On the Relationships among EFL Learners' Willingness to Communicate, Communication Apprehension, Self-Perceived Competence and Emotional Intelligence

Abstract

This study focused on the relationships among language learners' communication-related variables including willingness to start a communication (WTC), self-perceived communication competence (SPCC), communication apprehension (CA) and different subcomponents of emotional intelligence (EI). To this end a battery of questionnaires (WTC=20 items, Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA=24), Self-Perceived Communication Competence (SPCC =12), Emotional quotient inventory (EQ-I=133)) were distributed among 340 randomly selected Iranian EFL learners in Yasuj, Iran. Correlation and regression analyses showed that EFL student' EI dimensions were correlated with their WTC, SPCC, and CA. All five EI dimensions were found to be positively and significantly correlated with WTC (at p<0.01). On the contrary, the correlation among EI constructs and CA were all negatively significant. Moreover, EFL learners' EI dimensions could significantly predict their WTC and other communication related variables. Findings of the study would have implications for both practicing and prospective teachers.