Informal digital learning of English and EFL learners’ willingness to communicate: investigating the mediating role of L2 grit

Abstract

ABSTRACT Informal digital learning of English (IDLE) has recently become a heated debate in the realm of computer-assisted language learning. Despite the potential benefits of IDLE, the mediating role of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ domain-specific grit in the relationship between IDLE and willingness to communicate (WTC) has yet to receive due attention. Therefore, the current study explored how L2 grit mediated the relationship between IDLE and WTC. A sample of 313 Iranian EFL learners filled out three questionnaires. The results of the mediation model analysis conducted with AMOS indicated that L2 grit fully mediated the association between IDLE and WTC. In other words, it was figured out that IDLE impacts learners’ L2 WTC indirectly through their grit. The findings of this study implied that enhancing perseverance and passion for pursuing long-term goals can help EFL learners benefit from IDLE-based activities for communicative purposes. Ultimately, suggestions for future research are offered.