The impact of Out-of-Class activities on academic performance, soft skills, and quality of life among students of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Tay Nguyen University

Abstract

The study examines the impact of out-of-class activities (OCAs) on the academic performance, soft skills, and quality of life of students at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Tay Nguyen University. A mixed-methods design was employed, combining a survey of 265 students with in-depth interviews with 15 students selected based on their level of OCA participation. The findings indicate that students frequently engage in academic-related activities, English clubs, research projects, volunteer work, and Youth Union activities. Participation in OCAs has clear positive effects on students’ soft skills—particularly communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability, time-management skills, and academic engagement and improves the quality of life (increasing happiness and expanding social relationships). Academic OCAs are strongly associated with perceived improvement in English proficiency, especially in reading–writing, listening, and speaking. However, the impact of OCAs on academic performance is indirect and varies across activity types; students with excessive part-time work reported declines in GPA. Notably, the study also reports that 30.9% of students frequently experience stress/overload, and 24.9% report declining mental health due to uncontrolled participation, indicating a dual impact of OCAs on well-being. The study also identifies key factors influencing OCA participation, including lecturer guidance, peer influence, and institutional support. Based on these findings, several recommendations are proposed to enhance the organization and management of OCAs, aligning them with academic, skill-development, and career-oriented outcomes to improve students’ holistic development.