How technology influences English learning attainment among Chinese students

Abstract

The purpose of this research includes analyzing the interaction between online English learning motivations, digital readiness, academic engagement, self-regulated English learning attainment, and technology self-efficacy. These interactions were examined based on data gathered from learners in online English courses through the method of structural equation modeling. Analysis found that online English learning motivation has a significant impact on the learners' level of digital readiness and levels of academic engagement, thereby underlining its importance in getting learners ready for meaningful navigation of the digital environments with emphasis on specific academic tasks. Moreover, digital readiness and academic engagement mediate the link between online English learning motivation and online self-regulated learning, thus signifying the role of these variables in achieving translation of motivation into efficient self-regulation. Moreover, online English learning motivation exerts an indirect impact on digital readiness and academic engagement through the moderation of technology self-efficacy; in particular, the high level of self-efficacy strengthens the positive effects of motivation. This basically emphasizes the confidence in technology usage as a fundamental dimension to the effectiveness of online learning. Hence, based on these findings it can be concluded that increasing online English learning motivation, readiness for digital learning environments and academic engagement as well as the technology self-efficacy is important in order to achieve the greatest learning success in the field of online English learning. Although the study has its drawbacks like the use of self-reported data and cross-sectional research design, the study present implications that would be useful to educators and policymakers in the improvement of the online education strategies. The next steps in the research should involve following up the participants over a long period and using both qualitative and quantitative methods to augment these results.