Are foreign language learners’ enjoyment and anxiety specific to the teacher? An investigation into the dynamics of learners’ classroom emotions

Previous research has considered fluctuations in students’ foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) over months or years (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2014, 2016). However, there has been no investigation of the effect of the teacher on these emotions at a single point in time. In this study, we investigate the question whether FL learners experience similar levels of FLE and FLCA in the same language if they have two different teachers. Participants were 40 London-based secondary school students studying modern languages with one Main Teacher and one Second Teacher. Statistical analysis revealed that while FLCA was constant with both teachers, FLE was significantly higher with the Main Teacher. Predictors of FLE such as attitudes towards the teacher, the teacher’s frequency of use of the target language in class and unpredictability were also significantly more positive for the Main Teacher. Item-level analysis revealed that the teacher creating a positive emotional atmosphere in class contributed to the higher FLE score. Items that reflected more stable personal and group characteristics varied less between the two teachers. The findings suggest that FLE is more teacher-dependent than FLCA, which is more stable across teachers

Correlations in a Generalized Elastic Model: Fractional Langevin Equation Approach

The Generalized Elastic Model (GEM) provides the evolution equation which governs the stochastic motion of several many-body systems in nature, such as polymers, membranes, growing interfaces. On the other hand a probe (\emph{tracer}) particle in these systems performs a fractional Brownian motion due to the spatial interactions with the other system's components. The tracer's anomalous dynamics can be described by a Fractional Langevin Equation (FLE) with a space-time correlated noise. We demonstrate that the description given in terms of GEM coincides with that furnished by the relative FLE, by showing that the correlation functions of the stochastic field obtained within the FLE framework agree to the corresponding quantities calculated from the GEM. Furthermore we show that the Fox $H$-function formalism appears to be very convenient to describe the correlation properties within the FLE approach

Environmental factors and the infectious disease caused by the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus marinus, in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

Temperature and salinity are two important factors limiting the distribution and abundance of Perkinsus marinus, a protozoan parasite of Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Results of laboratory studies ale consistent with field observations and clearly demonstrate that P. marinus susceptibility and disease advancement are positively correlated with temperature, salinity and in situ number of infective cells. Laboratory findings also suggest that environmental degradation may enhance the epizootic, although disease caused by P. marinus in oysters is known to be predominantly exacerbated by elevated temperature and salinity. Oysters cellular defence mechanisms appear ineffective in defence against P. marinus. Also, pollutant esposure caused no significant effects on defence-related activities measured in oysters

Markovian embedding of fractional superdiffusion

The Fractional Langevin Equation (FLE) describes a non-Markovian Generalized Brownian Motion with long time persistence (superdiffusion), or anti-persistence (subdiffusion) of both velocity-velocity correlations, and position increments. It presents a case of the Generalized Langevin Equation (GLE) with a singular power law memory kernel. We propose and numerically realize a numerically efficient and reliable Markovian embedding of this superdiffusive GLE, which accurately approximates the FLE over many, about r=N lg b-2, time decades, where N denotes the number of exponentials used to approximate the power law kernel, and b>1 is a scaling parameter for the hierarchy of relaxation constants leading to this power law. Besides its relation to the FLE, our approach presents an independent and very flexible route to model anomalous diffusion. Studying such a superdiffusion in tilted washboard potentials, we demonstrate the phenomenon of transient hyperdiffusion which emerges due to transient kinetic heating effects.Comment: EPL, in pres

Disease processes of the parasite Perkinsus marinus in eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica: Minimum dose for infection initiation, and interaction of temperature, salinity and infective cell dose

Experiments were conducted to: (1) test the response of oysters to different doses of the oyster parasite Perkinsus marinus and to 2 stages, meronts or prezoosporangia; and (2) investigate the synergistic effects of temperature, salinity and infective cell concentration on P. marinus infection in oysters. A dose-dependent response of P. marinus infection was found in oysters inoculated with 0, 10, 10(2), 10(4), and 10(5) meronts or prezoosporangia per oyster and maintained at 22 to 25 degrees C and 14 to 21 ppt for 8 to 12 wk. The minimum dose required to infect oysters was 10(2) meronts or prezoosporangia per oyster through shell cavity inoculation. Interactive effects between temperature, salinity, and infective cell dose on P. marinus prevalence was insignificant in the experiment, in which oysters were challenged by 0, 2.5 x 10(3) or 2.5 x 10(4) meronts per oyster and held at 9 temperature-salinity regimes (10, 15 and 25 degrees C at 3, 10 and 20 ppt). However, there was a significant positive interaction relevant to infection intensity between temperature and salinity, and between temperature and meront dose. Temperature was the most important factor followed, respectively, by the infective cell dose and salinity in determining the susceptibility to P. marinus in oysters. Reduced condition index was observed in moderately to heavily infected oysters and in oysters at 25 degrees C

Understanding Chinese high school students’ foreign language enjoyment: validation of the Chinese version of the Foreign Language Enjoyment Scale

Scholarly attention for Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) has sharply increased in the past three years for its role in facilitating language learning as well as promoting language learners’ well-being. However, the conceptualization and measurement of FLE in China, which has the largest number of EFL learners in the world, is only just starting. Adopting a mixed-method approach, the current study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese Version of the Foreign Language Enjoyment Scale, and investigated FLE in a specific Chinese EFL context. Through surveying two samples of 1,718 students and 360 students in Stages 1 and 2, a new 11-item and 3-factor model (i.e. FLE-Private, FLE-Teacher, and FLE-Atmosphere) was confirmed and validated. The students scored highest on FLE-Teacher, followed by FLE-Private and FLE-Atmosphere. The analysis of the qualitative data collected from 64 participants in Stage 3 showed that beyond the general factors linked to the teacher and peers, the individual experience of FLE is shaped by a large range of learner-internal and learner-external variables

Taking stock: A meta-analysis of the effects of foreign language enjoyment

Studies examining the positive emotion of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) have recently increased exponentially, as researchers are applying the tenets of positive psychology in applied linguistics. It is therefore an appropriate time to take stock of the current literature and conduct a preliminary meta-analysis. The relationships between FLE and four variables, namely, foreign language anxiety (FLA), willingness to communicate (WTC), academic achievement, and self-perceived achievement were examined. A total of k = 96 effect sizes were analyzed with an overall sample size of N = 28,166 in random-effects models with correlation coefficients. There was a moderate negative correlation between FLE and FLA. In turn, moderate positive correlations were found between FLE and WTC, FLE and academic achievement, and FLE and self-perceived achievement. These positive associations confirm the value of FLE in FL learning and further affirm the need for researchers to examine positive psychology constructs in the foreign language classroom.Studies examining the positive emotion of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) have recently increased exponentially, as researchers are applying the tenets of positive psychology in applied linguistics. It is therefore an appropriate time to take stock of the current literature and conduct a preliminary meta-analysis. The relationships between FLE and four variables, namely, foreign language anxiety (FLA), willingness to communicate (WTC), academic achievement, and self-perceived achievement were examined. A total of k = 96 effect sizes were analyzed with an overall sample size of N = 28,166 in random-effects models with correlation coefficients. There was a moderate negative correlation between FLE and FLA. In turn, moderate positive correlations were found between FLE and WTC, FLE and academic achievement, and FLE and self-perceived achievement. These positive associations confirm the value of FLE in FL learning and further affirm the need for researchers to examine positive psychology constructs in the foreign language classroom

Fluorescent Light Energy (FLE) Acts on Mitochondrial Physiology Improving Wound Healing

Fluorescent light energy (FLE) has been used to treat various injured tissues in a non-pharmacological and non-thermal fashion. It was applied to stimulate cell proliferation, accelerate healing in chronic and acute wounds, and reduce pain and inflammation. FLE has been shown to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines while promoting an environment conducive to healing. A possible mechanism of action of FLE is linked to regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis. This work aims to investigate the effect of FLE on mitochondrial homeostasis in an in vitro model of inflammation. Confocal microscopy and gene expression profiling were performed on cultures of inflamed human dermal fibroblasts treated with either direct light from a multi-LED lamp, or FLE from either an amorphous gel or sheet hydrogel matrix. Assessment using confocal microscopy revealed mitochondrial fragmentation in inflamed cells, likely due to exposure to inflammatory cytokines, however, mitochondrial networks were restored to normal 24-h after treatment with FLE. Moreover, gene expression analysis found that treatment with FLE resulted in upregulation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) genes, which encode proteins favoring mitochondrial ATP production through oxidative phosphorylation and lipid β-oxidation, respectively. These observations demonstrate a beneficial effect of FLE on mitochondrial homeostasis in inflamed cells

Enjoyment as a key to success? Links between e-tandem language learning and tertiary students’ foreign language enjoyment

This paper reports on crossing borders virtually via an e-Tandem scheme and presents the findings of a study, in which students of English from an Austrian university were paired with students of German from the UK and the USA. Drawing on data from 19 in-depth interviews, the study aims to identify links between e-Tandem language learning and foreign language enjoyment (FLE) (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2014, 2016). A category-based qualitative text analysis (Kuckartz, 2014) revealed that a majority of the interviewees felt e-Tandem language learning contributed to their FLE. Furthermore, a range of reasons underlying students’ perceived enjoyment of learning a language in Tandem emerged: having authentic conversations in the target language with L1 (first language) users (Dewaele, 2018), perceiving each other as cultural mediators and a difference from language classroom contexts on the level of power relations, which made students feel more at ease. Helping each other, receiving one-on-one feedback and perceiving improvement in their linguistic mastery were furthermore mentioned as factors they felt boosted their enjoyment and so was developing friendships with L1 users. According to the interviewees, these aspects specifically increased their interest and enjoyment in using and learning the language and their eudaimonic happiness. The findings demonstrate that e-Tandem language learning can be a resource to enhance perceived enjoyment in foreign language learners at tertiary level and they illustrate that social and private components of FLE seem to be interlinked