ARTICLE
26 June 2026

Typical Learner Profiles in College English Classrooms: A Mixed‑Methods Study and Pedagogical Implications

Tiantian Wang1* ,  Jialin Xue1 ,  Muzhen Yu1
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1 School of Foreign Languages, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, Liaoning, China
CEF 2026 , 4(6), 164–170; https://doi.org/10.26689/CEF.v4i6.15597
© 2026 by the Author. Licensee: Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty Ltd, Australia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

While mobile‑assisted language learning (MALL) has been widely studied, relevant learner profiles, particularly in the college English classroom, remain underexplored. The article examines learner profiles in China’s college English classroom. Based on questionnaire data from 111 students and semi‑structured interviews with 5 students and 2 college English teachers, we identify three typical learner profiles: Self-directed elites, GPA-oriented professionals and Classroom gamers. The three learner profiles differ greatly in learning behaviors, motivation, emotions, digital resources use, and course expectations. The paper thus concludes that a one‑size‑fits‑all teaching approach fails to accommodate such learner diversity, and offers action plans for personalized instruction and task design, with implications for learner‑centered pedagogy and digital learning tool designers.

Keywords
College English
Learner profile
EFL teaching reform
Digital learning tools
Funding
Dalian Maritime University (Project No.: BJG-C2024058 & 3132026627)
References

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