2026-10-12T10:27:45Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34005765 2026-09-30T00:31:31Z category_29386 portal_12 item_type_5 month_year_09_2026

Lina Chi: When Curiosity Meets Confidence: Interest and Self-Efficacy Development in Young EFL Learners Lina Chi (12107867) Language studies not elsewhere classified CLIL young EFL learners interest self-efficacy language learning motivation <p dir="ltr">Interest and self-efficacy are central to how young learners engage with and persist in language learning. This longitudinal mixed-methods study followed 46 Chinese primary EFL learners across CLIL and non-CLIL classrooms to explore how these two motivational dimensions developed over time. Questionnaire data, classroom observations, focus-group interviews and teacher data revealed distinct developmental trajectories. CLIL learners experienced greater motivational fluctuation as they navigated the combined cognitive and linguistic demands of content learning, while non-CLIL learners generally showed more stable patterns. Across both contexts, interest and self-efficacy were positively related and shaped by challenge, successful experiences, emotions and classroom support. The findings suggest that motivation is not a fixed learner characteristic but a dynamic process. Effective learning environments should therefore spark curiosity while providing sufficient scaffolding and opportunities for success to help learners transform curiosity into confidence.</p> 2026-09-30T00:31:31Z Image Poster 10.17608/k6.auckland.34005765.v2 https://figshare.com/articles/poster/When_Curiosity_Meets_Confidence_Interest_and_Self-Efficacy_Development_in_Young_EFL_Learners/34005765 CC BY 4.0