scholarly journals A Study on Anxiety in Chinese EFL University Students

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huang Jing ◽  
Zhang Junying
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Summer Camp ◽  
Teaching And Research ◽  
Reflective Journals ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
English Majors ◽  
Survey Interviews ◽  
The Relationship

<p>Anxiety experienced in the course of learning a foreign language is specific and unique (Horwitz et al., 1986; MacIntyre &amp; Gardner, 1989). This paper reports a study on anxiety in Chinese undergraduate non-English majors at three different proficiency levels in a three-week immersion summer camp. By way of survey, interviews, reflective journals and observations, this research seeks to investigate the relationship between anxiety and native-speaking teacher’s teaching and extracurricular activities in an immersion summer camp. Specifically, it tries to explore that (1) whether a considerable number of students at each level felt anxious when speaking to native-speaking teachers and volunteers in and out of classroom in the summer camp setting, (2) whether the more proficient students tend to be less anxious in the summer camp setting, (3) whether the students felt less anxious when they learn English and western cultures not for any examination. Based on the findings, some suggestions for future teaching and research are proposed.<strong></strong></p>

scholarly journals Involvement in Extracurricular Activities and Overcoming High Levels of Communication Apprehension among Saudi EFL Majors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lubna Alnaeem
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Communication Apprehension ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teaching Materials ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Relationship

This study attempted to examine the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and levels of Communication Apprehension (CA) among English as a foreign language (EFL) students and explore the students’ perspectives of how extracurricular activities affect their communication skills. The study addressed the following two questions: a) what is the relationship between EFL students’ involvement in extracurricular activities and their level of Communication Apprehension?, b) What are the EFL students’ perspectives regarding the effect of extracurricular activities on their communication skills?. The participants were 40 EFL students among 80 who participated in extracurricular activities at the College of Languages and Translation at Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. The participants were asked to complete a Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24) to examine their levels of CA as well as a questionnaire about their attitudes toward extracurricular activities. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 participants to explore their perspectives in depth. The findings showed that most participants had moderate levels of CA and that 100% of the participants agreed that participation in extracurricular activities helped them reduce CA and improve their communication skills. The study also showed that extracurricular activities were more helpful than classroom activities in improving communication skills. This study is significant in that it shed the light on the importance of involvement in extracurricular activities and their role in improving EFL students’ communication skills and lowering CA levels. Thus, it is recommended to encourage EFL students to participate in extracurricular activities and consider including such activities in course requirements and teaching materials.

The mediating effect of English usage on Facebook on the relationship between shyness and English as a foreign language achievement in university students

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 449-461
Author(s):  
Po-Chi Kao
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
English Usage ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractThe purpose of this study is to examine a conceptualized three-dimensional construct to test whether English usage on Facebook plays a mediating role in the relationships between shyness and English as a foreign language (EFL) achievement. A total of 174 Taiwanese university students who were enrolled in EFL courses participated in this study. When examining the role of English usage on Facebook as a mediator in the relationship between shyness and EFL achievement, I found that English usage on Facebook was negatively associated with shyness, but positively associated with EFL achievement. The results indicated that English usage on Facebook partially mediated the relationship between shyness and EFL achievement. The strength of the mediating effect suggested that English usage on Facebook explained part of the negative relationship between shyness and EFL achievement. The findings may provide valuable and useful information for linguistic and psychological research in pedagogical contexts.

scholarly journals A STUDY OF ENGLISH ARTICLE USAGE AMONG CROATIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

1970 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 95
Author(s):  
Anna K. Martinović ◽  
Katica M. Balenović
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Psychology Students ◽  
Definite Article ◽  
Student Writing ◽  
First Year ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
Indefinite Article ◽  
Study Programme ◽  
Article Usage

The main focus of this study was to analyse article errors in the writing of first year Croatian psychology students studying English as a foreign language as part of their study programme. Article errors among learners with different proficiency levels were also analysed; moreover, errors made by students with different essay grades were compared. The results show that the category with the highest number of errors included the omission of the indefinite article. Furthermore, it was found that proficiency levels were not a significant factor concerning the average number of errors in any of the categories. Moreover, it was also shown that essay grades did not play a significant role in the number of article errors in student writing except in the category of omission of the definite article, which was found among students with lower essay grades.

scholarly journals The Relationship between Attitudes toward Foreign Culture and English Proficiency Level in Taiwanese Students of English as a Foreign Language

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 264
Author(s):  
Min-chen Tseng
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
English Proficiency ◽  
Teaching Culture ◽  
Proficiency Levels ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Foreign Culture ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Ethnic Factors ◽  
The Relationship

<p><em>In this study, we investigated the relationship between the English proficiency levels of students of English as a foreign language (EFL) and their attitudes toward foreign culture, addressing personal, school, family, social, and ethnic perspectives. Teaching culture facilitates a strong understanding of both familiar and unfamiliar worlds and encourages positive attitudes toward differences. The study sample comprised 90 Taiwanese students who were divided into 2 groups: high-proficiency and low-proficiency learners. The results showed a significant correlation between the English proficiency levels of the high-proficiency learners and their attitudes toward culture. Among the 5 examined factors, the results demonstrated significant correlations among the personal, family, and ethnic factors. Regarding the low proficiency learners, no significant correlation was demonstrated in the attitudes towards culture and none of the factors exhibited significant differences.</em></p>

scholarly journals Mediation in Teletandem

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (36) ◽  
pp. 153-177
Author(s):  
Maria Cristina Reckziegel Guedes Evangelista ◽  
Ana Cristina Biondo Salomão
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Language Learning ◽  
Foreign Language Learning ◽  
Reflective Journals ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Collaborative Context ◽  
Brazilian Students ◽  
Collaborative Language ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Journal Entries

The collaborative context of language learning in Teletandem (TELLES; VASSALLO 2006) involves the principles of autonomy, reciprocity and separation of languages, as well as the mediation of the partnerships (in Vygotskian terms). This article aims to discuss the formats of teletandem mediation, by focusing on the strategies used to reconcile the management of interactions (SALOMÃO 2008) through reflective journals in our specific educational context This qualitative investigation is based on the analysis of a corpus of reflective journals produced after teletandem sessions by Brazilian students and the feedback offered by the mediators. The Brazilian participants wrote journal entries after practicing teletandem with speakers of the following foreign languages: English, German, Italian, and Spanish. They address a wide range of topics, covering aspects of technology, foreign language learning, methodological issues, as well as comments on the relationship with their partners. The data suggest great potential of the journals and the feedback for participants, mediators and coordinators to evaluate specific issues of collaborative language learning in the teletandem, as well as other relevant aspects for the pedagogical supervision of the project.

Employability development opportunities (EDOs) as measures of students’ enhanced employability

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluyomi Susan Pitan
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Positive Relationship ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – Empirical studies in relation to employability development opportunities (EDOs) and university students’ enhanced employability are few, especially in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of university students’ engagement with EDOs and to empirically establish the extent of the relationship between these EDOs and students’ enhanced employability. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 600 final-year university students in Nigeria with the use of an adapted questionnaire. The 29 items on the questionnaire were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis in which 28 loaded under six factors which were used for further analysis. Findings – Results indicate that at Nigerian universities students are engaging with all the EDOs to a moderately sufficient extent. Findings also show that there is a significant positive relationship between EDOs and students’ enhanced employability. Besides, considering the relative contribution of each of the EDOs to students’ enhanced employability, real-world activities make the highest contribution. Extracurricular activities were found to have no significant relationship with students’ enhanced employability. Research limitations/implications – Not all the EDOs are measured in the study. Originality/value – Apart from empirically confirming the significant positive relationship between EDOs and university students’ enhanced employability, the study has established the relative contribution of each of these EDOs, which is a major contribution to the limited existing body of knowledge on university students’ employability.

scholarly journals Involvement in Extracurricular Activities and Overcoming High Levels of Communication Apprehension among Saudi EFL Majors

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-208
Author(s):  
Lubna Alnaeem
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
Communication Skills ◽  
Extracurricular Activities ◽  
Communication Apprehension ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Teaching Materials ◽  
Classroom Activities ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
The Relationship

This study attempted to examine the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and levels of Communication Apprehension (CA) among English as a foreign language (EFL) students and explore the students’ perspectives of how extracurricular activities affect their communication skills. The study addressed the following two questions: a) what is the relationship between EFL students’ involvement in extracurricular activities and their level of Communication Apprehension?, b) What are the EFL students’ perspectives regarding the effect of extracurricular activities on their communication skills?. The participants were 40 EFL students among 80 who participated in extracurricular activities at the College of Languages and Translation at Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh. The participants were asked to complete a Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24) to examine their levels of CA as well as a questionnaire about their attitudes toward extracurricular activities. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 participants to explore their perspectives in depth. The findings showed that most participants had moderate levels of CA and that 100% of the participants agreed that participation in extracurricular activities helped them reduce CA and improve their communication skills. The study also showed that extracurricular activities were more helpful than classroom activities in improving communication skills. This study is significant in that it shed the light on the importance of involvement in extracurricular activities and their role in improving EFL students’ communication skills and lowering CA levels. Thus, it is recommended to encourage EFL students to participate in extracurricular activities and consider including such activities in course requirements and teaching materials.

scholarly journals Encounters with National Stereotypes in Foreign Language Teaching: Adjectives Describing Americans

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-118
Author(s):  
Andrej Stopar
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Language ◽  
University Students ◽  
Intercultural Communication ◽  
Intercultural Sensitivity ◽  
Language Teaching ◽  
Foreign Language Teaching ◽  
Teachers And Students ◽  
English Classroom ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
National Stereotypes

Teaching (or learning) a foreign language is a complex, interdisciplinary undertaking. Teachers and students are required to tackle aspects of language that transcend its merely linguistic component. This article discusses the relationship between language, thought and culture, and explores some aspects of the integration of cultural content in the English classroom. To achieve these goals, a study is conducted that identifies the main stereotypes about Americans among Slovenian university students of English as a foreign language. The results of the research can be used as a means of questioning some frequent stereotypes about Americans, and thus contributing to the fulfilment of (sometimes seemingly abstract) curricular aims that emphasize the significance of intercultural communication, awareness of cultural variety, and intercultural sensitivity.

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