The effect of teaching emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence on EFL learners’ performance in four language skills

Abstract

This study aimed to apply emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence to improve EFL learners’ performance through a quasi-experimental pre-test posttest design. In addition, the effect of the intervention on learners’ emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence was investigated. The population included all intermediate EFL learners and the sample included 120 intermediate EFL learners who were studying in 5 different classes. They were divided into experimental (65) and control (55) groups. Subjects of the experimental group underwent mediation sessions in six weekly sessions which was designed by the researchers, while the control group received the typical instruction of the institute. Petrides et al.’s (2006) Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire was used to assess learners’ emotional intelligence and King’s (2008) Spiritual Intelligence Inventory was applied to assess their spiritual intelligence. Findings showed that compared to the control group, the experimental group had higher grades in speaking, writing, reading and listening skills and the mediation led to a significant increase in EFL learners’ emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence. Considering the results of this study, we can apply emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence to enhance these variables and improve learners’ performance and achievement in the foreign language setting.

Keywords

• emotional intelligence
• spiritual intelligence
• efl learning
• language subskills