In many EFL contexts, learners encounter English from early childhood through higher education, yet long-term proficiency is often fragile because the language has limited functional relevance in daily life. As a result, language attrition after formal schooling is a common phenomenon. Despite these challenges, a subset of learners actively seeks to maintain and even enhance their foreign language abilities long after completing their formal education. Understanding the experiences of these learners provides valuable insights into the processes and strategies that support sustained proficiency. This study investigates how Taiwanese EFL learners conceptualize and enact long-term language maintenance. Participants were purposively sampled based on their engagement in ongoing proficiency upkeep and interviewed about their post-school English experiences. Using a grounded theory approach, participants’ narratives were analyzed to identify recurring patterns and processes. Findings reveal that learners typically experience an initial phase of skill decline due to reduced language use, but they respond by deliberately constructing personalized routines for maintenance and development. These routines are characterized by intrinsic motivation and self-directed engagement, including reviewing previously learned materials, strategically interacting with English-language media, reading for enjoyment, participating in discussion groups, and communicating online in English. The study shows that these practices constitute a self-generated ecosystem that enables continuous contact with the language, meaningful use, and gradual skill enhancement. The findings underscore the critical roles of learner autonomy, self-regulation, and intrinsic motivation in counteracting language attrition. Implications for foreign language teaching include fostering learners’ self-directed engagement and providing opportunities for authentic language use.

Authors:
Shih-Chieh Chien, National Taipei University of Business, Taiwan

About the Presenter(s)
Shih-Chieh Chien is currently a Professor in the Center for General Education at National Taipei University of Business, Taiwan.

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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