Although boredom is among the most common academic emotions experienced by students at all possible levels of education, so far it has not received due attention from SLA theorists and researchers. Accordingly, the present paper aims to discuss the concept of boredom from the L2 classroom perspective with a special regard to the university students of English Philology. In the first part the authors provide a definition, present two basic typologies and highlight the causes of boredom followed by a brief overview of research into boredom in educational settings, whereas the second part is intended to approach a phenomenon of boredom on an empirical basis. The authors report on both quantitative and qualitative research findings concerning the intensity of boredom as felt by the subjects during the practical English language classes. First, the numerical results obtained from the Boredom Proneness Scale and correlated to boredom experienced in practical English language classes are referred to. Then the qualitative data gathered from the students’ descriptions of boredom-related situations during the said classes are commented on. Finally, the authors proceed to propose certain L2 classroom boredom-coping options.
This paper investigates engagement and active learning in university mass education. It presents the results of an empirical study on the level of interest and the academic emotions that were experienced during an engaging lecture course, and how such variables were related to flow experience, self-study time, and study success.The participants (n=107) were Finnish first-year teacher students in an educational psychology lecture course. The data were collected by using a questionnaire that measured interest, academic emotions, sense of competence, challenge experienced, and self-study time five days before the final examination. Correlations among variables were measured, a step-wise cluster analysis and two ANOVA tests conducted.The participants were highly engaged and interested during the course. Interest, enthusiasm, sense of competence, and self-study time correlated positively with the grade awarded for the course. Three clusters (emotional profiles) were identified: engaged (36 %), unstressed (25 %), and anxious (39 %) student groups. Engaged students spent the most hours in self-study and received the best grades. Unstressed students were the least active in self-study and also achieved the lowest grades.Interest and sense of competence were decisive variables in successful studying during an engaging lecture course. Opportunities to develop blended learning environments that foster active learning in lectures were further discussed.
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