English Language Teaching and Linguistics Studies ISSN 2640-9836 (Print) ISSN 2640-9844 (Online) Vol. 2, No. 4, 2020 www.scholink.org/ojs/index.php/eltls 48 Original Paper The Relationship of Affective, Behavioral and Cognitive Engagements in ESL Higher Learning Classroom Aisyah Nazamud-din 1* , Muhammad Harriz Zaini 1 & Nor Hilaliyah Mohd Jamil 2 1 Academy of Language Studies, University of Technology MARA Sarawak Branch Mukah Campus, Mukah, Malaysia 2 Faculty of Computer & Mathematical Sciences, University of Technology MARA Sarawak Branch Mukah Campus, Mukah, Malaysia * Aisyah Nazamud-din, Academy of Language Studies, University of Technology MARA Sarawak Branch Mukah Campus, Mukah, Malaysia Received: November 4, 2020 Accepted: November 12, 2020 Online Published: November 17, 2020 doi:10.22158/eltls.v2n4p48 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.22158/eltls.v2n4p48 Abstract The 21st Century demands the fresh graduates of the higher learning institutions to be fully prepared for the fast changing industry. Higher learning institutions are measured on their productivity in upholding the demand based on the levels of student engagement in many dimensions. The mostly discussed dimensions are; behavioral, affective and cognitive. The present study uncovered the levels of student engagement in these three dimensions and their relationship with each other in an ESL course in a public university in Malaysia. The population was 180 undergraduates of the second semester and 120 undergraduates were randomly selected by cluster sampling. The researchers adopted a mixed-method approach that focused more on the quantitative approach. A questionnaire with 5-Likert scale items and open-ended questions was utilized. The analysis revealed a moderate level of engagement during instruction, and the affective engagement as the highest form of engagement among the students in the classroom. Pearson Correlation analysis presented moderate to strong, significant and positive relationships among the three dimensions. This study proves the importance of student engagement in higher education learning as an element that is necessary to be considered in the teaching instruction, and program administration planning. Keywords student engagement, behavioral, affective, cognitive, higher learning