Examining the Dyanmic Relationships between Willingness to Communicate, Anxiety and Enjoyment Using the Experience Sampling Method

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the dynamic relationship between willingness to communicate, foreign language anxiety, and foreign language enjoyment using experience sampling method. To this end, a total number of 38 freshman Iranian university students who were studying Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) as an academic major participated in the study. Results of the study showed significant amount of variability in all three variables over time, both within weekly sessions and from one week to another. Moreover, moving correlations among the three variables showed the correlations between WTC and enjoyment were remarkably consistent, strong, and positive, while moving correlations between WTC and anxiety, and anxiety and enjoyment were inconsistent and majority of them were negative. Finally, research and pedagogical implications were discussed in light of the findings of the study.