This study examines and compares L2 grammatical accuracy in digital multimodal writing (DMW) and monomodal text-based writing (TBW). Utilizing a mixed-methods design, the research incorporates a... Show More

This study examines and compares L2 grammatical accuracy in digital multimodal writing (DMW) and monomodal text-based writing (TBW). Utilizing a mixed-methods design, the research incorporates a dataset comprising 180 written texts, a questionnaire, and text-based interviews. Sixty EFL learners were assigned to two groups (TBW and DMW) and completed three writing tasks on identical topics. The findings reveal that there are no significant differences in grammatical accuracy between TBW and DMW. Moreover, learners' perceptions indicate that the integration of multi-semiotic recourses has no detrimental effect on grammatical accuracy. Additionally, learners adopted a preferred recursive strategy, involving text writing followed by integrating nonlinguistic components to complete and revise their DMW compositions. Consequently, two factors emerge as crucial in elucidating the comparable level of grammatical accuracy in DMW and TBW: (1) active engagement in each linguistic and nonlinguistic component, and (2) an awareness of the essentiality of the text component, necessitating the prioritization of the linguistic resource or the deliberate separation of text writing from other components within the DMW process. This study concludes with pedagogical implications and suggestions for further research.

This study aims to investigate whether VR-assisted language learning facilitates EFL learners' vocabulary learning and memory retention. One hundred seventy-seven Chinese undergraduate EFL learners... Show More

This study aims to investigate whether VR-assisted language learning facilitates EFL learners' vocabulary learning and memory retention. One hundred seventy-seven Chinese undergraduate EFL learners were divided into VRG (VR-assisted instruction group) and CIG (conventional instruction group). Participants in the VRG (n = 75) were provided with immersive VR devices, whereas the others (n = 102) learned in conventional classrooms with instructors. The results illustrate that the spatial design of virtual environments may be related to lexical memory performance. Target words that are placed in positions where they are interacted with more frequently tend to perform better in terms of being memorized. It also suggests that words corresponding to items placed between 60-180 cm of the ground are better retained. Subsequent interviews revealed that VR technology helps learners encode information based on spatial location. The VR technology's visual, aural, and textual stimulation also help learners subconsciously remember the vocabulary items.