The Relationship between EQ, Proficiency and Motivation in Iranian HighSchool Female EFL Learners

The concept of EQ argues that Intelligence Quotient (IQ), or conventional intelligence, is too narrow and that there are wider areas of emotional intelligence that dictate and determine how successful learners can be. Psychologists and linguists have also become interested in this type of intelligence to figure out the relationship between EQ and English learning skills and strategies. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether EQ, as an interpersonal skill and innate potential, had any significant relationship with Iranian female EFL learners and their motivations. For this purpose, 77 thirdyear high school female subjects studying at two different high schools in the city of Meybod, Yazd were selected. The collected data was then analyzed using SPSS. Due to institutional constraints, it was not possible to divide the subjects into two groups. Therefore, the subjects were selected for the present study based on the scores they obtained. Then two tests were administrated to the subjects: the Hermans 29-item achievement motive questionnaire and Bar-On EI test. Thereafter, their scores on these tests were compared to their English marks on two last terms, as inquired from their schools.Results revealed that there was a strong relationship between Emotional Intelligence and EFL learners’ proficiency and motivation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Emotional intelligence ، EFL learners ، Proficiency ، Motivation