XIAOCHEN WANG (XI'AN JIAOTONG UNIVERSITY)

NAVIGATING CHINESE STUDENTS' INFORMAL DIGITAL LEARNING OF ENGLISH: THE MEDIATING ROLES OF RESILIENCE AND FLOW : SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AND LITERACY DEVELOPMENT

Resilience and Flow play important roles in language education, but most research focuses on formal learning environments, with few scholars studying their impact on language learning in informal settings. In this sense, this study employs a mixed-methods research design, selecting 512 Chinese EFL learners to investigate the roles of resilience and flow in the relationship between basic psychological needs and engagement within the context of Informal Digital Learning of English (IDLE). A structural equation modeling (SEM) approach and NVivo were utilized to deal with quantitative data and process qualitative data, respectively. The findings reveal that resilience mediates the relationship between basic psychological needs and engagement, serving as an adaptability enhancer, persistence promoter, stress buffer, self-efficacy builder, and emotional regulation facilitator. Conversely, flow partially mediates this relationship, with perceived competence not predicting flow in this context. Flow contributes as an intrinsic motivation driver, positive cycle creator, external pressure mitigator, and efficiency enhancer. This research underscores the important role of resilience and flow in IDLE among Chinese university EFL students. By highlighting these mediating roles, the study provides valuable insights for enhancing the effectiveness of IDLE experiences, contributing to the broader discourse on foreign language education in digital age.

Xiaochen WANG is currently phd student at School of Foreign Studies, Xi'an Jiaotong University. His research interests are language learning, teacher education and linguistic landscape.