Genre Effect on L2 Syntactic Complexity and Holistic Rating for Writing Quality of Intermediate EFL Learners

This exploratory study examines whether genre has an impact on syntactic complexity and holistic rating in EFL writing. Over 300 sample texts produced by intermediate learners were collected from a test and some regular after-class assignments for English writing courses. Each participant completed two writing tasks, one argumentative and the other narrative. Results show that genre type has a significant impact on L2 syntactic complexity. Genre effect is found stronger with timed writing tasks. L2 holistic ratings show correlation with syntactic complexity on the different measure(s) depending on genre type and planning conditions. Regression analyses reveal that for timed writing tasks, clausal density(clauses per sentence) is a reliable predictor for holistic assessment on intermediate EFL learners’ writing quality. It is found to account for 6% of the score variance for timed writing and 10% for timed argumentative writing. Genre is evidenced to be related to EFL writing holistic ratings. Closer examination indicates that while syntactic complexity is predictive of holistic writing scores for argumentative writing, it does not correlate with holistic scores for narrative writing. Other linguistic features rather than syntactic complexity may be accountable. Overall, the study lends support to genre effect in the relationship between syntactic complexity and L2 writing quality holistic rating.

On Teaching L2 Learners’ Pragmatic Competence

On the basis of the explanation of the notion of pragmatic competence and review of its previous teaching, this paper con-cludes that instructions can improve L2 learners’ pragmatic competence.

On L2 English Learners’Formulaic Language Use and Spoken English Fluency

This study explored the distribution of three types of English formulaic language, which involves four categories in L1 Chinese L2 English learners’ speaking performance. In addition, it investigated the relationship between the English learners’ use of formulaic language and their spoken English fluency. A CCA(canonical correlation analysis) was conducted to examine the correlations between two sets of fluency variables(dependent variables) and linguistic variables of English formulaic language use(independent variables). The fluency variable set consists of:(1)temporal indices such as SR(speech rate), AR(articulation rate), MLR(mean length of run), and PTR(phonation time ratio);(2) linguistic variables of English formulaic language like F2 R(twoword formulaic sequences/run ratio, B3 R(three-word lexical bundles/run ratio), and B4 R(fourword lexical bundles/run ratio). These are calculated according to the frequency of the English formulaic language in the speech samples of the participants(n = 86) across three academic levels.The results indicate that the learners’ spoken English fluency is highly related to their use of English formulaic language. Its limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

Does Time Studying of Spanish Make Learners More Cognizant of Their Learning Styles？ Evidence From Novice and Senior L2 Spanish Learners

This study explored the perceptual learning style preferences in L2 （second language） Spanish. A group of first-semester and fifth-semester university students participated. The aim was to verify whether time studying of Spanish would strengthen learning preferences making senior students more cognizant of their preferred styles. Senior students were, therefore, more expected to self-report major （i.e., strong） style preferences than novice students. The participants completed a style questionnaire and named preferred in-class language activities. Results showed that the novice rather than the senior students, self-reported strong style preferences. The senior students consistently reported minor preferences and named activities that favored peer collaboration over perceptual styles. It is likely that after several semesters of learning Spanish, senior students were less certain as to whether language learning relies on strong style preferences. Instead, they probably learned to acknowledge the benefits of a flexible disposition, integrating several minor style preferences for a successful learning of Spanish.

From “Who I Want to Be” to “Whom I Am” A Review of the Empirical Research on Motivation and Identity of L2 Learners

This paper synthesizes and evaluates the empirical studies on the relationship between motivation and identity construction of L2 learners in the process of SLA.It begins with the explorations of the definitions of identity and then its relevant research in the field of SLA.After that,the article explores the empirical studies from perspectives of both within and outside China Mainland.Based on comparison and contrast,some implications on both future research and instructions are offered.

Fossilization in L2 Learners

In the areas of second language acquisition, fossilization is one of the significant and popular topics that many research?ers have argued for. With decades of study on this topic, there exist a lot of uncertainties and hypotheses from definition to de-fos?silization. This essay mainly focuses on complicated causes for fossilization.

An Investigation of Two Ways of Teaching Vocabulary to L2 Learners

As for language learners, vocabulary acquisition is one of the most important tasks, and the same goes for L2 teachers.Recently, some researchers claim that semantic mapping is far more effective in vocabulary. The present study comparatively investigate two strategies of teaching vocabulary to non-English lower-intermediate learners. One is the traditional grammatical description and drilling way, the other is the semantic mapping. Six new words were taught by using these two ways respectively,and a sample test was applied to check students' mastery of these words at the end of the class. The test results show that there is no significant difference between the learning outcomes of these two different teaching approaches, but learners turned out to be more engaged when the teacher conducted the semantic links teaching method. Therefore, perhaps, a combination of these two approaches would be a good choice for those L2 learners.

Differences in the Motivation of Teenage Learners of English in A Chinese Language Context

This paper aims to explore motivational variations in different teenage English learner groups in Chinese context.Drawing on L2 Motivational Self System as the theoretical framework,combining You and Dornyei’s research with my professional teaching experience,this paper found that students who learn English for the purpose of passing the exam,ought-to L2self dimension is the highest,with L2 learning experience and ideal L2 self following behind.Students who tend to live or study abroad,ideal L2 self is the best predictor,followed by L2 learning experience and ought-to L2 self.This indicates that teachers should improve teaching methods,apply motivational strategies in the classroom,and encourage and help students to use selfmotivating strategies to motivate themselves.

Intensifier-Verb Collocations in Academic English by Chinese Learners Compared to Native-Speaker Students

It is difficult for L2 English learners in general, and especially Chinese learners of English, to form idiomatic collocations. This article presents a comparison of the use of intensifier-verb collocations in English by native speaker students and Chinese ESL learners, paying particular attention to verbs which collocate with intensifiers. The data consisted of written production from three corpora: two of these are native English corpora: the British Academic Written English(BAWE) Corpus and Michigan Corpus of Upper-Level Student Papers(MICUSP). The third one is a recently created Chinese Learner English corpus, Ten-thousand English Compositions of Chinese Learners(TECCL).Findings suggest that Chinese learners of English produce significantly more intensifier-verb collocations than native speaker students, but that their English attests a smaller variety of intensifier-verb collocations compared with the native speakers. Moreover, Chinese learners of English use the intensifier-verb collocation types just-verb, only-verb and really-verb very frequently compared with native speaker students. As regards verb collocates, the intensifiers hardly, clearly,well, strongly and deeply collocate with semantically different verbs in native and Chinese learner English. Compared with the patterns in Chinese learner English, the intensifiers in native speaker English collocate with a more stable and restricted set of verb collocates.

A Study on Developmental Pattern of a L2 Learner's Motivation

This thesis attempts to find out the the learner's L2 attitudinal and motivational changes through the time of learning.This thesis employs qualitative approach to analyze the data collected from the interview. Based on the analyses, it shows that L2learner's motivation does not stay relatively stable but rather evolutes over time.

The Relationship Between Learning Styles and L2 Learning

Through a survey of learning styles and their learning achievements among non-English majors in Shandong Jianzhu University, this paper analyzes the relationships between the two variables. Data are collected and analyzed by means of SPSS.Statistical analysis indicates that no significant difference exists between FI （Field Independent） students＇ achievements measured by the test and FD （Field Dependent） students＇.

Predictors of Foreign Language Anxiety: A Study of College-Level L2 Learners of Chinese

This study investigated seven learner variables （i.e., age, motivation, perception of the difficulty of the Chinese language, self-perceived achievement, self-perceived language learning ability, self-expectation in the Chinese class, and perception of the importance of the Chinese language） as potential predictors of Chinese language learning anxiety. Correlation analyses showed that all seven variables were significantly correlated with anxiety level in isolation. Perception of the difficulty of the Chinese language and age were found to have positive relationships with anxiety, whereas the remaining five variables were reported to have negative relationships. Multiple regression analysis revealed that all the variables except self-expectation in the Chinese class and perception of the importance of the Chinese language contributed significantly to the prediction of Chinese language learning anxiety when examined simultaneously. The five significant predictors altogether explained 34.7% of the variance in anxiety. Perception of the difficulty of the Chinese language was found to be the best predictor and self-perceived achievement the second-best predictor, followed by self-perceived foreign language learning ability, age, and motivation.

A Comparison of the L2 Motivational Self System Between Chinese EFL and ESL Learners

This present study attempts to conduct a comparison of the tripartite model of L2 Motivational Self System in two different learning contexts, Chinese EFL and ESL learning settings. It was designed using a mixed methods approach, with a primary questionnaire instrument being supported by secondary interview data. The quantitative data was submitted to Amos version 18.0 to evaluate proposed models. It was found that L2 learning experience was the most important predictive dimension of intended learning effort for both samples. However, the roles of the other two components, the ideal L2 self and the ought-to L2 self, appeared to be unstable, which concludes that D6rnyei＇s tripartite model obtained partial support in both EFL and ESL contexts. The analysis of qualitative data offers strong evidence for the claim that the future self-guides do not necessarily result in intended effort unless some essential conditions are met.

The Role of EQ in EFL Students＇ Foreign Language Learning

EQ （Emotional Quotient） is considered a key component in foreign language learning. This study examined the relationship between EFL （English as a Foreign Language） students＇ EQ and learning strategies, English proficiency with EIS （Emotinal Intelligence Scale） and Strategy Inventory for Language Learning as well as students＇ tests in English listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Pearson correlation and regression analysis were applied in the data processing. The subsequent data analysis reveals that there is significant relationship between EFL students＇ EQ and their learning strategies as well as English proficiency. The correlation between EQ and affective strategies and the correlation between EQ and English speaking proficiency are higher than others. The factors which contribute to the correlation are analyzed. Furthermore, it is suggested for EFL teachers to take measures to facilitate students＇ EQ in classroom teaching

The Influences of Different Motivations on SLA

some learners are successful at second language learning; however, most of them can not have a perfect mastery of a second language and some of them are complete failures. It is worth exploring the various reasons for their unsuccessful second language acquisition; there are many reasons in determining second language learning potential such as age, personality as well as motivation. In this paper, the author will focus on the influences of motivations which play crucial roles in second language acquisition.

Can Pragmatic Competence Be Taught in an EFL Classroom?

An L2 learner's pragmatic competence is an inseparable part of his communicative competence.Large quantities of aspects of pragmatic competence are teachable.Classroom is the place where an L2 learner's pragmatic competence can be developed.Though classroom instruction has some negative effect,efforts could be done to arrange relevant awareness-raising and communication-practice activities.

Developing Chinese Complimenting in a Study Abroad Program

This article reports on an empirical study investigating what and how two college-level American learners of Mandarin Chinese developed their own understanding of the Chinese complimenting speech act while participating in a 7-week intensive language study abroad program. A case study approach was adopted with a focus on participants＇ self-reflection data supplemented with the researcher＇s observation data to unpack each participant＇s pragmatic developmental process throughout the program. Guided by sociocultural theory, the study uncovered the dynamic, complex and highly individualized developmental process each participant experienced. The findings revealed that Chinese people＇s special treatment of the two American students provided more constraints than opportunities for them to acquire Chinese complimenting. However, the learners＇ own motivation and approaches to learning also significantly shaped their learning process and outcomes. Pedagogical suggestions for Chinese pragmatic development in study abroad contexts are provided.