This research investigates the influences of language competence and learning intention on immigrants social
activities in an English-speaking environment, thereby examining how the related factors interact with immigrant
couples and their self-esteem and happiness. To to this, amongst Korean couples in New Zealand, this work
tested multiple variables in English language competence and English learning intention on self-esteem and
happiness; a research framework was first designed in line with the Actor-Partner interdependence model (APIM),
and theoretical variables were then arranged into the framework based on previous research on immigrants
language competency and learning intention in English as well as self-esteem and happiness. A combined
online-offline survey was conducted throughout New Zealand in June-August 2017, followed by a hierarchical
regression analysis using data collected from 104 Korean couples(i.e. 208 persons in conjugal relations). The
results explain that English learning intention is significantly interdependent with the partner s self-esteem and
happiness, while English language competence is little interdependent; in particular, among Korean-New Zealand
couples, English learning intention of actors exerts the strong influence on self-esteem and happiness against their
partners. To generalize the outcomes from this study, further research in different countries will be performed in
more overseas Korean couples.