Developing speaking proficiency in English has been highly demanded in the field of English education in Japan; however, teaching speaking in academic settings is difficult because of its complex nature. Many Japanese high school students cannot organize their spoken production coherently because they have not been explicitly taught how to meet the expectation of particular contexts or genres. Research on genre-based instruction has shown its effectiveness in the development of reading, writing, and listening skills; however, investigations of genre-based instruction have not been fully applied to the teaching of speaking. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of genre-based instruction to develop the academic speaking ability of Japanese high school students through a one-year longitudinal study. The effectiveness of genre-based instruction was assessed by focusing on the development of a macro-genre, academic monologic speech, and three micro-genres—procedure, definition, and causation—for within-group assessment as well as one oral summary of a research project micro-genre for between-group assessment. The research design was a multistage intervention mixed-method approach with qualitative data gathered after the experiment. Three analytical techniques were employed: (a) multi-faceted Rasch measurement (MFRM) was used to assess the extent to which the participants’ performance improved quantitatively, (b) descriptive analyses were used to investigate frequency changes in the use of target lexis, and (c) genre analysis was used to analyze how the discourse structure of the target genres changed qualitatively. The results indicated that genre-based instruction led to improvements in the participants’ speaking ability. The findings from the analysis of the three micro-genres—procedure, definition, causation—revealed statistically significant differences between the pretest and the posttest speeches in the procedure and causation micro-genres. A descriptive analysis also revealed the increases in the use of the target lexis in the micro-genres. A genre analysis of the three micro- genres illustrated how the schematic and rhetorical structure of the participants’ speech changed to meet the genre expectations of the target micro- and macro-genre. The analysis of the oral summary of a research project micro-genre demonstrated the effectiveness of genre-based instruction, as the experimental group outperformed the comparison group. This result was supported by the MFRM results, the descriptive analysis of lexis, and quantitative and qualitative genre analyses. The external validity analysis using the TOEIC Speaking Test also confirmed the effectiveness of genre-based instruction. In sum, the results provide evidence that genre-based instruction can improve Japanese high school students’ speaking ability. / Teaching & Learning

This research examined the relationships between the Big Five human personality traits, favorable social conditions, and foreign language classroom speaking confidence. Four research questions were investigated concerning the validity of the Big Five for a Japanese university sample, the composition of Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence, the degree to which the Big Five influenced Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence, and the degree to which perceptions of classroom climate affect Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence. The first stage of the research involved three pilot studies that led to the revision of the Big Five Factor Marker questionnaire and the creation of a new instrument for measuring foreign language classroom speaking confidence that included both cognitive and social factors as theorized in mainstream social anxiety research. The second stage of the research involved the collection and analysis of data from 1,081 participants studying English in 12 universities throughout Japan. Data were analyzed using a triangulation of Rasch analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in order to verify the construct validity of the eleven hypothesized constructs. Following validation of the measurement model, the latent variables were placed into a structural regression model, which was tested by using half of the data set as a calibration sample and confirmed by using the second half of the data set as a validation sample. The results of the study indicated the following: (a) four of the five hypothesized Big Five personality traits were valid for the Japanese sample; (b) Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence comprised three measurement variables, Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Anxiety, Perceived Foreign Language Speaking Self-Competence, and Desire to Speak English; (c) Emotional Stability and Imagination directly influenced Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence, and; (d) Current English Classroom Perception and Perceived Social Value of Speaking English directly influenced Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence. The findings thus demonstrated a link between personality, positive classroom atmosphere, and foreign language classroom speaking confidence. The implications of the findings included the possibility that foreign language anxiety is not situation-specific as theorized, and that improved social relations within the foreign language classroom might help reduce speaking anxiety. / CITE/Language Arts

This study is a quasi-experimental, longitudinal investigation into the role that extensive reading and reading strategies play in the cultivation of reading self-efficacy. Conducted over the course of one academic year, how changes in reading self-efficacy translate into changes in reading comprehension was examined. In addition, the participants' perceptions of the utility of extensive reading and reading strategies, and how those perceptions related to reading self-efficacy were investigated. A final goal was to ascertain how retrospective ratings of reading self-efficacy influence current levels of the construct. The participants (N = 322) were first and second-year, non-English majors at a four-year, co-educational university in Osaka, Japan. The participants were divided into four groups: an intensive reading group (control group), an extensive reading group, a reading strategies group, and an extensive reading/reading strategies group. Data for the study were obtained from six major sources: a reading comprehension test, a reading strategy test, a reading self-efficacy questionnaire, a perceived utility of extensive reading questionnaire, a perceived utility of reading strategies questionnaire, and a sources of reading self-efficacy questionnaire. The questionnaires and tests were administered three times over the course of the academic year. Before conducting the quantitative analyses on the data gathered with the above instruments, the dichotomous test and questionnaire data were analyzed using the Rasch rating-scale model to confirm the validity and reliability of the instruments and to transform the raw scores into equal interval measures. By employing MANOVAs, ANOVAs, Latent Growth Curve Modeling, and Pearson correlation coefficients, the data were then analyzed to ascertain differences between groups and within groups for all tests and constructs measured. The results showed that the participants in the reading strategies and extensive reading/reading strategies groups gained significantly more in reading self-efficacy over the academic year than those in the extensive reading and intensive reading groups. In addition, all three experimental groups outperformed the intensive reading group in reading comprehension. Furthermore, results from the latent growth curve model showed that gains in reading self-efficacy were related positively to gains in reading comprehension. In a similar vein, the results showed that gains in reading strategy skill led to changes in reading self-efficacy, while reading amount was not significantly related to changes in reading self-efficacy. The results also suggested that those who more highly regard extensive reading as useful to improving reading comprehension exhibited higher levels of reading self-efficacy over the course of the study. On the contrary, there was no significant difference in levels of reading self-efficacy between those who highly rated reading strategies as useful and those who did not rate them as highly. Finally, Pearson correlation coefficients showed moderately strong relationships between junior high and high school (retrospective) levels of reading self-efficacy and university (current) levels. These results underscore the importance of self-efficacy in the learning process and how the cultivation of self-efficacy should be a goal of any educator or administrator in an EFL context. The findings also highlight the detrimental effects of teaching methodologies, such as grammar-translation, that deprive learners of the opportunity to develop their own cognitive abilities. With the introduction of reading strategy intervention and/or extensive reading practice, the participants in the experimental groups of this study were able to develop the skills needed to overcome comprehension breakdowns in the reading process, and this help them become more autonomous, empowered readers. / CITE/Language Arts

Young children nowadays interact with a lot of extracurricular English through different activities. They learn the language in ways other than formal contexts. This study investigates how extracurricular English provides children with knowledge about the English language. Moreover, this study addresses how extracurricular English can develop children’s knowledge, if it is integrated with the formal English teaching in the classroom. Lastly, I discuss how teachers may approach various levels of English skills in a heterogenous classroom. Due to children’s exposure to extracurricular English, they have different English skills. I conclude that teachers need different teaching strategies to help pupils develop, regardless of level. This puts pressure on teachers who are required to develop their competence.

This study investigates code-switching among EFL students during pair work in uppersecondary school classroom settings. The aim is to uncover the reasons behind code-switchingand the factors influencing code-switching. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research usesclassroom observations and survey to collect data from 13 EFL students. Observations captured real-time code-switching instances, while the survey gathered students' perceptions and self-reported motivations for code-switching. The findings reveal that the most frequent reason for code-switching is a lack of vocabulary, both observed in the classrooms and reported by thestudents themselves. The second most frequent observed reason for code-switching is the needfor clarifications or explanations in Swedish. In students' self-reports, difficulty remembering English words was the second most common reason. Lastly, engaging in miscellaneous talkemerged as the third most common reason observed in classroom interactions, while studentsreported that code-switching occurs naturally or comes as a reflex as their third most commonreason in the questionnaire. The findings indicate that code-switching serves as a strategic toolto manage linguistic gaps, maintain conversational flow and express emotions, among otherthings.

The most important part of learning a language is being able to communicate, understanding others and making yourself understood. Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) is a perspective on language teaching where the focus is on the students and letting them communicate and interact with each other in the learning language. CLT creates safe classroom environments and great knowledge in how to use the language in everyday life. The aim with the study was to investigate English teachers’ usage of CLT and attitudes towards using CLT in the Swedish classroom during English teaching. Seven English teachers in Sweden participated in the study by answering questions in a semi-structured interview that was designed to answer the study´s research questions. The main results show that although English teachers are not familiar with the concept of CLT, they still have a positive attitude towards many tools and activities that are in keeping with it – and they also use these tools and activities. Hence, to get the most out of what CLT has to offer in the Swedish classroom, support from schools in the form of a teacher-training program would be appropriate.

This paper examines the effects of explicit morphology instruction on English vocabulary acquisition and morphological awareness in a Swedish L2 secondary school context. The purpose of this paper was to research if explicit morphology instruction affects students’ vocabulary acquisition and morphological awareness. The research questions for this paper are: To what extent does explicit morphology instruction affect morphological awareness in a Swedish 7-9 school context? and to what extent does explicit morphology instruction affect vocabulary learning in a Swedish 7-9 school context? A quantitative method with pre- and posttests was used to measure the effects of the intervention at a school with three participating classes and one teacher that taught the intervention. The study was conducted during a four-week period with short sessions of the intervention taught in the experimental groups each lesson and the control-group were taught their ordinary materials. The results of our study were statistically insignificant because of issues regarding the number of participating students. Instead, we focused on highlighting specific examples from the experimental groups in both morphological awareness and vocabulary acquisition

Extramural English (EE) engagement is common amongst young English as a foreign language (EFL) learner in Sweden. However, the ESL students engage in EE activities to varying degrees and their English proficiency could be positively affected by the amount of time spent on EE activities. The present study therefore aims to increase knowledge about grade 6 students’ EE engagement and its possible correlate with the students’ English grades in a Swedish context. Additionally, the study explores which types of EE activities: receptive, productive, and interactive, the students engage most in, and if there is some correlation between type of EE activity engaged in and English grade. This was investigated through mixed-method research, conducting both a quantitative digital questionnaire with 30 participant sixth graders and two qualitative focus group interviews with a total of five sixth graders participating. The findings show that the grade 6 students with high English grades engage most in interactive EE activities, whereas low-grade English students mostly engage in receptive EE activities. Additionally, the qualitative results indicate that grade 6 students perceive benefits of learning English through EE engagement. However, the present study cannot prove any statistically significant correlation between number of hours spent on EE activities per week and English grades. The present study suggests that EFL teachers consider and incorporate the increasing EE engagement of their students in the didactic choices made for English language teaching (ELT). To comprehensively explore the effects that young ESL learners’ EE engagement has on their English acquisition and grades, further research should focus on longitudinal studies, representing a greater variety and number of students participating.

This project aims to research teachers’ and students’ perspectives on Foreign Language Anxiety when speaking English, and what strategies teachers and students report having in the ESL classroom. To achieve this, three ninth-grade students were interviewed in a group setting, and five secondary school ESL teachers used semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted in a school south of Sweden. This is done to get both perspectives with a focus on perceptions and strategies to manage speech-related anxiety. Speaking is one of the four important skills that students need to master to fully master a language. The results show that many students find Foreign Language Anxiety to be a factor in hindering their progress in English, as they sometimes have difficulties speaking because of psychological issues where anxiety often occurs as a factor. Through exploration and comparison between the perceptions of students and teachers, the study uncovers effective strategies to lessen or eliminate Foreign Language Anxiety for students and help them develop their speaking skills in English. Additionally, the results show that it is important to give the students the opportunities and conditions for them to succeed regardless of psychological barriers. This study contributes to the existing findings of Foreign Language Anxiety while adding the comparison between the teachers and students and also effective strategies.

Engelskämnet ska bidra till att elever förbereds och utvecklar kunskaper för att kunna verka i ett globalt sammanhang. Elevers upplevelser av att verbalt kommunicera i engelskklassrummet påverkar deras språk- och kunskapsutveckling. Många elever upplever oroskänslor över att bli utpekade när de talar engelska som främmande språk. Studien har därmed i syfte att undersöka hur elever i grundskolans årskurs 4–6 upplever att kommunicera verbalt inför klasskamrater i engelskklassrummet. Syftet besvaras genom två frågeställningar: Hur upplever elever att kommunicera verbalt i engelskundervisningen? I vilken utsträckning upplever elever att klassrumsklimatet påverkar viljan att verbalt kommunicera i engelskklassrummet? För att undersöka elevers upplevelser av verbal kommunikation på engelska kombineras det sociokognitiva perspektivet med en kvalitativ analys som grundar sig i semistrukturerade fokusgruppsintervjuer. Intervjuerna genomfördes med tolv elever från tre olika skolor. Studiens resultat visar att eleverna är motiverade till att lära sig engelska, men det finns situationer där de inte är trygga att verbalt kommunicera, exempelvis vid muntliga presentationer. Slutligen konstateras att lärarens stöttning och klassrumsklimatet är avgörande för god språkutveckling. / The English subject should help prepare and develop students' ability to operate in a global context. Students' experiences of communicating orally in the English classroom affect their language and knowledge development. Many students experience feelings of anxiety about being singled out when speaking English as a foreign language. The aim of this study is to investigate how students in grades 4-6 of elementary school experience communicating verbally in front of classmates in the English classroom. Aims are fulfilled, and research questions are answered concerning students' experiences: How do students experience verbal communication in English classes? To what extent do students feel that the classroom climate affects their willingness to verbally communicate in the English classroom? To investigate students' experiences of oral communication in English, the socio-cognitive perspective is combined with a qualitative analysis based on semi-structured focus group interviews. The interviews were conducted with twelve students from three different schools. The results of the study show that students are motivated to learn English, but that there are situations where they do not feel confident in oral communication, such as oral presentations. Finally, it is concluded that teacher support and classroom climate are crucial for good language development.