Fluctuations in self-perceived foreign language anxiety during visits to Second Life: a case study

Author(s):  
Mariusz Kruk
2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Asjad Ahmed Saeed Balla

This paper investigates the level of anxiety due to learning English as a foreign language. It tries to answer these questions: 1-Is anxiety a factor in hindering English proficiency? 2-Does anxiety lead to fear of communication? 3- Which type of anxiety is high among tertiary level female Saudi students? The Foreign Language Anxiety Classroom Scale (FLACS) used as an instrument. The data was collected and statistically analysed through SPSS. This paper revealed that anxiety was one of the major factors that impeded English proficiency. Besides, anxiety also caused fear of communication among the students. Furthermore, it was found that the learners had got a high level of communication apprehension that hindered their contact with their teachers and others. This was followed by test anxiety in which the students expected to fail their test. Students showed great fear of test as they feared to be negatively assessed by teachers, this fact had created great anxiety that influenced their attitudes and behaviour as well.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-79
Author(s):  
Dede Rohadi Fajri

The objective of this research was on the level of Foreign Language Anxiety that experienced by students. In this research, the researcher was use the Qualitative research as the method in implementing case study. The sources of data were 30 students of the second semester of Banten Jaya University. For collecting data that used in this study include classroom observation, questionnaires and interview. The questionnaire used to obtain specific information data was gathered from the participants by FLCAS of Horwitz et all (1986). From the result of FLCAS questionnaire, there were 10 students who felt very anxious with percentage 33.33%, 8 students felt anxious with the percentage 26.67%, 8 students felt mildly anxious with the percentage 26.67%, 4 students felt relaxed with the percentage 13.33% and there was no student who felt very relaxed. Then, the result of WAT questionnaire were 7 students felt very anxious with percentage 23.33%, 8 students felt anxious with the percentage 26.67%, 9 students felt mildly anxious with the percentage 30%, 6 students felt relaxed with the percentage 20% and there was no student who felt very relaxed. Based on the findings of the present study, several conclusions can be made: First, students’ anxiety in speaking showed that the students never felt quite sure of themselves when they were speaking in foreign language class. Second, students’ anxiety in writing above showed that most of students avoided writing in English.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Kruk

The article presents the results of a study whose main aim was to investigate the changes in motivation, language anxiety and boredom in learning English in Second Life. The sample consisted of 16 second year students of English philology. The study was conducted over the period of a summer semester. During that time the participants in the study were asked to use Second Life and practice English there in their own time. The data were obtained by means of a background questionnaire and session logs and subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results show that the students declared quite a high level of motivation to learn English in Second Life, a low level of anxiety and a relatively low level of boredom. In addition, the findings of the study revealed that both the reported motivation as well as the experience of boredom fluctuated over time. In contrast, the levels of foreign language anxiety declared by the subjects remained almost unchanged. Possible causes of such fluctuations are offered.


ReCALL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabela Melchor-Couto

AbstractVirtual worlds have been described as low anxiety environments (Dickey, 2005), where students may feel “shielded” behind their avatars (Rosell-Aguilar, 2005: 432). The aim of this article is to analyse the evolution of the Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) levels experienced by a group of participants who used the virtual world Second Life for oral interaction (VW Group). The data gathered was compared to that of a group of students who completed similar oral interaction activities in the traditional classroom (CR Group). The quantitative and qualitative data analysed indicates that the FLA levels of the VW Group decreased as weeks went by and that they were lower than those experienced by the CR Group. The anonymity afforded by the VW had a positive effect on some of the students, who reported increased self-confidence and decreased nervousness. However, the students’ comments suggest that this anonymity may wear off once they feel they know their interlocutor. Anonymity may not be the only reason to explain the decrease in FLA.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Gloria Sánchez Muñoz

Second language acquisition (SLA) is a complex construct in which not only cognitive factors play a crucial role, but also affective ones. In the last decades, the analysis of affective factors in second (L2) and foreign language (FL) learning has gained prominence. Research has shown a strong correlation between language learning and aspects such as personality, motivation, attitude, or anxiety, to name but a few (e.g., Gardner, 2020; Hewitt & Stephenson, 2011; MacIntyre & Gardner, 1989). The purpose of this paper is to examine whether Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) levels could be lessened using Virtual Worlds (VWs) such as Second Life (SL) for language teaching. This investigation compares the FLA levels of an Experimental Group (EG), which completed three activities through SL, with a Control Group (CG), which completed the same activities in the traditional classroom. Results indicate that the FLA levels of participants in the EG decreased as lessons went by in comparison with those participants in the CG. Moreover, findings suggest that the confidence of those participants working in SL increased as time went by. This boost in learners’ confidence could be attributed to the crucial role played by anonymity in VWs.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rola Ahmed Lababidi

<p>This case study explores and investigates the perceptions and experiences of foreign language anxiety (FLA) among students of English as a Foreign Language in a Higher Education Institution in the United Arab Emirates. The first phase explored the scope and severity of language anxiety among all Foundation level male students at a college in the UAE. In the second phase of the study, focus group (FG) interviews with students were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the possible sources of anxiety about language learning and its manifestations, as well as consideration of the strategies that may be used to alleviate its negative effects. The findings indicate that some of the student participants in this case study experienced moderate to high levels of anxiety in the second language classrooms. The findings from the FG indicate that foreign language anxiety could be attributed to a number of variables. The results highlight a number of implications and recommendations for future research.</p>


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