This paper aims at exploring the relation between the two skills of listening and speaking. In addition, it tries to investigate the presence of any gender differences in this relation. To achieve these ends, the listening and speaking exams marks of (122) EFL students registered in the English 102 on-line compulsory course were analyzed using SPSS. The findings proved the existence of a positive relation between the two skills (r=0.433). The Independent Sample T-Test also proved that there were significant statistical differences at (α ≤ 0.05) level due to gender differences in the correlation between the listening and speaking abilities among Al-Balqa Applied University EFL students in favor of the females.

This quantitative study aimed to investigate and compare the use of metacognitive reading Strategies among English as a foreign language students at Al-Balqa Applied University based on their academic field of study. The Survey of Reading Strategies (SORS) (Mokhtari & Sheory, 2002) was the instrument employed. This survey divides the strategies into three categories: global, problem solving and support strategies. The 86 participants are enrolled in different academic fields of study and were classified into two groups: students of the faculties of humanities (39=45.3%) and scientific faculties students (47=54.7%). The participants proved to be high users of the overall strategies (M=3.6023, S.D.=1.3189) and they employed the strategies in the following order: problem solving, support and global. No statistically significant changes were found between the two groups concerning at the significance level of 0.05. The most employed strategy by the humanities students was the support strategy "I go back and forth in the text to find relationships among ideas in it" (M=4.5385, S.D.=.83661). The scientific faculties students top ranked strategy was problem solving "I read slowly and carefully to make sure I understand what I am reading" (M=4.2128, S.D.=0.8831). The finding obtained would help EFL curricula planners and teachers to deepen their understanding of the learners' reading procedures.

Digital learning, social contact and COVID-19 outbreak are three different phrases have been often heard, read or spoken about since 2020. Undoubtedly, these phrases have brought fear of uncertainty, but also hope to find a new perspective to keep life matters on-going including learning in general, and language acquisition in particular. In order to find the impact of virtual learning and social contact on second language acquisition, a total of 389 second language university students have either online surveyed or been interviewed to validate the results and avoid any misleading. After analyzing the data, results revealed that virtual learning has given the learner a chance to develop understanding of different aspects of learning a second language. Flexibility, free-learning, and richness of knowledge source are positive aspects of virtual learning. Likewise, social contact has an essential role in deepen the understanding of contextual use, semantics and lexis, and other aspects of second language acquisition. Interestingly, both social and virtual aspects of learning motivate the learner to reach language mastery. Therefore, the findings urge the use of virtual learning regarding social contact in developing linguistic skills in second language acquisition. Further insights are recommended to enrich the future research in this topic.

IntroductionThe paper aims to investigate the attitudes of English Language and Literature students toward implementing the open-book exam in literature courses.MethodsThe research applied a mixed-method approach. The researchers interviewed five undergraduate students enrolled in the American Literature course for the qualitative part. In contrast, the research includes the results of 62 questionnaires for the quantitative part. Moreover, a survey questionnaire was developed by the researchers to collect data concerning the participants’ attitudes toward OBEs.ResultsThe study found a positive attitude toward OBEs. Moreover, the study participants demonstrated that OBEs reduce stress levels that occur during exams in general. A statistical representation of the findings showed that the sample students have a positive attitude in relation to this unconventional assessment protocol.DiscussionOBEs should be allowed more space in academic institutions since today’s world does not depend on the amount of information a job applicant deposits in his memory. What matters is the person possesses enough high-order thinking abilities and skills like problem-solving.

The current paper investigates the congratulation speech act among Jordanian Facebook users in terms of patterns and linguistic forms with reference to the congratulation strategies adopted in response to a birthday Facebook status posted on the occasion of the 60th birthday of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al-Hussein. The types of positive politeness strategies attested in these congratulatory forms are also tackled in this study. The comments posted by Jordanian Facebook users on this occasion formed the data necessary for the purpose of this study. The data analysis revealed that the dominant congratulation strategy among Jordanian Facebookers is Illocutionary force indicating device, and the use of proverbs and sayings is the least used strategy. As for the strategies of politeness in the congratulatory forms among Jordanian Facebook users, the data analysis revealed that the dominant strategies are giving gifts to the listener and in-group identity marker (usage of address forms); exaggerate and seek agreement (safe topic) strategies are the least used ones. These results were discussed in light of the theory of speech act (Austin, 1962) and the theory of politeness (Brown & Levinson, 1987). The religious beliefs, cultural values, and social norms of the Facebook users appeared to be influential with respect to these politeness and congratulation strategies. The study also touches upon several aspects related to the pragmatic competence of Jordanian Facebook users.