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This contribution presents an innovative tool called ‘sAIrcasm’ powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Challenges concerning the use of Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing (NLP) in linguistics have been the subject of recent debate; one of the major challenges concerns the automatic detection of complex communicative phenomena, such as sarcasm. Several attempts have been made, but the complexity of the task has not yet led to the creation of an effective tool providing human-like results. This article presents a custom GPT model capable of identifying sarcasm and making pragmatic inferences based on context-dependent verbal and paraverbal cues. This study considers a Facebook video analyzed by both a custom artificial intelligence model and the free version of ChatGPT, providing insights into the broader implications of AI-based models in linguistic studies, with a specific focus on whether they can perform human-like cognitive processes.

This study explores senior-junior scaffolding in IELTS Writing Task 2 preparation, examining how experienced students support juniors in brainstorming, outlining, and revising essays. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected from audio-recorded writing lesson involving five senior-junior pairs in an IELTS extra-class in Vietnam. Findings reveal distinct scaffolding strategies across writing phases: guiding questions, suggestions, and demonstrations dominated brainstorming, while motivation and structural guidance from guiding question and suggestion were key in outlining. In revision, interactive feedback and targeted modifications through guiding question, demonstration, feedback and others helped juniors refine their writing. The study highlights senior-junior as peer scaffolding as an effective instructional approach, benefiting both juniors (in writing improvement) and seniors (in critical thinking skills). The results suggest that structured peer mentoring enhances IELTS writing proficiency, with implications for writing instruction and learner autonomy. Future research should examine the long-term impact of peer scaffolding (senior-junior support) on test performance.

This study explored the perceptions of L2 research held by English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in Mainland China, along with their research engagement. Online questionnaires were completed by 55 teachers and four individual interviews were conducted online. Results showed that teachers perceived research as the collection of objective, quantitative data involving a large number of participants with results being statistically analysed and publicly shared. Teachers also showed a moderate level of L2 research engagement. Lack of time was the main reason given by teachers who had low research engagement while overseas study experience outside Mainland China was found to be related to higher levels of research engagement. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of the factors that influence L2 teachers’ research engagement to ultimately be able to promote research activity in the teaching community.

This study explores the multilingual signage landscape of Pattaya, a major international tourist hub in Thailand. Using photographic evidence, field observations, and interviews with government officials and business owners, it analyzes the types, distribution, and linguistic composition of signs in key commercial areas. The findings show that Thai dominates in peripheral and residential zones, while English is the most common foreign language, followed by Chinese, Russian, and others. Signage patterns vary by location and business type, reflecting tourist demographics and spatial clustering. Multilingualism is most visible in central and beachfront areas, where signage serves both communicative and symbolic functions. The study challenges the conventional top-down and bottom-up divide by emphasizing decentralized, business-led language practices. It concludes with recommendations for local policymakers and urban planners to foster inclusive and culturally aware signage in a rapidly globalizing urban environment.