The relationship between language teachers’ enthusiasm and job satisfaction: investigating the mediating role of foreign language teaching enjoyment

Although enthusiasm is an important characteristic of teachers’ psychological growth, scant research attention has been given to English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ enthusiasm and its outcomes in the field of foreign language education. In addition, in spite of the criticality of foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE), little is known about its role in mediating the effect of enthusiasm on job satisfaction. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate whether Turkish EFL teachers’ FLTE could mediate the relationship between their enthusiasm and job satisfaction. The participants (N = 314) completed three scales and the data were analysed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of the mediation analysis revealed that a. EFL teachers’ enthusiasm significantly predicted their job satisfaction and b. FLTE partially mediated the relationship between EFL teachers’ enthusiasm and job satisfaction. Therefore, enthusiasm would, directly and indirectly, through teaching enjoyment, result in teaching satisfaction. The findings of this study highlighted the broadening capacity of teacher enthusiasm in offering positive outcomes. Finally, implications and suggestions for future research were offered.