Predicting Effects of Personality Traits, Self-esteem, Language Class Risk-taking and Sociability on Chinese University EFL Learners' Performance in English

Liu, Meihua (2012) Predicting Effects of Personality Traits, Self-esteem, Language Class Risk-taking and Sociability on Chinese University EFL Learners' Performance in English. Journal of Second Language Teaching and Research, 1 (1). pp. 30-57. ISSN 2045-4031

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Abstract

Although the interactive effects of different variables in language learning have increasingly become the focus of recent research, the interaction of such variables as personality traits, self-esteem, language class risk-taking and sociability has not been much investigated. Hence, the present study explored the predicting effects of these variables on Chinese EFL learners’ performance in English at the tertiary level. A 68-item survey involving 934 first-year undergraduate non-English majors revealed that: (1) the majority were moderately extroverted, moderately inclined to anxiety and fears, and moderately prone to be influenced by social desirability but tended to be dependent and gentle; the participants were moderately satisfied with themselves and believed they were good and worthy; and the majority were moderately risk-taking and sociable in English class, (2) personality traits, self-esteem, language class risk-taking and sociability were generally significantly correlated with one another and with the students’ performance in English, and (3) overall self-esteem, language class risk-taking, language class sociability, and two personality variables–P (psychoticism) and L (lie) proved to be powerful predictors for the students’ performance in English. As such, personality traits, self-esteem, language class risk-taking and sociability are important factors affecting language learning outcomes.


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