The Role of Personality Variables of Introversion and Extraversion on Language Proficiency Concerning Gender among Efl Language Learners in Qom

Abstract

This study was an attempt to investigate whether Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) learners were predominantly extroverted or introverted, and to seek any significant differences between males and females regarding extroversion/introversion. One hundred Iranian institute students, including males and females, randomly selected from among students, participated in this study. Eysenck’s (1967) Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was used to measure extroversion. The findings revealed that first, most of the students were extroverted, and second, there were significant differences between males and females regarding their extroversion, that is, females appeared to be more extroverted than males. These findings might have some implications for second/foreign language learning. First, Iranian EFL learners in general, and females in particular, may be more likely to participate actively in oral communication and will probably do better in acquiring basic interpersonal communication skills. Second, unlike Iranian EFL learners in general, and males in particular, males may be more likely to succeed in learning some skills, namely listening and writing, and also females are more succeed in other skills. Finally, as learners are living in an Iranian EFL context, where they are provided with more opportunities to develop their academic language ability rather than interpersonal communication skills, it appears that all learners including both extroverts and introverts might benefit from being provided with more chances to practice their interpersonal communication skills.                                                                                  

Keywords: Extraversion, Introversion, Learning Skills,Personality Variables.