Academic Buoyancy and Engagement in English Speaking Learning Among Chinese College Students

Researchers at Northeastern University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China, have conducted a study to explore the relationship between academic buoyancy, academic engagement, and English speaking learning among Chinese college students. The findings suggest that academic buoyancy positively predicts English speaking learning engagement, both directly and indirectly through the mediating role of English speaking learning enjoyment. Furthermore, English speaking learning anxiety negatively moderates the relationships between academic buoyancy and English speaking learning engagement.

Key Takeaways:

• Academic buoyancy is a significant predictor of English speaking learning engagement among Chinese college students.
• English speaking learning enjoyment acts as a mediator in the relationship between academic buoyancy and English speaking learning engagement.
• English speaking learning anxiety negatively moderates the relationships between academic buoyancy and English speaking learning engagement.
• The study provides valuable pedagogical implications for enhancing English speaking instruction in Chinese colleges.
• The research highlights the complex interactions of academic buoyancy and foreign language learning emotions on engagement in English speaking learning.
• Xiaowei Huang, Yurong Zhao, and Lianghong Hui were the authors of the study.
• The research was funded by the National Social Science Fund of China.
• The study used a sample of 244 college students from two highly-ranked Chinese universities.

Statistics:

• 244 Chinese EFL college students participated in the study.
• The study was conducted in December 2023.
• The correlations were analyzed using a moderated mediation model with SPSS 26.0, IBM Amos 22, Mplus 8.3, and PROCESS v4.2.
• 2,000 bootstrap iterations were applied to the analysis.
• The study reveals that ESLB positively predicted ESLEG both directly and indirectly through the mediating role of ESLE.

Sources:

• Huang, X., Zhao, Y., & Hui, L. (2025). Academic buoyancy and academic engagement in English speaking learning among Chinese college students: the mediation of enjoyment and the moderation of anxiety. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1680032.
• NewsRx. New Findings from Northeastern University in the Area of Anxiety Disorders Reported (Academic buoyancy and academic engagement in English speaking learning among Chinese college students: the mediation of enjoyment and the moderation of anxiety). Health & Medicine Week. October 17, 2025; p 3078.