This study examines Chinese international students’ satisfaction, learning challenges, and preferred English skills for improvement in a general English course at a Korean university. Seventy Chinese international students enrolled in a mandatory general English course participated in the study. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews to examine how Korean language proficiency and perceived English proficiency relate to students’ course satisfaction and learning experiences. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, and chi-square tests, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results show that Korean proficiency and perceived English proficiency were significantly associated with course satisfaction. Students with higher proficiency levels reported greater satisfaction. In contrast, proficiency levels did not significantly influence the types of learning challenges reported or the English skills they preferred to improve.
Across all proficiency groups, students most frequently reported difficulty understanding Korean used during classroom instruction. In addition, most students strongly preferred to improve their English speaking skills, regardless of proficiency level. These findings suggest that instructors can enhance students’ participation and learning experiences in general English courses by addressing learning challenges and providing more opportunities for spoken English practice.