The results showed that the P value of the experimental group and the control group was<0.05,that is,cultural integration had a positive effect on improving the effect of cross-cultural English education.The overall scores and cultural confidence of the experimental group are higher than those of the control group,which proves that cross-cultural teaching has a positive effect on the improvement of students’scores.

Learner Autonomy in the National English Language Curricula for Chinese Universities 1978-2007:A Historical Analysis

This historical study investigates the concept of learner autonomy in the national English language curricula for Chinese universities.It seeks to understand the meaning of learner autonomy in China and the intentionality of promoting this concept through the curricula from 1978 to 2007.By adopting Quentin Skinner’s intentionalist approach to analyzing the history of ideas,this study conducted a systematic document analysis of three national curricula in relation to their linguistic and practical contexts constituted of 169 Chinese academic articles in total.The study revealed that learner autonomy mainly referred to students’motivation and ability to work hard on their own outside the classroom in the Chinese context.Importing this concept,however,caused ideological confusion and exacerbated the disempowerment of teachers within the dynamics of China’s English language education at the tertiary level.The study raises awareness for borrowing concepts across different cultural contexts and has implications for research,policymaking,teacher development,and pedagogical practice in second language education in China.

An Investigation into the Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Chinese EFL Learners of High,Average,and Low Proficiency Levels

The current research aims to find out the different beliefs held and different vocabulary strategies employed by nonEnglish majors of different proficiency levels. The data were collected through questionnaire and vocabulary tests. Results revealed that the learners at three levels all adopted wide-ranged strategies. But the high level students had greater vocabulary size and were more believed that words should be learnt through use, and they used more extended dictionary strategies, contextual guessing and note-taking strategies. It is encouraging that teachers should integrate explicit strategy instruction into classroom to help low level students achieve better learning results.

How does the Instrumental Motivation Affect English Learning in China

For years,learning English has always been a popular trend in China.However,for most of students,the main purpose of learning this language is not to improve their English proficiency but to obtain the related English proficiency certificates,which will contribute to their graduation or competition.Under such instrumental motivation,students may succeed in shortterm competition but fail in long-term development,especially when studying abroad or working in a foreign company.In order to help Chinese students improve their English proficiency effectively;this article will introduce several strategies that could be considered and implemented in English classes in China.

To What Extent and in What Areas Do Chinese Students Encounter Difficulties with the English Spelling

Writing system is totally different from Chinese writing system.From Chinese learners of English know that,English words are seen as illogical and inconsistent.Learning English spelling presents some difficulties for Chinese students because of inconsistencies in English words.But what type of errors do Chinese students make? The intention of this paper is to find out the types of errors for Chinese students and the cause for these mistakes in order to find an approach to improve their spelling accuracy.

The Analysis on the Role of Motivation in College Students’ English Learning

Foreign language teaching is a very complicated process that includes varied factors.Among those factors,the learner's factors are very important.Learner is the main part of a foreign language learning and teaching.In recent years,considerable research has been focused on the study of the foreign language learners,especially on their motivations.Learners'motivation plays a very important role in Chinese college students'English learning.

An Empirical Survey of the Chinese Cultural Aphasia in University English Textbooks

Under the text of Xi’s call for“Chinese culture to go abroad”and the international craze for Mandarin,the article aims to reveal the relationship between college English textbooks and Chinese cultural aphasia,based on an analysis of a survey of a university in southern China.The specific research questions are:What is the attitude of English majors toward integrating English textbooks into Chinese culture?Do English majors have“Chinese cultural aphasia”?To what extent?Is there an imbalance between Chinese and western culture in College English textbooks?Through a test,questionnaire,and textbook analysis,a survey on Chinese cultural aphasia in university English textbooks among English majors was conducted.The research results show that English textbooks have a serious lack of Chinese culture;English majors have severe Chinese cultural aphasia;English majors have a positive attitude towards integrating Chinese culture into English textbooks,and they are willing to learn the English expressions of Chinese culture.The author believes that the study has the following practical significance:First,the statistics in the study offer a thought for textbook editors;second,the study can stimulate English teachers to cultivate students’cross-cultural communication skills;and third,research may inspire students to learn more about Chinese culture and enrich their knowledge.

World Englishes and English Learning in China

The global spread of English is remarkable, for it has developed many different non-native varieties of English("world Englishes"). On account of the varieties of English, the essay reviews briefly historical causes and relevant literature for English globalization. The issues of English localization, who is qualified as English instructor, what kind of English to learn and how is English changing in China are included. The essay discusses also the implications of World Englishes for English language learning and proposes three points in the context of learning English in China:(1) English language learning should take into account the changes of English;(2)attitude towards global and local English variants should be properly treated;(3)compared with English test results, more attention must be paid to practical communication competences.

The Differences between Chinese and English Vocabulary

Vocabulary is critical for students’language learning.This paper means to investigate the vocabulary challenges thatstudents with L1 Chinese may face in their study process and suggest some possible ways for teachers to help them.

A Critical Analysis of Group Work in Chinese University EFL Classes

In the past few years,group activities have been warmly welcomed by EFL(English as a foreign language)classes in Chi-na,but few studies have discussed it from a critical perspective.Thus,this study explores from students’experiences what and whythe strengths and weaknesses of group work in actual contexts appear.The findings reveal that Chinese learners regard group workas an effective interactive activity for language,personal,and emotional development.However,the possible pitfalls,such as pseu-dogroups,unequal participation,groupthink,L1(first language)influence may prevent learners from obtaining the benefits of CL(collaborative learning).Finally,some suggestions are given,with the purpose of creating a more suitable facilitative EFL classroomenvironment for future Chinese EFL teaching and learning.