Influence of Teacher Attributes on the Use of Resources in Teaching English Grammar

English is a critical subject at every stage of the Nigerian educational system, so it is imperative to guarantee success that corresponds with the substantial resources and time invested in teaching and studying. This research looked at the influence of teachers' attributes on using resources to teach English grammar in English by adopting a descriptive survey research design. All English language instructors employed in public and private secondary schools in Ilorin were the subject of this investigation. This study’s sample comprised 268 English language instructors. A questionnaire created by the researchers was utilized. The data gathered was subjected to reliability assessment using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). There was a 0.81 correlation coefficient. Mean and percentage were chosen to respond to the study questions posed. The One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the independent t-test were used to evaluate the generated hypotheses at the 0.05 significant level. The results show that the most regularly utilized resources for teaching English grammar were print materials and textbooks, audiovisual aids, models and manipulatives, and digital technologies. It was recommended that curriculum designers continue to promote more realistically oriented materials, as this will help to engage students more and support the efforts of teachers

Exploring the Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Vietnamese Tertiary EFL Education: Teacher Perspectives and Pedagogical Challenges

This qualitative study investigates the concerns of Vietnamese tertiary English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers regarding the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their classrooms. As educational landscapes evolve with technological advancements, understanding educators’ perspectives on AI becomes crucial, especially in settings where technological integration is still emerging. The study involved semi-structured interviews with nine EFL teachers from two Vietnamese institutions, categorized into three career stages: novice, mid-career, and near-end career. This approach provided insights into the varying perceptions and challenges experienced by teachers at different professional phases. The findings revealed four main themes: “Technological Integration Challenges in EFL Classrooms,” highlighting the difficulties in incorporating AI tools into teaching practices; “Pedagogical Concerns and AI’s Impact on Teacher-Student Interaction,” expressing worries about how AI might alter traditional educational dynamics; “Professional Development and Readiness for AI Integration,” emphasizing the need for targeted training; and “Concerns about AI’s Impact on Student Learning Outcomes,” focusing on the effectiveness of AI in enhancing student achievement. These themes suggest a need for comprehensive professional development in AI, careful implementation that considers the human element in education, and adaptable strategies for AI integration across different career stages. This research contributes to the growing discourse on AI in education, highlighting specific challenges and needs in the Vietnamese tertiary EFL context

“Do I really recognize it?” Delving into English Language Learners’ Identity Construction

Learners must construct a learning identity to succeed when learning English. This current study attempted to discuss English language learners’ (ELLs) insights on language learning identity construction. A survey study collected quantitative data from 219 ELLs in several Indonesian universities. Questionnaires were distributed and completed via online mode (i.e., Google Forms), and a two-week due time was assigned for each participant. As for results, various insights emerged as the ELLs recognized their identity construction. They have identity aspects such as linguistics, belongingness, expectation, attitude, and agency. Each aspect helped to form ELLs’ identity construction in many ways, including learning competence, socio-cultural awareness, educational component, and psychological conviction. Identity construction is not complicated to achieve as long as ELLs have strong learning commitment. In addition, it is implied that this study is paramount to empower pedagogical strategies, educational policies, and academic performance.  

Relationships Between College Students’ Control-Value Appraisals of English Learning, Achievement Emotions, and Empowerment

Language learning involves cognitive and non-cognitive factors. Recent research has shifted focus from cognitive outcomes to emotional factors, influenced by positive psychology and an "affective turn" in second language studies. In light of this, the current study preliminarily examined the interrelationships between tertiary-level English learners’ control-value appraisals of English learning, academic emotions (i.e., enjoyment and boredom), and empowerment. A study of 289 non-English major students in southwest China used convenience sampling and quantitative questionnaires to assess their control-value appraisals of English learning, boredom, enjoyment, and empowerment. The findings indicate that learners’ enjoyment and value appraisals of English learning were at an upper-middle level, while control appraisal and empowerment were at a moderate level. Boredom, however, was rated at a lower middle level. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between these variables. Overall, control and value appraisals played a substantial role in predicting learners’ achievement emotions and empowerment. The affective aspects of language learners are essential elements that potentially shape their learning processes and outcomes. This study suggests that to empower students in their language learning journey, teachers should help them recognize the meaningfulness of language learning, bolster their self-efficacy, and create an engaging and enjoyable learning environment

Korean as a Foreign Language Learners’ Motivation: Language Learning Stories from Indonesian Learners

Although the Korean Wave has grown exponentially in Indonesia, much of the linguistic landscape has not received enough attention in the literature, especially the motivational aspect. Based on the L2 Motivation Self System (L2MSS), the present study focuses on the language learning stories of Indonesian learners of Korean as a foreign language (KFL)—consisting of two females and one male.  Their language learning stories cover the past, present, and future trajectories of their language learning. Four salient themes are generated through the interview–the questions of which were partially based on the Language Learning Story Interview. The first theme is related to the pure interest in the popular culture of Korea—mostly related to the exponential growth of the Korean Wave. The second theme is characterized by the aspiration to get jobs in Korea. The third theme concerns education or the desire to pursue higher education in Korea. Lastly, parental support and intercultural marriage form the last source of motivation and contribute to creating a supporting learning environment. Conclusively, this study reveals that Indonesian KFL learners mostly exhibit both ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self–with the former being more dominant than the latter. Implications of the study are also provided

Text Analysis to Enhance Flow of Ideas Fluency and Conjugation Accuracy of EFL Students’ Writing

Empirical studies revealed the EFL students’ writing problems, such as incomplete paragraph development and conjugation accuracy. These problems affected the overall text coherence.  These problems have inspired teacher researchers to investigate alternative instructional techniques to improve the flow of ideas and conjugation accuracy of EFL students' paragraphs. This current research aims to investigate mood and paragraph structure analysis effectiveness to develop the conjugation accuracy and flow of ideas fluency in EFL students' paragraphs. This study followed an experimental design utilizing control and experimental groups. The research subjects comprised 30 2nd-year undergraduate EFL learners who were at an intermediate level of English proficiency. Data for this research were collected using multiple methods, including tests, documentation, and interviews. The research results revealed that mood analysis and paragraph-structure analysis were effective techniques for improving the conjugation accuracy and idea flow fluency of EFL students' writing. Thus, it is recommended that mood and paragraph structure analyses be alternative techniques to teach paragraph writing.

Learning Ecology Perspective of Instructors to Enhance EFL Students' Speaking Skills: a Microsystem Perspective of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model

Learning ecology is considered a practical part of language learning, particularly speaking skills. In applicable terms, understanding ecological perspectives assists students in practicing speaking and other language skills better. Given the significance of learning ecology, this study investigates EFL instructors' perspectives on learning ecology to boost students' speaking skills using a microsystem viewpoint of Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model. The study stresses the gap in understanding the pivotal role of teachers' learning ecology perspectives in improving students' English-speaking skills. This study applied a qualitative research methodology with a phenomenological design to study teachers' perceptions of learning ecology. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with EFL Instructors in Indonesia with a triangulation of data sources to ensure validity and reliability. For data analysis, thematic analysis was used to search for reoccurring themes. The findings revealed that EFL instructors in Indonesia perceive learning ecology as highly influential for speaking skills. To take maximum advantage of it, instructors in Indonesia apply strategies like interactive learning and sufficient exposure. However, they also shed light on challenges in terms of the unavailability of native speakers. Their reflection on the microsystem proposed bringing EFL speaking to a more practical context. The findings of this study contribute to our understanding of how teachers may construct a learning environment that fosters the development of ESL learners' speaking skills, influenced by Bronfenbrenner's Bioecological Model’s microsystem layer.

The Mapping Multimodal Teaching Materials for Indonesian EFL Students: A Need Analysis

Multimodality has gained burgeoning attention among scholars from miscellaneous disciplines, such as Linguistics, Discourse Analysis, Semiotics, Sociology, Anthropology, Cultural Studies, and Language Pedagogy. Nevertheless, little is known about the issue of what teaching materials students need to develop their multimodal literacy, notably in the Indonesian EFL milieu. Hence, this case study addresses this void by examining what type of teaching materials university undergraduate students need to cultivate their multimodal literacy. This study involved 99 undergraduate students from three diverse classes as the participants. The data were garnered through a qualitative survey and semi-structured interviews. They were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The findings outlined the needed multimodal teaching materials by the students encompass praxis-oriented multimodal teaching materials, awareness-raising multimodal teaching materials, academic and professional orientation of multimodal teaching materials, simplified and understandable multimodal teaching materials, critical multimodal teaching materials, and visual-verbal relation-informed teaching materials.  The shifting needs of communication, literacy, and 21st-century learning skills remain crucial as a nexus between literacy policies and practices in higher education contexts, especially in Indonesia. More importantly, this study attempts to promote the magnitude of multimodal literacy in language education.

Does Interactivity in an English Presentation Affect its Preparation Process?

The purpose of this study is to clarify the differences in the process of students’ preparation and practice outside of class for a one-way or interactive English presentation. The participants were 105 third-year junior high school students in Japan. They were supposed to record their actions while preparing for each type of presentation outside of class for a week. A hierarchical cluster analysis was conducted on all learners based on a self-evaluation questionnaire administered beforehand. Three clusters were created from the dendrogram. Kruskal-Wallis test and multiple comparisons showed significant differences among all items. Each cluster was named "Self-rating (high)", "Self-rating (medium)", and "Self-rating (low)". These three groups were analyzed based on the records and the post-questionnaire. The results indicated that the amount of practice on the day of the presentation was greater for a one-way presentation in any group, while in an interactive presentation, the tendency of the group to “Self-rating (high)” was different from the others. The inclusion of interaction with listeners in a presentation confirmed motivation for further preparation, such as conducting research and creating additional questions and quizzes in advance, suggesting the possibility of a different range of effects on learning

Parents’ Perceptions on the Efficacy of Yorùbá Folktales in Cultivating Moral Values among the Youths

A quantitative study of parents’ perception of the efficacy of Yoruba folktales in cultivating moral values among the youths in Oyo State of Nigeria was reported in this study. Six hundred twelve parents selected through accidental sampling technique participated in the study. A 14-item close-ended researcher-designed questionnaire was employed for data collection. Mean, standard deviation, and the t-test were used for data analysis. The study’s findings revealed that the parents’ perception of the efficacy of Yoruba folktales in cultivating moral values among the youths was high, and there was a significant gender influence on their perception. The study concluded that Yoruba folktales cultivate moral values among the youth. It was recommended that parents should intensify efforts in ensuring that they engage their children with folktale narration and employ the moral values embedded in the tales to mold and educate their children to become good citizens.