Exploring Korean Learning Enjoyment : Where Does It Come From?

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study examines Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE), one of the positive emotions associated with L2 learning, and intends to investigate the factors that contribute to the FLE among L2 Korean learners. Variables under examination can be categorized into two overarching categories, namely ‘learner-internal variables’ and ‘learner-external variables.’ 125 Chinese-L1 Korean learners completed a self-report questionnaire that was used to obtain data. A series of parametric statistics revealed that six out of seven learner-internal variables and two out of six learner-external variables were significantly related to Korean learning enjoyment. Then, a stepwise regression analysis showed that two learner-internal variables and one learner-external variable were identified as strong predictors of Korean learning enjoyment. Thus, it can be inferred that learner-internal variables have a greater impact on predicting Korean learning enjoyment compared to learner-external variables.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Theoretical Background
• 2.1 Positive Psychology and Second Language Acquisition
• 2.2 Foreign Language Enjoyment as a Positive Emotion
• 3. The Present Study
• 3.1 Participants
• 3.2 Instruments
• 3.3 Data Analysis
• 4. Results and Discussions
• 4.1 Correlations between Learner-Internal Variables and Korean Learning Enjoyment
• 4.2 Correlations between Learner-External Variables and Korean Learning Enjoyment
• 4.3 The Joint Effects of Learner-Internal and –External Variables
• 5. Conclusions and Pedagogical Implications
• References