Worry, Boredom, and Embarrassment GXNU Chinese Students' Emotions in BIPA Learning at Universitas Negeri Malang
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63011/iconels.v3i1.128Keywords:
Negative Emotions, BIPA Learning, GXNU Students, 3 1 ProgramAbstract
Foreign language learning involves not only linguistic competence but also emotional factors that influence learning effectiveness. This study explores the emotional experiences of Guangxi Normal University (GXNU) students in the 3+1 program at Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) during BIPA (Indonesian for Foreign Speakers) learning. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through questionnaires and writing tasks from 17 students (13 female, 4 male). The findings indicate that most students experienced positive emotions, with 64.7% reporting no anxiety and a low average boredom score (1.35). Nevertheless, 5.9% still felt anxious, particularly during examinations and academic tasks, while boredom occasionally emerged when learning activities became repetitive. Although emotions such as worry, boredom, and embarrassment are natural in language learning, they may hinder progress if not properly managed. Conversely, moderate anxiety can function as a learning motivator. Therefore, BIPA instructors should adopt emotionally supportive teaching strategies, including scaffolded speaking, pair and group work, context-based tasks, roleplays, and interactive media. These findings align with Sobara et al. (2024), which reported high student satisfaction with teaching methods, learning materials, teacher–student interaction, and the supportive learning environment, indicating the effectiveness of the UM 3+1 BIPA program.
References
Al-Jarrah, R. M., Bader, Y. F., Bader, S. S., & Bader, S. S. (2024). The role of emotion in learning English as a foreign language at Jordanian universities. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(8). https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i8.4837
Derakhshan, A., Kruk, M., Mehdizadeh, M., & Pawlak, M. (2021). Boredom in online classes in the Iranian EFL context: Sources and solutions. System, 101, 102556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102556
Dewaele, J.-M., & Dewaele, L. (2017). The dynamic interactions in foreign language classroom anxiety and foreign language enjoyment of pupils aged 12 to 18: A pseudo-longitudinal investigation. Journal of the European Second Language Association, 1, 12–22.
Dewaele, J.-M., & Li, C. (2021). Teacher enthusiasm and students’ social-behavioral learning engagement: The mediating role of student enjoyment and boredom in Chinese EFL classes. Language Teaching Research.
Ekman, P. (2003). Emotions revealed. Holt.
Esfandiari, R., et al. (2021). The role of emotions in foreign language acquisition. [Journal details needed].
Han, K. (2021). Fostering students’ autonomy and engagement in EFL classroom through proximal classroom factors: Autonomy-supportive behaviors and student-teacher relationships. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 767079. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.767079
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. (1986). Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 70(2), 125–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4781.1986.tb05256.x
Izard, C. E. (1991). The psychology of emotions. Springer.
Kruk, M. (2022). Dynamicity of perceived willingness to communicate, motivation, boredom and anxiety in Second Life: The case of two advanced learners of English. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 35(1–2), 190–216. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2019.1677722
Kruk, M., & Zawodniak, J. (2017). Nuda a praktyczna nauka języka angielskiego. Neofilolog, 115–131.
Lewis, H. B. (1971). Shame and guilt in neurosis. Psychoanalytic Review, 58, 419–438.
Li, C. (2020). On the relationship between emotional intelligence and English academic achievement: The multiple mediating effects of enjoyment, anxiety and burnout. Journal of New Language World, 1, 69–78.
Li, C., & Han, Y. (2024). Learner-internal and learner-external factors for boredom amongst Chinese university EFL students. Applied Linguistics Review, 15(3), 901–926. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2021-0159
Liu, M. (2006). Anxiety in Chinese EFL students at different proficiency levels. System, 34(3), 301–316.
Liu, M., Wu, X., & Yang, F. (2024). Emotions in English language classrooms among Chinese top university students. Scientific Reports, 14, 20081. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-67880-3
Macklem, G. L. (2015). Boredom in the classroom: Addressing student motivation, self-regulation, and engagement in learning. Springer.
Mathias, J., Bruce, M., & Newton, D. P. (2013). Challenging the Western stereotype: Do Chinese international foundation students learn by rote? Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 18(3), 221–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/13596748.2013.819257
Mok, I. A. C., et al. (2001). Solving the paradox of the Chinese teacher. In Teaching the Chinese learner: Psychological and pedagogical perspectives.
Pawlak, M., Derakhshan, A., Mehdizadeh, M., & Kruk, M. (2025). Boredom in online English language classes: Mediating variables and coping strategies. Language Teaching Research, 29(3), 509–534. https://doi.org/10.1177/13621688211064944
Plonsky, L., Sudina, E., & Teimouri, Y. (2022). Language learning and emotion. Language Teaching, 55(3), 346–362.
Putwain, D. W., Becker, S., Symes, W., & Pekrun, R. (2018). Reciprocal relations between students’ academic enjoyment, boredom, and achievement over time. Learning and Instruction, 54, 73–81.
Shao, K., Nicholson, L. J., Kutuk, G., & Lei, F. (2020). Emotions and instructed language learning: Proposing a second language emotions and positive psychology model. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2142.
Shen, G. (2022). Anxiety, boredom, and burnout among EFL teachers: The mediating role of emotion regulation. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 842920.
Sobara, I., Mardasari, O. R., & Ventivani, A. (2024). Chinese students’ perspectives on learning Indonesian as a foreign language at Universitas Negeri Malang. Artikulasi: Journal of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, 4(2), 160–174. https://doi.org/10.17509/artikulasi.v4i2.73141
Swain, M. (2013). The inseparability of cognition and emotion in second language learning. Language Teaching, 46(2), 195–207.
Tangney, J. P. (1990). Assessing individual differences in proneness to shame and guilt. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(1), 102–111.
Tangney, J. P. (1995). Shame and guilt in interpersonal relationships. In Self-conscious emotions. Guilford Press.
Tangney, J. P., & Dearing, R. L. (2003). Shame and guilt. Guilford Press.
Tangney, J. P., Miller, R. S., Flicker, L., & Barlow, D. H. (1996). Are shame, guilt, and embarrassment distinct emotions? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(6), 1256–1269.
Teimouri, Y. (2018). Differential roles of shame and guilt in L2 learning. The Modern Language Journal, 102(3), 632–652.
Tracy, J. L., Robins, R. W., & Tangney, J. P. (2007). Self-conscious emotions. Theory and Research, 209–210.
Tyng, C. M., Amin, H. U., Saad, M. N. M., & Malik, A. S. (2017). The influences of emotion on learning and memory. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1454.
Wang, Q. (2023). Text memorization: An effective strategy to improve Chinese EFL learners’ argumentative writing proficiency. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1126194.
Yu, Q. (2022). A review of foreign language learners’ emotions. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 827104.
Zheng, S., & Zhou, X. (2022). Positive influence of cooperative learning and emotion regulation on EFL learners’ foreign language enjoyment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12604.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Iwa Sobara, Didan Nurfadillah, Savira Putri Destiani, Regina Nadya Gading Kurniawan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
