The role of learners’ socioeconomic status and perception of technology use in their second language learning motivation and achievement

Abstract As digital technology is becoming an increasingly critical component of education, learners’ socioeconomic status (SES) and technology use are becoming more important in their learning. In the context of English learning, the present study modeled how learners’ SES and their perception of technology use for language learning are linked to their motivation for learning English as a foreign language (EFL) and level of English achievement. To this end, 306 South Korean college students’ learner factors, motivation, and English achievement were measured. The results of the structural equation modeling analysis indicated that learners’ SES was positively associated with their perception of technology use and motivation and indirectly associated with their language learning achievement. Furthermore, we found that learners’ perception of technology use in language learning is associated with their motivation and achievement. In addition, among the several learner factors measured in this study, learners’ expectancy of being successful in language learning as part of achievement motivation emerged as the strongest predictor of their language learning achievement. An in-depth discussion of pedagogical and policy implications is also provided.