Studies have documented the contribution of vocabulary knowledge in second language acquisition and have shown the benefits of repetition, creating context, and the use of multimodal instruction across visual and verbal modalities. This study examined instructional strategies used to teach French vocabulary in an inclusive, prekindergarten foreign language exploratory (FLEX) program using data from observations, videorecordings, and assessments of student learning. Results showed that students of all ability levels were able to learn French vocabulary, although students’ scores varied across the three classrooms. Assessment results were highest in the classroom in which students received the most opportunities for repetition, engagement, and use of language in context where meaning was constructed through a community of practice. Implications of this study highlight the importance of the teacher and student engagement and the role of meaningful input.

This preliminary study examined a prekindergarten multimodal French program conducted for students in an inclusion charter school. Due to the age and varied ability levels of the students, media such as video and songs combined with kinesthetic activities served as the primary instructional approach. Data on children's ability to understand and use simple language were obtained from videorecordings as well as from vocabulary recognition and recall measures. Additional data from teacher questionnaires showed that students of all abilities developed basic communication skills in French and demonstrated enjoyment of the French program.

This study examined a teacher's prompting strategies and the use of dynamic assessment (DA) in an inclusive prekindergarten French program. Prior research has shown that DA is an effective method to assess both foreign language learning and first language development for typically developing students and for students with special needs, as well as for identifying bilingual students with language impairments. Data were collected from videorecordings of class sessions, DA scores, and a questionnaire on which the French teacher reported her classroom prompting strategies and predicted students’ needs for prompting on the DA. Scores on the DA and the French teacher's predictions of student prompting needs were analyzed through independent t tests. In addition, 30 videorecordings of class sessions were analyzed for prompting strategies. The results indicated that DA can provide insights about the learning of typically developing students and special needs students in a prekindergarten French program. Although students with special needs required both more prompting and more practice time than typically developing students, all special needs students in this study were able to provide at least one second language response during the DA.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine TeachLivE simulation used by speech-language pathology graduate students (SLP GSs) to practice questioning strategies with English learners (ELs) at various language proficiency levels. Using a communities of practice theoretical framework, data were collected through an assignment in a core graduate-level course that focused on assessment/intervention of ELs with communication disorders. The SLP GSs were required to prepare leveled questions prior to a simulation experience, respond to a survey, modify questions, and apply leveled questions during the simulation. Their self-efficacy in questioning strategies before and after the simulation was quantitatively measured, and their lived experiences were examined in the qualitative part of the data analysis. Findings suggest that the SLP GSs demonstrated more confidence or self-efficacy in using leveled questions with advanced level ELs and needed further practice adjusting their questions for ELs across other language proficiency levels. Recommendations for using simulation to practice evidence-based strategies are provided.

Stephen Krashen has been one of the prominent figures in the field of second language acquisition. His Input Hypothesis and Monitor Model can be considered as his most noteworthy work. Specifically, his principal proposition that emphasizes the importance of comprehensible input for language acquisition sheds light on linguistic competence. Krashen claimed that languages could be easily acquired as long as the acquirer is provided with natural bits of language. Despite the high acclaim they have received, Krashen's ideas have also been harshly criticized by certain linguists as his claims failed to clarify certain issues related to the second language acquisition. In this respect, the authors of this paper critically review his Input Hypothesis and Monitor Model focusing on the insufficiency of the input for language acquisition, absence of an operational definition of comprehensible input, and misleading use of the term acquisition. In addition, the authors also adopt a satirical language to pinpoint the aforementioned insufficiencies and misleading components, while supporting their claims with recent empirical studies that were rarely conducted in the field.

The purpose of this non-experimental quantitative study was to measure Feared L2 Self (FL2S) as a new component of the existing L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) and offer a new model through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). As for the instrument to measure L2 selves, an adopted survey consisting of 72 5-point Likert scale items, five open-ended questions, and a demographic questionnaire was distributed; however, for the purpose of this study, only L2 self related items and constructs were included in the measurement and structural model. The participants were 1022 adult English language learners (ELLs), and ELLs' English learning experience was redefined as the collection of everyday ESL learning experiences. Results indicated that the strongest relationship was between English learning experience (ELExp) and Ideal L2 Self (IL2S) component, which is also supported by previous studies. Furthermore, the second strongest relationship was between Ought-to L2 Self (OL2S) and FL2S, as well as between ELExp and OL2S. FL2S was an emerging factor reconceptualizing the L2 Motivational Self System (R-L2MSS). Considering the large number of participants and the data obtained from all over the U.S., this study proposes a new and important concept. In the light of these results, implications are provided for ELLs and ESL teachers.

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