KITIYA CHANCHAY (RAJAMANGALA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY KRUNGTHEP)
ATIPAT BOONMOH (King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT))

IMPACT OF REPEATED TOEIC TESTING ON MOTIVATION AND WELL-BEING OF EFL THAI UNDERGRADUATES : DIGITAL LITERACIES/LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY

This study explores how repeated TOEIC test-taking affects the motivation, performance, and psychological well-being of English for International Communication (EIC) majors in Thai universities. Many students struggle to achieve the high TOEIC scores required by their programs, which poses challenges for their academic and career futures. This issue is particularly significant in Thailand due to its unique educational and cultural context. The research used a mixed-methods approach, involving 60 fourth-year undergraduate students who had repeatedly failed the TOEIC. It combined surveys, which measured changes in student motivation and test scores, with in-depth interviews that explored the students' feelings and experiences related to taking the test multiple times. Findings show that frequently failing the TOEIC can greatly lower students' motivation and self-confidence, and increase their stress and anxiety. However, some students felt less anxious about the test after taking it several times, which suggests that getting used to the test format might help reduce nervousness. The study highlights the need for specific strategies and support to help students who repeatedly face these testing challenges. For educators and policymakers, the results stress the importance of creating educational policies that do more than prepare students for tests; they should also address students' mental health and motivation. These insights are crucial for improving how education is delivered in Thailand and for supporting students' overall success and well-being.

Kitiya Chanchay is a lecturer in the School of Liberal Arts, Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep, Thailand. She received a master degree in Applied Linguistics for English Language Teaching from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. Her research interests include education, language teaching, and applied linguistics. Email: kittiya.k@mail.rmutk.ac.th

Atipat Boonmoh is an associate professor at KMUTT with a Ph.D. from the University of Warwick, UK. He has authored over 20 journal articles and two book chapters. His research focuses on Lexicography, Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL), and Autonomy.