This study adopts a functional approach to investigate specific discourse markers employed by L1 English and L2 English users in non-native English speaking contexts. Twenty-four academic essays were voluntarily submitted by the students for analysis. Primarily, Fraser's (2009) taxonomy was used to identify discourse markers and to know its use in writing academic essays. Findings indicate that there were notable differences between L1 and L2 users in using discourse markers, specifically in its frequency and functions. Accordingly, L1 English users' writings frequently displayed elaborative markers followed by temporal, inferential, and contransitive discourses. Meanwhile, L2 English users' writings showed the overuse of certain discourse types such as temporal and inferential markers. In the coding of data, it was also revealed the L2 users' overused of discourse markers resulted in incoherent texts. Language teachers may need to raise awareness on how discourse markers can be used variably in writing academic essays.

The internationalization of higher education has led to the increasing number of English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) programs in contexts where English is not the first language nor the medium of communication, including Thailand. The introduction of EMI programs, however, is not without challenges. Therefore, a survey questionnaire was used to investigate the attitudes of engineering and nursing students toward EMI. Differences of attitudes based on the program of study, gender, nationality, year level, number of years studying English, the language of instruction in high school, Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) level, and perceived proficiencies in speaking, reading, writing, and listening were explored. In addition, factors affecting the students’ EMI attitudes were known using exploratory factor analysis. Findings have shown significant differences in various aspects of EMI based on the program of study, CEFR level, and perceived proficiencies of the four macro language skills. Also, eight factors were elicited, including difficulties of the English language, availability of resources and opportunities, personal goals in life, limitations of time when studying content courses in English, providing activities to improve English language proficiency, enhancement of career goals, supports needed, and motivation and intercultural ability. Finally, implications were outlined to support the implementation of EMI, dubbed as an “unstoppable train”, in similar contexts like Thailand.

The adoption of English as a medium of instruction (EMI) in Thailand is not without difficulties. In this study, the needs and challenges of nursing students and teachers were explored qualitatively in a program where courses are allowed to be taught fully in English, fully in Thai or both in Thai and English. Focus group interviews for students were conducted, while semi-structured interviews were employed for teachers to gain in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand. Insights from students revealed the importance of English toward their career goals, their needs and challenges related to EMI (i.e., bilingual support system, clarification of technical terms, code-switching instruction), and their coping strategies when the lesson is challenging to comprehend. On the other hand, teachers confirmed the students’ language proficiency problems. In addition, they also reflected on their challenges in teaching the content subject in English, for example, the lack of time to prepare teaching materials in English. Teaching techniques were also elicited to respond to the learning challenges experienced by the students. Finally, practical implications were discussed to support students and teachers of EMI programs.

Anxiety among students in non-English speaking learning contexts remains a dynamic construct due to moment-by-moment fluctuations influenced by different variables -teacher, peers, task, among others. To understand the complexity of speaking anxiety, this study presents the results of case studies of two low, moderate, and high anxious graduate students chosen based on their anxiety selfreports. Data sources include a self-report anxiety questionnaire, heart rate monitor, idiodynamic selfrating, observation, and semi-structured individual interview. Each participant was asked to wear a heart rate monitor while speaking and being observed by the researcher. In addition, the participants were asked individually to rate their moment-by-moment anxiety by using the idiodynamic method. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted, transcribed, and coded accordingly. The use of five data sources revealed findings that demonstrate the strength of considering specific short periods of time and individual level studies when investigating speaking anxiety. Methodological implications were generated to investigate the complex nature of anxiety in non-English speaking contexts.

<p>This paper reinforces the importance of third language acquisition research in a multilingual context focusing on language experience, vocabulary learning strategies, emotional self-regulation strategies, and language anxiety. This study explored three languages: Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, to know if there are significant relationships between the above variables in third language acquisition. Three specific sets of survey questionnaires were distributed to various students enrolled in foreign language courses offered in a language department in a university. To focus on the relationships of language learning variables of a foreign language, correlational design was used to analyze the survey questionnaires' responses for each language course. Among students who were enrolled in Chinese, significant relationships were established between language anxiety and language experience, language anxiety, and emotional self-regulation strategies. Significant associations were found between emotional self-regulation strategies and language experience, emotional self-regulation strategies, and vocabulary strategies, and language performance and language experience for those students enrolled in the Korean language. In learning Vietnamese, significant relationships were found between language anxiety and vocabulary strategies, language performance, and language anxiety. Teachers may need to re-evaluate prepared teaching and learning materials, for example, material difficulty, to help students alleviate anxiety in learning.</p>