Exploring Foreign Language Communication Apprehension among the English Language University Students in the English Language Classroom Setting

Author(s):  
Draženka Molnar ◽  
Gabrijela Crnjak

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2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-39
Author(s):  
Draženka Molnar ◽  
Gabrijela Crnjak

Abstract Over the past few decades the interest in communication apprehension has increased among researchers and teachers in the field of second/foreign language acquisition (SLA/FLA).The present paper is set between the macro perspective of the social-psychological period - by giving a general view of communication apprehension (CA) - and the situation-specific period - by taking into consideration the immediate educational context.The paper focuses on the phenomenon of communication apprehension among the Croatian university level students in a foreign language classroom setting.In particular, it investigates if there is a difference in the total level of communication apprehension between undergraduate and graduate students of English Language and Literature.Furthermore, it explores whether there is a relationship between different aspects of communication apprehension and the total level of communication apprehension and which background factor is the best predictor of communication apprehension among the students.The first part of the paper brings a theoretical background of the main concepts in this research, whereas the second part of the paper reports on the research itself.Two sets of instruments, questionnaires completed by the students and in-depth interviews conducted among the teachers, were used for the purpose of this study.The results show that the year of study is not a significant predictor of the communication apprehension level which students experience.Among all variables included in the analysis, the only significant predictors of communication apprehension are evaluations.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (Special) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
MARÍA MARTÍNEZ LIROLA

This article analyses the way in which the subject English Language V of the degree English Studies (English Language and Literature) combines the development of the five skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing and interacting) with the use of multimodal activities and resources in the teaching-learning process so that students increase their motivation and acquire different social competences that will be useful for the labour market such as communication, cooperation, leadership or conflict management. This study highlights the use of multimodal materials (texts, videos, etc.) on social topics to introduce cultural aspects in a language subject and to deepen into the different social competences university students can acquire when they work with them. The study was guided by the following research questions: how can multimodal texts and resources contribute to the development of the five skills in a foreign language classroom? What are the main social competences that students acquire when the teaching-learning process is multimodal? The results of a survey prepared at the end of the academic year 2015-2016 point out the main competences that university students develop thanks to multimodal teaching. For its framework of analysis, the study draws on the main principles of visual grammar (Kress and van Leeuwen, 2006) where students learn how to analyse the main aspects in multimodal texts. The analysis of the different multimodal activities described in the article and the survey reveal that multimodality is useful for developing critical thinking, for bringing cultural aspects into the classroom and for working on social competences. This article will explain the successes and challenges of using multimodal texts with social content so that students can acquire social competences while learning content. Moreover, the implications of using multimodal resources in a language classroom to develop multiliteracies will be observed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 158
Author(s):  
Nur Aeni ◽  
Baso Jabu ◽  
Muhammad Asfah Rahman ◽  
John Evar Strid

Oral communication is essential for people’s workplace performance as well as for university students learning English. Speaking fluently is also crucial for maritime academy students prepared to work in industries abroad. Students need to believe in their ability to speak English. For this reason, sound communication skills are necessary for maritime students so they can compete with seafarer or sailor from other countries. The purpose of this research was to identify the level of oral communication apprehension of nautical students of Akademi Maritim Indonesia (Indonesian Maritime Academy) AIPI Makassar. The sample consisted of 10 first year students at nautical of AMI AIPI Makassar. Data was gathered through questionnaires adapted from Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Class Scale (FLCAS). The findings indicated that students were generally apprehensive in EFL oral communication. The students showed the highest apprehension for public speaking. The level of nautical students’ apprehension based on observation and supported by the modified FLCAS were 20% in the low category, 60% in the moderate category, and 20% in the high category. Students in the high apprehension category showed more symptoms than students in the moderate and low apprehension categories. 


Author(s):  
Рольгайзер ◽  
Anastasiya Rolgayzer

In the article relevance of the use of interactive training methods in teaching English language is considered. The main interactive methods applied in foreign language communication teaching are analyzed, advantages of each method are emphasized.


Author(s):  
Tatiana Panaiotovna Avanesova ◽  
Anna Viktorovna Popova ◽  
Lialia Kamil'evna Vychuzhanova ◽  
Lena Kamil'evna Gruzdeva ◽  
Dmitrii Iur'evich Gruzdev ◽  
...  

The monograph presents materials on the following topics: the experimental formation of algorithms of professional activity of a military specialist in a foreign language environment; features of the implementation of educational functions in classical and distance learning methods; communicative competence of future bachelors of cultural science and subject-language integrated learning (on the example of the disciplines "Art History" and "English language"); foreign language as a component of professional training of ship radio engineer; analysis of the paradigm of cognitive linguistics; the use of thematic corpuses of texts when translating specialized discourse; expressiveness in the scientific and technical text; representation of linguistic personality in the field of maritime professional activity. The monograph is intended for researchers, university professors and students of psychological, pedagogical, methodical and linguistic specialties.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Reza Anggriyashati Adara

Investigating demotivating factors can help teachers to avoid them and provide more insights on sustaining learners’ interest in FL learning. The present study aimed to analyse demotivating factors in FL learning. To obtain the findings, the present study applied a mixed method approach. A set of questionnaires adapted from Sakai and Kikuchi’s (2009) questionnaires were distributed to thirty eight university students whereas interviews were conducted to three of them. The findings indicated teacher’s competence and lack of intrinsic motivation as the most salient factors that caused demotivation among the participants. In this consideration, teachers were perceived as incompetent by the participants when teachers have poor English pronunciation and do not provide communicative classrooms. On the other hand, lack of intrinsic motivation was indicated by the loss of students’ interest in learning and their goal to be an English speaker. Providing a communicative classroom with a fluent teacher as well as promoting students’ interest in English language and culture seem to be the solutions to reduce students’ demotivation. [Penelitian tentang faktor-faktor yang menurunkan motifasi (demotivation) dapat membantu para guru untuk menghindari factor-faktor tersebut dan memberikan wawasan untuk mempertahankan minat peserta didik dalam pembelajaran bahasa asing. Penelitian ini menganalisis faktor demotivasi dalam pembelajaran Bahasa asing. Untuk memperoleh jawaban dari beberapa pertanyaan, penelitian ini menerapkan pendekatan metode campuran. Seperangkat kuesioner yang diadaptasi dari model Sakai dan Kikuchi (2009) didistribusikan kepada tiga puluh delapan mahasiswa sedangkan wawancara dilakukan terhadap tiga dari mahasiswa tersebut. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa kompetensi guru dan kurangnya motivasi intrinsik merupakan faktor yang paling menonjol yang menyebabkan demotivasi di antara para peserta. Dalam hal ini, guru dianggap tidak kompeten oleh para peserta ketika guru memiliki pelafalan bahasa Inggris yang buruk dan tidak menyediakan ruang kelas yang komunikatif. Di sisi lain, kurangnya motivasi intrinsik ditunjukkan oleh hilangnya minat siswa dalam belajar dan tujuan mereka untuk berbicara dalam bahasa Inggris. Menyediakan ruang kelas yang komunikatif dengan guru yang fasih serta mempromosikan minat siswa dalam bahasa dan budaya Inggris tampaknya menjadi solusi untuk mengurangi demotivasi siswa]


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Norliani Norliani ◽  
Wulida Makhtuna

This study is to find out the influences of lecturers’ attitudes on foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) levels of students. The study has been carried out at the fifth semester students of English Departement of STKIP PGRI Banjarmsin academic year 2015/2016. The data have been collected by means of questionnaire and interview, designed to measure the FLCA levels. The aim of which is to obtain information about the effects of lecturers’ attitudes on students with different anxiety levels. FLCA tested on three dimensions, communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, and test anxiety. It was a five point likert’s scale questionnaire, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Strongly agree was coded by (5) and strongly disagree was coded by (1). The interview and questionnaire were translated into Bahasa Indonesia to make it easy for students to understand. The result of the study have revealed that, in  the  classroom the level of anxiety increases by the influence of lecturers.


Author(s):  
Gloria Luque Agulló

This paper describes the steps involved in designing educational programs for pre-service English language teachers in Secondary education within the Spanish context, following the current educational law (LOMCE).  Considering the century-long search for the best method within TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language), and the continuous reforms of educational laws in Spain, pre-service teachers must learn the competences and skills essential for designing of their own teaching program. The series of steps described here will enable teachers to show accountability to educational authorities and increase their self-confidence, subsequently improving their craft in the language classroom.


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