Although the benefits of collaborative learning across disciplines are well-established, its effectiveness hinges on the quality of execution. Motivational beliefs and emotions are crucial in students' engagement and achievement. Yet, a notable gap exists in examining these variables among students with varying proficiency levels in the context of…

This study investigated the impact of student-selected pairs on emotional engagement and language-learning opportunities generated during collaborative tasks. Sixteen learners of English at a Hong Kong secondary school performed collaborative tasks in two pairing arrangements: student-selected pairing and teacher-assigned pairing (mixed…