Development of the Writing Exam Anxiety Scale for Students Learning Turkish as a Foreign Language

Niymet Bahşi,Ayşe Ateş

doi:10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.9n.2p.119

Niymet Bahşi, Ayşe Ateş

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijels.v.9n.2p.119

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Abstract

It is important to improve the literacy skills of students who learn Turkish as a foreign language. Especially the development of writing skills has a vital role in gaining literacy skills. Therefore, the aim of this study is to develop a scale that can measure the writing anxiety of students who learn Turkish as a foreign language. For this purpose, firstly the literature was reviewed. As a result of the review, a pool of 43 items was created. After examining the expert and student opinions, a trial scale with 41 items was generated and administered to the students. The participants consisted of the students studying at İnönü University in the spring semester of 2019 at B2 and C1 levels. SPSS 20 program was used to examine the validity and reliability of the scale, which was applied to 189 students on a voluntary basis. As a result of the tests, a scale consisting of 18 items and 3 factors (writing self-efficacy, cognitive and environmental factors) was created with the removal of items that reduce internal consistency and have co-loading. The overall reliability (alpha = 0.904) of the scale created as a result of the test was found to be very high. According to the alpha and explained variance values related to its reliability, it was concluded that the scale is a valid and reliable test to measure the writing anxiety of students who learn Turkish as a foreign language.

Highlights

According to the alpha and explained variance values related to its reliability, it was concluded that the scale is a valid and reliable test to measure the writing anxiety of students who learn Turkish as a foreign language
This research is a scaling-based research designed to determine the construct validity and internal consistency of the Writing Exam Anxiety Scale for those who learn Turkish as a foreign language
According to the alpha found for its reliability and the variance value explained, it was understood that the writing anxiety scale was a valid and reliable tool

Summary

Introduction

Horwitz et al (1986) state that the foreign language learning is a complex process involving many different elements including perceptions, beliefs, emotions and learning environment. This difficult and complex process that a student experiences while expressing oneself in a foreign language causes anxiety in students. Many studies have been conducted on second language acquisition and anxiety, especially examining four language skills. Writing anxiety that occurs while students express him/herself in written form during the foreign language learning process has become one of the topics emphasized and studied in the literature

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