Speaker
Description
In today’s globalized tertiary education landscape, supporting linguistic diversity and positive learning experiences is a pressing challenge. Understanding how different instructional language approaches affect learner tension is crucial, as it significantly impacts language acquisition and academic success. This mixed-method research aims to examine how different instructional language approaches influence the learning tension of tertiary students. Using the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) among 52 English-majored students, this study seeks to investigate learner tension across 3 different instructional contexts: English-only, translanguaging, and first language-focused. Additionally, qualitative data collected from 15 semi-structured interviews aims to provide in-depth insights into their tensional experiences in each instructional context. Findings from quantitative data indicated that English-only instructional context has significantly higher tension than the other two, with translanguaging higher than first language-focused. Findings from qualitative data also highlighted several emotional impacts and academic concerns of different instructional language approaches in tertiary classrooms. These findings inform evidence-based pedagogical strategies to mitigate anxiety and enhance learning for multilingual students in tertiary classrooms, offering practical recommendations for implementing tension-reducing, multilingual instructional approaches.
Biography
Truong Anh Khoa is a dedicated educator and researcher, serving as a full-time lecturer in English linguistics at Nguyen Tat Thanh University and a part-time lecturer at International University – Vietnam National University HCMC. With a Master of Education in TESOL from a joint program by HCMC Open University and Edith Cowan University, he is currently a PhD candidate in TESOL at HCMC Open University. His research interests focus on professional identity, classroom interaction, and translanguaging, reflecting his commitment to advancing language education. Khoa has presented at prestigious conferences, including Applied Linguistics-Transformative Trends in the Asia-Pacific Region (Hanu), the International Conference on Interdisciplinary Research in Linguistics and Language Education (HUFLIS), and New Trends in Teaching and Learning Languages (BDU). He is also an author of several scientific articles published in international journals, contributing valuable insights to the field of TESOL. Beyond academia, Khoa actively engages in educational initiatives, serving as a judge for the English Olympics of Vietnam from 2023 to 2025, where he supports and evaluates young talents. As the former Vietnam Ambassador for Twinkl Educational Publishing, he delivered workshops to empower English teachers. Additionally, Khoa mentors novice teachers, fostering their professional growth and development. His multifaceted contributions to education, from research and teaching to community engagement, underscore his dedication to enhancing language learning and teacher professional identity, positioning him as a rising leader in the global TESOL community.
