JALT2025 - Tokyo

Can Thai/Chinese Learners Grasp English Aspectual Meanings?

Oct 31, 2025, 4:35 PM

30m

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Research-oriented Presentation (30-minutes) Pedagogy Room 301

Speaker

Nuphak Charoensirisoonthorn (University of Cambridge)

Description

Differences in use of aspectual markers across languages may pose challenges for L2 learners. Moreover, the interaction between viewpoint and situation aspects may complicate aspectual acquisition. Using an acceptability judgement task, this cross-sectional study examines Thai/Chinese learners’ understanding and acquisition of the resulting meanings of (a)telic predicates with -ed, focusing on the meanings of completion, habitual activity and single-event activity. These features are rarely taught in English classrooms; the study will carry pedagogical implications.

Summary

Differences in use of aspectual markers across languages may pose challenges for L2 learners. Moreover, the interaction between viewpoint and situation aspects may complicate aspectual acquisition. Using an acceptability judgement task, this cross-sectional study examines Thai/Chinese learners’ understanding and acquisition of the resulting meanings of (a)telic predicates with -ed, focusing on the meanings of completion, habitual activity and single-event activity. These features are rarely taught in English classrooms; the study will carry pedagogical implications.