English Learning Anxiety Research Articles

A Study on Non-English Major Students’ English Learning Anxiety in General English Conversation Class

본 연구의 목적은 서울의 한 여자 대학교에서 영어회화 수업을 수강하는 비영어전공 대학생들의 언어 불안을 유발하는 요인들이 무엇인지 조사하고 그들의 불안 수준에 나이, 계열, 그리고 영어 학습기간에 따라 유의미한 차이가 있는지 검토하고자 함이다. 연구 대상은 2019년 가을 학기에 교양영어 수업을 15주 간 수강한 514명의 1학년 한국 대학생들이다. 이들은 Horwitz의 Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS)(외국어 교실 불안 척도)를 바탕으로 23문항으로 수정된 설문에 응답하였다. 1) English as a Foreign Language (EFL) 학습 중 불안을 유발하는 요인이 무엇인지, 2) 나이, 계열, 영어 학습기간에 따라 학습 불안이 어떻게 달라지는지를 알아보기 위해 SPSS 26을 이용하여 설문에 대한 응답을 분석하였다. 그 결과, 학생들의 불안 유발 요인은 대부분 (1) 문법적 실수를 하는 것, (2) 구술시험을 치르는 것, 그리고 (3) 준비 없이 수업 시간에 말하기였다. 응답을 분석하기 위해 ANOVA test를 사용한 결과 영어 학습기간에 있어서 유의미한 차이를 보였다 (F=5.559, p-value = .000). 한편, 나이와 계열에 따른 차이를 분석한 결과, 유의한 차이가 없는 것으로 나타났다.The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors causing language anxiety by non-English major university students taking general English conversation class in a women’s university in Seoul. It also aimed to examine if their level of anxiety is significantly varied in terms of their age, fields of majors, and length of studying English. For the study, the subjects were 514 first-year students in Korean EFL (English as a Foreign Language) classrooms during a 15-week semester in the fall of 2019. The participants responded to a 23-item modified survey based on Horwitz’s Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS). In order to find out 1) what factors make learners anxious while learning EFL and 2) how their English learning anxiety varies by age, different fields of majors, and length of studying English, their responses to the questionnaire were analyzed by using SPSS 26. The findings revealed that most anxiety-provoking factors among students were their fear of (1) making grammatical mistakes, (2) having oral tests, and (3) speaking without preparation in class. Furthermore, a ANOVA was used to analyze the responses. The study found a significant difference in terms of length of studying English (F = 5.559 and p-value was .000 on the ANOVA test). In respect to age and different fields of majors, the ANOVA test disclosed that there was no significant difference.

Effects of gamifying questions on English grammar learning mediated by epistemic curiosity and language anxiety

Different types of gamification can be advantageous to enhancing students’ learning. In contrast to the extant gamification literature focusing on designing reward systems and/or facilitating teachers’ gamification of learning contents, this study focuses on the gamifying of learning content by students. To verify the efficacy of gamification as a learning activity, the effects of students posing and gamifying questions in relation to second language grammar learning are explored. A gamification platform called TipOn was designed to allow students to pose and gamify questions according to different game modes to facilitate their classmates’ practicing English grammar. To examine the emotional regulation effects of posing and gamifying questions on learning performance, this study explored the effectiveness of gamifying content by examining how participants’ two types of epistemic curiosity (i.e., interest-type epistemic curiosity (IEC) and deprivation-type epistemic curiosity (DEC)) related to posing questions affected their attitude towards gamification (ATG) and their learning progress. In this experiment, participants had to pose English grammar questions related to verb tense, and gamify the questions using TipOn. They then played games using other students’ content. Data were collected from 96 ninth-grade students, and the correlations between constructs were evaluated using the path-analytical technique. The research results indicated that, first, English learning anxiety is negatively related to the two aforementioned types of epistemic curiosity. Second, IEC had no significant impact on ATG; however, DEC was positively associated with ATG. Third, ATG could positively predict students’ learning progress. The results imply that teachers could use this gamifying system in a flipped classroom to motivate students to tap into their epistemic curiosity to increase their content learning and enhance the effects of learning.

An Ecological Study of English Language Learning Anxiety: A Case Study of National Textile University

English language learning anxiety has been a focus of researchers for a long time. However, these studies concentrated only on micro level of classroom and its activities. The many-sided nature of anxiety requires a multifaceted exploration for a better understanding of language learning anxiety. This article uses activity theory and an ecological systems module to better understand why students develop language learning anxiety at NTU, Faisalabad. Seven dimensions of activity theory were explored with the help of interviews and observation. The data were collected from 15 undergraduates of different departments of National Textile University (NTU), Faisalabad. Along the lines of nested ecosystem model, patterns of learners’ anxiety were analysed in the categories of micro-system, meso-system, exo-system and macro systems. Findings of the present study provided a decisive evidence of the presence of anxiety-causing variables within the interaction of individual and environment. The study emphasizes the need to study the issue of language learning anxiety from the perspective of ecology.

Investigating School Climate as a Factor to English Language Anxiety in Malaysia

English language learning can be a stringent chore for a number of language learners especially in Malaysia. Hence, this indirectly create obstacles for language learners whom are fluently with first or native language. A considerable amount of language learners without doubt have experienced one kind of anxiety in learning English language which is known as English Language Anxiety (ELA). Therefore, this research was carried out to look into ELA among form 4 students in selected schools and at the same time, this research is aimed to study the level of anxiety and to determine the types of anxiety in English learning. Obviously, by understanding that English language learning takes place and starts at school, it also aims to investigate whether school climate can be a new predictor to ELA. For this purpose, 80 students were selected in schools that located in a neighbourhood. The instrument was questionnaire which composed of English Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (ELCAS) that was adapted and School Climate English Language Anxiety (SCELA) which was developed anon in this research. SCELA had gone through validity and reliability and it was considered to be a reliable questionnaire. The result proved that the students were having high level of anxiety and the most influencing types of anxiety are Communication Apprehension and Fear of Test Anxiety. This two types of anxiety proved the underlying reason for high level of anxiety experienced by the students. As for the School Climate to be considered as the new predictor for ELA, the result obtain in the research had unveiled that Academic Dimensions and Social Dimensions to be significantly influence ELA. The data was computed by using Multiple Regression in SPSS Version 22.0. In brief, this outcomes suggest that English teachers should create a motivating and encouraging classroom to engage the students attention in learning English Language. Teachers should be able to know the remedies to fight over the anxiety that constantly aroused in the English classroom successfully as to provide the needs for students in learning English language.

Self-efficacy and Anxiety in Learning English as a Foreign Language: Singing in Class Helps Speaking Performance

Learning is a process that involves both cognitive and affective components and that requires appropriate educational strategies. The present study investigates the links between self-efficacy and anxiety in second language learning, and the effectiveness of the singing songs teaching strategy upon students’ speaking performance. In particular, we tested whether singing songs in class during English lessons affects the relationship between self-efficacy, anxiety and performance in a group of Italian high school students learning English as a second language (N = 132; age ranging 16-19 years). The data were collected through a production task in which the vocabulary extension, the number of words, and the fluency of speech were coded and calculated as a general indicator of students’ linguistic competence. In addition, students were asked about their use of singing as an educational activity during English lessons. Results of bootstrapping analyses confirmed our prediction that foreign language self-efficacy is correlated to performance, through the mediation of anxiety. Our results also showed that the use of a singing songs strategy moderates the association of low self-efficacy to anxiety and performance, thus suggesting its plausibility as a positive pedagogical tool in second language learning activities. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

The Correlation among English Learning Anxiety, Speaking and Writing Achievements of Senior High School Students

The objectives of the study were to analyze whether or not there were a significant correlation among English learning anxiety, speaking, and writing achievements of the eleventh graders’. The sample of the study were 112 eleventh graders’. They were selected randomly. The study used quantitative research design. The questionnaire and the writing and speaking tests were done to analyze the data. The researcher used foreign language classroom anxiety scale questionnaire to measure the students’ English learning anxiety with five-point likert scale, and speaking and writing tests were used to measure the students’ speaking and writing achievements. Pearson product moment correlation and regression were analyzed by using SPSS. The results of study were negative low correlation between English learning anxiety and speaking achievement (r=-.269 with p<0.01) and English learning anxiety and writing achievement (r=-.213 with p<0.05).

Effects of peer assessment within the context of spherical video-based virtual reality on EFL students’ English-Speaking performance and learning perceptions

English has been recognized as a means of communication around the globe. However, owing to the lack of realistic English practicing contexts, EFL (English as Foreign Language) students generally have few opportunities to communicate with people in English, not to mention to get feedback from others for making reflections. In this study, a spherical video-based virtual reality (SVVR) environment was developed to situate students in authentic English-speaking contexts; moreover, the peer assessment (PA) strategy was employed for guiding students to provide comments on peers' speaking performance and to make reflections on their own performance. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, an experiment was conducted in a high school English course. The experiment results reveal more positive effects of the peer-assessment-based SVVR approach compared with the non-peer-assessment-based SVVR approach in terms of the learners' English speaking, learning motivation, and critical thinking skills, as well as reducing their English learning anxiety. Moreover, it was found that the ratings of the students were statistically correlated with those of the teacher. This study further analyzed the types of peer comments by categorizing them into four types: Praise, Criticism, Opinion, and Irrelevant. It was found that Praise feedback was helpful for the students' English-speaking performance, while Criticism feedback might have been unfavorable in this case. Additionally, Irrelevant feedback was not significantly correlated with the students’ performance in the earlier PA stage, but had a significantly negative correlation in the later stage.

Analyzing the Relationship of English Language Learning Anxiety and English Language Learning Strategy Use Among English Major Undergraduates in Shi Jiazhuang, China

The study investigated the general state of foreign language learning anxiety and the relationship between foreign language learning anxiety and foreign language learning strategy among English major college students in Shi Jiazhuang, China. The quantitative research method was adopted in this study. The instruments were Foreign Language Class Anxiety Scale and Strategy Inventory Language Learning. The subjects were 400 English major students from Shi Jiazhuang College. The results showed that there exists a negative relationship between foreign language learning anxiety and the use of foreign language learning strategy. According to the findings of this study, it is necessary to reduce learners’ foreign language learning anxiety so as to apply more types of foreign language learning strategies efficiently, especially for those foreign language learners with high-level learning anxiety. Some suggestions were put forward for pedagogical implications, which will make Chinese learners be more successful during the process for foreign language acquisition.

Korean EFL College Students’ Use of Self-regulatory Strategies for Anxiety in English Learning

The present study examines Korean college students’ anxiety factors and their usage of self-regulatory strategies for coping with English learning anxiety. This study employs three measures: a background questionnaire, the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale, and the FLA Self-regulatory Strategy Scale. Two-hundred and one freshmen were assigned to low-, mild-, and high-anxiety groups based on their anxiety levels. The findings of the study reveal that the communication apprehension factor was the main attributor for English learning anxiety, followed by the evaluation anxiety factor, and then the discomfort factor. There were significant differences in relation to self-regulatory strategy use among groups. Learners in the low-anxiety group showed more frequent use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies than the high-anxiety group while both the low- and mild-anxiety groups employed more social strategies than the high-anxiety learners. Based on these findings, pedagogical implications for L2 language teaching and learning are suggested.

Classroom Sources of English Language Anxiety: A Study of Fresh Engineering Students at Mehran UET, Pakistan

The current study investigated anxiety-provoking classroom sources among undergraduate engineering students at Mehran UET, Pakistan. In this study, the participants (female 105 male 116) participated. The data were collected via questionnaire FLCAS and semi-structured interviews. The objective of this study was to identify classroom sources of anxiety quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings of study suggested some main sources of anxiety among fresh engineering students: (1) test anxiety; (2) apprehension in communication; (3) fear of negative evaluation; (4) presentation in English; (5) English language instructor; (6) competitiveness in English language; (7) negative self-evaluation; (8) individual tasks in classroom; (9) fear of making errors in English classroom; (10) English language difficulties. The participants have self-reported the main sources of anxiety in English language learning. These sources also confirm previous research on anxiety-causing sources among foreign language learners.

Students’ Strategies in Reducing Anxiety in Learning English

The aims of this research is to know the level of anxiety faced by students at ABA-UMI, to know the factors cause anxiety, and to know the students’ strategies in reducing anxiety in learning English. This research used descriptive qualitative method. The writers focused on observing the level of anxiety faced by ABA students. The writers took two classes as the repondents in 2013-2014 academic years. The writers did classroom observation and interviewed nine (9) students who tended to feel anxious in learning English. The observation was conducted three meetings in speaking class and the writers used video recording to record and collect the data needed.The writers found three levels of anxiety faced by ABA students; they were mild anxiety, moderate anxiety and severe anxiety level. The first level can be seen in physical response from the students such as nervous, afraid, sweating, and embarrassed. But, the students could control their anxiety by motivating themselves to learn. The second level of anxiety was moderate level. The student did not participate in class (silent), cold hands and sweating. In this level, the students could control his/her anxiety so that he/she could participate in learning.And the last level of anxiety found was severe anxiety. The writers found that there were two students who felt anxious. The students had different symptoms such as cold hands, sweating, and their head feel heavy. This anxiety appeared when students could not overcome his/her worry. In this level, the students could not control their anxiety so that they could not participate even avoid the learning activity.

MADURESE MILLENNIAL STUDENTS’ ANXIETY IN LEARNING ENGLISH

This study is to find out the models of Madurese millennial students’ anxiety and the factors causing the Madurese millennial students’ anxiety in learning English. This research is a qualitative research by using descriptive case study. The participants of the study are Madurese millennial students at English Department of Madura University. Observation and interviews with Madurese millennial students were conducted to get the data of the models and factors causing their anxiety. The results of the study indicate that Madurese millennial students experience two kinds of anxiety models those are interference and deficit models. Interference models are more dominants than deficit models. The teachers, friends, and abilities of Madurese millennial students are the factors causing their anxiety in learning English. The teachers are the first factors causing their anxiety. Their abilities in English become the second factor. However, it rarely happens to Madurese millennial students feel nervous when they are communicating with their peers. The communication in English become natural with no anxiety when they with their friends. Therefore, it implies that the teachers should propose the classroom activities providing facilities and helping the students to get meaningful input in English in order to overcome from their anxiety.

Korean elementary school students' English Learning motivation, demotivation and anxiety: Focusing on the grade level, region and English proficiency.

Korean elementary school students' English Learning motivation, demotivation and anxiety: Focusing on the grade level, region and English proficiency.

Relations Among L2 Learning Motivation, Language Learning Anxiety, Self-efficacy and Family Influence: A Structual Equation Model

The L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) has been widely researched and used to explain L2 learners’ motivational behaviors. However, important factors such as language learning anxiety, self-efficay and possible family influence need to be scrutizized in relation to L2MSS in order to expand our understanding of the second language learning process. This study used a structural eauation modeling approach to test a hypothesized model that contained the L2 Motivational Self System, family influence, L2 learning anxiety, and self-efficacy as the latent variables in a context of foreign language learning. A total of 473 Taiwanese high school students participated in the study. With Amos version 22.0, the current study analyzed the proposed model. The results assured the validity of the hyposized model among these students. This model revealed that family influence played a significant role in affecting learners’ future self guides. Self guides served as a good predictor for the L2 learners’ self-efficacy. In addition, the ought-to L2 self contributed to a higher level of anxiety while the ideal L2 self and L2 learning experience both lowered the level of English learning anxiety.

Anxiety, Motivation and Attitude of Indian Students in Learning English in National-Type Tamil Schools

The aim of this study was to determine the students’ anxiety, motivation and attitude in learning English based on their socioeconomic status and English language achievement in National-type Tamil schools. Samples for this study comprised of 144 year 5 Indian students from four Tamil schools. Data for this study were collected by questionnaire adapted from instruments by Tsai & Chang (2013), Ghazvini & Khajehpour (2011) and Gaur (1985). The findings of this study showed that Indian students from urban and rural areas have a moderate level of anxiety in learning English. Students from both areas were instrumentally motivated and showed positive attitudes towards learning English. However, negative correlations were identified between English Language achievement and level of motivation in learning English as well as between daily spoken languages at home and with friends and the level of English language achievement. The result of this study also illustrated that level of motivation and attitude are positively correlated. In conclusion, the samples of this study showed high levels of anxiety as well as motivation and attitude in learning English. It is recommended that future research take more samples and include qualitative data to increase the reliability of the study.

English Language Learning Motivation and English Language Learning Anxiety in Saudi Military Cadets: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

This study aims to investigate English language learning motivation and English language learning anxiety in Saudi military cadets. Some 174 Saudi military cadets completed a questionnaire specifically developed to be used in the context of Saudi Arabia. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse a proposed model using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) version 21. The study found that the students’ language learning effort was determined by their Ideal L2 Self and their positive attitudes towards their immediate learning environment. However, the students’ imposed social ideal-self as well as their negative attitudes towards their immediate learning environment contributed to their Ought-to L2 Self, which in turn increased their English learning anxiety. Parental encouragement and religious interest impacted on the Saudi L2 learners’ Ideal L2 Self and their language learning attitudes, which might have helped them to see themselves as future L2 users and to adopt positive attitudes to their immediate learning environment. This in turn motivated them to invest more effort and be more persistent in learning English.

A Study of Foreign Language Anxiety of Chinese EFL High School Students

This paper aims to explore the status quo of English learning anxiety of Chinese EFL high school students to provide suggestions to deduce it. Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) is used to make an investigation into 293 high school students of different grades in Yuemiao High School in China. By both qualitative and quantitative analyses of data collected from the questionnaires, it finds out that ①a medium level of English learning anxiety existed widely in the students of Yuemiao High School (M=3.115, SD=0.58). Test Anxiety is the highest (Mean=3.244). Fear of Negative Evaluation is the lowest (Mean=2.981). ② In terms of grade, three grades have statistically significant differences in anxiety (p=0.005 Mean (Female) = 3.052), especially in Communication Anxiety (p=0.013 Mean (Female) =3.058). ④ In terms of different majors, there is no statistical significance in English learning anxiety (p>0.05). Therefore, to minimize students’ English learning anxiety, English teachers should improve their teaching skills, build a better and more harmonious relationship with students to attract students’ interest and explore a cooperative learning mode between male and female students.

The Influence of Peer Groups on Students’ Anxiety in EFL Learning

This research aimed to identify the factors in peer groups which positively and negatively influence the students’ anxiety in learning English and determine which peer groups have more effect to the students’ anxiety in terms of grouping division by the teacher or by the students. The researcher applied descriptive qualitative research method. The data collection was done through observation and interview. The participants of the research were the second grade students of SMAN 2 Parepare. They were selected by using purposive sampling referring to the English teachers who provide their classrooms in grouping teaching method and also referring to the students who were involved in peer groups. The result of data analysis showed that some factors which positively influence the students’ anxiety in learning English consist of communication skill development, sharing diverse assumption, and collaborative learning. Meanwhile, students’ self-perception, low language proficiency, and peer rejection are factors which negatively influence their anxiety. Besides, competitiveness becomes one factor in peer group which positively and also negatively influence the students’ anxiety in learning English. Furthermore, grouping division by the teacher which created heterogeneous grouping gave better impact to the students’ anxiety in learning than by the students which created homogeneous grouping. Therefore, it is suggested to the English teacher to know how to create a good condition in teaching and learning environment among the students in order that they can do some methods or teaching strategies that provide students to work in a group. They can be more concerned with some factors that cause students’ anxiety and help them to reduce their anxiety in EFL learning.

Student Language Anxiety in Learning English (A survey to non-English Major students in rural area)

Learners’ difficulties in learning a foreign language cannot merely be linked to the lack of ability or intelligence. Language anxiety or the feeling of tension, apprehension, fearfulness, and worry in language class had been pointed to greatly influence learner’s progress in mastering the target language. Highly anxious learners were found to achieve less and had low motivation. This study reports a survey investigating the level of language anxiety and its perceived causes and discusses some alternatives to deal with it. The participants were 114 non-English major students in State Islamic College of Teungku Dirundeng Meulaboh in West Aceh. Data were collected employing Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale developed by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope, (1986). The finding indicated that the students participating in the study exhibited a moderate level of language anxiety obtaining FLCAS mean score 102.17. The main cause of language anxiety was attributed to fear of negative evaluation with the highest average mean 3,5. Communication apprehension and test anxiety were in the second and third rank with the average mean 3,3 and 3,1 respectively. Meanwhile, English classroom items were perceived to contribute the least to the students’ tense experience given the average mean 2,7. It is suggested that making the learners realize that they are not alone experiencing anxiety in learning a foreign language is crucial. Furthermore, it is important that teachers embrace a supportive and non-threatening role to provide a more effective foreign language learning.

English Language Learning Motivation and English Language Learning Anxiety in Saudi Military Cadets: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

This study aims to investigate English language learning motivation and English language learning anxiety in Saudi military cadets. Some 174 Saudi military cadets completed a questionnaire specifically developed to be used in the context of Saudi Arabia. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to analyse a proposed model using Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) version 21. The study found that the students’ language learning effort was determined by their Ideal L2 Self and their positive attitudes towards their immediate learning environment. However, the students’ imposed social ideal-self as well as their negative attitudes towards their immediate learning environment contributed to their Ought-to L2 Self, which in turn increased their English learning anxiety. Parental encouragement and religious interest impacted on the Saudi L2 learners’ Ideal L2 Self and their language learning attitudes, which might have helped them to see themselves as future L2 users and to adopt positive attitudes to their immediate learning environment. This in turn motivated them to invest more effort and be more persistent in learning English.