Current Issues in L2 Teaching and Research 當代二語教學與研究

《當代二語教學與研究》首冊出版！

二語（L2）是指一個人除了第一語（L1）之外所使用或學習的任何語言。本書是臺灣首次聚焦L2領域的國際研討會之學術成果，為東海大學外文系、華語教學國際碩士學位學程與英語中心共同舉辦，兩年一次，並於次年出版編輯專書。

本書經由《臺灣語言學期刊》審查機制，共收錄七篇論文，以英文發行，由文鶴書局正式出版。作者群涵蓋臺灣、中國、日本、越南、紐西蘭與奧地利之多國學者，篇篇精彩，歡迎選購！

編輯群：江丕賢、黃郁欣、邱妙津、吳凱琳、何萬順

       Welcome to the inaugural volume of Current Issues in L2 Teaching and Research, a collection arising from the first-ever international conference in Taiwan dedicated to exploring the dynamic world of second language acquisition and teaching. A second language (L2), in its broad sense, refers to any language a person uses or studies besides the first language (L1). The First Tunghai International Conference on Second Language Research, organized by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature, the International Graduate Program of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, and the English Center of Tunghai University, was held on October 21, 2023.

       An international conference specifically on L2 research and teaching not only facilitates constructive interaction among teachers and researchers of various L2s but can also create virtuous synergy for all stakeholders. To enhance the quality and influence of the conference, the plan is for the organizers to select papers from the presentations and also issue an open call for submissions after the conference and publish a book after double-blind reviews. The program committee members serve as the editors. The conference is held every two years, with the publication of an edited book in the year following the conference.

      The current volume reflects the multifaceted nature of L2 teaching and learning by bringing together diverse perspectives and going beyond the boundaries of individual languages. In the first chapter, Darcy Sperlich explores anaphora in language acquisition, focusing on Chinese and English, and argues for a multifaceted approach to examine the challenges Chinese learners face with anaphora and politeness in English. It concludes with teaching strategies and areas for future research. The second chapter, by Shigenori Wakabayashi and Yuki Takahashi, explores how Japanese learners interpret English tough constructions (TCs). It finds more variation in learner grammar than in past research. Learners showed no clear link between TC interpretation and related grammar points. The results suggest that learners may use different strategies for TCs and that Universal Grammar functions differently in L2 acquisition, potentially influenced by the learner's existing grammar.

      Atsushi Miura and Shiro Ojima’s study is concerned with the impact of early L2 learning. Specifically, they investigate how massive exposure to an L2 affects children's L2 abilities and potentially even their L1 skills. Their experiments showed children can excel in spoken L2 with minimal formal instruction, but extensive L2 exposure might influence academic L1 abilities and brain activity. In the fourth chapter, Shanshan Yan analyzes positive cross-linguistic influence (CLI) in learners acquiring Mandarin sentence-final particles le and ba. The study combines data from three studies to examine factors like learner type (heritage vs. L2), proficiency, and sentence structure. Early exposure (heritage learners) did not always lead to an advantage. L2 learners showed positive CLI at higher levels, but positive CLI varied depending on the specific language feature. The research calls for a broader view of positive CLI and more precise categories.

      Chapter 5, by Tomoharu Yanagimachi, examines how native English speakers adapt their speech, i.e., foreigner talk, during ski repair conversations in Japan. Unlike past research in controlled settings, the study analyzes real-world interactions, where the focus is on achieving mutual understanding and eliciting expert advice. Both parties adjusted communication to their roles, not language proficiency. This offers insights for language learning and highlights real-world applications of foreigner talk. In Chapter 6, Trang Phan and Lan Chu explore time-related factors affecting Vietnamese acquisition by 63 Korean learners at Korean and Vietnamese universities. Proficiency assessment included class placement, self-assessment, and a grammar test. Time-related factors, including duration of exposure to a native environment, total study time, and starting age, were considered. The findings aim to improve Vietnamese teaching for Koreans and foreigners interested in the Vietnamese language and culture.

      Chapter 7, written by Jiun-Shiung Wu, Hsin-Hui Chen, and Hui-Ru Yang,  introduces a system that analyzes Chinese sentences and generates grammar explanations named AGIBIS, short for Automatic Grammar Instruction Based on Input Sentences. Unlike large language models, AGIBIS uses a small-data natural language engine to identify grammatical points within a sentence. The authors compare AGIBIS to existing grammar correction tools and discusses its potential for teaching Chinese as a second language. The final chapter by Ying Ying Wong, Yuan-Min Shen, and Cheng-Chun Huang illustrates how a graduate-level course on vegetable diseases was adapted for general university students with English as a second language. Despite some adjustments due to the pandemic, students gave positive feedback on the EMI format. Experiential activities like vegetable growing and farm visits helped meet learning goals. While students from different backgrounds had similar experiences, some Taiwanese students faced challenges compared to foreign students. The study's teaching practices offer a model for future EMI course design.

      This inaugural volume of Current Issues in L2 Teaching and Research offers a glimpse into the exciting world of L2 research. By showcasing diverse research on various topics, this collection paves the way for future exploration and improved learning experiences for all L2 learners. We look forward to the second conference in 2025 and, hence, the second collection of research papers in 2026.
The book is edited by Stano Kong, Natasha Yu-Hsin Huang, Miao-Chin Chiu, Kai-Lin Wu, and One-Soon Her.