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.