Drama for L2 Speaking and Language Anxiety: Evidence from Brazilian EFL Learners

RELC Journal ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angelica Galante
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
The Past ◽  
Comfort Levels ◽  
L2 Speaking ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety

Anxiety is a dimension of L2 speaking that has been heavily investigated over the past several decades, but there is a paucity of research investigating instruction aiming at lowering anxiety. While research suggests drama lowers L2 learners’ anxiety, it is unclear to what extent anxiety is affected by drama. This article reports results from a mixed methods study examining whether drama impacts foreign language anxiety (FLA). The participants were 24 Brazilian adolescents who took part in two distinct four-month EFL programmes: a drama and a non-drama programme. An adapted version of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) was used as pre- and post measures. Analyses from FLCAS indicate a significant reduction in FLA levels among learners in both groups over time, with a slightly better improvement among learners in the drama group. Further analysis provides evidence that drama can enhance comfort levels when speaking the L2. Implications for research and language teaching are discussed.

scholarly journals Multilingualism and Foreign Language Anxiety: the case of Saudi EFL Learners

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Bensalem
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Arabic Version ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Efl Learners ◽  
Efl Context ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety

The present study focuses on the link between foreign language anxiety (FLA), self-perceived proficiency, and multilingualism in the under-explored EFL context of Saudi Arabia. Ninety six Arabic learners of English (56 males, 40 females) answered the Arabic version of Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLACS; Horwitz, Horwitz, & Cope, 1986). The analyses revealed that Saudi multilinguals suffered from low to moderate levels of FLA with female participants experiencing more anxiety than their male counterparts. Multiple regression analyses revealed that gender and self-perceived proficiency explained over a quarter of variance in FLA. Furthermore, the study did not find any role of experience abroad in predicting FLA.

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