Is flow possible in the Emergency Remote Teaching foreign language classroom?

The present study focuses on the experience of flow among 168 Arab and Kurdish English Foreign Language (EFL) learners in both in-person and emergency remote teaching (ERT) classes. Statistical analyses of questionnaire data revealed that learners did experience flow in their ERT classes but for a significantly shorter time than in the pre-pandemic in-person classes. Those who experienced flow in in-person classes were also more likely to experience it in ERT classes. In the in-person classes, the proportion of time in flow was linked to age, self-rated proficiency, attitudes toward English, attitudes toward the teacher, and the teacher frequency of use of English. In contrast, in ERT classes, the proportion of time in flow was only linked to attitude toward the teacher. This is interpreted as evidence that the ERT does not just cause physical and social isolation but also mental isolation

El multilingüismo ¿afecta la ansiedad y el disfrute en el aula de lenguas extranjeras?

Multilingual foreign language learners have been found to typically experience less Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) and more Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) than their less multilingual peers. Since most existing research was based on single databases, authors had to be careful to avoid sweeping generalisations about the positive effect of multilingualism. In order to increase validity, the current paper will investigate the link between the degree of multilingualism and two learner emotions using three different existing databases that contained relevant data but where multilingualism was not part of the research questions in the subsequent papers. Participants who contributed to the first database were 360 FL learners in a Kuwaiti university, the second database included data from 502 English Foreign Language (EFL) learners in secondary schools and universities in Morocco, and the third database included data from 181 pre-teen EFL learners in secondary schools in France. Separate statistical analyses of the three databases confirmed that multilingualism was linked to significantly higher FLE in all three databases and to lower FLCA in two out of the three databases. This suggests that knowing more languages contributes to more positive and fewer negative emotions in the FL class.Se ha descubierto que los estudiantes multilingües de lenguas extranjeras suelen experimentar menos ansiedad en el aula de lenguas extranjeras y más disfrute de la lengua extranjera que sus compañeros menos multilingües. Dado que la mayoría de las investigaciones existentes se basaban en bases de datos únicas, los autores debían tener cuidado de evitar generalizaciones radicales sobre el efecto positivo del multilingüismo. Para aumentar la validez, el presente artículo investigará el vínculo entre el grado de multilingüismo y dos emociones del alumno utilizando tres bases de datos diferentes que contenían datos relevantes pero donde el multilingüismo no formaba parte de las preguntas de investigación de los artículos posteriores. Los participantes que contribuyeron a la primera base de datos fueron 360 estudiantes de lengua extranjera en una universidad de Kuwait, la segunda base de datos incluyó datos de 502 estudiantes de lengua extranjera inglesa en escuelas secundarias y universidades de Marruecos, y la tercera base de datos incluyó datos de 181 preadolescentes que eran estudiantes de inglés como lengua extranjera en escuelas secundarias en Francia. Análisis estadísticos separados de las tres bases de datos confirmaron que el multilingüismo estaba relacionado con un disfrute significativamente mayor en las tres bases de datos y con un ansiedad más bajo en dos de las tres bases de datos. Esto sugiere que saber más idiomas contribuye a generar más emociones positivas y menos emociones negativas en la clase de lengua extranjera

Levels of foreign language enjoyment, anxiety and boredom in emergency remote teaching and in in-person classes

The present mixed-method study focuses on levels of foreign language enjoyment (FLE), foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) and foreign language boredom (FLB) among 168 Arab and Kurdish English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in both in-person and emergency remote teaching (ERT) classes. Statistical analyses revealed that learners experienced significantly more FLE, more FLCA, and less FLB in in-person classes than in ERT classes. The qualitative data revealed a more nuanced picture about the things learners appreciated and disliked in both contexts. Sitting at home in front of their computer, many learners did feel more isolated, disengaged, distracted, and missed the interactions with peers and teacher. Yet, some participants felt that ERT did allow relationship-building, lessened their fear of making errors and pushed them to develop new coping strategies. The main sources of FLCA in ERT turned out to be issues with internet connection rather the anxiety of making errors in front of everybody. Boredom arose mostly from a lack of exciting social interactions and monotony in delivery which could induce disengagement. Some pedagogical implications are presented

Emotional, attitudinal, and sociobiographical sources of flow in online and in-person EFL classrooms

Flow reflects an optimal balance of challenge and skill, which is exhilarating and addictive. The current study investigates the role of three learner emotions (enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom) on the proportion of class time in flow among 165 Arab and Kurdish English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students in both in-person and online classes. Statistical analyses revealed that Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE), and more specifically, the dimension Personal FLE, was a significant positive predictor of flow, while Foreign Language Boredom was a significant negative predictor. Contrary to previous research, Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety had no significant negative effect on flow. Further analyses showed that students’ nationality and their attitudes toward English and their English teacher had significant effects on their time in flow. It thus seems that flow becomes possible when the teacher manages to get learners in the right emotional mood, allowing those who enjoy themselves intensely to rise to a state of flow, both in in-person and online classes

Does multilingualism shape personality? An exploratory investigation

Multilingual foreign language learners have been found to typically experience less Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) and more Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) than their less multilingual peers. Since most existing research was based on single databases, authors had to be careful to avoid sweeping generalisations about the positive effect of multilingualism. In order to increase validity, the current paper will investigate the link between the degree of multilingualism and two learner emotions using three different existing databases that contained relevant data but where multilingualism was not part of the research questions in the subsequent papers. Participants who contributed to the first database were 360 FL learners in a Kuwaiti university, the second database included data from 502 English Foreign Language (EFL) learners in secondary schools and universities in Morocco, and the third database included data from 181 pre-teen EFL learners in secondary schools in France. Separate statistical analyses of the three databases confirmed that multilingualism was linked to significantly higher FLE in all three databases and to lower FLCA in two out of the three databases. This suggests that knowing more languages contributes to more positive and fewer negative emotions in the FL class