Children today encounter English in various contexts, with cartoons serving as a particularly influential medium. Beyond their entertainment value, cartoons also promote incidental foreign language acquisition. This article presents the findings of a study involving 240 sixth-grade pupils from Slovenian primary schools. Employing a quantitative approach, the study utilised both a questionnaire and a knowledge test to explore the relationship between English cartoon viewing and incidental vocabulary acquisition. It examined the frequency of cartoon viewing, pupils’ attitudes towards English-language cartoons, and the impact of subtitles on vocabulary test performance. The results indicate that a higher frequency of cartoon viewing, positive attitudes towards English cartoons, and the use of English subtitles are significantly associated with enhanced English vocabulary knowledge. The findings underscore the educational value of English cartoons in supporting vocabulary development and highlight the potential of engaging multimedia content in fostering incidental vocabulary acquisition in both classroom settings and out-of-school contexts. Consequently, educators should incorporate cartoon-based materials to enhance vocabulary learning, introduce authentic language exposure, and provide multi-sensory experiences tailored to varying learner preferences and proficiency levels.

This study examined the impact of reading journals on the development of English as a foreign language (EFL) reading comprehension and engagement, while also analyzing participants' perceptions of the learning process. A mixed-method design was applied to a sample of 80 second-year senior high school students (aged 15–18) with A2 proficiency. Using a quasi-experimental approach, participants were divided into an experimental group that kept journals and a control group that followed traditional instruction. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, student questionnaires, and thematic analysis of the journals. Results showed significant improvements in reading performance among students in the experimental group. Students also reported better vocabulary retention, improved ability to identify main ideas, and greater confidence. Reflections revealed increased engagement, critical thinking, and autonomy. However, learners faced challenges such as complex grammar, summarization, and time constraints. Overall, the findings suggest that reading journals can be an effective strategy to support EFL reading comprehension and foster deeper interaction with texts.

The current study sought to evaluate the impact of programs used to enhance the self-regulation and social interaction for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), as perceived by their families. The descriptive approach was used to collect and analyze data and derive conclusions after developing the study instruments. The study sample consisted of 150 families of children with ASD enrolled in special education centers in Amman, Jordan. The study participants were purposefully selected to respond to the two provided measurement scales. To measure the impact of the intervention programs, the researchers developed the Self-Regulation Behavior Scale and the Social Interaction Scale, ensuring the validity and reliability of both scales. The results of the study indicated that from the families’ perspective, programs for children with ASD had a moderate impact on enhancing self-regulation and a high impact on social interaction. Additionally, the findings of the study revealed statistically significant differences in the degree of improvement in self-regulation and social interaction behaviors related to the child’s gender and the severity of their disorder. However, no statistically significant differences were found related to the child’s age and gender in their level of improvement in self-regulation and social interaction behaviors.

This preliminary study examines how three generative AI tools, ChatGPT-4, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, support B+ level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in opinion essay writing. Conducted at a preparatory school in Türkiye, the study explored student use of the tools for brainstorming, outlining, and feedback across three essay tasks. A mixed methods design combined rubric-based evaluations, surveys, and reflections. Quantitative results showed no significant differences between tools for most criteria, indicating comparable performance in idea generation, essay structuring, and feedback. The only significant effect was in the feedback stage, where ChatGPT-4 scored higher than both Gemini and Copilot for actionability. In the brainstorming stage, a difference in argument relevance was observed across tools, but this was not statistically significant after post-hoc analysis. Qualitative findings revealed task-specific preferences: Gemini was favored for clarity and variety in brainstorming and outlining, ChatGPT-4 for detailed, clear, and actionable feedback, and Copilot for certain organizational strengths. While the tools performed similarly overall, perceptions varied by task and tool, highlighting the value of allowing flexible tool choice in EFL writing instruction.

This article aims to establish a research map of the flipped classroom (FC) model in general education for the period 2014-2024, exploring publication trends, influential authors, organizations, countries, and prominent research topics, while also identifying academic gaps in this field. The study focuses on three main aspects: (1) publication trends and influential authors, organizations, and countries; (2) key research topics and academic gaps; (3) international collaboration networks in FC research. The research employs a bibliometric analysis method, utilizing the Scopus database and the VOSviewer visualization tool, to synthesize information and identify research trends. The results indicate that research on FC in K-12 education increased sharply from 2019, reflecting the impact of digital transformation in education during and after Covid-19. The United States, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are the leading research centers. Authors such as Bergmann, Bishop, and Hew have been highly influential. Prominent research trends include self-regulated learning, learner satisfaction, gamification, and the application of artificial intelligence. The international collaboration network in this field is growing, with strong participation from institutions from Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. The study recommends expanding the scope of analysis beyond Scopus and using qualitative methods and systematic reviews to further evaluate the FC model. The research will provide policymakers, teachers, and researchers with useful evidence for improving programs, enhancing professional development, and promoting digital transformation in general education.

Our study examines the link between adolescents’ skills (mathematics, reading literacy, and physical fitness) and the frequency with which they participate in housework. We utilize a large longitudinal dataset of Hungarian adolescents (N = 37,461), making this, to our knowledge, the first European study on this topic. We use a rich set of background variables and fixed effects estimators to account for time-varying and time-invariant individual characteristics. Contrary to most of the literature we find cognitive skills to have no practically significant relationship with housework frequency. This discrepancy can be attributed to methodological choices (i.e., the use of the fixed effects estimator) or sociocultural differences in housework duties between the regions studied. Investigating heterogeneous effects on cognitive skills, we find girls’ literacy scores to be slightly affected by daily housework (-.02 SD), unlike boys’. The difference is more pronounced for children with highly educated parents and working mothers (-.06 SD). Substantially lower mathematics scores are detected for children who almost never participate in housework and have unemployed mothers (-.19 SD). Children who have chores to do almost every day and whose mothers are on parental leave also show signs of worsened mathematics ability (-.1 SD). Fitness levels of students who rarely engage in housework are significantly lower (-.04 SD), suggesting that some participation in household tasks contributes to physical well-being. This effect is pronounced for children of tertiary-educated parents (-.05 SD). Overall, findings suggest that household chores are cognitively neutral for most adolescents, have small physical-fitness benefits when performed in moderation, and become academically detrimental only at the extremes within specific family contexts.

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into the field of higher education is causing widespread public discourse. However, existing research is fragmented and lacks systematic synthesis, which limits understanding of how college and university students adopt artificial intelligence technologies. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic review following the guidelines of the PRISMA statement, including studies from ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycARTICLES, SOC INDEX, and Embase databases. A total of 5594 articles were identified in the database search; 112 articles were included in the review. The criteria for inclusion in the review were: (i) publication date; (ii) language; (iii) participants; (iv) object of research. The results of the study showed: (a) The Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theory of Technology Acceptance and Use are most often used to explain the AI acceptance; (b) quantitative research methods prevail; (c) AI is mainly used by students to search and process information; (d) technological factors are the most significant factors of AI acceptance; (e) gender, specialty, and country of residence influence the AI acceptance. Finally, several problems and opportunities for future research are highlighted, including problems of psychological well-being, students’ personal and academic development, and the importance of financial, educational, and social support for students in the context of widespread artificial intelligence.

Globalization, digitalization, and evolving national regulations have intensified the need for rigorous quality-assurance systems to secure accreditation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This study asks: What theoretical contributions underpin HEI accreditation, and how have research themes evolved? Employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and Bibliometric Analysis via Biblioshiny and Vantage Point, we examined 1,252 documents indexed in Scopus® (781) and Web of Science™ (471) from 2012 to May 2025. Findings delineate three production phases—Foundation Consolidation (2012–2017), Expansion and Diversification (2017–2020), and Sustained Transformation and Innovation (2020–2025)—and three thematic perspectives: (a) Teaching and Learning Quality, (b) Technology and Sustainability as Quality Catalysts, and (c) Governance, Management, and Accountability. Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) identified three Motor Theme clusters—[1] Sustainable Development and Institutional Change, [2] Technological Pedagogy and Student Experience, and [3] Governance and Regulation—led by Spain, the United States, Chile, Colombia, the UK, Australia, and India. Conclusions underscore accreditation’s dual role as a strategic lever for institutional improvement and a competitive mechanism, with emerging focus on competency, e-learning, employability, machine learning, and sustainability. Future research should explore cross-border accreditation dynamics; the impact of AACSB and NAAC standards on business-school curriculum design and program quality; accreditation’s pedagogical effects; and leadership practices for effective implementation.

Text readability assessment stands as a fundamental component of foreign language education because it directly determines students' ability to understand their course materials. The ability of current tools, including ChatGPT, to precisely measure text readability remains uncertain. Readability describes the ease with which readers can understand written material, while vocabulary complexity and sentence structure, along with syllable numbers and sentence length, determine its level. The traditional readability formulas rely on data from native speakers yet fail to address the specific requirements of language learners. The absence of appropriate readability assessment methods for foreign language instruction demonstrates the need for specialized approaches in this field. This research investigates the potential use of ChatGPT to evaluate text readability for foreign language students. The examination included selected textbooks through text analysis with ChatGPT to determine their readability level. The obtained results were evaluated against traditional readability assessment approaches and established formulas. The research aims to establish whether ChatGPT provides an effective method to evaluate educational texts for foreign language instruction. The research evaluates ChatGPT's capabilities beyond technical aspects. The study examines how this technology may influence students' learning experiences and outcomes. The text clarity evaluation capabilities of ChatGPT might lead to innovative approaches for developing educational tools. The implementation of this approach would generate lasting benefits for educational practices in schools. For example, ChatGPT’s readability classifications correlated strongly with Flesch-Kincaid scores (r = .75, p < .01), and its mean readability rating (M = 2.17, SD = 1.00) confirmed its sensitivity to text complexity.