scholarly journals Foreign language anxiety and achievement: A study of primary school students learning English in China

2021 ◽  
pp. 136216882110323
Author(s):  
Xiaoyi Hu ◽  
Xian Zhang ◽  
Sarah McGeown

The present study sought to understand the nature and level of foreign language (FL) anxiety among primary school students and the relationship between FL anxiety and FL achievement. Changes in FL anxiety across groups of three primary school years were also examined. A total of 631 (324 male, 307 female) primary school students aged 9–11 years completed the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) that measured students’ FL anxiety. Our participants’ FL achievements as measured by low-stakes regular assessments and high-stakes formal examinations were also collected. On average, primary school students reported levels of FL anxiety comparable to those of adults observed in previous studies. Factor analysis on FLCAS generated four components of FL anxiety: communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety and negative attitude towards classroom. Correlation analyses showed that students’ FL anxiety was inversely correlated with their FL achievements. The correlation was stronger for formal examinations with higher stakes as compared to regular assessments with lower stakes. Finally, the correlation strengthened as a function of higher instructional level. Results are discussed in relation to previous research. Implications to FL education are also considered.

Author(s):  
Marian Amengual Pizarro

The main aim of this study is to investigate Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) in relation to the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language. A total of 75 prospective primary school teachers at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) took part in this study. A small questionnaire that included the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) (Horwitz et al., 1986) was used to collect data. The results of this study show that most participants experience average and high anxiety levels in the language classroom. Communication apprehension was reported to be the main source of FLA, followed by fear of negative evaluation and test anxiety. The findings also revealed the strong association between FLA, motivation, language proficiency and degree of self-confidence. Furthermore, the data indicate that the primary source of speaking anxiety is related to participants’ lack of English proficiency. This may have potential adverse effects on the confidence levels of L2 teachers, their target language use, and their instructional competence (Horwitz, 1996).


Author(s):  
Snezana Mirkov

Investigations were conducted on learning problems using the sample of eighth-grade students of primary school (N=335). The respondents opted for one or more than seven offered statements related to: insufficient previous knowledge, insufficient studying, teaching contents (extensive, difficult unintelligible), textbook and teacher?s method of presenting the contents. On the basis of the results obtained, one-third of students have problems in mastering teaching contents of foreign language, physics and chemistry, and about one-fourth in mastering those of history and mathematics. All the mentioned causes of problems are present in varying degrees in some school subjects. The causes of learning problems are markedly present in a larger number of school subjects and they are related to some characteristics of teaching contents. Respondents point out, to a large extent, that teaching contents of technical education are uninteresting. In addition, students? responses indicate that it is necessary to improve the method for mastering the teaching contents in various school subjects i.e. methods applied in the teaching process. Subjective causes, as pointed out by students, are connected with some of the subjects they have characterized as the most difficult. Unintelligible textbook is stressed to the lowest extent as a cause of learning problems compared to other causes stated for the majority of school subjects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Penka Kuneva

The report discusses traditional singing games in English and the benefits of their use in teaching English as a foreign language, especially in teaching modules developed according to the interests of primary school students. A review of scholarly articles has been made and some conclusions about using singing games in teaching and learning English as a foreign language has been presented.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 1117-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilknur Pekkanli Egel

Foreign language learning styles are aimed at facilitating students' learning and therefore the teaching style used is important in terms of matching learners' styles to their educational needs. The present study was aimed at investigating several dimensions of primary school students' language learning styles and the ways in which certain styles are shaped and favored by teachers' teaching styles. The primary aim was to find out whether or not the measures taken by the Turkish Ministry of Education regarding rectifying the shortage of teachers of English as a foreign language have had an effect on the learning styles of primary school students. The secondary aim was to examine the varying learning styles of EFL students in two primary schools and to establish whether or not there has been a change in these learning styles. Finally, the researcher examined whether or not the economic conditions of the schools had an influence on the students' learning styles.


Author(s):  
Anastasiia Andreevna Kondrateva

This article deals with the issue of teaching a foreign language to children with disabilities using information computer technologies. The principles of creation of interactive programs and methods of their use are analyzed. Identified and justified the effectiveness of such programs for preschool children and primary school students. Based on the study of several popular online training programs, the degree of necessity and variability of their use for certain categories of children with disabilities are determined.


2018 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 01116
Author(s):  
Julia Pirverdieva ◽  
Karina Neganova ◽  
Nonna Pelevina

The article deals with the use of modern computer technologies in the lexical skills formation in primary school students at the foreign language lessons. The work describes the author’s computer-based methods, which include a developed website with a various list of exercises and tasks at the stage of using vocabulary (variant-situational stage): exercises for controlling of vocabulary (correlate words with translation, connect pairs of synonyms or antonyms, and find a definition of a foreign word), thematic crosswords and interactive testing. Also within the framework of the website, we developed a descriptive electronic dictionary with hyperlinks to the context. Various children’s fairy tales were offered as contexts in English. In order to confirm the research hypothesis, an experiment was conducted. The results of the experiment allowed the authors to justify the use of modern ICT at foreign language lessons in order to increase the level of lexical skills of primary school students.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document