Understanding L2 Learners＇ Difficulties in Listening Comprehension

This paper is prompted by a ＂strange phenomenon＂ in L2 teaching and learning as related to listening： it is regarded as ＂easy＂ by teachers, but ＂difficult＂ by students. The paper tries to analyze the difficulties encountered by the L2 learners in the process of acquiring listening skills and competence in an attempt to find out how these problems are related to classroom teaching, and their implications for pedagogical classroom practice.

IMPACT de la déprivation sociale sur les difficultés psychosociales au décours d’un cancer pédiatrique:uneétude prospective IMPACT of the Social Deprivation on Psychosocial Difficulties of Pediatric Cancer Survivors:A Prospective Study

The posttreatment period is a key part of the management of pediatric cancer.During this time,school and psychological difficulties have been described in childhood cancer survivors(CCS)and can be prognostic for the success of social reintegration.This study estimated the influence of the household’s socioeconomic status(SES)on these psychosocial difficulties.This study is based on a prospective multicentric database and focused on children who received a psychosocial evaluation during their follow-up from 2013 to 2020.We retrieved data on school and psychological difficulties.Household SES was estimated by a social deprivation score.Data from1003 patients were analyzed.School difficulties were noted in 22%of CCS.A greater social deprivation was significantly associated with school difficulty.Tumor relapse,treatment with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,and central nervous system(CNS)tumors remained significant risk factors.In the subgroup of CNS tumors,school difficulties were increased and associated with greater social deprivation.Psychological difficulties were not associated with the deprivation score.There is a link between SES and school difficulties in CCS.Further investigations should be carried out for children with CNS tumors,which is the population of the greatest concern.

Linking 24-h Movement Behavior Guidelines to Cognitive Difficulties,Internalizing and Externalizing Problems in Preterm Youth

Background:Given the heightened risk of developmental challenges associated with preterm birth,it is crucial to explore interventions that may ameliorate potential adverse outcomes.This study aimed to examine whether meeting the 24-h movement behavior(24-HMB)guidelines,which include recommendations on physical activity(PA),screen time(ST),and sleep(SL),is related to indicators of cognitive difficulties,internalizing problems(e.g.,depression and anxiety),and externalizing problems(e.g.,difficulties in making friends and arguing)in a sample of preterm youth(children and adolescents born preterm).Methods:In this cross-sectional study,data from 3410 preterm youth(aged 6 to 17 years)were included for data analyses.Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate associations between meeting the 24-HMB guidelines and the above-mentioned health outcomes,while controlling for sociodemographic and health-related factors.Results:The prevalence of meeting 24-HMB guidelines varied across independent and integrated components of the 24-HMB guidelines.Meeting the ST guideline alone(p<0.05)and integrated guidelines(i.e.,ST+SL and ST+SL+PA)were associated with fewer cognitive difficulties and reduced internalizing and externalizing problems(p<0.05).Specifically,meeting the SL guideline alone and integrated guidelines(i.e.,SL+ST)were associated with lower odds of depression and anxiety(p<0.01).Additionally,meeting independent,and integrated(PA and/or ST)guidelines were associated with less pronounced difficulties in making friends and arguing(p<0.05).Meeting 24-HMB guidelines in an isolated and integrated manner are linked to better cognitive performance and fewer internalizing and externalizing problems in preterm youth.Conclusion:Results suggest that advocating for the implementation of the 24-HMB guidelines may reduce cognitive challenges and behavioral issues,which is of high relevance for improving public health.Future longitudinal studies in preterm youth should investigate how modifying specific 24-HMB behaviors,especially ST,influence cognitive difficulties,internalizing and externalizing problems in this vulnerable population.

Text Difficulty,Working Memory Capacity and Mind Wandering During Chinese EFL Learners’Reading

This experimental study investigated how text difficulty and different working memory capacity(WMC)affected Chinese EFL learners’reading comprehension and their tendency to engage in task-unrelated thoughts,that is,mind wandering(MW),in the course of reading.Sixty first-year university non-English majors participated in the study.A two-factor mixed experimental design of 2(text difficulty:difficult and simple)×2(WMC:high/large and low/small)was employed.Results revealed that 1)the main and interaction effects of WMC and text difficulty on voluntary MW were significant,whereas those on involuntary MW were not;2)while reading the easy texts,the involuntary MW of high-WMC individuals was less frequent than that of low-WMC ones,whereas while reading the difficult ones,the direct relationship between WMC and involuntary MW was not found;and that 3)high-WMC individuals had a lower overall rate of MW and better reading performance than low-WMC individuals did,but with increasing text difficulty,their rates of overall MW and voluntary MW were getting higher and higher,and the reading performance was getting lower and lower.These results lend support to WM theory and have pedagogical implications for the instruction of L2 reading.

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.

The Impact of Comment Style on Learners’ Essay Revisions

This paper investigates how the type of written feedback provided by teachers affects learners’ ability to revise essays. A total of 120 participants participated in two rounds of essay composition and feedback delivery. The findings indicate that learners who receive comments in the form of questions are more prone to make revisions compared to those receiving statements or imperatives. These results hold significant implications for educators and the ways they utilize written feedback to enhance learners’ writing skills.

Analyzing the Essay Writing Patterns of Iranian Intermediate-Level Korean Language Learners: A Study Based on the TOPIK Exam

This study examines the writing abilities of Iranian intermediate Korean learners,specifically their performance in the compositional writing section of the Test of Proficiency in Korean(TOPIK).By utilizing the many FACETS-Rasch Model,we meticulously analyzed nine writing samples from the 52nd TOPIK.These samples were evaluated using a modified rubric ranging from 0 to 3 based on predefined criteria for written composition.The results underscored that the sections on“appropriateness of spacing and spelling,”“relevance of vocabulary,”and“content diversity”presented the most significant challenges for the learners.On the other hand,“the quantity of writing”emerged as the least challenging aspect.These findings reveal substantial disparities in various aspects of writing proficiency among learners.The study not only pinpoints issue areas in writing skills,but also underscores the necessity of customized teaching strategies within the TOPIK framework to address these weaknesses.Consequently,it offers valuable insights that could bolster the effectiveness of teaching writing to Korean language learners.The findings of this study are not only significant for the field of language education,but also contribute to a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by intermediate learners and provide a roadmap for improving language instruction.

Ableism and (Neo)Racism in School Placement Processes in Quebec: School Personnel Interpretations of Immigrant Student Difficulties - A Secondary Publication

The school placement processes of students from immigrant backgrounds considered to be in“difficulty”is an international concern at the intersection of works relating to special education and those concerning the school experiences of students from immigrant backgrounds or racialized groups.The research problem of this article concerns the identification of these students as disabled or as having adjustment or learning difficulties.From a perspective anchored in Disability Critical Race Studies,this ethnographic study documents different interpretations of perceived difficulties made by school actors with regard to seven primary school students from immigrant backgrounds.Five interpretation types are presented:(1)medicalization by dismissal of cultural markers,(2)medicalization by professional constraint,(3)medicalization by cultural deficit,(4)precautionary wait,and(5)cultural differentialism.Our results help to shed light on the special education overrepresentation phenomenon regarding these students and to understand how ableism and(neo)racism contribute to it.

Teachers’ Perceptions of the Challenges and Strategies in Supporting Students with Reading Difficulties

The purpose of this study is to determine the teacher’s perceptions of the challenges and strategies in supporting students with reading difficulties.This study used qualitative method of research and descriptive approach as its research design,in addition to a set of structured interview questions administered through Google Forms to gather data from elementary teachers of Taal Central School,located at Taal Batangas.These structured interview questions were carefully designed to cover various dimensions of the study,including the types of challenges perceived by teachers,strategies employed,and possible solutions for addressing the problems encountered in the process of supporting students with reading difficulties.The results revealed that teachers faced several challenges when teaching students with reading difficulties such as emotional and motivational issues/factors,lack of resources or teaching aids,deficits in knowledge and skills,and problems with student engagement and participation.This study also showed common approaches utilized by the teachers in supporting students with reading difficulties,which were fostering a positive and supportive environment,adopting individualized and multifaceted approaches,and utilizing effective teaching tools and strategies.Lastly,teachers also concluded varied solutions in addressing the challenges perceived in teaching students with reading difficulties towards fostering reading proficiency.These include developing peer support,use of positive reinforcement,and parental involvement.Moreover,specialized resources,professional development for teachers,and specific teaching strategies are also highlighted as crucial components.By integrating these approaches,teachers concluded that it can create a supportive and effective learning environment tailored to the needs of students with reading difficulties.

Analysis of Young Learners’Listening Skills

The importance of listening as one of the communication skills cannot be overstated.However,in many areas,listening is neglected.For young learners,learning to listen is even more beneficial for their future studies,therefore,listening skills should be given due importance.

Enhancing Learners’Performance in Grade 7 Mathematics Through 50-30-20 Exercise

Assessment exercises constitute a crucial component of the teaching and learning process,serving the purpose of gauging the degree to which learning objectives have been accomplished.This study aims to assess the mathematics performance of Grade 7 learners using the 50-30-20 exercise.Specifically,this study seeks to determine the learners’pre-test and post-test mean scores,identify significant differences between the pre-test and post-test results,evaluate learners’exercises,and propose enhanced exercises.The research employs a quasi-experimental design,with 40 Grade 7 learners in the school year 2023-2024 as participants,selected through purposive non-random sampling.Statistical data analysis involves the use of mean,standard deviation,paired t-test,and Cohen’s D effect size.Ethical considerations were paramount,as evidenced by a letter of authorization from the school head outlining the strict adherence to voluntary participation,informed parental consent,anonymity,confidentiality,risk mitigation,results-sharing protocols,and the commitment to keeping research data confidential.The data yielded a remarkable outcome:the experimental group exhibited improvement in both the pre-test and post-test.This result substantiates the initial objective of the study,showcasing a noteworthy and favorable performance among the participants.Consequently,it suggests that a majority of the participants strongly agree that the 50-30-20 exercises contribute to enhancing their understanding and problem-solving skills,as well as their ability to grasp mathematical concepts and improve their overall performance in mathematics.Therefore,the 50-30-20 exercises not only facilitated students in understanding mathematics lessons but were also aligned with the Department of Education’s development plan.

Entangled relationship:Chinese parents’involvement in young learners’English tests

Young learners’English(YLE)tests have become increasingly prevalent among and important to Chinese English learners and their parents.In China,parents are actively involved in their children’s education and test-taking decisions,and their participation has given rise to a series of social impacts.Although parent involvement has received increasing public and academic attention in newspaper and scholarly articles,there exists no thorough analysis of current research on parents’roles in young learners’test-taking.To address this gap,we systemically analyzed Chinese newspaper articles and academic articles between 2011 and 2021 to elicit Chinese parents’roles in YLE test-taking.Our thematic analysis of the literature identifies the ways in which parents influence their children’s test-taking experiences,and how the tests affect this influence.Specifically,our results elicit 1)parents’engagement in YLE testing;2)parents’understanding of the intended uses of YLE tests;3)parents’perception and consequences of their involvement in YLE testing;and 4)parents’backgrounds.This analysis reveals the popularity of YLE tests among young learners and their parents in China and public concern over test-related issues.It also broadens our understanding of YLE testing impact and suggests future potential research directions.

China's English Learners' Verbal Phrase Acquisition Research Based on the Corpus——“at last”and“in the end”as an Example

This study is a comparative research based on corpus. This article compares China's English learners with English na?tive speakers about the use of "at last" and "in the end" from three aspects: frequency of use, location, semantic prosody. The study shows that the use of the two words are greatly different between China's English learners and English native speakers. In addition, this study discusses about causes of obvious differences and teaching enlightenments.

Research on China Third Language Learners＇ Metalinguistic Awareness

This study investigated the general situation of metalinguistic awareness of third language learners in Chinese universities.Data analyses showed that the level of metalinguistic awareness in those learners was significantly higher than that of second language learners.And learning a third language can improve metalinguistic awareness.

On Second Language Learners＇ Lexical Competence

The paper discusses SL learners＇ lexical competence from O＇Connor＇s Five Steps of Vocabulary Acquisition Theory, Collins ＆ Loftus＇s Semantic Network Theory and Fay ＆ Cutler＇s Mental Lexicon Theory. From the discussion, the author finds that second language learners＇ lexical competence includes the following aspects： the ability to recall the words which are similar to the target words in spelling and pronunciation; the ability to recall the synonyms of the target words; the ability to recall the antonyms of the target words; and the ability to recall the related words which come together with the target words in a context. Meanwhile it advances some strategies to develop the corresponding competence.

Explicit Grammar Instruction in L2 Learners'Writing Development:Effective or Ineffective?

It has long been in dispute about whether explicit grammar teaching is more effective in second language learning or implicit grammar teaching is.However,there are more than one factor to take into consideration while discussing which way is better for L2 learners.This short essay aims at depicting three respects concerning grammar teaching,namely learning context,language learners'beliefs and needs,and grammar instruction.When educators and practitioners try to adopt grammar instruction either implicitly or explicitly in L2 learners'writing development,they probably need to consider the above three factors and to find out the best way to produce more effective teaching results among their students.

Teaching Legal Englishfor Law Studentsin China:Difficultiesand Solutions

Teaching legal English for law students in China is difficult.For one thing,many Chinese law students have trouble moreor less in learning English,because the English language is not their mother tongue.For another,legal English differs a great dealfrom everyday English in many respects,including terminology,phrasing,linguistic structure,and linguistic conventions,whichmakes legal English teaching for law students in China by far harder.To solve difficulties undermining teaching legal English forlaw students in China,the author of this paper holds that in his or her actual legal English teaching,the teacher should boost lawstudents basic English teaching,expose them to cases study of specialized legal English terminology and linguistic structures andconventions.

How to Create a Low-anxiety Environment for Chinese Learners of EFL to Enhance Oral Proficiency in Speaking Lessons

The goal of teaching English speaking is to improve students' communicative efficiency, or make students speak the target language clearly, coherently, accurately and fluently (Xu, 2005). However, in China, a number of students in an English speaking class tend to be passive and reluctant to speak out or be singled out publicly mainly due to their high anxiety, which, of course, becomes a significant constraint on improving their English proficiency. Therefore, how to create a relaxed atmosphere with a sense of security in the English speaking class to alleviate Chinese learners' anxiety and to provide them with as many opportunities as possible to practice speaking English and improve their English proficiency is one of the central tasks for language teachers.his paper will firstly outline my teaching context in China in physical, pedagogical, institutional and personal aspects. This will be followed by the definition and classification of language learning anxiety, and the analysis of various factors contributing to foreign language learners' anxiety as well as some suggestions of how to reduce the learners' anxiety in the oral class according to the current literature. Finally, some applications will be presented in my teaching context in the hope of decreasing Chinese students' anxiety to enhance their English speaking proficiency.

A Comparative Study on English Pronunciation and Phonology of Chinese EFL Learners

Pronunciation often gets ignored over grammar and vocabulary in EFL programs.However,words stressed incorrectly or with inappropriate pitch or intonation will impede the learner in getting the intended message across.Phonology,then,should be an integral part of any EFL lesson.This paper examines the current situation of English pronunciation of Chinese students and aiming to present a procedural approach for incorporating phonological elements into an EFL syllabus.