Working hard, working smart and working consistently: Towards conceptualising and measuring foreign language tenacity
Issued Date
2024-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16977467
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85200339809
Journal Title
Porta Linguarum
Volume
2024
Issue
41
Start Page
153
End Page
171
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Porta Linguarum Vol.2024 No.41 (2024) , 153-171
Suggested Citation
Thumvichit A. Working hard, working smart and working consistently: Towards conceptualising and measuring foreign language tenacity. Porta Linguarum Vol.2024 No.41 (2024) , 153-171. 171. doi:10.30827/portalin.vi41.26953 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/100430
Title
Working hard, working smart and working consistently: Towards conceptualising and measuring foreign language tenacity
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Author's Affiliation
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Abstract
Academic tenacity, at its most fundamental level, is about how hard and how smart an individual works over a long period. While this notion is meant for a broad range of academic contexts, it is particularly recognizable to those who make a lifelong commitment to learning a foreign language (FL). This study reports an initial attempt to conceptualise and measure foreign language tenacity (FLT). The Foreign Language Tenacity Scale (FLTS)—a self-report instrument—was developed and validated with a sample of 272 tertiary-level students studying English as a foreign language (EFL). FLT emerged as a multifaceted construct that positively correlated to foreign language enjoyment (FLE), mental well-being (MWB), language achievement and self-perceived language proficiency, and negatively correlated to foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA). Tenacity appears to represent the key characteristics of successful FL learners effectively. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that FLT and FLCA were significant predictors of language achievement and that including FLT in the analysis (rather than solely FLE and FLCA) explained additional variance. Tenacious FL learners consistently display great effort, remain in control and effectively deal with emerging hurdles to achieve their objectives.