The Relationship Between Attitude Towards Communicative Language Learning and English Language Achievement among Ethiopian EFL Learners

Abstract

The attitude one has towards language learning determines the success or failure of learning the language. To this effect, this study aimed to explore EFL learners' attitudes towards communicative language learning and the relationship between learners' attitudes and English language achievement. To address these objectives, the study adopted a survey research design. Two hundred seventeen grade 11 students were selected through simple random sampling technique. Attitude questionnaire, achievement test and interview were tools of data collection. In order to verify students' attitudes towards communicative language learning, the mean score obtained from attitude scale and qualitative descriptions of the interview data were utilized. To address the relationship between students' attitudes to communicative language learning and English language achievement, and to decide the predictive power of attitude on learners' English language achievement, Pearson correlation and regression were applied respectively. In addition, t-test was used to investigate if gender caused attitude difference or not. The findings indicated positive attitude towards communicative language learning. In addition, it was found that attitude to communicative language learning significantly predicted achievement scores of the students. Furthermore, gender was not found to be a determining factor in the attitude towards communicative language learning.