Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide (World Health Organization, 2023), which increasingly become the target of more forceful anti-tobacco measures, such as outright cigarette sales bans (Branston & Gilmore, 2020). The UK’s proposal to raise the legal smoking age every year represents one of

In the development of the 'Health' module for the "Core University English" EAP course, my objective was to guide students from the basic writing level typical in IELTS to the rigorous standards of scholarly communication in higher education.

In China, English fluency is more than a linguistic ability; it is increasingly seen as a strategic asset linked to improved educational and career prospects, with implications for social mobility (Wei, 2013). As China's economic and cultural dimensions rapidly align with international norms (Goldstein, 2020; Mingjiang, 2008), this

This essay argues that the digital and globalized age, while introducing complexities like colloquial internet terminologies, also brings forward unmatched opportunities for immersive learning.

Language testing and assessment, especially in the context of second language acquisition, are instrumental in shaping educational trajectories and societal integration (Lynch, 2001). These processes, however, are not merely technical or administrative tasks; they are deeply embedded with ethical considerations that directly influence their fairness, transparency, and accountability (Estaji, 2011)

Q1: How and why is acquiring a second language unlike acquiring a first language? Unravelling the complexities that underlie the phenomenon of acquiring a second language (L2) in contrast to a first language (L1) unveils remarkable distinctions that can be attributed to (1) the order of acquisition and (2) the

In the pursuit of comprehensive language education, it is essential to examine the social dynamics inherent in digital language learning platforms (Faizi et al., 2014; Zhou, 2021). As online resources become increasingly vital for acquiring knowledge, exploring the discourses they propagate warrants further investigation (Witschge, 2008). This study employs Fairclough&

The emergence of English as an international language has instigated a paradigm shift in the approach to English language teaching. This transformation raises questions regarding the most suitable candidates for instructing English, thus contesting the conventional assumption that native English-speaking teachers are the most adept. This essay concentrates on exploring

In an increasingly globalized world, linguistic competence plays a vital role in transcending national and cultural boundaries, fostering cross-cultural communication (Crystal, 2003). Proficiency in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) is particularly important for navigating this interconnected landscape. However, EFL teaching and learning environments often perpetuate colonial legacies, marginalizing and

Introduction This essay will examine the process of second language acquisition (SLA) within the context of Chomsky's Universal Grammar (UG) approach. UG posits that the human brain possesses an inherent set of grammatical principles governing the architecture of all natural languages (Chomsky & Lasnik, 2008; Jackendoff & Pinker,

💡This post is a learning note and reflectional thoughts based on Thompson, G., & Dooley, K. (2019). Ensuring translation fidelity in multilingual research. In The Routledge handbook of research methods in applied linguistics (pp. 63-75). Routledge. After reading my post as an introduction, it is recommended to have a look

I have written this short essay for a student learning to write from me. This student possessed a talented gift for language: conjuring up an array of eloquent synonyms, utilizing a sophisticated syntax, and employing a complex and colourful vocabulary. Yet, her ability to craft a complex, meaningful narrative and

Core Function Supposing that the introduction of a treatment, policy, or other intervention is the consequence of a complex web of both deliberate and random factors, propensity score matching (PSM) is a powerful tool with which researchers can observe the effect of this intervention. First presented in an article by

Some interesting background The field of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) experienced a period of being dominated by the L2-centred theories, which claimed that the new or target language should be the only medium of instruction without reference to the default linguistic system or own language (Hall & Cook, 2012). In

Why are we doing it? The target learners of this curriculum are 8 exchange scholars at the University of Cambridge. These mature students speak Mandarin Chinese as their first language, with sufficiently high proficiency in receptive English skills but comparatively low competence in productive skills. This pattern can be seen

This is a short critique on Aldukhayel, D. (2021). Vlogs in L2 listening: EFL learners’ and teachers’ perceptions. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 34(8), 1085–1104. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2019.1658608 📖 The paper Arguing for the higher diversity of online resources that may better fit students’ personal