Relative Clause Preference in Learners of Chinese as a Second Language

It has been debated whether preference for subject-extracted relative clauses in language processing is a universal rule, with evidence from both first and second language acquisition studies. But very few studies focus on learners of Chinese as a second language. The current research studied Chinese subject/object-extracted relative clauses processing among the learners of Chinese as a second language by a self-paced reading experiment. The results demonstrate a faster and more accurate processing of subject-extracted relative clauses in both subject and object modifying conditions, adding more evidence to the universal preference for the subject-extracted relative clauses. Both Frequency-Based Accounts and Memory-Based Accounts are discussed related to the current findings.

Promoting the Learners’Motivation in Learning Chinese as a Second Language:From Demotivation to Motivational Strategies

Motivation is a key factor that influences the outcome of second language(L2)learning.Chinese as a second language(CSL)learners,however,may experience demotivation in their Chinese learning process which will,more often than not,reduce their learning interest and eventually affect their learning effect,therefore,it is necessary to enhance the learners’motivation level.This article first reviews the research literature in motivation in general,then discusses the CSL learners’demotivation in their Chinses learning process studying in China.Finally,it introduces motivational strategies to activate CSL learners’motivation in learning Chinese.

Research on the Application of Chinese-Style Songs in the Field of Chinese Second Language Teaching

In recent years,traditional Chinese culture has been continuously revived,integrated into the times and entered people’s daily lives.Chinese-style songs,as a combination of traditional cultural connotations and emerging song forms,have gradually emerged on the music stage in China and even around the world.In the field of teaching Chinese as a second language,the research on teaching Chinese songs has received increasing attention.This article combines the theory of the association between music and language to summarize the research results of Chinese-style songs and their application in the field of teaching Chinese as a second language in the past 30 years.The current research problems are discussed,and suggestions are proposed in order to provide some reference value for teaching Chinese as a second language.

Attitudes of Second Language Learners towards Code-switching in L2 Classroom

This paper chiefly examines the attitudes of second language learners,specifically,Chinese postgraduate students studying in the UK,towards code-switching between English and Mandarin in group discussion in L2 classroom.Questionnaire is implemented as the data collection method and yields some corresponding findings based on research questions.Meanwhile,recent research on code-switching in classroom is introduced briefly.Moreover,limitations and pedagogical implication of the original research mentioned above are elaborated,as well as the implied future research is presented in this area.

Erasable/Inerasable L1 Transfer in Interlanguage Phonology:An Optimality Theory Analysis of/aʊn/and Sentence Stress in Chinese Learners of English

The areas affected by the L1 transfer to L2,such as phonotactics and stress,appear to have different degrees of erasability through training and practice.This paper attempts a theoretical analysis to account for empirical observations of L1 transfer in diphthong-coda coalescence and in sentence stress for Chinese learners of English in an American accent training course.Using the framework and tableau method of Optimality Theory(Prince and Smolensky 1993),the phonological paradigm that views languages’differences as symptomatic of differences in rankings of a set of universal violable constraints,this paper posits the underlying ranking at work in(a)the segmental case where[aŋ]is the observed output for/aʊn/;(b)the suprasegmental case where no stress contrast is observed for a pair of phonologically similar sentences with contrastive stress.It is argued that,in the segmental case,the coalescence of the second vowel of a diphthong with an alveolar nasal coda results from the high ranking of markedness constraints,including Complex Syllable;and in the suprasegmental case,sentence stress is greatly affected by changes in the ranking of the constraint culminativity.Aside from shedding light on the understudied issue of diphthong-coda coalescence,this research also contributes to the discussion of the comparative erasability of L1 transfer for the two areas and demonstrates how a deduction-based theoretical method may actually have practical implications for guiding the design of L2 teaching methodology of English pronunciation as well as for promoting native English speakers’clearer understanding of Chinese learners of English on the global stage.

The Implementation and Evaluation of Training Course for Chinese as Second Language E-Teacher

In this study, we made references to past literatures and developed an e-learning training program for CSL （Chinese as a Second Language） teachers. The class was held from July to August, 2010, in Chinese Culture University （Taiwan）, and we designed a performance-evaluation questionnaire with the Delphi method. Three months after the training program was completed, the questionnaire was given to the 30 students of the class, and they were asked to answer questions regarding their use of e-learning in the actual practice. We also asked 5 teachers to conduct experimental e-learning for us to video-record and observe. This effort allows us to discuss the use of e-learning among CSL teachers in Taiwan, come up with a conclusion and suggestions, and use the findings as references for course-planning and policies or research regarding the digital learning of Chinese.

A Study of Effective Feedback from Teachers in the Classroom of Chinese as a Second Language

Feedback is the teacher's response and evaluation to the students'performance in class,and it is also an important part of classroom interaction.This article focuses on two aspects:the use of positive feedback and corrective feedback from teachers,aiming to explore the impact of teachers feedback behavior on teaching effect.

On the Cognition of Second Language Mental Lexicon and Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language

Teaching Chinese as a foreign language is actually the teaching of Chinese as a second language by international Chinese teachers.People must learn vocabulary as a language element in the process of language acquisition.Without vocabulary,there is no language.When we master the vocabulary of a language,we rely on mental lexicon,which is vocabulary that has been stored in the brain for a long time.Through the study of second language mental lexicon,it can be used effectively,and corresponding teaching methods can be used in the vocabulary teaching of Chinese as a foreign language to help students learn Chinese quickly and effectively.

A Study on the Compilation of Dictionaries for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Based on the Second Language Acquisition Theory

This article intends to demonstrate the principles for dictionary compilation.To summarize,general rules are to be followed.At the same time,this article probes into the differences of Chinese to Chinese dictionary,Chinese to foreign language dictionary,dictionaries for the preparation of certain exams,learner’s dictionaries for reviewing errors,dictionaries with multimedia and dictionaries built via the Internet..In all,one of the key factors for dictionary compilation is the professionalism of editors and writers.The training of the people involved is vital,which would contribute to setting up a better order of the market.Acknowledgements should also be given to achievements in dictionary compilation.Revisions and polishing are required to improve the dictionaries on the market that have already won the acclaim so as to put their influence to the best display.

Differences between the Characteristics of Adults and Children as Second/Foreign Language Learners

In this paper, the author will mainly focus on analysis about the differences between characteristics of older learners and young learners in learning second/foreign language.

Sociocultural Theory on Interaction between Teachers and Learners in a Second Language Classroom

This article offers an overview of theoretical ideas and recent empirical research by referring to the interactive communication between teachers and learners in a second language classroom.Both the interaction of teacher-centered classroom and learner-centered classroom are reviewed within the context of sociocultural theory.The paper attempts to indicate the better effect of language learning can be achieved by complementing one another in the classroom of teacher-centeredness and learner-centeredness.

A Discussion of Foreign Language Listening Problems and Their Causes among Intermediate EFL learners in Chinese universities

Listening has been considered as the most important language skill by many researchers but in Chinese context it has been overlooked for years.The Foreign Language(FL)listening problems gradually reveal when students attend to the Listening Course in universities or colleges.This paper at first illustrates the importance of listening in foreign language learning and provides a discussion on the top-down and bottom-up processes with the analysis of Anderson's three-model of language comprehension[9]as well as the factors affecting listening comprehension in Foreign Language in general,aiming at the illustration of the necessity on one of the bottom-up processes-the Spoken Word Recognition(SWR).The analysis of two issued official guiding documents for Chinese university students and the current situation of English listening teaching in Chinese universities are followed,providing a general background on English listening teaching in Chinese context.Three possible foreign language listening problems and their causes are proposed,followed by the pedagogical suggestions to EFL learners who are improving their listening skills and instructors who are advancing their teaching procedures.

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.

A Contrastive Study of Semantic Prosody between English Native Speak ers and Chinese English Learners——Case Study of “Avoid”

In this paper,the author uses data-driven and contrastive interlanguage analysis approach,applying AntConc 3.2.1 as the tool,to make a comparison between corpus FLOB and CLEC on the using of the word "avoid".The result shows that the se mantic prosodic tendency between the two communities is in great similarities but also have differences.Through comparison and analysis,the author finds the hidden reason and summarizes how to improve.

Applying Nearpod to the Teaching Chinese as a Second Language Class to Enhance Interactions and Collaborations in the Secondary Schools

The quick spread of the epidemic since 2019 together with fast advancing of technology has exposed teachers to online education,including Teaching Chinese as a Second Language(TCSL)classrooms.Some Chinese as a Second Language(CSL)teachers were reluctant to utilize technology tools in their teaching due to the lack of technological knowledge.Thus,this study designed a CSL curriculum with the lens of the TPACK framework(Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge).Nearpod was specifically adopted as a web-based technology tool to support the teaching Chinese language due to its powerful functions provided.Nearpod allows teachers to design interactive activities in multiple ways to facilitate interactions and collaboration in the CSL learning process.This paper aimed to help Chinese teachers improve their understanding of how to effectively integrate technology into CSL teaching.Chinese teachers will develop a deeper comprehension of distance teaching from the perspectives of technology,pedagogy,and content knowledge,enhance students’deeper learning,and promote interaction and collaboration in L2 class.The effective use of the technology can develop language skills in a meaningful context knowledge with the guidance of pedagogical content knowledge.

The Importance of Writing Course for Second Language Learners

The question"why is writing course for second language learners so important"will be answered and some suggestions on how to write well for second language learners will be advanced.

The Importance of writing course for second language learners

The question"why is writing course for second language learners so important"will be answered and some suggestions on how to write well for second language learners will be advanced.

Challenges of Employing VoiceThread to Enhance U.S.Collegiate Chinese Language Learners’Oral Proficiency

The digital age in education inspires Chinese teachers to integrate Web 2.0 technologies into Chinese as a second language(CSL)curricula to enhance teaching effects.However,few studies examine the challenges that teachers face when integrating Web 2.0 technologies to improve student oral proficiency in Chinese.This study aims to investigate students’perceptions of the effectiveness of the Web 2.0 technology VoiceThread(VT).It examines the challenges of integrating VT to enhance student oral proficiency.The authors conducted two studies with 31 students responding to a questionnaire in Study 1 and 48 students responding to the same questionnaire in Study 2.All students are beginner-level CSL learners.Three results were obtained.Result 1 shows that documents and articles report VT as popular and easy to use,however,few teachers employed VT in their teaching practices.Result 2 indicates another discrepancy.Although students highly evaluated the usefulness of the VT-facilitated activities,they were reluctant to perform these activities.By comparing Study 1 and Study 2,the authors obtained Result 3:Students in Study 2 evaluated VT-integrated teaching practices consistently higher than those in Study 1.Teachers’using experiences primarily led these perception differences.This study provides CSL teachers with a vision of the opportunities and challenges that may occur when they integrate Web 2.0 technologies into curricular to improve CSL oral proficiency.

Critical Pedagogy and Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Chinese College Context

In the field of second language acquisition(SLA),weight has been increasingly attached to the role that a problem-pos ing model of education plays in English as second/foreign language(ES/FL)teaching and learning.By exploring various concepts of the problem-posing approach,also known as critical pedagogy,and its implications for English language teaching(ELT)in the Chinese postsecondary EFL context,the paper makes a tentative attempt to acknowledge the future directions of implementing critical pedagogy in the EFL context.Therefore,the paper is inspired by the ever-increasing popularity of the critical pedagogical approach in the ESL context.The application of critical orientation in language education derives from critical theories of the Frankfurt School,which centers on Marxist societal beliefs of struggling against social inequalities.With the concept of critical pedagogy drawing increasing attention from language educators and teachers alike in English-speaking countries;non-native English teachers who teach in the EFL context has also begun to focus their attention on the educational philosophy as a means to help transform traditional oppressed status of the Chinese EFL learners.From this perspective,this paper,by investigating the multi-dimensional implied meanings of implementing critical pedagogy in the EFL context,unraveling how it works as a way of"doing"in second language(L2)teaching and learning,identifying the probable contexts of critical pedagogy and the contesta tions surrounding critical pedagogy,aims to address the significance of implementing critical pedagogy as an effective way of re forming the ailing English education condition in China.

What Makes a Good Second Language Learner from the Point of Majority Language Contexts

The reason to choose this topic is because among three types of context in natural second language learning settings,majority language contexts are undoubtedly the most important type to help L2 learners enhance their proficiencies of target languages in an effective way.The first part of the paper is review of the researches that have been conducted concerning majority language contexts.From following chapters,analysis will be made on the deficiencies of L2 learning and teaching in China as well as necessities of majority language contexts.Finally,basic strategies will be proposed to help L2 learners overcome various problems in majority language contexts.