Psychological Preference of Chinese Students in Learning English as a Foreign Language: Case of Shaanxi Normal University

Abstract

Students’ outlook in life is an important factor necessary for building a character, and so with creating an optimistic view in schooling as they explore unfamiliar things. In the context of Shaanxi Normal University, communicating with Chinese students using the English language will lead them to the line “Sorry, my English is poor”. This concept paved the way to explore the psychological preference of undergraduate students at Shaanxi Normal University towards learning the English language using quantitative research design. Also, the present study explored whether there is a significant difference in students’ psychological preference towards the English language based on gender, year level, and courses or field of specialization. A modified survey questionnaire aligned to Chinese students’ context was made to describe their ways of studying English. A total of 200 randomly selected students answered a 30-item survey questionnaire from different academic disciplines. Results show that Chinese students have a moderate psychological preference for studying the English language. T-test and one-way ANOVA test results show no significant difference in gender, year level, and academic disciplines. The implication of this study is for EFL teachers to have an idea of the psychological preferences of Chinese students towards learning the art of the English language. In conclusion, Chinese students have a moderate preference for learning the English language. Thus, teachers are recommended to boost the preference of Chinese students to the highest level possible in English classroom instruction for a more productive outcome.

Keywords: Psychological preference, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), Classroom instruction

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-35-13

Publication date: December 31^st 2019