Anxiety and Attitude Of Secondary School Students Towards Foreign Language Learning

Abstract

Multiple methodologies are being used for teaching and learning of foreign language. In countries where English is taught as a foreign language, learners suffer various levels of being anxious and develop a specific attitude towards English. The paper examined foreign language anxiety of 10th grade students and their attitude towards foreign language learning. Sample of the study was 360 male and 360 female students of 10th grade students of public sector secondary schools from six districts of the Punjab Province of Pakistan. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Level of anxiety and level of attitude were determined through percentage. t-test was used to find out difference between boys and girls of 10th grade. Relationship of anxiety with attitude of the students was determined though Pearson product moment coefficient. Results showed significant differences between boys and girls in foreign language anxiety and attitude towards foreign language learning. There was significant negative correlation between foreign language anxiety and students’ attitude towards foreign language learning. Girls showed less anxiety in English language class and had more positive attitude towards English. Similarly, rural students had high anxiety in English and had less positive attitude towards English. It was suggested that training might be given to English language teachers on modern pedagogical patterns. English language Curriculum might be redesigned keeping the context of the learners in mind.