This study focuses on preservice Chinese-as-a-second/foreign-language (L2 Chinese) teachers with a theoretical perspective based on prior technology acceptance research in the educational context, to investigate factors influencing preservice L2 Chinese teachers’ intention to use educational technology in their future classrooms. Six relevant constructs—intention to use technology, perceived usefulness, attitudes toward use of technology, technology self-efficacy, facilitating conditions and experience of technology use—were incorporated into three hypothesized models. A total of 331 preservice L2 Chinese teachers from two national key universities in China participated in this study. Data were collected via a self-report questionnaire and analyzed through structural equation modeling. Model comparison results showed that the third hypothesized model fit the data best. Specifically, perceived usefulness, technology self-efficacy, and facilitating conditions had direct positive effects on attitudes toward use of technology, while perceived usefulness, attitudes toward use of technology, and experience of technology use showed a positive influence on intention to use technology. This study enriches our understanding of technology acceptance by extending consideration to under-studied preservice L2 Chinese teachers in China. Implications for schools and teacher educators are also discussed.

The Covid-19 pandemic has provided second language (L2) learners with additional challenges regarding how to obtain an enjoyable experience while achieving a better learning attainment. Despite a growing body of studies that substantiated the predictive effect of grit, foreign language enjoyment (FLE), and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLA) on Chinese language achievement (CLA), no previous research has explored their predictive effects in online L2 Chinese learning. To address this gap, this study clarifies the nature of the complex correlation between grit, FLE, FLA, and online CLA by analyzing 169 responses from Arabic multilingual learners using structural equation modelling. The results indicate that: (i) FLE, not FLA, significantly predicts online L2 CLA; (ii) FLE acts as a positive mediator between grit and online L2 CLA; and (iii) FLE has a stronger impact in catalyzing an individual’s online L2 success. This study enriches the applicability of the broaden-and-build and control-and-value theories in the field of Chinese language learning. We hope that this study will serve as a call for further attention to emotions and grit, especially for languages other than English, in order to advance the growth of positive psychology in L2 learning and teaching.

Peer feedback has long been recognized for its value in improving second language learning outcomes. However, limited attention has been given to the potential influence of translanguaging in the process of online peer feedback on learners’ second language writing performance. To fill the gap, we carried out this mixed-methods study to examine to what extent translanguaging in online peer feedback contributes to improvement in second language writing performance. A total of 79 Chinese English-as-a-foreign-language university students participated in 3 rounds of online peer feedback with a control group using only second language English ( n = 39) and an experimental group adopting translanguaging ( n = 40) in the process of online peer feedback. Six semi-structured interviews were also carried out to solicit participants’ understanding of online peer feedback. The quantitative results revealed that translanguaging online peer feedback, compared to English-only online peer feedback, was significantly more conducive to the improvement of learners’ second language writing performance in the first round of online peer feedback. However, such a significant difference was not observed in the second and third rounds of online peer feedback. The qualitative findings, on the other hand, showed that both conditions of online peer feedback were supported for their own advantages of improving learners’ second language writing. Additionally, the qualitative findings suggested that factors, such as motivation, agency, self-efficacy and translanguaging awareness, should be taken into consideration to enhance students’ translanguaging practice.