Argues that learner attitudes and motivation are equally important for the improvement of students' proficiency in a second language. Used pre- and post-test results in the Use of English course at a university in Nigeria. (Author/VWL)

Investigated the probable effect of different contexts on learning idioms, as well as the interaction between learning idioms in different contexts and English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) learners' language proficiency. Findings revealed that different contexts and proficiency levels had significant effects on EFL learners' acquisition of idioms;…

Describes a new model for teaching academic English-as-a-Second-Language/Foreign-Language reading. The model emphasizes considering texts, function, meaningfulness, and rhetoric, rather than sentence, form, grammaticality, and logic, as expressed by systemics. (Author/VWL)

Based on a combined study of system science, washback theory, and a data-driven analysis of China's college English teaching system, suggests a new concept--the College English Teaching Evaluation System. This evaluation system consists of three subsystems. Problems with each subsystem are illustrated with newly published data, and corresponding…

Examined the effect of the gender of the speaker and listener on second language listening comprehension. Iranian English-as-a-Foreign-language students listened to four short passages and answered some multiple-choice questions. Results clearly indicate that only the gender of the speaker had an influence on foreign language listening…

Examines lexical interference from the perspective of language proficiency in a study of Iranian English-as-a-Foreign-Language learners. Subjects were given two tests--a proficiency test and a test on similar lexical forms--to investigate whether there is any relationship between the two variables in question. Results indicate that there is a…

Discusses the notion of communicative competence and more specifically, strategic competence. Examines problems Arab learners of English face and looks at problems specific to Arab World University (Jordan) English language majors. Concludes with the pedagogical implications of communicative strategy use. (Author/VWL)

Investigates the effects of two types of motivation--integrative and instrumental--on the English proficiency of English-as-a-foreign-language senior students at Islamic Azad University of Kerman. Results showed a significant difference between the means of the English proficiency scores of the integratively motivated students and the…

Introduces a comprehensive inventory of the communication strategies of adult English-as-a-foreign-language learners at the lexical level. Comments on the influence of the proficiency factor.(Author/VWL)

Examined perceived interest of students in English language learning and perceived relevance of compulsory English to students' acquisition of a functional education. A questionnaire was administered to university students in India. Results suggest that the majority of students considered the English course relevant and were interested in taking…

Investigated fourth-year university students perceptions of vocabulary learning strategies as affected by individual difference variables such as sex, Tawijihi grades, and accumulative average. The study consisted of English majors at Yarmouk University in Jordan. (Author/VWL)

Examines the use of contextual frames in a sample of essays from undergraduates at the University of Zimbabwe. The different structures used to frame claims are described, and their functions are discussed, with comments on their relative weakness. Conclusions are drawn about the main purposes for which students use contextual frames, and…

Focuses on the development of pragmatic competence by adult non-native users of English. One aim of the study was to verify whether exposure to models of requesting devices used by a competent user would be beneficial to a less competent user. Results suggest that such exposure is beneficial. (Author/VWL)