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Exploring willingness to communicate (WTC) in English among Korean EFL (English as a foreign language) students in Korea: WTC as a predictor of success in second language acquisition

Kim, Seung Jung
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101267838

Abstract Details

2004, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Teaching and Learning.
Many Korean EFL students are eager to acquire English proficiency. Despite their eagerness and hard work, Korean students seem to have been less than successful in achieving their goal. L2 researchers argue that willingness to communicate (WTC) in L2 is one of the best predictors determining success in L2 acquisition, in association with the perspective that the more active L2 students are with L2 use, the greater possibility they have to develop L2 proficiency. It might be important for Korean students to understand what affects WTC in English to enhance the possibility to acquire English proficiency. In explaining the interrelations among affective variables influencing WTC in L2, MacIntyre et al.(1998) conceptualized a heuristic model of WTC in L2, claiming that their model can provide pedagogical use for L2 education. The current study examined the reliability of MacIntyre et al.'s model in explaining WTC in English among Korean students before its application to the Korean context. It was assumed that the reliability of MacIntyre et al.'s model relies on the determination of whether WTC is more trait-like than situational. WTC can be "a trait-like predisposition...relatively consistent across a variety of communication contexts" (McCroskey et al., 1991, p. 23). WTC can also be situational in that L2 students' levels of WTC will be different according to communication situations (McCroskey et al., 1998). The current study employed structural equation modeling that enables the examination of interrelated relationships in a single model (Hair et al., 1998), and collected data from 191 Korean university students by using 10 survey instruments from previous studies. Depending on data analysis, the researcher concluded that implying WTC is more trait-like than situational, MacIntyre et al.'s model of WTC was reliable in the Korean context, that corresponding to MacIntyre et al.'s model, L2 students' attitudes, L2 learning motivation, and L2 confidence were important factors determining WTC in L2, and finally that Korean students' low levels of WTC in English might be responsible for their less successful results in English learning. Based on the findings and the literature review, the current study discusses pedagogical implications for L2 education.
Keiko Samimy (Advisor)
Second language acquisition; Affective variables; Oral language proficiency; Korean EFL context; Willingness to communciate (WTC); Individual differences in second language acquisition

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kim, S. J. (2004). Exploring willingness to communicate (WTC) in English among Korean EFL (English as a foreign language) students in Korea: WTC as a predictor of success in second language acquisition [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101267838

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kim, Seung Jung. Exploring willingness to communicate (WTC) in English among Korean EFL (English as a foreign language) students in Korea: WTC as a predictor of success in second language acquisition. 2004. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101267838.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kim, Seung Jung. "Exploring willingness to communicate (WTC) in English among Korean EFL (English as a foreign language) students in Korea: WTC as a predictor of success in second language acquisition." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2004. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1101267838

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.