ISSN 2960-1304(Online) Editor: Todd Ayoung (Pratt People), Alexei (Columbia University), Aytek Erdil (University of Cambridge), Cosimo Arnesano (University of Southern California), Freya Baetens (Cambridge University), Osman (Carnegie Mellon University) Arts, Culture, and Language is dedicated to advancing cutting-edge research and scholarship at the intersection of these dynamic fields. With a strong interdisciplinary focus, the journal provides a platform for scholars from diverse disciplines to engage with each other’s work, fostering new ideas and perspectives that drive the field forward. The editorial board, composed of leading experts, ensures that each submission meets the highest academic standards through a rigorous evaluation process. Recognizing the deep connections between arts, culture, and language, the journal serves as an essential resource for those seeking to explore their interplay and impact in contemporary society.
Conscription and Maintenance of the French Colonial Empire in West Africa from 1857-1960
Older historical accounts of the French colonial period, particularly surrounding France’s 20th century objectives to civilize and economically exploit Africa, fail to capture the full breadth and complexity of France’s late-colonial administrative strategies. To challenge the validity of traditional narratives, this essay utilizes the 1919 Conscription Act to examine how conscription was implemented within French West Africa’s existing administrative framework during the pre-WWI era. From there, it analyzes how conscription of the Senegalese Tirailleurs evolved into a core theme of colonial administration during the interwar period and ultimately shaped the fate of French colonial empire after WWII. Given that no single colonial priority held uniform significance across all territories, it follows that a regionally specific priority, such as conscription in French West Africa, cannot be overgeneralized to all French colonies. In other words, current research paradigms and historiographic approaches to French colonial history must be adjusted accordingly to reflect this new truth. By uncovering alternative possibilities that have been suppressed within traditional narratives, the essay hopes to resolve the contradictions inherent in older accounts, thereby deepening our understanding of France’s late-colonial administrative strategies.
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Religion as Premise for Revolution: Refinement, Challenge
This essay examines the relationship between religion and revolution in Marx’s work. Incorporating the point made in Marx's work that breaking the illusion of religion is the only means to revolution, this essay explores how refining and challenging religion catalysts revolutionary actions. For Marx, man recognizing religion as part of the superstructure shaped by material conditions, and mobilizing collective class consciousness are the important premises for revolution. The essay highlights how transformations in the economic base could reshape religious emphasis from obedience to advocacy of reforms. This illustrates how religion could become a catalyst for social change when confronted with material contradictions. In other cases, challenging the sacred nature of religion also means to normalize social structure and realize all social structure is a product of man. This self activation realization helps set up the groundwork for revolution. Ultimately, the essay argues for religion’s potential to fuel revolution through being refined and affirm humanity’s ability to reshape social orders through being challenged.
Functional and Lyrical Ghost: A Comparative Study of the Narrative Modes of Supernatural Characters in Chinese and Western Drama
Based on the knowledge of narratology and comparative literature theories, this paper mainly studies the narrative modes of the ghost characters in Shakespeare’s dramas and traditional Chinese Yuan Zaju. It addresses a research gap in cultural supernatural symbolism by comparing their roles in different works, including plot narration, religious standpoints, forms of existence, and narrative outcomes. The ghosts in Shakespeare's dramas mainly serve as the core of action and strengthen individual conflicts, while in Chinese Yuan Zaju, the “hundan” primarily acts as an emotional carrier and serves the reconciliation of collectivist ethics. Ghosts in Shakespeare’s plays primarily drive action and amplify internal conflict, and ghosts always reflect Renaissance individualism and Christian cosmology. Comparatively, “hundan”, as an emotional implement, upholds collectivist ethics, often ending with moral reshaping. The comparison underscores how different cultural values and religious ideologies can shape the presentation and purpose of ghost characters in theater. Ultimately, this research illustrates that some different ways in which supernatural characters both reveal and emphasize the ethical and narrative characteristics of their respective literary traditions.
Spectacles and Narratives:The Illusion of the Cinema in Singin' in the Rain
This essay argues that Singin’ in the Rain collaborates narrative and spectacle to investigate and embody cinema’s core illusion. Building on Tom Gunning’s “Cinema of Attractions,” this analysis demonstrates how musical set-pieces and cinematic practices serve as modern attractions that are narratively motivated rather than plot-disruptive. Through Rick Altman’s concepts of dual focus and audio/video dissolves, the analysis demonstrates how sound and image transit from diegetic realism to idealized fantasy, most vividly in the title number’s audio dissolve and the “Broadway Melody/Veil Ballet” passage’s visual dissolve, so viewers feel the transition without losing orientation. Drawing on Michel Chion, the essay reads the disastrous Dueling Cavaliers test screening and the curtain-pull finale as lessons in synchresis and de-acousmatization, revealing how fragile and yet potent audiovisual editing can be. With André Bazin’s emphasis on deep-space staging and long takes, the “You Were Meant for Me” sequence reveals the visible machinery that manufactures romance while sustaining the illusion of belief. Synthesizing Geoff King’s claim that spectacle is most powerful at narratively heightened moments, the essay concludes that acknowledged illusion is not deception but a vehicle for emotional truth and transformation. Singin’ in the Rain lets us immerse in its artificial illusion, showcasing its spectacles, and, paradoxically, deepens our enchantment — presenting cinema’s value in fostering optimism and resilience.
Social Differentiation and Mortuary Rituals at the Xigongqiao Site: Insights into the Dawenkou–Longshan Transition in Southern Shandong
The Xigongqiao site in Tengzhou is a representative Dawenkou Culture site in eastern China, specifically in southern Shandong Province, yielding abundant mortuary materials. All tombs at the site date to the late middle to late phase of the Dawenkou Culture, essentially belonging to the early Longshan period. This study employs basic research methods to statistically analyze tomb structure, the types of grave goods, and their placement within the tombs, resulting in the identification of three hierarchical tomb grades. The differentiation in tomb hierarchy at Xigongqiao indicates that the site's inhabitants had already developed disparities in private wealth and social status. Concurrently, evidence suggestive of the emergence of mortuary ritual systems is also present within the mortuary context. On one hand, the site inherits the Peiligang Culture's mortuary concept centered on the concept of food and drink, manifested further in the spatial separation of drinking-related and eating-related grave goods. On the other hand, the concept of treating the deceased as if living, which later became widespread and profoundly influential throughout Chinese history, may have already begun to germinate at this site. The mortuary remains at Xigongqiao reflect key social transformations during the Yangshao-Longshan transition, including social differentiation and the emergence of mortuary ritual systems. Future research employing scientific archaeological techniques, such as isotope analysis and residue testing, will be crucial for probing the deeper drivers behind these transformations.
The Tamed Rebel: Violence and the Dilemma of Choice in A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (1971) remains a seminal work in dystopian cinema, provoking intense debate about free will, state control, and the ethics of behavioral conditioning. This study examines the film’s psychological and philosophical dimensions, focusing on protagonist Alex DeLarge’s transformation under the Ludovico Technique—a state-mandated aversion therapy that strips him of autonomy. Employing textual analysis and psychological frameworks (including Self-Determination Theory and behaviorism), the paper dissects how Kubrick uses cinematic techniques (e.g., ocular symbolism, classical music juxtaposition) to critique dehumanizing social engineering. The findings reveal that forced behavior modification, while superficially effective, destroys intrinsic motivation and identity, reducing individuals to "clockwork" mechanisms. By contrasting Alex’s performative violence with his post-treatment emptiness, the study concludes that authentic humanity requires imperfect freedom, even at the cost of moral ambiguity. The film’s warning resonates in contemporary discussions about AI, surveillance, and state power, urging a balance between social order and individual agency.
Niche in the Age of Algorithmic Recommendation: How Niche Music Communities Construct "Resistance Identity"
this study aims to elaborate on the current state of research at the intersection of algorithmic recommendation mechanisms and subcultures. The study finds that existing literature often remains at the level of "technological determinism," viewing algorithms as a unilateral, hegemonic, and irresistible force impacting society. This research identifies three main core gaps: (1) insufficient understanding of the nature of algorithms as a "technology-society" interplay; (2) a lack of in-depth exploration into the current understanding of "resistance"; (3) a deficiency in research on the uniqueness of the interaction between China's platform ecosystem and "Generation Z" youth in the context of music. Based on this, the innovation of this article lies in adopting the perspective of "technology-society" interplay to analyze the underlying mechanisms through which niche music communities construct a resistance identity in the algorithmic age, and to provide new ideas for the future improvement of algorithmic mechanisms.
A Study on Translation Strategies for Character Development in Video Games: Taking Stardew Valley as an Example
This study takes the independent video game Stardew Valley as an example to explore the strategies and effects of translating the original English character dialogue into Chinese, with a focus on how translation serves to recreate character personalities and localize cultural contexts. Guided by the theories of functional equivalence and pragmatic translation, the study selects five representative characters with distinct styles (Shane, Abigail, George, Emily, and Haley) from the game. Through a dialogue comparison analysis method, the study evaluates aspects such as tone, speech style, emotional expression, and cultural adaptation. The study found that translators retained the original personalities while adopting moderate stylistic adjustments and cultural softening strategies, achieving good functional equivalence. However, the simplification of language style for some characters also led to a dilution of their individuality. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of game character translation practices and provides case references for game localization work.
Mahler's Symphonies: The Artistic Transition from Romanticism to Modernism
This paper takes Gustav Mahler's symphonies as the object of study, to sort out their stylistic transition between the two musical traditions of Romanticism and Modernism, as well as their psychological lineage. Through a combination of documentary research and music ontology analysis, the paper focuses on modernist elements such as fragmentation of motifs, tonal ambiguity and the use of dissonance, as well as Romantic features such as melodic lyricism, rich harmonic colors and orchestral innovations, and explores in depth the mapping mechanism of Freud's theory of the unconscious and Jung's concept of the collective subconscious in the work. It also assesses the inspiration and influence of Mahler's stylistic innovations on subsequent composers such as Arnold Schoenberg, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Olivier Messiaen. It is found that Mahler, through the transformation of psychological concepts and musical elements, both expanded the expressive dimensions of symphonic writing and provided a source of motivation for the development of modernism. This paper provides a new academic perspective for understanding the deeper significance of Mahler's works and their positioning in the history of modern music, as well as pointing out the direction for contemporary symphonic writing and interdisciplinary research.
Writer Lin Zhao breaks away from conventional novelistic conventions, where plot becomes secondary. Her works emphasize linguistic finesse and imaginative depth, infused with Western modernist and postmodern narrative techniques. Yet she maintains Lingnan cultural authenticity through her literary choices. Through narrative analysis of character archetypes, narrative perspectives, and environmental settings, the study highlights Zhang Zao'er—a Lingnan maiden whose vivid portrayal captivates readers, along with the magical journey brought by the fictional giant frog. The region's multifaceted magic forms both Lin Zhao's lived experience and the enduring essence of her literary creations.
Comparative Analysis of English Vocabulary Learning Apps——taking “Bubeidanci” and “Shaguayingyu” as example
English is a main bridge of international communication, and there is an increasing need for people to learn English. The popularity of electronic devices expands ways of English learning, leading great popularity of mobile learning tools. The research plans to deeply analyze two vocabulary learning apps— “Bubeidanci” (Effortless Vocab) and “Shaguayingyu” (Easy English) popular on the market so as to explore their performance in these four aspects—the abundance of resources, the mechanism of learning and reviewing, convenience of operation, and the fun of learning. The research aims at offering scientific suggestions for English learners, that is, to help them choose suitable learning tools based on their learning habits and needs.
On the combination of Marxism and Chinese lacquer culture
Lacquerware originated in China, and Chinese lacquer culture, as a category of excellent traditional Chinese culture, also has the characteristics of a long history and broad and profound. However, at present, lacquer art is facing the prospect of not being taken seriously, and lacquerware has not yet entered the public eye compared to porcelain, which is also a Chinese handicraft. In addition, there are fewer and fewer lacquerware practitioners, and the current lacquerware market is not good. It is worth noting that at present, some of the main lacquer production cities and counties in China have created the form of “national lacquer + tourism” and with the popularity of lacquer fans, Chinese lacquer culture has begun to regain its charm. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China pointed out that “to uphold and develop Marxism, we must combine it with the excellent traditional Chinese culture.” Only when it is rooted in the fertile soil of the history and culture of the country and the nation can the tree of Marxist truth take root and flourish. “Marxism and the excellent traditional Chinese culture are compatible in many aspects in terms of value tendencies and thinking habits. As one of the contents of China’s excellent traditional culture, Chinese lacquer culture and Marxism must also be related.
Feasibility and Exception--The Grand Narrative Theory in the Myths of Buddhist Sculpture Art
This paper explores the grand narrative, especially in the context of Buddhist sculpture art. It portrays grand narratives as broad, non-falsifiable systems stemming from a collective story, often focusing on universality and macro theories. The paper also highlights the link between grand narratives and myth. The author examines how grand narrative theory applies to Buddhist art, evident in visual forms like Buddha statues, which function as both religious symbols and narrative components. This article mainly consists of two lines of analysis. One line examines the representation of grandeur and narrative in Buddhist sculptures, while the other line examines the changes in the grand narrative of Buddhist sculptures. The former involves the relationship between images and texts, while the latter involves the feasibility of the end of grand narrative as proposed by Jean-François Lyotard’s theory of grand narrative.
The Influence of College Students' Second Language Learning Motivation on CET-4 Scores: An Analysis Based on Internal and External Factors
This study classifies the common learning motivations in college students' lives internally and externally, and measures their influence on CET-4 scores through empirical questionnaire surveys and data analysis. During this process, this research specifies each type of motivation into individual indicators. These specific indicators can not only measure the magnitude of their influence through the learning outcomes they cause, but also regard the types of motivation as components in the minds of students with different grades. According to this method, the composition of students' motivations becomes more specific and easier to study. Through specific data analysis, the students can be influenced by multiple aspects rather than a single element. The study found that both intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation had varying degrees of influence on the CET-4 scores of these students. However, through specific analysis, it is found that the intrinsic motivation for second language learning of students with excellent scores is the key to achieving outstanding results.
Melodies of Music: Music as Culture Warfare in the Cold War
This paper explores the role of music as a cultural and ideological tool during the Cold War (1947–1991), when the United States and the Soviet Union competed not only for military and political dominance, but also for cultural influence. While ideological conflict and proxy wars characterized the era, music emerged as a powerful medium for both superpowers to express and share their values. The essay examines how the United States used genres such as jazz, folk, and Rock ‘n’ Roll to promote ideals of freedom, individualism, and diversity, often through government-sponsored cultural diplomacy. In contrast, the Soviet Union enforced socialist realism in music to reflect state ideology and proletarian values, regulating music output through censorship and state control. Despite restrictions, underground movements like “Magnitizdat” and a growing interest in Western styles among Soviet youth reflected cultural resistance and curiosity. Ultimately, music served as both a battleground and bridge–mirroring societal tensions while fostering global understanding across ideological lines.
Ronald Reagan’s Political Revolution –Reestablishing Conservatism
This essay explores the political transformation of the United States during the 1980s through the lens of Ronald Reagan’s rise and presidency, contrasting his leadership with that of his predecessor Jimmy Carter. It examines how Reagan’s communication style, populist rhetoric, and economic philosophy (centered on supply-side economics and limited government) redefined American conservatism and restored public confidence following a period of economic crisis and foreign policy setbacks. Reagan’s domestic and foreign policies, include devolution of federal power, tax reforms, and Cold War diplomacy, particularly his evolving relationship with the Soviet Union. This essay considers the cultural and symbolic legacy of Reagan’s presidency, including the enduring impact of his slogan “Make America Great Again,” later revived by Donald Trump. By evaluating the political, ideological, and rhetorical dimensions of Reagan’s presidency, the essay argues that Reagan not re-established conservative dominance but also reshaped the image and expectations of presidential leadership in a media-driven period.
“Constitution of Japan 1946”, A New Japan
This paper examines the transformation of Japan’s political and constitutional structure following World War II, with particular focus on the 1946 Japanese Constitution. It traces Japan’s rapid modernization during the Meiji Restoration, its military rise and imperial expansion, and the catastrophic impact of WWII. In response to wartime atrocities, the United States supervised Japan’s post-war reconstruction and occupation, leading to the drafting of a new constitution that redefined Japan’s government as a liberal democracy grounded in popular sovereignty and fundamental human rights. This constitutional shift not only reshaped Japanese society but also contributed to international peace and stability in the postwar era.
The Influence of Education on the National Identity of Secondary Vocational Students
In order to explore the effect of Revolutionary Culture education on secondary vocational education students' national identity, this study used a pre- and post-test comparison experiment to randomly select 200 students from 2 secondary vocational schools in Fuzhou City, divided into an experimental group (Revolutionary Culture education political course) and a control group (regular Civic and Political Science course), and carried out a 7-week course intervention. The study used a self-developed secondary vocational school students' national identity scale to measure changes in the four dimensions of students' perception, performance, influence and practice, focusing on the interactions in time and intervention modality, and analysed the data by SPSS27.0. The results showed that Revolutionary Culture education significantly increased the level of students' national identity (p<0.001). However, the enhancement of the affective dimension was relatively limited, indicating that students' internalisation of national identity still needs to be strengthened. This study confirmed the unique value of Revolutionary Culture education in the Civics and Political Science curriculum, and suggested that the path of emotional identity cultivation needs to be further optimised to promote the comprehensive internalisation of national identity. This curriculum intervention programme can effectively improve the status quo of national identity of secondary vocational school students, and has a positive contribution to the enhancement of the level of national identity of secondary vocational students.
Research of the Application of the “i+1” Language Input Method in IELTS Listening on Unlock 4 Listening
This study explores the application of Krashen’s i+1 Language Input Method in IELTS listening instruction through a case study of Unlock 4 Listening Teaching. “I” represents the level of the learner’s existing second language, and 1 represents a language material that is slightly higher than the current level of the learners. Building on the theory that language acquisition is most effective when input slightly exceeds learners’ current proficiency, this research investigates whether structured i+1 input can enhance students’ listening comprehension and learning motivation. The study involved an experimental and a control class of Chinese students in a Beijing university’s preparatory program. Through questionnaires, pre-tests and post-tests, and targeted listening activities, findings revealed that the i+1 method significantly improved students’ IELTS listening skills and boosted their confidence and interest in listening tasks. The results suggest that integrating i+1 input in curriculum design fosters more effective and engaging listening instruction. Therefore, the i+1 language input method has obvious effects in teaching applications.
Perception-Oriented Micro-Urban Landscape Renewal Strategies: A Case Study in Adelaide
As urban population density increases and large-scale public spaces become scarce, micro-urban green spaces such as small parks, alleyways, and interstitial parks play an increasingly important role in the everyday lives of cities like Adelaide. In Adelaide, recent public investments in projects such as Bowden Park and the River Torrens Linear Park indicate a growing interest in transforming fragmented urban space. This study proposes a perceptually oriented regeneration strategy for micro-urban landscapes that focuses on sensory comfort, climate responses, and a human spatial experience. Using three case studies in Adelaide’s city center, this paper integrates visual observations, spatial interpretations, and literature reviews to identify key factors influencing residents’ perceptions. The results demonstrate that thermal comfort, multisensory stimulation, and ecological hierarchy have significant impacts on residents’ behavior and spatial quality. The paper concludes by proposing an adaptive design strategy to guide the future regeneration of micro-landscapes, particularly in medium-sized cities with climate challenges.
The inevitability, value and significance of the formation of tragic endings in novels
From ancient times to the present, tragedy has always been one of the most profound forms of expression in literature and art. This article focuses on the inevitability of the formation of tragic endings in novels. Plot setting, characterization environment and historical background are all important reasons for the formation of tragic endings. The tragic ending also has its own significance and value. It offers people aesthetic enjoyment and spiritual inspiration in terms of aesthetics. After presenting the predicament, it enables readers to have a deeper reflection on life. Tragic ending showcases the value and brilliance of human nature at a higher level. Through this study of necessity, it is concluded that tragedy is a philosophical reflection for human beings to gaze at suffering, deconstruct fate and question existence through artistic forms.
L2 Learning Motivation and Academic Achievement: A Literature Review Focusing on Chinese English Majors
This literature review investigated the relationship between second language (L2) learning motivation and academic achievement among Chinese English majors, synthesizing findings from 17 studies retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database. The analysis indicates that empirical research dominates current studies (94%), with most employing quantitative methodologies such as questionnaires and statistical analyses, whereas theoretical exploration remains limited. The theoretical frameworks underpinning this field encompass Gardner and Lambert’ 's distinction between integrative and instrumental motivation, alongside Dörnyei’s L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS), which highlights the triadic structure of the "ideal L2 self," the "ought-to L2 self," and the "learning experience." Findings reveal a significant positive correlation between motivation and academic performance, with highly motivated students demonstrating greater effort and goal-oriented behavior. Studies also identify discipline-specific differences, such as arts students’ heightened sensitivity to external pressures and anxiety in English-medium instruction (EMI) contexts. Despite methodological advancements, limitations persist, including overreliance on quantitative tools and insufficient methodological diversity. Future research should integrate qualitative approaches (e.g., classroom observations, reflective journals) and interdisciplinary perspectives to enrich understanding. This review underscores the critical role of motivation in L2 learning and calls for innovative strategies to enhance English education outcomes in China.
English Learning Anxiety and Its Effect on the Academic Performance of Chinese University Students
Anxiety is widely regarded as a significant factor in foreign language learning. To explore the anxiety levels of Chinese university students in university stage’s English learning, this study investigated 41 students from a university in Shanghai, China and employed SPSS 24.0 to conduct a quantitative research. The results found that students generally hold a relatively high level of anxiety in English learning (r=-0.483, p<0.01). Using the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCA), the study identified four key types of anxiety and each variable negatively influences communicative performance. Among these four dimensions, Communicative Anxiety had the most negative effect (r=-0.500, p<0.01), especially when speaking a foreign language in classroom settings. Further analysis of specific questions, such as discomfort in speaking before peers (Q24), reveals substantial score disparities between high- and low-anxiety groups, with differences exceeding 80 points. Furthermore, the paper discusses potential underlying causes of these findings and provides practical suggestions for educators to relieve students’ anxiety, thereby fostering a more beneficial learning environment.
The Effect of Native Language Transfer in Second Language Acquisition: Example of English Vowel Acquisition
This paper places significant emphasis on the influence of native language transfer on English vowel acquisition and systematically reviews related studies. At the theoretical level, the continuous evolution of contrastive analysis hypotheses and other hypotheses has revealed the complex mechanism of native language transfer in the process of English vowel acquisition. Empirical studies show that learners from different native language backgrounds are affected by native language transfer in various ways in the perception and output of English vowels. Based on this, pedagogical insights such as acoustic feedback and tiered instruction are proposed to address the challenges posed by migration. However, existing studies suffer from sample limitations and insufficient consideration of social context. Future research can combine interdisciplinary approaches to explore the neural mechanisms in depth and expand the sample scope. Simultaneously, expanding the sample scope will make the research results more representative and applicable, thus providing more robust support for enhancing the quality of English vowel acquisition teaching and improving learners' language proficiency.
The Study of Foreign Language Anxiety, L2 Motivation, and Self-Efficacy on English Speaking Performance Among Chinese Non-English Major Undergraduates
College students sometimes struggle with oral English performance due to foreign language anxiety (FLA). This study investigates whether motivation and self-efficacy act as mediating factors in the relationship between FLA and speaking performance in Chinese undergraduates who do not major in English. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 200 participants, and data were analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and mediation analysis via SPSS 29 and Hayes’ PROCESS macro. The findings indicated that, on the one hand, self-efficacy did not play a mediating role, but on the other hand, speaking motivation significantly partially mediated the negative impact of FLA on English speaking performance. This result indicates that motivation is an important factor in the association between anxiety and speaking ability, and that enhancing motivation and reducing anxiety can enhance students’ speaking performance. This study highlights the importance of addressing the emotional and motivational components of a foreign language. Pedagogical interventions aimed at reducing fear and increasing motivation may lead to better speaking outcomes for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners.
Chinese Non-English Major Undergraduates
Student Experiences and Teaching Optimisation in Academic Writing Courses for English Majors in Macau: An Empirical Analysis from the Student Perspective
In the era of academic globalisation, academic writing has become a cornerstone for evaluating higher education quality, especially for English majors who rely on it to engage in international scholarly exchanges. However, non-native English speakers often struggle with bridging the gap between linguistic norms and disciplinary requirements in such courses. This study employs a qualitative interview approach to analyse the learning process and experiences of three third-year English majors in an academic writing course at the City University of Macau. The research data show that there is a significant gap between the students’ initial “experimental” expectations and the core content of the course. During the course, participants faced the pressure of transforming language into academic expression, building a logical argumentative framework, and balancing a multidimensional grading system. In response to the feedback from teachers, participants actively improved their writing skills through the use of tools, studying model essays, participating in peer review, and enhancing communication with teachers. Based on the findings, this study proposes optimisation recommendations, including layered assessment, enhanced methodology instruction, and a longer writing cycle, to provide insights for teaching practice in academic writing courses.
A Review of the Theoretical Development and Practical Application of Listening Teaching Models
Enhancing the listening comprehension skills of second language learners represents one of the most pressing and persistent educational challenges within the field of second language acquisition today. As a fundamental core component of successful linguistic communication, the effectiveness with which listening skills are acquired directly impacts learners' overall language proficiency and communicative competence. To systematically address this significant challenge, researchers have actively developed and implemented diverse listening instructional models over time. This comprehensive paper critically reviews three particularly representative mainstream pedagogical approaches: traditional listening instruction, task-based listening instruction, and contemporary multimodal listening instruction. Through an in-depth analysis and comparison of each model's theoretical underpinnings, distinct operational characteristics, inherent strengths, and notable limitations, this study specifically seeks to identify their relative applicability across varied learner profiles (e.g., age, proficiency levels), diverse instructional objectives (e.g., phoneme discrimination, detail extraction, gist comprehension), and contrasting teaching environments (e.g., classroom time constraints, technological resource availability). The ultimate research goal is to provide educators with clearer theoretical frameworks and actionable, practical guidance for pedagogical implementation, thereby enabling more effective improvement of students' L2 listening comprehension performance and overall proficiency development.
A Normative Study of English Translation of Chinese Urban Rail Transit Station Names from the Perspective of Functional Translation Theory --Taking the English Translation of Chongqing Rail Transit Station Names as an Example
Taking the English translation of Chongqing Rail Transit station names as an example, this paper discusses the three basic methods and common problems in the translation of station names, i.e., the forced adoption of purely pinyin translation and the problem of non-uniformity of translations under the same system, on the basis of which this paper puts forward countermeasures based on the guidance of the theory of functional translation, that is, to strengthen the paraphrase work of translating the names of stations with distinctive geographic identifiers, and to unify the problem of mixing purely pinyin translation and paraphrase under the same system. On the basis of this, this paper proposes countermeasures under the guidance of functional translation theory, i.e., strengthening the paraphrase translation of common names with distinctive geographic identifiers, unifying the problem of mixing pure pinyin and paraphrase translation under the same system, and at the same time translating the names of Rail Transit stations with distinctive characteristics of Chongqing in pure pinyin.
The Impact of Semantic Inference Ability on Discourse Comprehension Among Japanese Language Learners
Semantic inference ability plays a pivotal role in discourse comprehension for Japanese language learners, serving as a bridge between linguistic input and meaningful interpretation. Although this topic has garnered significant attention in second language acquisition research, the specific cognitive and linguistic mechanisms of its influence on discourse comprehension, as well as the differences among learners with diverse native languages, remain underexplored. This study examines the relationship between semantic inference ability and other influencing factors, while also addressing how cultural differences arising from varying native language backgrounds manifest in the research. The findings reveal a multidirectional interaction among semantic inference ability, lexical knowledge, and grammatical knowledge, collectively shaping discourse comprehension outcomes. For learners with different native languages, effective pedagogical interventions and strategy training can help leverage individual strengths to enhance semantic inference efficacy. In conclusion, this study highlights the significance of semantic inference in Japanese learners' discourse comprehension, offering new perspectives and pathways for future teaching and research.
The Influence of Cultural Context on Second Language Acquisition
This review focuses on how cultural context affects second language acquisition (SLA), aiming to sort out relevant theoretical models and empirical research results. Firstly, this paper reviewed the theoretical perspectives of Kramsch (1993), Norton (2010, 2013) and other scholars on the relationship between language, culture and identity, emphasizing that language acquisition is not only a cognitive process, but also the embodiment of social and cultural practice. Subsequently, empirical studies from the family context and the school education field were analyzed, revealing the specific manifestations of cultural ideology, social power structure and identity in second language learning. By comparing theoretical and empirical literature, this paper finds that there are differences between the two in terms of goals, methods and concerns, but they also complement each other. Finally, the article points out that the current research has deficiencies such as ambiguous cultural definitions and neglect of individual experiences, and suggests that in the future, micro experiences and macro structures should be integrated and the operability of cultural variables should be strengthened. This article has certain reference value for deepening the research on language teaching in the cultural context.