Understanding EFL learners' flow: The development and validation of English Learning Flow Scale

With the positive turn in second language acquisition, learners' flow in English learning has gradually attracted attention. However, there are limited tools that are specifically developed to measure learners' flow in English learning. The item analysis and exploratory factor analysis were conducted with a sample of 403 students to assess the proposed structure. Furthermore, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted among 1053 participants to validate the factor structure. Subsequently, an English Learning Flow Scale (ELFS) with 25 items in total was developed. The results have revealed that the English learning flow model with 7 factors, including Clear Goals, Challenge-Skill Balance, Feedback, Intrinsic Motivation, Intense Concentration, Control, and Enjoyment, fitted the data well and demonstrated high reliability and validity, showing satisfactory psychometric properties. The results demonstrated that learners maintained a moderately high level of flow on the whole in English learning, with the highest level of getting feedback and the lowest level of feeling challenge-skill balance. This study contributes to developing the conceptual model for flow in English learning, facilitating more related empirical studies. Pedagogical implications for English educators are also proposed.