On the Correlation between Iranian EFL Learners' Shyness Level and their Attitudes toward Language Learning

Abstract

The current probe was after pinpointing the would-be correlation between learners' shyness and their language learning attitudes. The participants of the study were a total of 104 male and female institute EFL learners and the means of data collection were two ready-made questionnaires, one for gauging the learners' shyness and the other for tapping data regarding their language learning attitudes. The data thus collected were then analyzed through running Pearson Product Moment Correlation, independent samples t-test, and Eta Test. The results gained pointed toward lack of a significant correlation between the participants' shyness and the subscales of attitudes toward language learning. Moreover, no significant relationship was reported to be at work between gender of participants and their language learning attitudes. Nonetheless, with regard to learners' shyness, gender difference was found to play a part.

Keywords: ambiguity tolerance, attitudes toward language learning, ego-permeability, inhibition, Iranian EFL learners, risk-taking, self-image, shyness