scholarly journals SOURCES OF TURKISH EFL LEARNERS’ FOREIGN LANGUAGE READING ANXIETY

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Cemre Isler ◽  
Ozgur Yildirim
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
English Language ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Figurative Language ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Reading ◽  
Reading Anxiety

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible sources of reading anxiety experienced by Turkish EFL learners. The participants of the study were 50 first year university students studying at the English Language Teaching program of a public university in Turkey. The study employed the explanatory sequential mixed methods design. First, the quantitative data were collected through Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale (FLRAS), and then the qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews for the purpose of better understanding quantitative data findings. For analyzing the quantitative data, each participant’s mean score from FLRAS was computed. As for the qualitative data, the transcribed interviews were analyzed using the constant comparison method, for which the researcher identified the recurring themes through coding, prioritizing and connecting the pieces of data. Results indicated that the participants of the study, in general, experience a moderate level of FL reading anxiety. The following three main categories of FL reading anxiety sources were identified with their ten sub-categories: (1) personal factors (inappropriate reading strategy use, lack of self-confidence, high expectations), (2) features of the reading text (topic familiarity, unknown vocabulary, complex reading structure, text length, figurative language), and (3) reading course (compulsory reading, exam). Key Words: foreign language anxiety, foreign language reading anxiety, the sources of foreign language reading anxiety

scholarly journals Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Among Indonesian EFL Senior High School Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azhari Muhlis
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Senior High School ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
School Students ◽  
Foreign Language Reading ◽  
Reading Anxiety ◽  
Text Features ◽  
Potential Factors

This study aims to investigate foreign language reading anxiety among Indonesian EFL Senior High School students. Thirty two students of grade eleven in a senior high school in Bandung were involved as the participants. This study employed a survey research design. The primary data source was collected by two types of questionnaires and the secondary data source was gained by interview. The findings revealed that most of the students perceived anxiety in medium level (71,9%). The study found that there were two major potential factors of foreign language reading anxiety namely text features and personal factors. Under the concept of text features, there are three sources of foreign language reading anxiety including unknown vocabulary, unfamiliar topic, and unfamiliar culture. Unknown vocabulary was considered as the most potential factor of reading anxiety under the aspect of text features (49%). On the other hand, under the concept of personal factors, there are two sources of foreign language reading anxiety including afraid of making errors, and worry about reading effects. Afraid of making error was nominated as the highest potential factor of reading anxiety under the aspect of personal factors (39%). Implication to the study and recommendations for further research were considered. Keywords: Foreign language reading anxiety, potential factors of foreign language reading anxiety

scholarly journals Learners’ Perceptions of Monolingual Dictionaries in Learning English as a Foreign Language

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Wajahat Taj Abbasi ◽  
Mudassar Mahmood Ahmad ◽  
Faiza Abdalla Elhussien Mohammed
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
English Language ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Internal Reliability ◽  
Bilingual Dictionaries ◽  
Efl Teachers ◽  
Learning English

Dictionary is an acknowledged learning tool which has a tremendous role in acquiring a language. It has proved to be helpful in learning vocabulary and developing language proficiency. The use of monolingual dictionaries is thought to be very fruitful for learning vocabulary. The present study used survey method to gain the perception of the students about the use of monolingual dictionaries for learning EFL. The study also used interviews of EFL teachers to support the findings of the study by eliciting their perceptions about the use of dictionaries by students. A questionnaire was administered in two governmental secondary schools of Zulfi, Saudi Arabia. It was sent to 99 students but a number 92 students responded. Internal reliability of the questionnaire was.81. Descriptive statistical methods were used for analyzing the quantitative data. Additional interviews with 9 teachers were also conducted to support the findings of the questionnaire. Collective thematic analysis of all interviews was conducted to analyze the qualitative data. The results showed that students have positive views about the use of dictionaries for learning EFL; they prefer to use monolingual dictionaries, but they cannot truly use them because bilingual dictionaries are easier and more helpful for them in translation as well as their process of learning English language due to their low proficiency levels. The paper puts forth some recommendations and suggestions that will be helpful for using monolingual dictionaries. It concludes by focussing on the problems in handling monolingual dictionaries.

scholarly journals An Examination of Field-Related and Technology-Aided Measurement and Evaluation Course

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 192-206
Author(s):  
memet karakuş
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
English Language ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Study Group ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
Measurement And Evaluation ◽  
Dependent Sample

The general aim of the research is to examine the effect of field-related and technology-aided measurement and evaluation courses on students’ academic achievement towards measurement and evaluation and to determine their views about the practice. This research was conducted with a case study design. The participants of the study consisted of 28 pre-service teachers studying in the English Language Teaching Department in the spring semester of 2016-2017 at a state university in the South of Turkey. The study was carried out for one semester. In order to collect quantitative data, the Measurement and Evaluation Course Achievement Test developed by the researchers was applied twice before and after the practice. In the evaluation of the practice, semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteer students in the study group, and qualitative data were collected. In the context of the analysis of quantitative data, the difference between the pretest and posttest achievement scores of the students in the study group was examined with dependent sample t-test. In the analysis of the interviews within the scope of qualitative data, the inductive approach used in content analysis methods was used. As a result of the research, it has been seen that the field-related and technology-aided measurement and evaluation course increases the academic achievement of the students. In addition, it was determined that the students had positive views about the course, they had difficulties with mathematical subjects and there were generally positive views about Excel practices but there were limitations in various aspects. Finally, it has been determined that there are positive views regarding the integration of the course with the field teaching, recommendations are made to improve improvement of the course about time and duration, and the course has various contributions to the professional life.

scholarly journals PERCEPTIONS OF PRIMARY AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS ON THE USE OF MOTHER TONGUE IN EFL CLASSES

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilek Durukan ◽  
Ayhan Kahraman
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Primary School ◽  
High School Teachers ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Quantitative Data ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Teachers

Whether the mother tongue (L1) should be included or excluded in foreign language classes has been debated by researchers and there is no consensus on this controversial issue.   However, most of the studies are conducted on the tertiary level, and there is very few on the primary & secondary levels.  Therefore, this study explores the perspectives of English teachers working in primary schools in comparison to high schools affiliated with national education. It also investigates for which language skills both of those groups find the use of mother tongue (Turkish) relatively effective and their justification behind the use of L1 in their classes in which English is taught as a foreign language. A total of 30 primary and 30 high school teachers working in Usak participated the study voluntarily. The study has employed mixed-method and   data was collected through a questionnaire developed by Kuru and Tekin (2019). Moreover, semi structured interviews were conducted to obtain qualitative data with randomly selected primary school (8) and high school teachers (8). By means of SPSS, descriptive statistics were conducted and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings of the quantitative data indicated that majority of both primary and high school teachers support the use of mother tongue in EFL classes. Additionally, there is no significance difference between the perceptions of primary school and high school teachers regarding the use of L1. Finally, results of the qualitative data advocate the findings of the quantitative data.

scholarly journals Investigating Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Among Yemeni International Students in Malaysian Universities

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norizan Abdul Razak ◽  
Amr Abdullatif Yassin ◽  
Marwan Saeed Saif Moqbel
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
English Language ◽  
Moderate Level ◽  
Medium Of Instruction ◽  
Intercultural Learning ◽  
Learning Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Reading ◽  
Reading Anxiety ◽  
Reading Materials

The study aimed at identifying the level and sources of foreign language reading anxiety among Yemeni students in Malaysian universities. Besides, it aimed at finding out whether there are statistically significant differences in the means of responses of Yemeni students in Malaysian universities according to the variable ‘Level of study’ (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD). The study is quantitative as it used Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale (FLRAS) to answer the study questions. FLRAS was distributed to general groups of Yemeni students in Malaysia in the form of an online survey. The number of participants who responded to the survey is 100 Yemen students who are preparing their bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in different majors in Malaysia. The results of the study showed that the level of foreign language reading anxiety among Yemeni students in Malaysian universities is of moderate level across the three groups. More importantly, the result of the analysis showed that there are no statistically significant differences in the means of responses of Yemeni students in Malaysian universities according to the variable ‘Level of study’ (Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD). The findings of the study highlighted an important point in the investigation of foreign language reading anxiety which is the environment. Thus, studies on intercultural learning stated that the host culture is a source of learning anxiety; however, the moderate level of reading anxiety across the three groups in this study might be attributed to the fact that the medium of instruction and reading materials in Malaysian universities are in English language. Therefore, this finding makes a crystal-clear difference between reading anxiety and general intercultural learning anxiety in the host cultures where English is the medium of instruction. Students, instructors and researchers in this area might benefit from the findings of this study.

scholarly journals Promoting Listening Fluency in Pre-Intermediate EFL Learners Through Meaningful Oral Tasks

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-177
Author(s):  
Eulices Córdoba Zúñiga ◽  
Emerson Rangel Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
English Language ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Public University ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Learners ◽  
Field Notes

This article reports a study on the implementation of meaningful oral tasks to promote listening fluency in ten pre-intermediate English as a foreign language learners in the English language teaching program at a Colombian public university. The tasks were implemented to overcome the weaknesses these students had to understand oral messages from audio materials and daily-life conversations in classes. A qualitative action-research study with observation field-notes and semi-structured interviews served as the basis for this research. Results indicate that this methodology provided suitable opportunities to foster listening fluency through the development of meaningful oral tasks. Participants developed dynamic assignments that included pre, while, and post intensive-extensive listening practices which allowed them to understand, to interpret oral messages, and to provide suitable responses to do the required tasks.

AN ANALYSIS OF FLRA TO EFL LEARNERS AT IKIP SILIWANGI

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 263
Author(s):  
Sakina Mawardah ◽  
Farah Hana Zinan ◽  
Iman Santoso
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
English Department ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Foreign Language Reading ◽  
Reading Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Medium Level ◽  
Online Form

This study is aimed to know the scale on the level of anxiety on Foreign Language in general and in reading on EFL learners especially to English department learner of 2015 in IKIP Siliwangi Bandung. The method that is used in this research is descriptive qualitative. The data were gathered using an online form by using a Likert scale questions of FLRAS (Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale) and FLCAS (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scales). The data that have been collected were then analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 that consisted of descriptive statistics (e.g. means, standard deviations, percentages, etc.). The data used to measure the level of FL anxiety in general and in reading. From the results, more than 66% of the EFL learners have a medium-level in FLRAS, and 76% of the participant has a level of mildly anxious in FLCAS toward English as a foreign language.

scholarly journals Love and enjoyment in context: Four case studies of adolescent EFL learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liana Maria Pavelescu ◽  
Bojana Petrić
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
English Language ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Adolescent Students

This study explores the foreign language learning emotions of four EFL adolescent students in Romania and the ways in which their emotions emerge in their sociocultural context. Multiple qualitative methods were employed over a school semester, including a written task, semi-structured interviews with the learners and their teachers, lesson observations and English-related events outside the classroom. It was found that, while all four participants reported experiencing positive emotions in language learning, a distinction was identified in the intensity and stability of their emotions. Two participants expressed a strong and stable emotion of love towards English, while the other two participants experienced enjoyment in their English language learning without an intense emotional attachment to English. Unlike enjoyment, love was found to be the driving force in the learning process, creating effective coping mechanisms when there was a lack of enjoyment in certain classroom situations and motivating learners to invest greater effort into language learning in and out of the classroom. The findings thus revealed that, unlike enjoyment, love broadened cognition and maintained engagement in learning. The study emphasizes the role of strong, enduring positive emotions in teenage students’ language learning process.

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