Students Willingness to Communicate Using English: A Survey Study

Abstract

In Indonesia, one of the common problems encountered by many English teachers during the process of teaching and learning in the classroom is students unwillingness to communicate using English. Having learners who are willing to communicate using English in class is essential in a language classroom that following the communicative approach (Riasati, 2012). This study aims to investigate students perceptions towards willingness to communicate using English in the classroom. It employs a quantitative approach, survey research design. To know the students willingness to communicate using English, a well-known FLCAS (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale) developed by Horwitz, E.K., Horwitz, and M. B., Cope J. (1986) was adapted. 115 students of SMK Negeri 10 Malang participated as the respondents. Based on the findings, it is concluded that tenth and eleventh grade students at SMK Negeri 10 Malang have a positive opinion towards willingness to communicate using English in the classroom. They stated that learning and communicating using English is essential and beneficial. However, their willingness to communicate using English itself is quite low and it is quite a serious problem.

Students’ Self-Confidence and Their Willingness to Communicate in English

“…In contrast to the result obtained in this study, Rihardini, Yaniafari, and Mukminatien (2021), who conducted a study at SMA Negeri 12 Pekan Baru, found that the students at SMA Negeri 12 Pekan Baru have low WTC. According to 2022.…”

“…The respondents of this study were 95 students of grades 10, 11, and 12 of a private high school in North Sulawesi enrolled in the first semester of the 2022-2023 academic year. The instruments used in collecting the data were a questionnaire adapted from Park and Lee (as cited in Ningsi, 2020) and a questionnaire adapted from Rihardini, Yaniafari, and Mukminatien (2021) originally from Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986). To find out the levels of students' self-confidence and their WTC in English, the MEAN score was used.…”

“…Moreover, Laird (2005) also found that the level of students' self-confidence is low. In regard to students' WTC in English, Rihardini, Yaniafari, and Mukminatien (2021) found that students' WTC at that school was low. Ismail and Ali (2021) conducted a study to find out whether there is a correlation between Turkish EFL Learners' WTC in English, self-efficacy perceptions, and selfconfidence.…”

“…WTC consists of several factors. According to Nande (as cited in Rihardini, Yaniafari, and Mukminatien, 2021), linguistic and non-linguistic factors contribute to students' WTC in using English. The linguistic factors that contribute to students' WTC in English include 2022.…”

“…Firstly, it was found that SMK Negeri 10 Malang students have a low WTC. Rihardini, Yaniafari, and Mukminatien (2021), in their research at a secondary school in Malang, found that WTC there was low. Similarly, Ahya (2018), in his research conducted on grade IX students of YASPIA Islamic Junior High School Bekasi, found that they had low WTC.…”