scholarly journals Anxiety in adult foreign language learning: The case of Ghanaian undergraduate students of Spanish

2021 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-81
Author(s):  
Benedicta Adokarley Lomotey
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

This study investigates students’ anxiety levels through the administration of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) among Spanish learners at a Ghanaian University. The differences according to level of instruction, the association between classroom anxiety and performance, as well as the possible relationship between language immersion and anxiety are also analysed using descriptive statistics, and Pearson’s Moment Correlation Coefficient. The findings indicate that the majority of student participants experienced foreign language classroom anxiety. Nonetheless, contrary to previous research findings, anxiety was not found to decrease systematically as proficiency increased. Additionally, as confirmed by previous studies, the result of the Pearson correlation analysis showed that students’ overall Spanish classroom anxiety and their classroom achievement had a negative association.

scholarly journals Changes in and Effects of Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety and Listening Anxiety on Chinese Undergraduate Students’ English Proficiency in the COVID-19 Context

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meihua Liu ◽  
Renqing Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Listening Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Listening And Speaking ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

The present longitudinal survey study explored changes in and effects of foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) and listening anxiety (FLLA) on Chinese undergraduate students’ English proficiency over a semester in the COVID-19 context. A set of 182 matching questionnaires was collected from first-year undergraduate English as a foreign language learners at two time points of a 16-week semester. Analyses of the data revealed the following major findings: (1) the participants experienced high levels of FLCA and FLLA both at the beginning and end of the semester, neither of which changed significantly during the semester, (2) FLCA and FLLA were highly positively related to each other, (3) FLCA and FLLA significantly predicted students’ self-rated proficiency in listening and speaking English, and (4) confidence in using English, efforts and motivation to learn English and interaction with instructors and peers mediated FLCA and FLLA to exert effects on students’ self-perceived proficiency in listening and speaking English. These findings indicate that the learning environment is critical in influencing the levels of and changes in FLCA and listening anxiety and that these two types of foreign language anxiety are serious issues in the pandemic foreign language learning context.

scholarly journals Exploring the relationship between language learning beliefs and foreign language classroom anxiety

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-384
Author(s):  
Radmila Palinkašević ◽  
Jovana Brkić
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Learning Beliefs ◽  
Strong Connection ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Anxiety Levels ◽  
Language Learning Beliefs ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

Language learning beliefs and foreign language classroom anxiety present two extremely important factors in language learning. This paper explores these two factors and their complex relationship in students at the Preschool Teacher Training College in Vršac and Teacher Training Faculty in Belgrade (Vršac campus). Both quantitative and qualitative research models were implemented in the study. The quantitative analysis used BALLI (Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory) and FLCAS (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale) as instruments, and latter implemented a correlational analysis to see which language learning beliefs had a strong connection with anxiety levels. Ten language learning beliefs showed a significant correlation with foreign language classroom anxiety levels. These beliefs were placed into five belief categories which were used as a starting point in the qualitative analysis. For the qualitative analysis language learning histories were used. The process produced two additional language belief categories which showed a strong connection with foreign language classroom anxiety. The research proposes which language learning beliefs teachers should first promote in order to establish a positive attitude towards language learning without high levels of anxiety along with other suggestions for the change and promotion of language learning beliefs and the lowering of classroom anxiety.

scholarly journals Correlation between Anxiety and Willingness to Communicate in the Indonesian EFL Context

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Yana Shanti Manipuspika
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Willingness To Communicate ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

This present study probes the relationship between English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ language anxiety and their willingness to communicate. The research questions are threefold: a) What are the types of anxiety experienced by the students, b) What is the anxiety level of them, and c) What is the correlation between foreign language anxiety (FLA) and the willingness to communicate (WTC) of the students. Quantitative descriptive approach was employed and the data were collected from 98 participants in an English Department by making use of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) and Likert-type WTC Scale. Pearson Correlation test was run to provide answers of the research questions. The results of this study indicated a strong positive correlation between learners’ foreign language classroom anxiety and their willingness to communicate. Fear of negative evaluation, test anxiety, and communication apprehension were the students’ types of anxiety. In addition, students had high level of anxiety, which in turn, made them difficult in dealing with language learning process and tend to have low desire to speak. Therefore, this study tries to highlight whether anxiety is a significant barrier to WTC, to determine the types and level of FLA, as well as to provide suggestions to help minimize the anxiety.

scholarly journals The prediction of undergraduates’ self-regulation strategies, motivational beliefs, attitudes towards English, and speaking anxiety on foreign language classroom anxiety

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 571
Author(s):  
Mehtap Bademcioglu ◽  
Hakan Karatas ◽  
Atilla Ergin
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Motivational Beliefs ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Regulation Strategies ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

Individual differences are considered as important factors in the language learning process. Apart from individual differences, affective factors such as attitudes and motivation of individuals and their anxiety levels which affect the individuals’ language learning directly or indirectly are also believed as significant impacts in this process. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to examine the relationship between self-regulation strategies, motivational beliefs, attitudes, speaking anxiety and foreign language classroom anxiety and to investigate the predictive power of these variables for foreign language classroom anxiety. The relational model was used in the current study. The research group included 320 male (65.6 %) and 168 female (34.4 %) English preparatory students at Istanbul Technical University. Attitudes toward English Lesson Scale, Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Questionnaire, The Motivational Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale were used as the data collection tool. The statistical methods used for analyses were correlation and multiple regression. The findings indicated that there is a significant positive correlation between foreign language classroom anxiety and self-regulation, test anxiety, and foreign language speaking anxiety. Also, there is significant negative correlation between foreign language classroom anxiety and self-efficacy intrinsic value perception, and attitude towards English. Moreover, self-efficacy, test anxiety, attitude towards English, and foreign language speaking anxiety are predictors of the university students’ foreign language classroom anxiety. 

scholarly journals A Review of the Effectiveness of Foreign Language Enjoyment and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety on Learners' Engagement and Attainment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingping Shen
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Affective Factors ◽  
Major Interest ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

Cognitive factors are not the fundamental determinants of success in language learning. Foreign language attainment depends on both cognitive and affective factors, highlighting the deeper impacts of the former. Some scholars started to investigate affective issues, particularly negative emotions in language learning studies; nevertheless, reducing negative emotions such as anxiety should be accompanied by the development of positive emotions (e.g., well-being, autonomy, and enjoyment). Since then, a great number of researchers have examined the impact of anxiety and enjoyment in foreign language literature, particularly after the introduction of reliable and valid foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE) scales. So, the present study aims to review contemporary scholarly articles and books in this regard. Findings suggest that there has been a major interest in the evaluation of FLCA and FLE across a variety of dimensions including personality traits, interpersonal characteristics, and classroom conditions. The central issues are summarized into three categories of the relationship between FLCA and FLE, the robustness of respective scales, and the impact of individual and interpersonal factors. Hence, this research attempts to highlight probable gaps and areas for further examinations to help enrich the literature and improve the theoretical knowledge.

scholarly journals THE CORRELATION BETWEEN EFL ANXIETY AND STUDENTS’ READING COMPREHENSION”.

Prosodi ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-134
Author(s):  
Asri Nofa Rama
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
English Language Teaching ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

The objective of the current study examined whether there was any significant correlation between foreign language classroom anxiety and students’ reading comprehension. In this regard, hopefully, this study provided English language lecturers to recognize the most provoking factor that affect learning a foreign language, such anxiety and helped students to solve language anxiety to become better English language students. This researcher was conducted at Lakidende University, particularly 32 university students of English Language Teaching Department who enrolled in academic year 2018/2019. The data were obtained from students’ reading comprehension test and questionnaire that is Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) and to analyze the data this study applied Pearson Correlation analysis. The finding revealed that there was a significant relationship between foreign language classroom anxiety and students’ reading comprehension, p (.061) 0.05. Meanwhile, the strength of correlation between reading anxiety and students’ reading comprehension was categorized “moderate” according to table Guidelines of Interpreting Pearson's Correlation Coefficient (r =.381). It might be the fact that most of students frequently experienced moderate level of foreign language classroom anxiety in their reading comprehension class.

scholarly journals How Classroom Environment and General Grit Predict Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety of Chinese EFL Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-98
Author(s):  
Chengchen Li ◽  
Jean-Marc Dewaele
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Classroom Environment ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Environment Interaction ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Classroom ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

Interest in the role of learners’ personality, emotions and the learning environment in foreign language (FL) learning has grown exponentially in the past decade. The introduction of personality psychology in the field of applied linguistics has led to the inclusion of a set of personality dimensions in research designs like resilience and grit, which have been shown to be significant predictors of FL achievement. The abrupt emergence of COVID-19 in 2020 forced universities around the world to move their courses online, which has been named Emergency Remote Teaching. The sudden change in FL learning environment offers a unique opportunity to researchers to investigate whether the relationships between learners’ personality and classroom emotions in traditional ‘in-person’ classes, and the predictors of those emotions, also exist in the new online environments. The present study examined the foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) of Chinese secondary students at different instruction levels and its links with learner-internal and external factors, namely general grit and the classroom environment (CE) of the online English classes. A total of 1,526 Chinese secondary students completed an online questionnaire. Pearson correlation analyses and regression analyses revealed that general grit and CE predicted FLCA either independently or jointly. The findings are discussed and interpreted in the light of existing research on person-environment interaction. We identify avenues for further research and propose a number of pedagogical implications for optimizing online FL teaching.

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