Graphic organizers (GOs) are visual frameworks assisting students in the comprehension of a text. Studies in literature have mostly focused on L1 readers and there is a lack of empirical research about the instructional effects of GOs on L2 readers. The purpose of this research is to investigate the effects of GOs on reading comprehension achievement of EFL learners. An experimental design with...

this study intended to develop a model describing speaking strategies for efl learners by taking into account the effects of learners’ gender and proficiency on the application of strategies. accordingly, this study was planned to have two main analyses, namely qualitative and quantitative. in this respect, 30 efl learners' viewpoints were sought, and then, based on the elicited responses, a 21...

In the current study, we explore the issues of the acquisition of lexical tones and the acquisition of tonal phonological rules by means of categorical perception experiments with advanced L2 learners of Mandarin whose native language is Dutch. By comparing their performance with native Mandarin listeners and native Dutch listeners, we found that advanced L2 learners may build up native-like re...

It is unclear what roles native language (L1) and second language (L2) play in the perception of lexical tones in a third language (L3). Listeners with different language backgrounds use different F0 cues in tonal perception. While English listeners use F0 height, Mandarin listeners rely more on F0 direction. The present study addresses whether knowledge of Mandarin as an L2 results in listener...

Fostering the listening comprehension of English as Foreign Language (EFL) learners has been recognized as an important and challenging issue. Videos have been used as one of the English listening learning resources; however, without effective learning supports, EFL students are likely to encounter difficulties in comprehending the video content, leading to frustration and reducing learning int...

This research tends to ascertain several traditional and socio-cultural barriers to English language learning in Saudi Arabia and to explore more ways than before for making teaching and learning more effective. The findings of four quantitative and qualitative surveys conducted in this regard reveal a unique traditional and socio-cultural milieu, which turns the Saudi EFL learners lackadaisica...

Achieving communicative competency in English classes has been a key goal in contexts where English is taught as a foreign language (EFL). During this process, however, integrating the difficulty and complexity of real life tasks into classroom teaching has often been disregarded. Lack of opportunities for authentic language use often results in learners’ gaining extensive knowledge about the t...

The present research investigates the acquisition of the English locative alternation by Korean EFL learners, which poses a learnability paradox taking Pinker’s framework of learnability theory as its basis. It focuses on two questions (1) whether the broad-range and narrow-range semantic constraints are operative in the interlanguage of Korean EFL learners as they are in L1 children’s and (2) ...

This study investigated the effect of listening to podcasts on Iranian upperintermediate EFL learners’ selfregulation ability and their perception toward the use of technology. To meet the objectives of the current study, 54 female Iranian EFL learners were selected. In experimental group they listened to podcast files while in the control group they listened to a radio program. The practices w...