Modeling the relationship between classroom emotions, motivation, and learner willingness to communicate in EFL: applying a holistic approach of positive psychology in SLA research

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study utilises a holistic approach of positive psychology (PP) in the second language acquisition (SLA) domain to test a model of willingness to communicate in English language (L2WTC) among 328 Saudi learners. The model examines how potential connections among learners’ negative emotions (anxiety and boredom), positive emotions (enjoyment and grit), and motivation have a positive effect on learner L2WTC. Questionnaire data were analyzed using a partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) analysis to identify and verify direct, indirect, and total effects in the model. The final model adequately fit the data. All learner emotions except boredom significantly directly predicted L2WTC. The strongest direct predictors of L2WTC were motivation, followed by anxiety. Grit directly affected motivation, and enjoyment mediated the relationship between motivation and L2WTC. Significant negative direct paths were detected from anxiety to motivation, enjoyment, and grit, and indirect paths from anxiety to L2WTC were shown through the mediation of these variables. Anxiety had the largest total effect on L2WTC, followed by motivation. These findings support the feasibility of a holistic perspective of PP in the SLA by which positive and negative emotional/affective variables can inherently interact to account for L2WTC via classroom pedagogical interventions for emotion regulation.