Exploring Personality Traits and Loneliness in University EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Learners

This study attempts to explore the relationships between personality traits, loneliness, and university students’ EFL (English as a foreign language) achievement. A sample consisting of 137 freshman students from two universities participated in this study. Statistical results showed that conscientiousness was positively related to EFL achievement, while neuroticism was negatively related to EFL achievement. Statistical results also revealed that students who achieved poorer EFL results tended to consider themselves to be lonelier. In addition, loneliness was also found to have significant negative relationships with three personality traits including extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Taken together, this study would help to contribute to the understanding of personality, loneliness, and EFL achievement in university students.