Understanding the Relationship Between Grit and Foreign Language Performance Among Middle School Students: The Roles of Foreign Language Enjoyment and Classroom Environment

Abstract

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ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effect of grit on foreign language performance (FLP) among middle school students. A mediated moderation model was constructed to assess the mediating role of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and the moderating role of classroom environment (CE) in the relationship between grit and FLP.MethodsThe study adopted the Grit Scale-Short Version, the Chinese Version of the FLE Scale, and the English CE Inventory to investigate 832 middle school students, and recorded the students’ FLP in their final exam after 1 month. Correlation and regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationships between grit, FLE, CE, and FLP.ResultsThe results indicated that grit positively affected FLP. In addition, FLE mediated the relationship between grit and FLP, and CE moderated the relationship between grit and FLE, and between grit and FLP.ConclusionGrit not only directly promotes the FLP of middle school students but also indirectly improves FLP by promoting FLE. In addition, the impact of grit on FLE and FLP increases in a positive CE.

Keywords

• grit
• foreign language enjoyment
• classroom environment
• foreign language performance
• positive psychology
• second language learning