scholarly journals FOREIGN LANGUAGE ANXIETY IN STUDENT LEARNING

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (102) ◽  
pp. 18-23
Author(s):  
Asta Lileikienė ◽  
Lina Danilevičienė
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Low Achievement ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
The University ◽  
Research Analysis

Background. Anxiety includes uncomfortable feelings when learning or using the new language. It continues to exist in the university foreign language classroom as well. A number of foreign language students report feeling anxious about language learning. Research aim was to investigate the foreign language anxiety (in our case, English as a foreign language, EFL) in the classroom context at tertiary level in relation to its effect on foreign language acquisition as well as to design recommendations of how to reduce or exclude foreign language anxiety from the university foreign language classroom. Methods. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by E. K. Horwitz, M. B. Horwitz, and Cope (1986) was used. The questionnaire consisted of 5 statements about the respondents’ general background and 33 statements which were evaluated on the Likert scale from 1 to 5 by the research participants. The research sample involved 200 first and second year students of Lithuanian Sports University . Results. The research analysis revealed that the respondents generally felt anxious speaking in the language class, making mistakes and being corrected by the teacher, worrying about the consequences of failing foreign language class and speaking with native speakers. The correlation between the students’ level of knowledge and their feeling of anxiety was established: students of lower level (A2 and B1) tended to feel higher levels of anxiety. Moreover, female participants of this study exhibited higher levels of foreign language anxiety. Conclusions. Foreign language anxiety proved to be a powerful predictor for demotivation in foreign language learning and impeded the acquisition of foreign languages. The research analysis revealed that the majority of younger respondents demonstrated a higher degree of anxiety. The more mature the students were, the more confident they felt in EFL classes. It was found that female students felt higher level of anxiety in learning English as a foreign language than male students. They were more inclined to hesitate and felt anxious in the language classroom, while male undergraduates were more confident and had a greater ability to cope with the feelings of anxiety and nervousness. Students with higher knowledge of English language (level B2) showed lower levels of anxiety and felt more confident in language class. A large number of failures was observed at the pre-intermediate and lower intermediate (A2/B1) levels. Therefore, the learners with high anxiety often got low achievement and low achievement made them more anxious about learning.

scholarly journals The Correlation among EFL Learners’ Test Anxiety, Foreign Language Anxiety and Language Achievement

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilek Cakici
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Test Anxiety ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Achievement ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Text Anxiety ◽  
One Year

<p class="Default">The main aim of this study was to investigate the correlation among test anxiety (TA), foreign language anxiety (FLA) and language achievement of university preparatory students learning English as a foreign language. The sample of the research consisted of 301 (211 females, 90 males) attending a one-year EFL preparatory school at Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Foreign Languages. The TAI (Test Anxiety Inventory) developed by Spielberger (1980), FLCAS (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale) developed by Horwitz (1986) and the students’ language achievement scores were used to collect data. In addition, this study aimed to determine the effect of gender on both TA and FLA. The findings of the study revealed that there was no relation between students’ TA and their language achievement. It was also found a significant positive correlation between students’ TA and FLA. Besides, the result demonstrated that there was a significant reverse correlation between students’ FLA and their language achievement. Following t-test results, it was found out that females exhibited higher mean scores than males in both TAI and FLCAS. Finally, certain suggestions were set for EFL teachers to reduce text anxiety and language learning anxiety in foreign language classroom settings.</p>

scholarly journals The ‘unforgettable’ experience of foreign language anxiety

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 120-128
Author(s):  
Morana Drakulić
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
First Year ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
First Year University

Foreign language anxiety (FLA) has long been recognized as a factor that hinders the process of foreign language learning at all levels. Among numerous FLA sources identified in the literature, language classroom seems to be of particular interest and significance, especially in the formal language learning context, where the course and the teacher are often the only representatives of language. The main purpose of the study is to determine the presence and potential sources of foreign language anxiety among first year university students and to explore how high anxiety levels shape and affect students’ foreign language learning experience. In the study both the questionnaire and the interviews were used as the data collection methods. Thematic analysis of the interviews and descriptive statistics suggest that most anxiety-provoking situations stem from the language classroom itself.

scholarly journals JALT2015 Conference Article: On Emotions in Foreign Language Learning and Use

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Marc Dewaele
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom

Emotions are at the heart of the foreign language learning process. Without emotion, boredom would reign and very little learning would take place. I report on some recent work that has investigated the role of emotion in the foreign language classroom, both positive (foreign language enjoyment) and negatives ones (foreign language anxiety). It seems that both learners and teachers play a crucial role in managing emotions in the classroom. I also report on the difficulties associated with the communication of emotions in a foreign language and on their relative absence in foreign language course books and during classes. This leaves learners ill-prepared to recognise and express emotions appropriately in a foreign language, which is an essential part of sociopragmatic competence. 外国語学習過程の中心には「感情」がある。感情がなければ飽きるのも早く、学びも限られてしまう。本論では、外国語の授業で感情が果たす肯定的な（例：外国語学習の楽しみ）および否定的な（例：外国語学習不安）役割について報告する。そして最近の研究を基に、いかに学習者と教員双方がクラスでの感情のコントロールに深くかかわっているかを考察する。また、外国語で感情を伝えることの難しさについても触れ、外国語の教科書や授業で感情表現が扱われることの少なさが、社会語用論的能力の主な要素である感情表現の理解不足につながっていることを指摘する。

scholarly journals Mandarin Language Learning Anxiety Among Non-Chinese Learners: A Case of Universiti Teknologi MARA

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hie Ling Ting ◽  
Jiin Yih Yeo ◽  
Vicky Chin
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Third Language ◽  
Learning Anxiety ◽  
Chinese Learners ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Mandarin Language

Learning Mandarin as a foreign language or third language can be very difficult for non-Chinese learners. In the process of learning Mandarin, non-Chinese learners may experience certain level of foreign language anxiety. The objectives of this study are to investigate Mandarin language anxiety level and its associated factors among non-Chinese learners. This study involved 221 non-Chinese learners who enrolled in Introductory Mandarin Language in Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Sarawak. The instrument for this study included the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) developed by Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope (1986). The collected data were analysed using Statistical package for Social Science (SPSS) 22. The results of the study indicated that most of the non-Chinese learners experienced a moderate level of anxiety while learning Mandarin. The main factor that contributed to their language anxiety was communication apprehension, followed by fear of negative evaluation and test anxiety.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Self-esteem and Second Language Anxiety among Hashemite University Students in Jordan

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
The Self ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Hashemite University ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and second foreign language. A random sample of 258 students Hashemite University participated in the current study. The foreign language classroom anxiety scale which was developed by horwitz and others and the self-esteem scale which was developed by Rosenberg were used to measure two variables, the self-esteem and foreign language anxiety consequently. The findings of this study revealed a strong negative correlation between self-esteem and foreign language anxiety and the study also revealed that self-esteem good predictor of foreign language anxiety. The findings also showed that there is a statically significant differences in the correlation between self-esteem and foreign language anxiety refer to faculty and academic year and there is no a statistically significant differences in the correlation between self-esteem and foreign language anxiety refer to gender. Many researchers refer to importance of affect in the language classroom. Language learning is an anxiety-provoking experience for many students. Affective factors which may have impacts on foreign language learning have been studied since past two decades. The most important affective e factors that have been received considerable attention and widely studied in educational context are language and self-esteem [1]. Self-esteem is one of the central drives in human beings. When the level of the self -esteem is low, the psychological homeostasis is unbalanced, creating insecurity, fear and other negative situations. In the context of language learning, low self-esteem can have serious consequences, student may avoid taking the necessary risks to acquire communicative competence in the target language, they may feel deeply insecure and even drop out of the class [2].

scholarly journals Student Language Anxiety in Learning English (A survey to non-English Major students in rural area)

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Tuti Hidayati
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
English Major ◽  
English Classroom

Learners’ difficulties in learning a foreign language cannot merely be linked to the lack of ability or intelligence. Language anxiety or the feeling of tension, apprehension, fearfulness, and worry in language class had been pointed to greatly influence learner’s progress in mastering the target language. Highly anxious learners were found to achieve less and had low motivation. This study reports a survey investigating the level of language anxiety and its perceived causes and discusses some alternatives to deal with it. The participants were 114 non-English major students in State Islamic College of Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh in West Aceh. Data were collected employing Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope, (1986). The finding indicated that the students participating in the study exhibited a moderate level of language anxiety obtaining FLCAS mean score 102.17. The main cause of language anxiety was attributed to fear of negative evaluation with the highest average mean 3,5. Communication apprehension and test anxiety were in the second and third rank with the average mean 3,3 and 3,1 respectively. Meanwhile, English classroom items were perceived to contribute the least to the students’ tense experience given the average mean 2,7. It is suggested that making the learners realize that they are not alone experiencing anxiety in learning a foreign language is crucial. Furthermore, it is important that teachers embrace a supportive and non-threatening role to provide a more effective foreign language learning.

scholarly journals Ansiedad idiomática en Español como Lengua Extranjera y rendimiento académico en la Enseñanza Superior || Foreign language anxiety in Spanish as a Foreign Language and language achievement in Higher Education

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Mercedes Rabadán ◽  
Alejandro Orgambídez
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Anxiety Scale ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Achievement ◽  
Enseñanza Superior ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom

 La ansiedad idiomática es reconocida como uno de los elementos afectivos que mayor influencia tiene sobre el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras. No obstante, se han realizado pocos estudios sobre el papel de la ansiedad en el contexto de Español como Lengua Extranjera (ELE), y apenas existen investigaciones con estudiantes portugueses de la enseñanza superior. Este estudio explora el papel de la ansiedad idiomática como predictor del rendimiento académico en estudiantes portugueses universitarios. Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal y correlacional con una muestra de 249 participantes. La ansiedad fue evaluada utilizando la escala Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) y el rendimiento académico fue medido utilizando la nota final obtenida en la asignatura de español como lengua extranjera. Los resultados mostraron que mayores puntuaciones en la aprensión comunicativa, la ansiedad durante la evaluación y el miedo a una evaluación negativa se asociaron a peor rendimiento académico. El modelo de regresión identificó el miedo a una evaluación negativa como el predictor significativo más importantes de la calificación. Ambientes de clases libres de ansiedad facilitan la adquisición y el aprendizaje de ELE.

scholarly journals The effect of anxiety on foreign language academic achievement

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tóth Andrea
Keyword(s):  
Academic Achievement ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Class ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Anxiety has commonly been regarded as one of the most significant affective obstacles in language learning achievement, and has been the subject matter of many second language researches (MacIntyre & Gregersen, 2012; Huang, 2012; Hewitt & Stefenson, 2011; Riasati, 2011; Horwitz, 2001). The primary purpose of the present study is to explore the anxiety levels of a class of students studying at the University of Dunaújváros and to investigate their attitude towards acquiring a second/foreign language. On the basis of the information gained the study is aiming at revealing some degree of correlation between students’ anxiety and their academic achievement. Responses to the Foreign Language Anxiety Scale show that the relatively high levels of anxiety among these participants are related to the worry about (1) the consequences of failing their foreign language class, (2) thinking that the others are better at languages and (3) communication with native speakers of the foreign language. However, the results on the relationship between anxiety levels and academic achievements show no significant correlation between these two variables, which leads us to the conclusion that the participants’ anxiety levels do not exceed the level which would have a negative impact on their academic results.

scholarly journals e-Tandem jitters: a study of online learners’ foreign language anxiety

2020 ◽  
pp. 7-12
Author(s):  
Christine Appel ◽  
Blanca Cristòfol Garcia
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Online Learners ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
New Learning Environments ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Tandem Learning

Due to the increasing use of technology to enhance Foreign Language (FL) education, research on learners’ emotions in new learning environments is calling for more attention (Beirne, Mac Lochlainn, Nic Giolla, & Mhichíl, 2018). In this study, we focus on Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA), a debilitating emotion; and e-Tandem learning, a telecollaborative Foreign Language Learning (FLL) practice. e-Tandem has a vast potential to foster learners’ FL skills (Cziko, 2013), although it might trigger learners’ FLA as well. Since little research has been carried out, hitherto, on FLA in e-tandem learners, this investigation aims to gain new insights into this topic. First, we want to analyze the appropriateness of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) ( Horwitz, Horwitz, & Cope, 1986) to assess e-tandem learners’ FLA. Second, we want to observe to what extent e-tandem contributes to reduce learners’ FLA over time. Descriptive statistics are carried out and results are discussed.

scholarly journals 大学生を対象とした英語授業不安尺度の作成とその検討 – The English Language Classroom Anxiety Scale: Test Construction, Reliability, and Validity

2003 ◽  
pp. 187
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Language Classrooms ◽  
English Language Classrooms ◽  
General Scale ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

Foreign language anxiety is becoming an important area of research in our profession. Debilitating language anxiety can have profound consequences on the language learning process. The purpose of the present study is to construct a scale to measure the anxiety that Japanese students experience in English language classrooms. First, a pilot test was developed from open-ended questionnaires administered to 148 university students describing specific situations that had made them anxious in English language classrooms, and from five extant scales of foreign language anxiety developed in the U.S. and Canada (Ely, 1986; Gardner, 1985; Horwitz, Horwitz, & Cope, 1986; MacIntyre & Gardner, 1994; Young, 1990). A total of 317 anxiety-producing situations were initially identified from the students’ reports and 90 items from the extant scales. Elimination of duplicate situations reduced the set of items to the following 12 dimensions: listening, speaking, reading, writing, being asked questions, mistakes, information processing, classroom activities, other classmates, teachers, language skills, and course work. Thirty-eight pilot test items, representing the 12 dimensions, were constructed and administered to 213 university students in first year and second year English classes. Each item was followed by a six-point Likert response scale. Results of factor analysis revealed that English language classroom anxiety was composed of three factors: anxiety about (a) low proficiency in English (e.g., I am anxious about whether I will be able to keep up with the classes), (b) evaluation from classmates (e.g., I am anxious that other students might think I am poor at English), and (c) speaking activities (e.g., I feel nervous when I speak English in class). The test-retest reliability for an interval of eight weeks was .85 for the general scale, and .85, .77, and .71 for the three subscales respectively. The internal consistency, using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, was .92 for the general scale, and .89, .84, and .82 for the subscales respectively. The present scale was determined to be highly reliable. The validity of the scale was assessed by its correlations with Leary’s (1983) Interaction Anxiousness Scale and with Shioya’s (1995) scale of cognitive appraisals of English learning skills and costs. It was posited that those who have high English language classroom anxiety tend to feel anxious in social situations and to consider English language learning troublesome. The general scale and the three subscales were all significantly and positively correlated with both Leary’s and Shioya’s scales, verifying the validity of the present scale. Limitations of the present study and implications for future research were discussed. 本研究は、日本人学生の英語学習に関わる不安の実証的研究の端緒として、英語授業不安尺度を作成し、その信頼性と妥当性を検討したものである。まず予備調査において、既存の外国語不安尺度の項目（全９０項目）と日本人英語学習者の自由記述（全３１７項目）から、本調査に用いる３８の質問項目を選定した。２１３名の大学生に対し６件法で回答を求め、因子分析を行った結果、英語授業不安は、英語力に対する不安、他の学生からの評価に対する不安、および発話活動に対する不安から構成されていることが示された。尺度の信頼性は、アルファ係数と再検査法により十分に高いことが示された。また、「対人不安」および「英語学習におけるスキル・コストの認知」との有意な正の相関関係から、尺度の妥当性が概ね確認された。

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