Unlocking Foreign Language Enjoyment in GenAI-Assisted English Learning: A Q-Methodology Perspective from Chinese EFL Students

This study employs Q methodology to investigate Chinese EFL students' foreign language enjoyment in GenAI-assisted English learning environments. Through Q-sorting and follow-up written responses from university students, this research identified three distinct patterns: (1) Instrumental Support Orientation , characterized by enjoyment derived from GenAI's immediate assistance and error correction features, but showing limited engagement with deeper learning processes; (2) Independent Learning Achievement , reflecting high satisfaction from autonomous goal attainment and learning efficiency while demonstrating resistance to peer interaction and collaborative learning; and (3) Learning Feature Exploration , emphasizing enjoyment through experimenting with various GenAI functionalities but expressing significant skepticism about language learning outcomes and anxiety reduction. These findings extend our understanding of FLE in technology-enhanced language learning by revealing how learners experience enjoyment through different pathways of GenAI interaction.