earticle

영어

This study purports to comprehensively understand the factors affecting Korean primary and middle school students' motivation and willingness to communicate (WTC) in English. The research question is how participants' cultural beliefs influence other social, affective, and communicative variables. Seven hypotheses are formulated to test the causal relationship among variables. The study employs 45 questionnaires and a structural equation modeling (SEM). 124 primary students from 4th to 6th grade and 136 middle school students participated in the study. The results reveal three key findings. Firstly, positive cultural beliefs would be a causative factor resulting in students' willingness to communicate in English and their attitudes towards learning situation. Secondly, it is learners' attitudes toward learning situation that generate the Korean students' motivation. Thirdly, students' WTC is caused by self­confidence, which is directly influenced by motivation. In short, the more positive cultural beliefs learners have, the more they are willing to communicate in English and the more motivated they become.