Classroom Silence and its Meaning in English Language Learning Contexts
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55927/jldl.v5i1.15931Keywords:
Classroom Silence, English Language Learning, EFL Classrooms, Classroom Interaction, Learner Affective FactorsAbstract
Classroom silence is a pervasive phenomenon in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning contexts, yet it remains insufficiently understood within mainstream language pedagogy. Classroom silence has long been perceived as a sign of disengagement or lack of competence in English language learning contexts. However, recent perspectives in applied linguistics suggest that silence may carry complex pedagogical, cognitive, and sociocultural meanings. This study aims to explore the forms, functions, and underlying meanings of classroom silence in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning environments. Employing a qualitative research design with a case study approach, data were collected through classroom observations, in-depth interviews with students and teachers, and reflective field notes.
Downloads
References
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056.
Begum, N., Ali, M., & Awan, A. G. (2023). Psychological capital and work engagement: A systematic review of empirical evidence. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 23(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.33423/jop.v23i1.5678.
Demerouti, E., Bakker, A. B., & Nachreiner, F. (2021). The job demands–resources model: A review of recent developments. Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 37(2), 85–96. https://doi.org/10.5093/jwop2021a9.
Gregersen, T., & MacIntyre, P. D. (2022). Anxiety, silence, and willingness to communicate in the language classroom. System, 105, 102718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2022.102718.
Harumi, S., & King, J. (2023). Silence as an interactional resource in second language classrooms. ELT Journal, 77(1), 27–36. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccac040.
King, J. (2022). Silence as participation: A sociocultural perspective on classroom interaction. Applied Linguistics Review, 13(4), 563–585. https://doi.org/10.1515/applirev-2020-0094.
King, J., & Harumi, S. (2020). East Asian perspectives on silence in English language education. Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/KING6928.
MacIntyre, P. D., Gregersen, T., & Mercer, S. (2020). Language teacher psychology and classroom silence: Emotional and relational dimensions. System, 94, 102314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102314.
Sato, M., & Loewen, S. (2022). Classroom interaction and second language development: A sociocognitive perspective. Language Teaching, 55(3), 293–309. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444821000492.
Teimouri, Y., Goetze, J., & Plonsky, L. (2021). Second language anxiety and achievement: A meta-analysis. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 43(2), 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263120000381.
Van den Broeck, A., De Cuyper, N., De Witte, H., & Vansteenkiste, M. (2017). Not all job demands are equal: Differentiating job hindrances and challenges in the job demands–resources model. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 26(5), 735–749. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2017.1326071.
Waring, H. Z., & Hruska, B. L. (2021). Silence, repair, and participation in language classroom interaction. Classroom Discourse, 12(3), 215–233. https://doi.org/10.1080/19463014.2021.1881927.
Yashima, T., Ikeda, M., & Nakahira, S. (2020). Talk and silence in EFL classrooms: Learners’ perspectives on participation. Language Teaching Research, 24(4), 501–520. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168819837128.
Zarrinabadi, N., & Khajavy, G. H. (2021). Silence and willingness to communicate in second language classrooms. System, 103, 102634. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102634.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Suardi Suardi

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




























