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WILLINGNESS TO COMMUNICATE, SOCIAL SUPPORT, ANDLANGUAGE-LEARNING ORIENTATIONS OF IMMERSION STUDENTS

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2001

Peter D. MacIntyre
Affiliation:
University College of Cape Breton
Susan C. Baker
Affiliation:
University College of Cape Breton
Richard Clément
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa
Sarah Conrod
Affiliation:
University College of Cape Breton

Abstract

Willingness to communicate (WTC) has been defined as the intention to initiate communication, given a choice. It was hypothesized that orientations toward language learning as well as social support would influence students' WTC in a second language. Grade 9 students of L2 French immersion, living in a relatively unilingual Anglophone community, participated in the study. WTC was measured in each of four skill areas: speaking, writing, reading, and comprehension. Five orientations or reasons for studying an L2 were examined: travel, job related, friendship with Francophones, personal knowledge, and school achievement. Results showed that endorsement of all five orientations for language learning was positively correlated with WTC both inside and outside the classroom. Results also showed that social support, particularly from friends, was associated with higher levels of WTC outside the classroom but played less of a role inside the classroom. The support of friends was also associated with higher orientations for travel and for friendship with Francophones. Results are discussed in terms of an emerging situated model.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2001 Cambridge University Press

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