In this contribution, I focus on the concept of "appropriateness" in the usage, the learning and the teaching of foreign languages. Using a participant-based emic perspective, I investigate multilinguals' perceptions of appropriateness in their foreign languages. Referring to the existing literature, and using previously unpublished material…

As FSL teacher educators look to respond to teachers' concerns about the increasingly diverse student population in K-12 settings, empirical research may not always hold the answers--simply because there has not been much research on the topic. In an attempt to at least identify issues worthy of such empirical consideration and discussion within…

This paper reports on a study which investigated the effect on vocabulary recall of introducing new words via two different methods. A one-group quasi-experimental research design with alternating time series measures was employed. A group of 60 fourth graders were taught 80 carefully selected words either in semantically related sets or…

Brantmeier [Brantmeier, C., 2006. "Advanced L2 learners and reading placement: self-assessment, computer-based testing, and subsequent performance." 'System 34" (1), 15-35] found that self-assessment (SA) of second language (L2) reading ability is not an accurate predictor for computer-based testing or subsequent classroom performance. With 359…

The paper explores the complexity of the notion of plagiarism from sociocultural and psychological perspectives. Plagiarism is a dynamic and multi-layered phenomenon [Russikoff, K., Fucaloro, L., Salkauskiene, D., 2003. "Plagiarism as a cross-cultural phenomenon." "The CAL Poly Pomona Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies" 16, 109-120.…

The aim of this article is to focus on the language needs of university graduates at today's workplace as seen through the eyes of their employers. Using interview data from the representatives of 15 Finnish employers, we highlight certain language-related trends at the workplace of university graduates, underline the need for a range of languages…

While the use of student performed evaluation of teaching is a topic of considerable debate, little has been written in a Japanese context. Sixteen English language teachers who work either part time, under a limited term contract, or have tenure in Japanese universities commented on a summary of common questions which had been collected from 50…

Narrative inquiry in language teacher education aims to understand the experiences of teachers in the particular contexts in which they teach. This article reports on the use of narrative frames as a means of investigating the teaching experiences of university English teachers in China. This study used four specifically designed narrative frames…

Knowledge of lexical chunks correlates positively with L2 proficiency. However, high estimates of the number of chunks in natural language have led to scepticism about the feasibility of large-scale chunk-learning on non-intensive, classroom-based courses. Furthermore, few proposals for chunk-teaching have looked beyond the noticing stage. One…

Truscott [Truscott, J., 1996. "The case against grammar correction in L2 writing classes.' "Language Learning" 46, 327-369; Truscott, J., 1999. "The case for "the case for grammar correction in L2 writing classes": a response to Ferris." "Journal of Second Language Writing" 8, 111-122] laid down the challenge to teacher educators and teachers to…

This study investigates how L2 learners of German (English L1) process structural and semantic information when reading German sentences. In a timed comprehension task, intermediate and advanced L2 learners of German read sentences that varied according to word order (subject-first versus object-first) and subject animacy (inanimate subject versus…

This paper investigates authentic writing through the use of wikis by Year 7 ESL learners in a secondary school in Hong Kong. The wikis were used as a collaborative writing platform to produce--with minimal input and support from their teachers--wiki content that describes the different facilities and features of their school. Over a period of two…

As part of a larger study (Rahimi, 2004), this study investigates the use of language learning strategies by post-secondary level Persian EFL learners. Particular attention is paid to the variables affecting learners' choice of strategies, and the relationship, if any, between these variables and learners' patterns of strategy use. Data were…

This article explores variation in the use of the pronouns "nous" and "on" for first-person plural reference in a substantial corpus of French-language Internet chat discourse. The results indicate that "on" is nearly categorically preferred to "nous," which is in line with previous research on informal spoken French. A qualitative analysis of…

Following an extensive and federally funded analysis of literature related to boys learning French as a second language (FSL) in Canada, the authors propose a series of research questions to guide future research related to males in FSL classrooms. To better understand the need for this research agenda, the researchers provide an overview of the…