Foreign Language Enjoyment among Children

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 2, 33 - 45, 29.12.2025

Selami Aydın , Damla Nur Akkaya

https://doi.org/10.51726/jlr.1740922

Abstract

Current research mainly focuses on cognitive processes, negative emotions, and adult learners, while limited studies investigate FLE among children and its variation by age, gender, and grade in the Turkish EFL learning context. This study investigates foreign language enjoyment (FLE) levels among young learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) in Turkey and examines whether FLE varies according to age, gender, and grade level. A descriptive research design was employed, with 667 primary school students aged eight to 11 participating. Data were collected using a background questionnaire and the Foreign Language Enjoyment Scale for Children (FLES-C). Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and independent samples t-tests were used for the data analysis. The study concluded that young learners have high levels of FLE. It was also found that female students have higher levels of FLE than males. It is recommended that teachers should foster positive, engaging, and inclusive learning environments that are sensitive to individual differences.

Keywords

English as a foreign language , foreign language enjoyment , children , gender , age

Çocuklarda Yabancı Dil Hazzı Üzerine Betimsel Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Mevcut araştırmalar, ağırlıklı olarak bilişsel süreçlere, olumsuz duygulara ve yetişkin öğrenenlere odaklanmakta olup İngilizceyi yabancı dil olarak öğrenen çocuklar arasında yabancı dil hazzını ve bu değişkenin yaş, cinsiyet ve sınıf düzeyine göre değişimini inceleyen çalışmaların sayısı sınırlıdır. Bu çalışma, İngilizceyi yabancı dil olarak öğrenen küçük yaş grubu öğrenciler arasında yabancı dil hazzı düzeyini belirlemek ve yabancı dil hazzının yaş, cinsiyet ve sınıf düzeyine göre farklılık gösterip göstermediğini ortaya çıkarmayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışmada, betimsel bir araştırma deseni kullanılmış ve sekiz ile 11 yaşları arasındaki 667 ilkokul öğrencisi çalışmaya dâhil edilmiştir. Veri toplama aracı olarak bir arka plan anketi ve Çocuklar İçin Yabancı Dil Hazzı Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Veri analizi için betimleyici istatistik, ANOVA ve bağımsız örneklem t-testi kullanılmıştır. Çalışma, küçük yaş grubundaki öğrencilerin yüksek düzeyde yabancı dil öğrenme hazzı yaşadıklarını ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca kız öğrencilerin erkek öğrencilere kıyasla daha yüksek düzeyde yabancı dil hazzına sahip oldukları bulunmuştur. Bu sonuçlara dayanarak; öğretmenlerin, bireysel farklılıklara duyarlı ve olumlu olmaları, katılımcı ve etkileşimli öğrenme ortamları oluşturmaları önerilmektedir.

Keywords

Yabancı dil olarak İngilizce , yabancı dil hazzı , çocuklar , cinsiyet , yaş

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