The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the verbal interactions of earth science gifted depending on their communications structures and group status in small group activities. To this end, a small group activity was conducted to measure the density of the earth, and 8 small groups were selected, including 4 coownership type and 4 monopolistics type groups with different communication structures. And then, the framework was developed for analyzing verbal interactions to compare the differences in characteristics between small groups. The results are as follows. First, regardless of the communication structures, there were showing a simple pingpong-type communication structures for all small groups. Second, negative interactions such as ‘restraint’, ‘command’, ‘complaint’, and ‘lack of confidence’ predominantly appeared in all small groups. Third, the students in the status of out-lookers in small groups were mainly verbal interactions, such as instructing the other person, acting against the other person’s actions, and expressing dissatisfaction with the attitudes and abilities of members. Therefore, teachers should guide students to use higher-level verbal interactions in their group activities in small group activities, and engage in students communication to prevent negative interactions from occurring. The teachers also need to check the level of achievement for students in the status of out-lookers in advance and guide them to participate more actively in small group activities. This study is meaningful in that it can be sued to design teaching and learning to improve students’ problem solving and communication skills.

본 연구의 목적은 소집단 활동에서 과학영재들의 의사소통 구조를 찾아보고, 이들의 의사소통 유형과 성취 수준의 관계를 알아보기 위한 것이다. 이를 위하여 과학영재들을 대상으로 5명을 한 단위로 하는 8개 소집단을 구성하고, 이들에게 지구의 밀도 구하기라는 주제로 토론식 수업을 적용하였다. Pajek과 UCINET 6.0을 활용하여 과학영재들의 대화로부터 의사소통 구조와 성취 수준을 분석하였다. 그 결과 상호작용 분산 정도에 따라 과학영재들의 의사소통 유형을 독점형과 공유형으로 분류할 수 있었다. 그리고 상호작용 밀도와 집중도에 따라 과학영재들의 의사소통 유형을 DH·NH형, DH·NL형, DL·NH형, DL·NL형으로 분류할 수 있었다. 과학영재들의 소집단 활동에서 문제 해결 성취 수준은 구성원 간 상호작용의 분산이 아니라 상호작용의 밀도와 연결망 집중도의 차에 의해 영향을 받는다는 것을 알 수 있었다. 그러므로 교사들은 소집단 활동을 활용하여 학생들을 지도할 때 문제 해결에 관련된 의사소통이 이루어지도록 지도할 필요가 있다.

The present study investigated the structural relationships among factors influencing Korean EFL learners’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in English and their actual English use. To this end, a total 595 university students enrolled in a wide range of academic disciplines participated in a survey. Data from the survey were analyzed using both multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results of the present study demonstrated that English confidence assessed by students’ perception of their English skill and English anxiety directly influenced students’ English WTC as well as the frequency and amount of their English communication. However, attitudes in international issues and intrinsic motivation made a direct influence only on students’ English WTC. Instead, these two factors made an indirect effect on students’ actual English use through the mediating role played by WTC. On the other hand, classroom factor as measured by perceived ELT methods and topic familiarity made a direct influence only on students’ actual English use, and the effect of the classroom factor on students’ English WTC was not significant. The same pattern was observed for socio-educational factor. These findings were discussed in terms of the implications for EFL education in the Korean context.

The present study investigated the structural relationships among factors influencing Korean EFL learners’ willingness to communicate (WTC) in English and their actual English use. To this end, a total 595 university students enrolled in a wide range of academic disciplines participated in a survey. Data from the survey were analyzed using both multiple regression analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis. Results of the present study demonstrated that English confidence assessed by students’ perception of their English skill and English anxiety directly influenced students’ English WTC as well as the frequency and amount of their English communication. However, attitudes in international issues and intrinsic motivation made a direct influence only on students’ English WTC. Instead, these two factors made an indirect effect on students’ actual English use through the mediating role played by WTC. On the other hand, classroom factor as measured by perceived ELT methods and topic familiarity made a direct influence only on students’ actual English use, and the effect of the classroom factor on students’ English WTC was not significant. The same pattern was observed for socio-educational factor. These findings were discussed in terms of the implications for EFL education in the Korean context.