How are personality factors connected to EFL learners’ oral performance? A psychological network analysis

This study employs psychological network analysis to explore the intricate relationships between personality traits and second language (L2) oral performance. The participants, 162 Korean adult learners of English, completed the IPIP-NEO-60 personality trait questionnaire and a time-pressured oral narrative task. The oral narratives are assessed for two aspects of L2 knowledge (grammar and vocabulary) and two aspects of L2 processing (pronunciation and fluency). The analysis identifies two personality factors (neuroticism and extraversion) and two oral performance factors (grammar and vocabulary) as playing central roles in the network model. It shows particularly robust associations in a negative link between neuroticism and vocabulary and a positive link between conscientiousness and vocabulary, as well as a potential interaction of L2 knowledge (vocabulary) and L2 processing (fluency). The findings highlight the need for differentiated instructional strategies based on learners’ diverse personality profiles.