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Learning Interest: A Review of Studies and Implications for Future Research Directions in Second Language Acquisition

Received: 11 January 2022     Accepted: 28 January 2022     Published: 16 February 2022
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Abstract

Interest is regarded by researchers in educational psychology to be a crucial factor in individuals’ learning process. It has been extensively studied in educational psychology and various educational disciplines. However, it has not attracted sufficient research efforts in the field of language learning. This study provides an overview of the interest factor as well as an in-depth analysis of related studies on learning interest, including the triggers, effects, influencing factors and development of situational interest and individual interest, which are the two categories of learning interest. Following the overview of related studies done in subject areas other than language learning and teaching, the paper also examines the interest studies focused specifically on second language acquisition or foreign language learning. Based on the discussions and analysis, the author suggests the directions and avenues of future studies for researchers of language learning and teaching, proposing the expanded research scope and deepened research foci for both situational and individual interests. This study aims at bringing the interest factor into the field of language teaching and research so as to expand the scope of research topics in this field. More importantly, this overview article may also provide a new perspective and effective means to invigorate language learning classroom and maximize language learning outcomes.

Published in Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13
Page(s) 15-22
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Learning Interest, Situational Interest, Individual Interest, Language Learner Factors, Second Language Acquisition

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Juan Zhang. (2022). Learning Interest: A Review of Studies and Implications for Future Research Directions in Second Language Acquisition. Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, 7(1), 15-22. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13

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    ACS Style

    Juan Zhang. Learning Interest: A Review of Studies and Implications for Future Research Directions in Second Language Acquisition. Teach. Educ. Curric. Stud. 2022, 7(1), 15-22. doi: 10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13

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    AMA Style

    Juan Zhang. Learning Interest: A Review of Studies and Implications for Future Research Directions in Second Language Acquisition. Teach Educ Curric Stud. 2022;7(1):15-22. doi: 10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13,
      author = {Juan Zhang},
      title = {Learning Interest: A Review of Studies and Implications for Future Research Directions in Second Language Acquisition},
      journal = {Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies},
      volume = {7},
      number = {1},
      pages = {15-22},
      doi = {10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.tecs.20220701.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.tecs.20220701.13},
      abstract = {Interest is regarded by researchers in educational psychology to be a crucial factor in individuals’ learning process. It has been extensively studied in educational psychology and various educational disciplines. However, it has not attracted sufficient research efforts in the field of language learning. This study provides an overview of the interest factor as well as an in-depth analysis of related studies on learning interest, including the triggers, effects, influencing factors and development of situational interest and individual interest, which are the two categories of learning interest. Following the overview of related studies done in subject areas other than language learning and teaching, the paper also examines the interest studies focused specifically on second language acquisition or foreign language learning. Based on the discussions and analysis, the author suggests the directions and avenues of future studies for researchers of language learning and teaching, proposing the expanded research scope and deepened research foci for both situational and individual interests. This study aims at bringing the interest factor into the field of language teaching and research so as to expand the scope of research topics in this field. More importantly, this overview article may also provide a new perspective and effective means to invigorate language learning classroom and maximize language learning outcomes.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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    T2  - Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies
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    AB  - Interest is regarded by researchers in educational psychology to be a crucial factor in individuals’ learning process. It has been extensively studied in educational psychology and various educational disciplines. However, it has not attracted sufficient research efforts in the field of language learning. This study provides an overview of the interest factor as well as an in-depth analysis of related studies on learning interest, including the triggers, effects, influencing factors and development of situational interest and individual interest, which are the two categories of learning interest. Following the overview of related studies done in subject areas other than language learning and teaching, the paper also examines the interest studies focused specifically on second language acquisition or foreign language learning. Based on the discussions and analysis, the author suggests the directions and avenues of future studies for researchers of language learning and teaching, proposing the expanded research scope and deepened research foci for both situational and individual interests. This study aims at bringing the interest factor into the field of language teaching and research so as to expand the scope of research topics in this field. More importantly, this overview article may also provide a new perspective and effective means to invigorate language learning classroom and maximize language learning outcomes.
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Author Information
  • Department of English, School of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, China

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