The Influence of External and Internal Learning Factors on English Speaking Skills for Adult English Learners

Objectives The purposes of this study were to specify variables related to English speaking skills, and to invesitgate the relationships among them. Methods For this purpose, a total of 130 adults completed a machine learning-based online test for measuring English speaking skills and responded online questionnaire for measuring external and internal factors related to English learning. English speaking skills were analyzed in terms of complexity, accuracy, fluency, and pronunciation. Length of residence in an English-speaking country and frequency of exposure to English were regarded as external factors, while personality traits(neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness), motivation, and English confidence were selected as internal factors. Then, Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis were conducted. Results As a result of correlation analysis, all English speaking skills except for filler words, one of the factors in fluency, showed significant positive or negative correlations with most external and internal factors. Regression analysis revealed that English confidence predicted complexity, extroversion and length of residence predicted accuracy, English confidence and agreeableness, or motivation predicted fluency, and English confidence predicted pronunciation. Conclusions These results suggest that both external and internal factors have significant impact on English speaking skills. Among those factors, English confidence is the most powerful factor explaining English speaking skills. Thus, it appears that English speaking skills can be improved more efficiently through a activities that promote english confidence.