A survey and SEM analysis of 301 students at two Thai private universities found ideal L2 self and learning experience associated with willingness to communicate, while foreign-language anxiety was negatively associated.
Key findings
- Ideal L2 self and learning experience predicted willingness to communicate. Ought-to self was positively associated with anxiety; ideal self was not significant, and learning experience had a modest negative association with anxiety. Anxiety was negatively associated with WTC and acted as a suppressing mediator.
Why this matters globally
The study supports language classrooms that build positive future selves and reduce social threat rather than relying mainly on external pressure.
Thai researcher contribution
Rangsit University researchers generated Thai student evidence on motivation, anxiety and readiness to communicate.
Limitations to consider
The sample was limited to two private universities and used single-time self-report. SEM does not establish causality, and the abstract did not report coefficients or cross-group validation.