Examining fluctuations in the WTC of Japanese EFL speakers: Language proficiency, affective and conditional factors

Sato, Rintaro

doi:10.1177/1362168820977825

Cited by 35EFL/ESL Teaching and LearningCommunication in Education and HealthcareSecond Language Acquisition and Learning

Examining fluctuations in the WTC of Japanese EFL speakers: Language proficiency, affective and conditional factors

Sato, Rintaro·2023·Language Teaching Research

DOI 10.1177/1362168820977825

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Abstract

Willingness to communicate (WTC), which plays a crucial role in second or foreign language learning, has a dynamic and complex nature, fluctuating during communicative events. This study examines how the situational WTC of four Japanese speakers of English as a foreign language (EFL) emerges and fluctuates, focusing on the roles of language proficiency and affective and conditional factors. Low-intermediate and advanced speakers were engaged in an interactive, communicative activity with an interlocutor. All utterances were recorded, transcribed, and analysed and combined with the qualitative data from participants’ self-ratings and a stimulated recall interview after the activity to assess fluctuations in WTC. The findings indicate that levels of WTC are influenced differently between low-intermediate and advanced speakers. Although the WTC of all speakers was negatively affected when they sensed a lack of English proficiency, low-intermediate speakers were affected by interest in the topic, influence of interlocutors on sense of security, and self-confidence, while opportunity to talk about oneself and one’s opinions contributed to the WTC of advanced speakers. It is suggested that teaches of EFL should be considerate of these factors that can affect EFL learners’ WTC.

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Authors: Sato, R.
Affiliations: Nara University of Education, Japan
ORCID: Sato, Rintaro
Venue: Language Teaching Research
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2020-12-04
Volume: 27
Issue: 4
Pages: 974-994
ISSN: 1362-1688 (ISSN-L)
1477-0954
DOI: 10.1177/1362168820977825
OpenAlex: W3110438540
Cited by: 35
References: 32
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1
FWCI: 9.31
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Language Teaching Research (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Communication in Education and Healthcare
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Second Language Acquisition and Learning
Keywords: willingness to communicate, Japanese EFL learners, language proficiency, emotional factors, conditioning factors, self-confidence, topic interest, stimulated recall

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Examining fluctuations in the WTC of Japanese EFL speakers: Language proficiency, affective and conditional factors

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