The dynamics of L2 teacher boredom and their link to creativity: A ban or boon for boredom

Abstract

Research has revealed a prevalence of boredom among L2 teachers, despite efforts to mitigate this negative emotion. The interplay between teacher boredom and creativity, especially their concurrent development, has not been extensively studied longitudinally. Utilizing control‐value theory as its foundation, this study investigates the daily progression of boredom and creativity among L2 teachers, their mutual development, and how control‐value beliefs influence these dynamics. A 5‐day experience sampling method study involving 98 L2 teachers generated 423 observations. Dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) was employed at the individual (Level 1) and group (Level 2) levels. DSEM results revealed varied relationships between boredom and creativity changes over a week, influenced by teachers’ control and value beliefs. In innovators, with high perceived control and intrinsic value beliefs and moderate to high extrinsic value beliefs, previous experiences of boredom might positively influence the teacher's creativity the next day. This creativity might, in turn, decrease the teacher's boredom. This suggests a potential positive relationship between boredom and creativity in innovative language teachers. In adaptors, with moderate perceived control and intrinsic value beliefs and medium to low extrinsic value beliefs, previous experiences of boredom did not necessarily influence the teacher's creativity the next day. However, teacher creativity might still decrease teacher boredom. For traditionalists, with medium perceived control and intrinsic value beliefs and moderate to high extrinsic value beliefs, previous experiences of boredom might have decreased the teacher's creativity the next day, while teacher creativity might have decreased the teacher's boredom the same day. Finally, in dissatisfied teachers with low perceived control, intrinsic value, and extrinsic value beliefs, previous experiences of boredom might have decreased the teacher's creativity the next day, while teacher creativity might not necessarily predict the teacher's boredom. Results suggest a reciprocal relationship between boredom and creativity in adaptable and traditionalist teachers. Additionally, Level 2 analysis identified correlations between random effect parameters across four clusters.