This study focuses on the problem Japanese learners have in distinguishing between Tone 2 and Tone 3 when learning tones in Mandarin. Acoustic experiments were carried out based on the four basic vowels in Mandarin. They were designed using continual sound stimuli, which gradually changed from Tone 2 to Tone 3 (i.e. turning point and ΔF0) and performed on Japanese learners and Chinese native sp...

Pragmatic competence is one essential component of communicative competence; however, it has been quite neglected until recent years. Among all, the knowledge and ability to use discourse markers (DMs) cannot be overemphasized because they often facilitate cross-cultural communications. Due to the culture-bound nature, DMs (e.g., “well”, “y’know”) are often used quite differently across culture...

The study examines interactions associated with foreignerdirected speech (FDS) within EFL triadic conversation exam where learners differ in outspokenness. The results showed that learners’ outspokenness affected foreign examiners’ vowel articulation. More vowels underwent distinct change across learners’ positive-coded utterances in F2, whereas in F1 the vowel change in the high-communicative ...

obviously, learning environment plays a crucial role in how second language or a foreign language is learned. in this regard, the importance of interaction for l2 learning has been emphasized. the current study investigated teachers' interactional moves (im) and learners' uptake in efl classrooms systematically. to meet this end, four efl contexts of speaking and listening courses for...

obviously, learning environment plays a crucial role in how second language or a foreign language is learned. in this regard, the importance of interaction for l2 learning has been emphasized. the current study investigated teachers' interactional moves (im) and learners' uptake in efl classrooms systematically. to meet this end, four efl contexts of speaking and listening courses for english m...

Oral language proficiency is vital for language learners because it is eventually the skill they mostly use (Warschauer, 1997). Oral interactions account for the bulk of our everyday communications that remain the primary mode of discourse through out the world (Peregoy & Boyle, 2005). It is without question that the development of oral language skill in second or foreign language learners is o...

The present study investigated the effect of the keyword method of vocabulary teaching on the learning and longterm retention of vocabulary in a normal EFL classroom context. Fifty elementary EFL students were selected and assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received vocabulary instruction using mnemonic keyword method and the control group received conventiona...

Mandarin has a much more limited segmental inventory than English, and permits only nasals in coda position, presenting a challenge for learners of English. However, previous studies have mainly explored this issue using perceptual transcription. This study provides an acoustic analysis of coda consonant productions by Mandarin L2 learners of Australian English. The results indicate that they p...

E-learning was easily found through browsing internet, which was mostly free of charge and provided various learning materials. Spellingcity.com was one of e-learning websites for teaching and learning English to learn spelling, vocabulary and writing, which offered various games and activities for young learners, 6 until 8 year old learners in particular. The content of the websites was suffic...