This study explores the effects of learner grouping types on Willingness to Communicate(WTC) in the elementary English classroom. More specifically, the present study examines group size and gender effects on WTC in terms of communication anxiety, per...
This study explores the effects of learner grouping types on Willingness to Communicate(WTC) in the elementary English classroom. More specifically, the present study examines group size and gender effects on WTC in terms of communication anxiety, perceived communicative competence, learning responsibility, and learner belief, and compares interactions among groups. The research questions are as follows. First, is there a difference on the effects of WTC depending on the group size? Second, is there a difference on the effects of WTC depending on the gender? Third, is there an interaction on the effects of WTC depending on group size and gender?
For these purposes, experimental English lessons were carried out in 6th grade classes of D elementary school in Seoul. In order to exclude the personal preference of grouping types, this study took a ‘Counter-balanced model’. The students were grouped into four divisions only concerning group size and gender: gender-homogeneous groups of either two or four students, and gender-heterogeneous groups of either two or four students. Data were collected through a WTC questionnaire, learning journals recorded by the students, participant interviews, and classroom observations. The WTC questionnaire consisted of 4 parts: communication anxiety, perceived communicative competence, learning responsibility and learner belief. They were quantitatively analyzed with the two-way ANOVA tool. Learning journals, participant interviews, and classroom observations were also analyzed qualitatively as well. The major findings from this study are as follows.
First, an independent samples t-test was conducted to compare group size effects on WTC. There was no significant difference in the level of communication anxiety based on group size. However, a statistically significant difference was observed in participants’ perceived communicative competence, learner responsibility, and learner belief. Perceived communicative competence and learner belief were higher in groups of four than two. However, learner responsibility was higher in groups of two than four. It is reasonable to infer that when group size is four, the responsibility appeared to be distributed.
Second, an independent samples t-test was conducted to compare gender effects on WTC. There was a statistically significant difference in terms of communication anxiety, the perceived communicative competence, and learner belief depending on the gender composition. Learning responsibilities, on the other hand, showed no significant differences in student gender composition. In communication activities, learners experienced lower communication anxiety, when they participated in gender-homogeneous group. Also, perceived communicative competence was higher in gender-homogeneous group than in gender-heterogeneous group. Besides, students had more positive learner belief in gender-homogeneous group than gender-heterogeneous group.
Third, interaction effects based on the combination of group size and gender were found. Students were found to have relatively low communication anxiety when participating in communicative activities with two or four in gender-homogeneous group. This means that the learners communicated comfortably in a group composed of same genders. There was a statistically significant difference in the ability of communication of consciousness according to the interaction between group size and gender composition. In the group activities, the learner's perceived communicative competence and learning responsibilities were higher in the two gender-homogeneous group and the four gender-heterogeneous group. And it was found that learner belief was better in the gender-homogeneous groups of four and the gender-heterogeneous groups of four.
The results of this study imply that the effects of WTC could be maximized based on the combination of group size and gender. The present study also advises instructors to be more aware of the possible independent variables on learner grouping types when implementing communication activities in the elementary English classroom.