Work

Unveiling the dynamics of learner engagement: An idiodynamic investigation of L2 speaking tasks

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Learner engagement (LE) is a complex meta-construct that denotes physical and mental activity toward learning goals. To understand what fosters and thwarts LE, we applied the idiodynamic method to investigate it moment-by-moment. We addressed the following research questions: 1. How do self-appraisals of learners’ emotional engagement (EE) fluctuate over time? 2. Do EE fluctuations overlap with the other engagement dimensions? 3. How do contextual and learner-internal influences produce shifts in LE? 12 English-majors’ classroom dyadic interaction was video recorded. The idiodynamic software produced graphs of their EE ratings that, together with the videos, were used as stimuli in the immediate recall. In another round of stimulated recall, the graphs were enriched with information on manifestations of the other LE dimensions. Rich quantitative and qualitative data were collected. We discovered multiple EE triggers and mitigators, mutual influence of the engagement dimensions, and fluctuations of the other LE dimensions. Our data show that LE in oral tasks is a dynamic and complex construct, whose dimensions usually support one another, even when external and other learner-internal influences are suboptimal.

Source: Applied Linguistics

DOI: 10.1093/applin/amaf071

Authors: Anna Mystkowska-Wiertelak, Jakub Bielak, Wojciech Wiertelak

Institutions: University of Wrocław, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Language: English

Topic: EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,481