Trait Emotional Intelligence and Willingness to Communicate in Foreign Language Learning

Abstract

Over the last decades, the integration of interdisciplinary theories and methodologies in the study of foreign language learning has gained significant attention. In contrast to the cognitive approach, an innovative psychological perspective is adopted to understand the influence of emotions in the learning process. Inspired by such a new turn, this paper investigated the relationship between learners’ Trait Emotional Intelligence (Trait EI) and their Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in foreign language classes. 181 first-year Chinese students majoring in English participated in the study. By using quantitative methods, it was found that participants’ Trait EI and its four sub-items all significantly correlated with their L2 WTC level. Moreover, the regression analysis indicated that Trait EI can have a predictive effect on L2 WTC. In terms of the four facets of Trait EI, only welling-being and sociability could predict participants’ L2 WTC.