Ethnic Group Affiliation (EGA) and Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in

Bridging Conceptual Gaps for Smooth Teaching and Learning

Author: Fatin Nabila Abd Razak, Vahid Nimehchisalem Hossein, Ain Nadzimah Abdullah (English Language Department, Universiti Putra Malaysia)
Speaker: Fatin Nabila Abd Razak, Vahid Nimehchisalem Hossein, Ain Nadzimah Abdullah
Topic: Language, community, ethnicity
The (SCOPUS / ISI) SOAS GLOCAL CALA 2019 General Session

Abstract

Increased affiliation with one’s native culture can cause a lower level of proficiency in a second language (Hineoya & Gatbonton, 2000) and that Willingness to Communicate (WTC) contribute greatly to reach language proficiency (Clement et al., 2003). Thus, this study aimed to examine the relation between ethnic group affiliation (EGA) (defined as how closely you feel attached to your native culture and language) and Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in English among the undergraduates in Universiti Putra Malaysia. The ethnic groups involved in the study are the three major ethnics in Malaysia which are the Malays, Chinese and Indian. Identifying the relationship between these two constructs helped in understanding the view of each ethnicity has towards their own culture and how this view leads towards their willingness to use English language. EGA questionnaire was adapted from Phinney, (1992), Elizabeth Gatbonton and Pavel Troﬁmovich, (2008), while the WTC questionnaire was adapted from McCroskey, (1992), Fishman, J.A (1972) and Mehdi Granhemat, (2015). The questionnaire were distributed to 39 participants representing the three major races. Results of the Pearson Correlation is r= -0.323, n= 39, p= 0.045 indicated a significant weak negative association between Ethnic Group Affiliation (EGA) and Willingness to Communicate (WTC).

Keywords: Affiliation, Ethnic Group Affiliation (EGA), Willingness to Communicate (WTC).