The relationship between personality traits and WTC in EFL context

Abstract

Willingness to communicate (WTC) in second language has recently become an important concept across disciplines of second language acquisition (SLA).WTC in a foreign language which refers to the tendency to orally communicate may be caused by situational variables. Moreover, personality traits of individuals may also be a determining factor in WTC. The main aim of this study is to explore the relationship between different personality traits and WTC in EFL context. Also, the role of gender in the level of WTC is investigated. In this study, two questionnaires of NEO Five Factor Model (NEO-EFM) of personality and WTC scale for WTC were used to collect data from 80 participants. Then, the data was analyzed by Smart PLS software. The Bootstrap method was used to determine T-values and the significance of path coefficients. The results indicated that neuroticism had a positive and significant relationship with WTC, while agreeableness and conscientiousness had negative and significant relationship with WTC from the five factors of personality. Also, there was no significant relationship of gender on WTC via big five personality factors between the two groups of female and male language learners observed.

Keywords

• personality traits
• willingness
• communicate
• efl learners
• iranians