Artificial intelligence-mediated informal digital learning of English (AI-IDLE) might strengthen second language (L2) learners' motivational self-concept (e.g., the ideal L2 self) and enhance their foreign language enjoyment (FLE) by enabling them to build confidence, engagement, and willingness to practice their English skills in a self-directed,…

This study explored the impact of feedback-supported tasks and peer-work activities on language learners' engagement, self-esteem, and language growth in a university setting in Saudi Arabia. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, 45 participants in the experimental group and 43 in the control group underwent 15 sessions of…

Second language (L2) learning research suggests that virtual reality (VR) has the potential to enhance the development of language skills due to its immersive nature and its situated learning opportunities. This quantitative, between-subjects study compared the effectiveness of three learning conditions. University students (N = 63) studied…

This paper is concerned with the integration of informal language learning into university language modules in a foreign language environment. It begins by exploring the evolving nature of formal and informal language learning. This is followed by analysis of a pedagogic innovation intended to integrate foreign language activities in an informal…

Taking the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) model as its theoretical basis, this study aimed to extend knowledge of the learning motivation of Korean language learners. A survey questionnaire was administered to 967 Korean language learners at 28 universities in China to investigate their motivation for learning the Korean language and the…

Background: Boredom has recently attracted increasing attention in second (L2) or foreign language learning (EFL), but little is known about how this feeling affects student and teacher engagement in virtual English learning. The present study aims to determine the arbitrary factors and strategies for managing boredom in virtual learning. Method:…

This study explores the transformative role of AI-enhanced social-emotional learning (SEL) frameworks in improving the engagement and emotional well-being of English as a foreign language (EFL) students in China. A survey was conducted among 816 undergraduate and postgraduate students from universities across five provinces, utilising convenience…

Anxiety is widely recognized as a significant affective factor that influences second language (L2) writing proficiency. However, its specific contributions to writing motivation and engagement, and how it interrelates with these constructs, are not clearly defined. To address this research void, this study explored the role of anxiety in the…

In Chinese universities, most English majors are taught by teachers, and students attend classes and do homework. Students are often passive in their study, which can make them lose study interest, negatively affect their study and cause boredom in class. Although previous studies have studied the class-related boredom of some English courses,…

This study investigates the development and implementation of a big data-driven English ecological classroom teaching model, aiming to reform university English instruction in alignment with contemporary technological advancements. The conventional teaching framework, often limited to textbooks and in-class activities, has been shown to…

Language learners' mindsets--their beliefs about whether language is a fixed aptitude that is immutable or a malleable capacity that can be developed--are associated with achievement goals, language-use anxiety, reappraisals of challenges, and persistence. This study integrates these mindset-related constructs to identify mindset-system profiles…

The present study examines the direct and indirect relationships between classroom environment (CE), L2 (second/foreign language) learner emotions (i.e. enjoyment, anxiety and boredom), and their willingness to communicate (WTC) in classes for English as a foreign language (EFL). Participants were 2,268 university students in China. Pearson…

Digital game-based vocabulary learning (DGBVL) integrates key game elements such as Challenges, Rewards, Human-Computer Interactions (HCI), Multimedia, and Fantasy. Although the overall effectiveness of digital games in enhancing English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) vocabulary knowledge development is well-established, the specific roles of…

Positive psychology offers a scientific window onto understanding and enhancing the welfare and growth of university communities, and as well as improving academic performance. This holistic approach is on the rise, yet most research is conducted in Western countries. This situation prevails despite the fact that two-thirds of the world's…

This article aimed to explore which factors caused Thai learners' anxiety in an online Chinese course provided by Chinese universities, how Chinese proficiency affected online learning anxiety, and how online learning anxiety influences learning engagement. The participants, i.e., learners of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL), completed the…