This study examines how two dimensions of self-directed humour (SDH) (deleterious SDH and benign SDH) can be used by language learners to shape the relationship between foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE). A total of 234 Chinese college students learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) completed an online questionnaire. Results indicate a chain mediation model, suggesting that FLCA predicted, but only indirectly, FLE when mediated by learners’ use of deleterious SDH and benign SDH sequentially. Our study established that through judicious deployment of deleterious and benign SDH, EFL learners are capable of transforming their maladaptive emotional states (FLCA) into adaptive ones (FLE). Also, the under-explored positive side of SDH, benign SDH, has demonstrated its crucial supportive role in learners’ enjoyment.

While teacher feedback literacy has garnered increasing scholarly interest, much discussion has centred on teachers’ perspectives, overlooking students’ insights into teacher feedback literacy in enhancing their learning (and writing). To address this issue, this study draws on the effective feedback process recognised by the teacher and students within the same L2 postgraduate academic writing class, exploring the key teacher competencies that compose and contextualise teacher feedback literacy. The analysis of individual interviews with the teacher and nine students, 150 students’ self-reflections and classroom observations informs the development of a two-dimension framework with six key competencies contributing to teacher feedback literacy. The first is autonomous dimension, which includes three teacher competencies characterised by ‘collaboration’, ‘reflection’ and ‘refinement’, emphasising teachers’ self-governance, continuous improvement and proactivity in designing and enacting feedback practices. The second is facilitative dimension, which encompasses such competencies as facilitating a ‘synergy’, ‘student reflective and critical engagement’ and ‘long-term effects’ of feedback practices, highlighting teachers’ capacity of enabling and guiding the students, and making the feedback process more engaging. The two-dimension framework of teacher competencies suggests a longitudinal perspective of constructing a student-led feedback process that fosters synergic collaborations among human agents and their interactions with feedback resources and artefacts.

本研究基于控制—价值理论,在内容语言融合课堂环境下,考察课堂给养感知、控制—价值评价及外语课堂无聊水平,并探讨三者之间的关系.819名英语专业大学生参与在线问卷调查.描述性统计结果表明,在CLI课堂环境下,学生的课堂给养感知较高,控制评价处于中等水平、价值评价较高,而无聊情绪整体水平较低.结构方程模型分析结果显示,CLI课堂给养感知对外语课堂无聊情绪无显著直接影响,但可通过学生的控制评价和价值评价对无聊情绪产生间接影响.研究结果有助于提高教师对CLI课堂情境中无聊情绪诱发机制的认识,进而为外语课堂无聊情绪的干预提供相应启示.

Willingness to communicate in a second or foreign language (L2 WTC) is an important individual difference variable that influences the target language learning process. To cultivate students’ communicative competence for sustainable development and help them become active citizens of the global world, language teachers and educators need to understand L2 WTC and find ways to promote it. The present study explores the effects of teachers and teaching styles (TTS) on L2 WTC of Chinese learners of English, through a comparison of a group of 148 students in mainland China and 73 Chinese students abroad. Respondents filled out online questionnaires concerning their attitudes and perceptions of TTS and self-reported L2 WTC inside and outside classrooms. Eight of them also participated in interviews. Results revealed significant differences in TTS between the two groups and a generally low WTC among them. TTS were linked more strongly to L2 WTC in the group in mainland China. The differences are attributed to the discrepancy in social expectations, culture of learning and the opportunity to use English outside the classroom while abroad. This study may provide insights into English language teaching pedagogy from the perspective of English as a pluricentric language.

Aims and objectives/purpose/research questions: The primary aim of this study is to investigate individual differences in the appreciation of humour in an L2 with a special focus on British humour. It examined the predictive effects of variables including sociobiographical factors, linguistic profiles, domain-specific communication, and degree of acculturation on L2 (British) humour appreciation among late Chinese–English bilinguals. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopted a quantitative approach and used a video-embedded online questionnaire for data collection. A total of 131 UK-based late Chinese–English bilinguals rated the funniness of two short extracts from British sitcoms and answered questions regarding sociobiographical, linguistic, domain-specific communication, and cultural factors. Data and analysis: Funniness rating scores were calculated for each participant and for each humour extract. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis was used to find out the correlations between funniness ratings and different variables. Other non-parametric statistical tests such as Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon signed-ranks test were run to compare the differences between variables. Findings/conclusions: Chinese–English bilinguals who were more frequently engaged in humour-specific communication with friends and L1 speakers of British English and acculturated to a higher level tended to perceive L2 (British) humour funnier. Originality: The study highlights the role of humour socialisation and acculturation, along with L2 proficiency, in the appreciation of L2 humour. Sociobiographical factors associated with the appreciation of L1 humour may not necessarily predict the appreciation of humour in an L2. Significance/implications: The study contributes to the literature on the predictive factors for the domain of humour in an L2 among bilinguals and offers implications for both the field of bilingualism and humour.

This empirical study investigates the differences in the appreciation of British humour by 128 British and 95 American English L1 users (with 18 having experiences in the UK). Participants rated the funniness of two short extracts from two British television series and answered an open question on their perceptions. Results indicated that American English L1 users perceived British humour as less funny and were less able to "get" the ironic and sarcastic aspect of British humour than British English L1 users. This study highlights the role of emotion, as both a reaction during humour processing and a prerequisite prior to it. Moreover, length of residence is not related to the appreciation of humour in another dialect in this study.

Using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, this study investigated the preference of learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) for four types of written corrective feedback (WCF), which are often discussed in the literature, on grammatical, lexical, orthographic, and pragmatic errors. In particular, it concerned whether such preference is influenced by two learner variables, namely, foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and proficiency level. The preference for selective vs. comprehensive WCF was also examined. The participants in the study were 117 University students in a Thai EFL context. Analysis of questionnaire data revealed a tendency for learners to prefer more explicit types of WCF (i.e., metalinguistic explanation and overt correction) for most error types, irrespective of their proficiency and FLE level. High proficiency level learners rated less explicit WCF types (i.e., underlining and error code) as useful to some degree, whereas their low proficiency level counterparts did not. Similar results were found for the two FLE groups. Besides, the FLE level seemed to play a role in perceiving the value of WCF in terms of scope. The results of follow-up interviews showed that the linguistic features of learners' first language, existing knowledge of the target language, affective feelings, and teacher's role were the main factors contributing to variation in learners' preferences. Possible pedagogical implications are discussed.

Several lines of evidence indicate that multiple abnormalities of gray matter are related to the pathogenesis of primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE); however, few studies have been conducted with respect to abnormalities in white matter (WM) of children with PNE. The present work investigated the microstructure of WM in children with PNE using a neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) method. NODDI data were obtained from 29 children with PNE (age = 9.8 ± 1.2 years, 59% males) and 34 healthy controls (age = 10.3 ± 1.6 years, 56% males) in this study. Multi-b-value diffusion-weighted imaging data were acquired with a 3 T MR system, and the orientation dispersion index (ODI) and neurite density index (NDI) maps were calculated. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics analyses of WM tracts were performed with ODI and NDI maps in children with PNE and controls. Children with PNE had lower ODIs in WM fiber tracts of the bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and higher ODIs in the bilateral internal capsule (IC) and right anterior thalamic radiation (ATR) than controls. PNE children also had lower NDIs in the bilateral IC and the cingulum and higher NDIs in the bilateral SLF. These changes in NODDI indices, which indicated abnormal neural maturation of the WM microstructures, may be related to abnormal sleep and enuresis in children with PNE.

Humour appreciation involves split second detection and resolution of cultural and pragmatic incongruities. Second language (L2) users may need more time and effort to understand and appreciate L2 humour. Previous studies have mostly used decontextualized verbal jokes and reported a linear relationship between L2 proficiency and humour appreciation. The present study strives for more ecological validity by using audiovisual-based, multimodal humorous stimuli. A total of 272 Chinese L2 users of English and 94 English L1 users rated the funniness and the ease of understanding of two short video extracts and then completed an English vocabulary size test, LexTALE. The findings suggest that L2 users need to reach a certain threshold in L2 linguistic, pragmatic and sociocultural knowledge before a positive linear relationship emerges between proficiency and appreciation of multimodal humorous stimuli. Also, advanced L2 users demonstrated similarities with English L1 users in humour processing.

Humour appreciation involves split second detection and resolution of cultural and pragmatic incongruities. Second language (L2) users may need more time and effort to understand and appreciate L2 humour. Previous studies have mostly used decontextualized verbal jokes and reported a linear relationship between L2 proficiency and humour appreciation. The present study strives for more ecological validity by using audiovisual-based, multimodal humorous stimuli. A total of 272 Chinese L2 users of English and 94 English L1 users rated the funniness and the ease of understanding of two short video extracts and then completed an English vocabulary size test, LexTALE. The findings suggest that L2 users need to reach a certain threshold in L2 linguistic, pragmatic and sociocultural knowledge before a positive linear relationship emerges between proficiency and appreciation of multimodal humorous stimuli. Also, advanced L2 users demonstrated similarities with English L1 users in humour processing.

Fiber nonlinearity of optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) system restricts the capacity improvement of optical fiber transmission. In this paper, we propose a novel digital coherent superposition (DCS) scheme to improve the tolerance to fiber nonlinearity in a coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed system. In simulation, 71.53 Gbit/s orthogonal frequency division multiplexed signal per channel with Hermitian symmetry is transmitted over 400 km standard single mode fiber in a wave division multiplexed-polarization-division multiplexed-coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed system with five channels. The 4-quadrature amplitude modulation is used for symbol mapping. For the receiver, after the conventional OFDM signal processing, we conduct DCS for OFDM subcarrier pairs, which requires only conjugation and summation in the x, y polarization direction, respectively. Firstly, the channel spacing is 25 GHz, the maximum signal-to-noise ratio improvement is 9.05 dB or 6.02 dB with or without symmetric dispersion compensation compared with a conventional orthogonal frequency division multiplexed system. The optimum launch power is increased by 2 dB. Secondly, the channel spacing is changed to 50 GHz to investigate the nonlinearity tolerance at different channel spacings in the wave division multiplexed system, the maximum signal-to-noise ratio improvement is 8.75 dB or 4.9 dB with or without symmetric dispersion compensation, respectively. Theoretical and simulation analysis show that the proposed method in this paper can effectively mitigate the first-order nonlinear distortions and hence improve the tolerance of coherent optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexed system with different channel spacings to fiber nonlinear effects.

Digital coherent superposition (DCS) for optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) subcarrier pairs with Hermitian symmetry can simultaneously reduce the inter-carrier interference (ICI) from laser phase noise and cancel the fiber nonlinearity to the first order. In this paper, we study an interesting scenario, where we upgrade the conventional OFDM with 4-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) to DCS-OFDM with 16-QAM, which have equal spectrum efficiency and require no change on hardware. We conduct a simulation to compare the tolerance to the laser phase noise and fiber nonlinearity, which are the main concerns for such an upgrading. First, the 16-QAM DCS-OFDM relaxes the laser linewidth requirement and performs better with a smaller fast Fourier transform size. Second, the nonlinear tolerance of 16-QAM DCS-OFDM is better when the nonlinear effects appear. The nonlinear tolerance of DCS-OFDM depends on the dispersion compensation scheme. The maximum SNR improvement is 3.4 dB with full post-dispersion compensation, and it can increase to 6.6 dB with symmetrical dispersion compensation at the launch power of 4 dBm. Finally, we verify that the maximum SNR improvement of 16-QAM DCS-OFDM with full post-dispersion compensation is 3.7 dB at the launch power of 6.2 dBm in the experiment.

We propose an ICI cancellation scheme with opposite weightings on symmetric subcarrier pairs to mitigate phase noise in CO-OFDM systems. In simulation, the tolerance of laser linewidth and transmission performance can be improved.

We propose a novel OFDM transmission system based on phase-conjugated twin waves (PCTW). Numerical simulations are performed to verify its performance and its much larger tolerance to the dispersion fluctuation compared with its single-carrier counterpart.

Digital coherent superposition (DCS) provides an approach to combat fiber nonlinearities by trading off the spectrum efficiency. In analogy, we extend the concept of DCS to the optical OFDM subcarrier pairs with Hermitian symmetry to combat the linear and nonlinear phase noise. At the transmitter, we simply use a real-valued OFDM signal to drive a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) intensity modulator biased at the null point and the so-generated OFDM signal is Hermitian in the frequency domain. At receiver, after the conventional OFDM signal processing, we conduct DCS of the optical OFDM subcarrier pairs, which requires only conjugation and summation. We show that the inter-carrier-interference (ICI) due to phase noise can be reduced because of the Hermitain symmetry. In a simulation, this method improves the tolerance to the laser phase noise. In a nonlinear WDM transmission experiment, this method also achieves better performance under the influence of cross phase modulation (XPM).

We experimentally demonstrate that the digital coherent superposition of optical OFDM subcarrier pairs with Hermitian symmetry can mitigate phase noise, including laser phase noise and self-phase modulation in a nonlinear optical fiber transmission.

We have recently demonstrated the improved phase noise tolerance in coherent optical OFDM by digital coherent superposition of optical OFDM subcarriers, which are phase-conjugated pairs with Hermitan symmetry. In this approach, we realized DCS of OFDM subcarriers in single polarization (or channel), denoted as SP-DCS-OFDM. In this paper, we show that another approach is in dual polarizations, or DP-DCS-OFDM. We prove that both approaches can reduce the ICI due to phase noise, including laser phase noise and nonlinear phase noise. We discuss their improved phase noise tolerance in simulation. We also discuss their difference in terms of complexity and performance.