Investigating willingness to communicate in synchronous group discussion tasks: one step closer towards authentic communication

Abstract

This study employed a mixed-method approach to investigate L2 WTC as a dynamic variable in synchronous group discussion tasks. Data were collected from a group of Farsi-speaking ESL students in six online discussion tasks. The participants rated their WTC level every 5 min during the discussions and then provided explanations for changes in WTC in follow-up written stimulated recall procedures. The results indicate that participants' WTC levels fluctuate significantly during the online discussion tasks, lending support to viewing online WTC as a fluid dynamic variable. The results also show that WTC changes are triggered by complex interactions between a range of internal and external forces. Pedagogical implications and directions for future research are discussed.