Peter D. Maclntyre, Susan C. Baker, and Leslie A. Donovan, Department of Psychology; Richard Cl6ment, Schoolof psychology. This research was supported by a research grant from the Social Science and Humanities Researchcouncil ofcanada awardedjointly to the frrst and third authors. All four authors would like to thank the students, teachers. and staff of Malcolm Munroe Junior High School and the Cape Breton_ Victoria Regional School Board for participating in this study. borrespon_ dence concerning this article may be addressedto peter Maclntyre, Deiart- ment ofPsychology University College ofCape Breton, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada,BIP 6L2. Internet: peter_macint5n'e@uccb.ca Language Learnlzg 52:3, September 2002, pp.587-564 Sex and Age Effects on Willingness to Communicate,Anxiety, PerCeived Competence, and L2 Motivation Among Junior High School French Immersion Students Peter D. Maclntyre and Susan C. Baker Uniuersity Collegeof Cape Breton Richard Cl4ment Uniuersity of Ottaua LeslieA. Donouan Uniuersity Collegeof Cape Breton The present study involves a cross-sectionalinvestiga- tion of second-language(L2) communication among stu- dents in a junior high French late immersion program. The effects of language, sex, and grade on willingness to com- municate (WTC), anxiety, and perceived communication competence, on frequency of communication in French. and on the attitude and motivation variables are examined globally and at eachgrade level. It was found that students' L2 WTC, perceived competence, and frequency of commu- nication in French increased from grades Z to 8 and was 537