Mohamad Roslan, Nabilah and Mohamad Ali, Afiza
(2026)
Communicating when necessary: perceived foreign language proficiency and willingness to communicate among Malaysian exchange students abroad.
International Young Scholars Journal of Languages, 9 (1).
pp. 130-148.
E-ISSN 0128-2573
Abstract
Exchange programmes provide students with opportunities to use foreign languages in real-life settings. However, being abroad does not automatically mean that students will communicate confidently in the host-country language. Underpinned by MacIntyre et al.’s (1998) L2 Willingness to Communicate model, this qualitative study explores how Malaysian exchange students perceived the role of their foreign language proficiency in shaping their willingness to communicate with locals during exchange programmes in South Korea and Germany. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with four Malaysian tertiary students who had participated in exchange programmes for at least three months. The findings suggest that students who perceived themselves as having stronger prior knowledge of the host-country language reported greater confidence in communicating with locals. However, willingness to communicate was not shaped by perceived proficiency alone. Participants’ language use was also influenced by everyday necessity, fear of negative evaluation, perceived local response, religiously significant food-related needs, and the need to adapt to daily life abroad. The study contributes to willingness-to-communicate research by showing that exchange students’ communication abroad may be voluntary, hesitant, or necessity-driven. The findings suggest that universities should provide pre-departure language preparation that includes basic host-language knowledge, scenario-based communication practice, intercultural awareness, and practical phrases for daily and religiously relevant situations.
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