Foreign Language Enjoyment Of Science-Oriented Students And Contributing Factors In Elite Senior Secondary Schools

Foreign language learning is crucial for students,and recent studies show that foreign language enjoyment(FLE)directly affects learning outcomes.While research on foreign language enjoyment and its effects on proficiency has been prominent for the past decade,data on high school students,particularly science-oriented students,are scarce.Science-oriented students tend to approach learning more logically,which can differ from arts-oriented students,and they may lack planning and self-discipline in language learning.However,little research has been conducted on foreign language learning and enjoyment among this population.Therefore,this study aims to investigate the foreign language enjoyment of science-oriented students in elite senior secondary schools in China and explore the contributing factors.Two research questions guided this study:(1)What is the overall level of foreign language enjoyment among science-oriented students in elite senior secondary schools?(2)What factors contribute to their foreign language enjoyment?Using a mixed-methods approach,data were collected from 123 senior-two science-oriented students from a provincial key high school in central China through a questionnaire and nine interviews.Two major findings emerged from the data analysis.First,science-oriented students demonstrated a moderate level of foreign language enjoyment,with significant individual differences.Second,factors that contributed to students’ foreign language enjoyment came from both internal and external sources,including factors related to students,teachers,schools,and families.Regarding students,high expectations for grades and teachers were found,but engagement in English learning and interaction with teachers were low.This resulted in a lack of self-confidence and unfamiliarity with teachers,hence diminishing their foreign language enjoyment.In terms of teachers,a dual effect was observed.Good personalities positively affect students’ foreign language enjoyment while poor teaching negatively affect it.As for schools and families,the learning environment significantly influenced students’ foreign language enjoyment by providing accessible learning resources,but also exerting excessive Gaokao-dominant pressures.Overall,this study provides valuable insights for students,teachers,school administrators,and parents regarding foreign language enjoyment,and highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of this important topic in China.