A Study of Affective Factors that Contribute to Middle School Students’ Use of Spoken English

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate affective factors that distinguish the high spoken English use group from the low spoken English use group among Korean EFL middle school students. This study focuses on the variables of communication strategy, willingness to communicate, self-concept, motivation, and anxiety. A questionnaire on communication strategy, willingness to communicate, self-concept, motivation, anxiety, and the use of spoken English was designed and administered to 112 students of eighth grade in a province. The findings of the study are as follows: (1) the middle school students’ levels of extrinsic motivation and speaking anxiety were high, while the levels of self-concept, intrinsic motivation, and the use of spoken English were low, (2) the highest positive relationship was found between willingness to communicate (WTC) and the use of spoken English, while the highest negative relationship was observed between speaking anxiety and the use of spoken English, (3) willingness to communicate (WTC), academic self-concept, and communication anxiety were statistically significant factors that distinguished the high spoken English use group from the low spoken English use group. Based on the findings, some suggestions were made in regard to helping students improve their use of spoken English.