The Relationship Between Cooperative Learning, Cultural Intelligence, EFL Motivation and Students’ Performance: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Abstract

Cooperative learning, cultural intelligence and learning English as a foreign language (EFL) represent important concepts in contemporary education, particularly in a diverse environment where students need to collaborate with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. This study aimed to investigate the interrelationships among cooperative learning, cultural intelligence, EFL motivation, achievement, and grade point average (GPA). The previously developed and validated questionnaires were used for data collection, while convenience sampling was applied to select 211 participants studying at a high school level. A Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed to determine the reliability and a Structural Equation Modeling approach was employed to test the measurement and the hypothesized model. The results showed that cooperative learning positively predicted students’ cultural intelligence and EFL motivation, which was a significant predictor of EFL achievement. Furthermore, cooperative learning negatively predicted EFL achievement, and insignificantly predicted GPA, while cultural intelligence insignificantly predicted both GPA and EFL achievement. These results may contribute to a broader understanding of the relationship between the investigated constructs, and may help instructors design effective classes that will imbed key components of cooperative learning and increase students’ motivation, cultural intelligence, and learning success.