scholarly journals Variations in motivation, anxiety and boredom in learning English in Second Life

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariusz Kruk
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Motivation To Learn ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Second Year ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Of Motivation ◽  
Learning English

The article presents the results of a study whose main aim was to investigate the changes in motivation, language anxiety and boredom in learning English in Second Life. The sample consisted of 16 second year students of English philology. The study was conducted over the period of a summer semester. During that time the participants in the study were asked to use Second Life and practice English there in their own time. The data were obtained by means of a background questionnaire and session logs and subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis. The results show that the students declared quite a high level of motivation to learn English in Second Life, a low level of anxiety and a relatively low level of boredom. In addition, the findings of the study revealed that both the reported motivation as well as the experience of boredom fluctuated over time. In contrast, the levels of foreign language anxiety declared by the subjects remained almost unchanged. Possible causes of such fluctuations are offered.

scholarly journals Does High Anxiety Decrease Motivation for Learning English as a Foreign Language?

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Huda M. Almurshed ◽  
Wafa Aljuaythin
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
King Saud University ◽  
Motivation For Learning ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Of Motivation ◽  
Learning English

This study investigates the relationship between the level of foreign language anxiety experienced by Saudi female English learners at a Saudi university and the level of their motivation in learning English as a foreign language. The participants were 40 female second-year university students. The instruments the researchers used to gather the data were two questionnaires: Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope’s (1986) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) and Gardner’s (2006) Attitude/Motivation Test Battery (AMTB). The data were analyzed by calculating the percentages of students’ responses to each item. The findings revealed that Saudi female English learners at King Saud University experienced high levels of foreign language anxiety. The findings also revealed that the learners were highly motivated to learn English. This demonstrates that a high level of motivation to learn English does not prevent the occurrence of a significant level of anxiety. That is, motivation can control foreign language anxiety and assist anxious learners in their determination to learn English.

scholarly journals Foreign Language Anxiety in Saudi Classroom: A Case Study of Saudi Tertiary Female Students in Prince Sattam University

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 28
Author(s):  
Asjad Ahmed Saeed Balla
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Communication Apprehension ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Saudi Students ◽  
Great Fear ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
High Level

This paper investigates the level of anxiety due to learning English as a foreign language. It tries to answer these questions: 1-Is anxiety a factor in hindering English proficiency? 2-Does anxiety lead to fear of communication? 3- Which type of anxiety is high among tertiary level female Saudi students? The Foreign Language Anxiety Classroom Scale (FLACS) used as an instrument. The data was collected and statistically analysed through SPSS. This paper revealed that anxiety was one of the major factors that impeded English proficiency. Besides, anxiety also caused fear of communication among the students. Furthermore, it was found that the learners had got a high level of communication apprehension that hindered their contact with their teachers and others. This was followed by test anxiety in which the students expected to fail their test. Students showed great fear of test as they feared to be negatively assessed by teachers, this fact had created great anxiety that influenced their attitudes and behaviour as well.

scholarly journals Exploring the Relationship Between Foreign Language Anxiety, Gender, Years of Learning English and Learners’ Oral English Achievement Amongst Chinese College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Hualan Tan ◽  
Zhilong Xie
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
English Learning ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
English Achievement ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Learning English

English serves as a bridge of communication for the people from all over the world as it plays an increasingly crucial role in the process of globalization. In accordance with English curriculum standards issued by the Ministry of Education in 2011, the ultimate goal of English language discipline is to communicate. But over these years, China’s English education has been difficult to get out of the dilemma of “Dumb English”. When facing the real oral communication situations, students are still too nervous to speak with a great deal of fluency and accuracy. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the relationship between English language anxiety, gender, years of English learning and final oral English achievement by inviting 41 English major freshmen of foreign language departments of Nanchang Business College. For this purpose, this study adopts a reliable Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by Horwitz and Cope (1986) to measure students’ anxiety. The results reveal that anxiety levels between males and females are similar; there is also no significant difference among years of learning English; however, a significantly negative correlation between college students’ foreign language anxiety and their oral English learning achievement was found.

scholarly journals Impact of Learning Content on Secondary Students’ Motivation to Learn English In Lebanese Public Schools: Three Case Studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-166
Author(s):  
Lama Komayha ◽  
Jihanne Tarhini
Keyword(s):  
Public Schools ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Secondary Students ◽  
Learning Content ◽  
Mixed Method Design ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Of Motivation ◽  
Positive Significant Correlation ◽  
Learning English

Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of “the learning content” on “students’ motivation” in learning English as a foreign language. Approach/Methodology/Design: A mixed-method design was employed in this study to explore the correlation between the two variables from the perspective of teachers and students. The sample included three secondary public schools in the region of Mount Lebanon. Six classes were examined in each school. Qualitative data was obtained from the interview answers of 18 grade eleven English teachers and 18 one-session class observations in the three schools. Quantitative data was obtained from questionnaires of 355 grade eleven students in the three schools. Findings: Interviews and observations’ content analysis indicated that students show a high level of motivation when they perceive the content as interesting, relevant, and beneficial. Surveys’ SPSS analysis revealed the existence of a strong positive significant correlation between the learning content and students’ motivation. Practical Implications: The study investigates the effect of one of the repeatedly mentioned factors of students’ motivation and demotivation in learning English as a foreign language “the learning content”. Originality/value: It is recommended for teachers and educators to adjust the learning content according to students’ needs and interests in order to create chances of success and achievement for students, build students’ competence, relate students to their society, and allow technology integration.

scholarly journals Foreign language anxiety levels in Second Life oral interaction

ReCALL ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabela Melchor-Couto
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Traditional Classroom ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Oral Interaction ◽  
Positive Effect

AbstractVirtual worlds have been described as low anxiety environments (Dickey, 2005), where students may feel “shielded” behind their avatars (Rosell-Aguilar, 2005: 432). The aim of this article is to analyse the evolution of the Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) levels experienced by a group of participants who used the virtual world Second Life for oral interaction (VW Group). The data gathered was compared to that of a group of students who completed similar oral interaction activities in the traditional classroom (CR Group). The quantitative and qualitative data analysed indicates that the FLA levels of the VW Group decreased as weeks went by and that they were lower than those experienced by the CR Group. The anonymity afforded by the VW had a positive effect on some of the students, who reported increased self-confidence and decreased nervousness. However, the students’ comments suggest that this anonymity may wear off once they feel they know their interlocutor. Anonymity may not be the only reason to explain the decrease in FLA.

scholarly journals Exploring the Factors of Foreign Language Anxiety Among Chinese Undergraduate English Majors and Non-English Majors

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 142
Author(s):  
Mehwish Naudhani ◽  
Zhijie Wu ◽  
Sehrish Naudhani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Middle Level ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Speaking Anxiety ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
English Majors ◽  
High Level ◽  
Classroom Anxiety

The study aims to examine three factors of foreign language anxiety i.e. speaking anxiety, foreign language classroom anxiety and teacher-generated anxiety, among Chinese English majors and non-English majors. The data were analysed to find out which of these factors invoke more anxiety. Research data collection was done via Foreign Language Anxiety Scale. A total number of subjects are 101, including 51 English majors and 50 non-English majors, with Chinese as their mother-tongue and learning English as a second language at university. The results revealed that English majors feel the middle level of foreign language speaking and classroom anxiety while Non-English majors experience high level of foreign language speaking and classroom anxiety. Moreover, both groups felt more anxious when they spoke to the teacher. Keeping in view the results of the study, some follow-up studies are recommended.

scholarly journals Second Life: A Virtual Environment to Reduce Students’ Foreign Language Anxiety

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Gloria Sánchez Muñoz
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Virtual Worlds ◽  
Second Life ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Affective Factors

Second language acquisition (SLA) is a complex construct in which not only cognitive factors play a crucial role, but also affective ones. In the last decades, the analysis of affective factors in second (L2) and foreign language (FL) learning has gained prominence. Research has shown a strong correlation between language learning and aspects such as personality, motivation, attitude, or anxiety, to name but a few (e.g., Gardner, 2020; Hewitt & Stephenson, 2011; MacIntyre & Gardner, 1989). The purpose of this paper is to examine whether Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) levels could be lessened using Virtual Worlds (VWs) such as Second Life (SL) for language teaching. This investigation compares the FLA levels of an Experimental Group (EG), which completed three activities through SL, with a Control Group (CG), which completed the same activities in the traditional classroom. Results indicate that the FLA levels of participants in the EG decreased as lessons went by in comparison with those participants in the CG. Moreover, findings suggest that the confidence of those participants working in SL increased as time went by. This boost in learners’ confidence could be attributed to the crucial role played by anonymity in VWs.

scholarly journals Exploring Fear of Negative Evaluation in Foreign Language Anxiety: Photovoice of Undergraduates in Speaking Class

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Anindyastuti Wardhani
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learners ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Negative Evaluation ◽  
Fear Of Negative Evaluation ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Speaking Skill ◽  
Common Situation ◽  
Learning English

Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) is a common situation happens in EFL classroom. This phenomenon usually causes the students’ anxiety while they are learning English. The previous study proved that language learners performed significantly better on oral foreign language if they were in less anxious situations. Students’ unwillingness for participating speaking activities in the classroom caused by their assumption of being judged negatively and lack of mastering the speaking skill. The objective of this research is to explore whether there is foreign language anxiety problem among Indonesian undergraduates in speaking class. The researchers collected and processed the data using Photovoice. The participants of this research were 14 undergraduate students in the 5th semester. The findings indicated that the students have anxiety during performing speaking activity in classroom. As the implication, teachers can facilitate the students by creating a conducive, comfortable, and non-threatening class to help alleviating the students' foreign language anxiety.

scholarly journals “POR QUE NÃO JOGO TUDO PRA CIMA E ABANDONO DE VEZ O APRENDIZADO EM INGLÊS?” REFLEXÕES E ENTENDIMENTOS SOBRE A ANSIEDADE DE LÍNGUA ESTRANGEIRA / “Why don’t I throw it all to the wind and give up learning English once and for all?” Reflections and understandings about foreign language anxiety

2021 ◽  
pp. 141-162
Author(s):  
Fernanda Vieira da Rocha Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Anxiety ◽  
Foreign Language Anxiety ◽  
Learning English

A ansiedade de língua estrangeira (ALE) vem sendo amplamente investigada como um dos fatores de ordem afetiva que mais negativamente interfere no processo de ensino-aprendizagem de línguas estrangeiras e causa sofrimento emocional aos aprendizes e usuários dessas línguas (HORWITZ, 1986, 2010). Este estudo de caso de cunho qualitativo em andamento, se insere na área da linguística aplicada e no arcabouço ético, teórico e metodológico da Prática Exploratória (ALLWRIGHT, 1991, 2003). A pesquisa tem como objetivos apresentar os sentimentos de um aprendiz adulto que se considera ansioso em relação à aprendizagem e uso da língua inglesa, seus puzzles sobre a sua vivência na língua inglesa e entendimentos (co)construídos em um encontro ocorrido na plataforma RNP, no qual foi realizada uma conversa exploratória. Dos quinze puzzles criados pelo participante, onze foram selecionados para a análise interpretativa. O aporte teórico que embasa a pesquisa inclui a conceituação, a tipologia e os instrumentos de aferição da ALE, assim como a sua relação com a Prática Exploratória, que traz em seu cerne princípios e propósitos. Os dados mostram que o aprendiz apresenta sentimentos negativos em relação à aprendizagem e ao uso da língua inglesa condizentes com a literatura sobre a ALE. O percurso reflexivo trilhado durante a conversa exploratória sobre os puzzles criados pelo participante nos trouxe entendimentos sobre esses sentimentos negativos e sobre como algumas características da sua personalidade podem interferir na sua qualidade de vida enquanto aprendiz e usuário da língua inglesa.

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