The aim of this study is to explore how outdoor education (OE) can influence foreign language anxiety (FLA) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE) when primary students are learning English as a foreign language (EFL). The design was a pre-post intervention study with two experimental groups of 3rd graders of a Catalan state school that participated in an outdoor English session. The research has followed a mixed-methods approach, consisting of a pre- and post-test, group interviews with the students and individual interviews to their main teachers. Statistical analyses indicated a significant decrease in the FLA levels after the outdoor session, especially in girls. Regarding the FLE levels, even if there was an increase for both boys and girls, the difference was not significant. The statistical power was too low and the lack of a control group makes it difficult to claim that the differences where due to the outdoor setting. The qualitative data revealed positive feelings regarding the outdoor English session. Both students and teachers mentioned numerous benefits such as the increase of motivation, active learning or interaction with nature. However, the teachers pinpointed some challenges that need to be taken into account when applying this method. Even if FLA and FLE have been widely investigated, studies on how the outdoors can influence these emotions, and its effect in primary students are new fields of research. This study has provided an overview on how learning English outdoors can be linked with FLA and FLE levels and the differences presented between genders.

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I denna studie undersöks mellanstadielärares uppfattningar kring Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) vid inlärning av engelska hos elever i årskurs 4-6. Dessutom undersöks effekterna i elevers spelvanor relaterat till FLA och språkfärdigheter, samt lärarnas föreslagna strategier för att hantera och minska FLA. Studien stödjer sig på teoretiska ramverk från James Paul Gee (2003) om lärande genom digitala spel och Horwitz, Horwitz och Copes (1986) forskning om FLA, och använder en fenomenologisk ansats för att djupdyka i dessa teman. Genom intervjuer med sex engelsklärare i mellanstadiet syftar arbetet till att utforska tre frågeställningar. Dessa inkluderar lärarnas uppfattningar av elevers FLA i engelskundervisningen, lärarnas syn på hur elevers spelvanor kan relatera till deras FLA och språkfärdigheter, samt vilka pedagogiska strategier lärare bedömer som mest effektiva för att minska FLA. Vid undersökningen om hur lärare uppfattar elevernas FLA framkommer problematiken kring elevers talrädsla i klassrummet, vilket kan bero på flera anledningar. Det kan röra sig om rädsla för att bli bedömd av klasskamrater, samt en brist på tillit till den egna förmågan. En annan bidragande faktor till förekomsten av FLA är de stora kontrasterna i elevernas engelskkunskaper, vilket förklaras av deras individuella intressen utanför skolan. Lärarnas utsagor beskriver att elever som ägnar sig åt en stor mängd extramural engelska (EE), har ett så stort försprång att de andra eleverna inte vågar prestera i klassrummet.  Resultaten från studien indikerar att lärarnas syn på digitala spel varierar, med insikter som pekar på både möjligheter och utmaningar i att integrera dessa spel i språkundervisningen. En minoritet identifierar kommersiella digitala spel som en möjlighet att engagera elever och minska FLA, medan majoriteten uttrycker oro för spelens relevans och effektivitet. Detta understryker en komplexitet i hur digitala spel kan integreras i undervisningen, där lärarnas erfarenheter och uppfattningar spelar en stor roll i hur de närmar sig användningen av spel som ett pedagogiskt verktyg. Diskussionen kring pedagogiska strategier för att implementera digitala spel i undervisningen framhäver också ett behov av fortbildning för lärare.  Lärarna uppfattar att digitala spel kan ha både positiva och negativa effekter på elevers språkinlärning, där ett ökat ordförråd och språklig säkerhet i muntliga aktiviteter utgör de positiva aspekterna. Negativa aspekter som framkommer är att elever lär sig ett spelspecifikt språk som inte gynnar deras skolgång, och att deras intensiva engagemang i kommersiella digitala spel på engelska leder till en känsla av att skolans engelskundervisning mister sitt värde. Vad beträffar hantering och minskning av FLA betonar lärarna betydelsen av att skapa en trygg och inkluderande lärmiljö, där grupparbeten används för att effektivt främja engagemang och ett ökat självförtroende.

Работа посвящена выявлению влияния уровня владения иностранным языком и уровня языковой тревожности на преодоление языкового барьера. Объектом исследования является языковой барьер, предметом – установление корреляции между уровнем владения иностранным языком, языковой тревожностью и преодолением языкового барьера. Цель диссертационного исследования состоит в теоретическом и экспериментальном выявлении закономерностей влияния уровня владения иностранным языком и языковой тревожности на способность преодоления языкового барьера у студентов первого курса департамента лингвистики УрФУ через обращение к индивиду, т. е. в условиях психолингвистического эксперимента. Материалом для исследования послужили данные психолингвистического эксперимента, в котором приняли участие 30 обучающихся профильного языкового департамента Уральского федерального университета. Анализ результатов исследования показал прямую взаимосвязь между уровнем владения иностранным языком и языковой тревожностью среди студентов первого курса департамента лингвистики УрФУ. А именно, чем ниже уровень владения иностранным языком, тем выше уровень языковой тревожности. Помимо этого, в рамках проведенного эксперимента удалось доказать, что группа, обладающая более высокими навыками владения иностранным языком, более способна к преодолению языкового барьера. / The study investigates the influence of foreign language proficiency and language anxiety on overcoming the language barrier. The object of the research is the language barrier. The subject of the study is the establishment of a correlation between foreign language proficiency, language anxiety, and overcoming the language barrier. The objective of the research is to theoretically and experimentally identify the patterns of influence of foreign language proficiency and language anxiety on the ability to overcome the language barrier among first-year students of the Linguistics Department at Ural Federal University by addressing the individual, that is, in the context of a psycholinguistic experiment. The research material consists of the data derived from a psycholinguistic experiment involving 30 students from the language department at Ural Federal University. The analysis of the research findings shows a direct correlation between foreign language proficiency and language anxiety among first-year students of the Linguistics Department at Ural Federal University. Specifically, the lower the level of foreign language proficiency, the higher the level of language anxiety. Additionally, the experiment demonstrates that the group with higher foreign language proficiency is more capable of overcoming the language barrier.

The aim of the present study was to explore teachers’ experiences of student anxiety in the subject of English in Swedish upper secondary schools. Five teachers were interviewed to find out about their experiences of what causes anxiety in their students and what strategies they have found work best in order to decrease speaking anxiety. The results showed that the anxious students are usually those with a high performance level and good English knowledge. All participants agreed that the reason for anxiety is that performing in speech is perceived as embarrassing. Students tend to see all speaking activities as tests of their knowledge and are afraid of what reactions they may receive. The most distinct way to identify anxiety turned out to spot students’ withdrawal from all speaking activities in English. The best strategy to reduce speaking anxiety according to all participants was careful formation of groups, since smaller groups with only the closest friends is the best way to work for these students. Interestingly, while all teachers mentioned the benefits of recordings and podcasts, only one teacher used this method exclusively instead of oral presentations. / Syftet med denna studie var att ta reda på lärares erfarenheter av elevers oro inför att tala engelska i svenska gymnasieskolor. Fem lärare intervjuades för att få reda på deras erfarenheter av vad det är som gör eleverna oroliga och vilka strategier som de har märkt fungerar bäst för att minska oron över att tala. Resultaten visade att de oroliga eleverna oftast är de som är högpresterande och har goda engelskakunskaper. Alla deltagare var överens om att anledningen till oron är att det uppfattas som pinsamt att tala. Elever ser alla muntliga övningar som prov på sina kunskaper och är oroliga över hur de andra ska reagera. Tydligaste sättet att identifiera oro visade sig vara att vara uppmärksam på undvikande-strategier från engelskaktiviteter. Den bästa strategin för att minska oron enligt alla lärare var att kontrollera hur grupperna formas, eftersom mindre grupper med bara de närmsta vännerna är det bästa sättet att jobba för dessa elever. Intressant var det även att se att, trots att alla lärare nämnde fördelar med att spela in muntliga diskussioner, var det bara en lärare som valt att använda sig av denna metod istället för muntliga redovisningar.

This study examines the beliefs of foreign language teachers regarding the relative positions of native and nonnative speakers in foreign and second language education. In particular, I am concerned with the idealization of the native speaker in this context and the foreign language anxiety that may occur in nonnative speaker language teachers if they internalize this idealization. I collected data from 29 college-level Arabic and Hebrew teachers using four methods: (1) a questionnaire on their background and beliefs regarding native and nonnative speaker language teachers, (2) a version of the Teacher Foreign Language Anxiety Scale (Horwitz, 2007), (3) a one-on-one interview, and (4) class observation. By and large, study participants believed that native speakers, because of their nativity, have reached higher levels of linguistic and cultural proficiency with relative ease, and as a result are more readily granted credibility as teachers of their native language. Participants believed that nonnative speakers are more empathetic and understanding of their students' problems because of their own experience and efforts as students of the language. With regard to foreign language anxiety, the main sources of anxiety among the nonnative speaker participants were the fear of making mistakes (and losing credibility as a result), of not having the authority to speak on cultural issues, of not being hired when competing with native speakers, and of addressing professional audiences. Native speakers feared that they cannot anticipate or understand as easily as nonnative speaker teachers the difficulties their students have in learning their language, because they cannot relate to their experiences in the same way. Neither group, however, reported feeling particularly anxious overall. I argue that anxiety was minimal for both groups because of specific steps that participants have taken to overcome the perceived disadvantages of their group and thereby bolster their confidence. Participants reported gaining confidence through some combination of the following factors: (1) gaining experience and education, (2) improving their linguistic and cultural proficiency, (3) presenting the persona of a credible language teacher through extra preparation and language choices, (4) receiving external validation, and (5) realizing that everyone can learn from and teach others. / text

This study examined motivation, anxiety, global awareness, and linguistic confidence, and their relation to language test performance within the context of Chinese university students taking the College English Test Band 4(CET-4) in China. Using a mixed methods approach, through survey and interview inquiries, this study explored whether and how the selected psychological factors contributed to students’ CET performance. Results from exploratory factor analysis revealed that Chinese university students displayed three types of instrumental motivation (i.e., mark orientation, further-education orientation, and job orientation), two types of anxiety (i.e., language anxiety and test anxiety), and two types of confidence (i.e., linguistic confidence and test confidence). The results of confirmatory factor analysis led to a modified socio-educational model of motivation with some context-specific concepts (i.e., new instrumental orientations, global awareness, and linguistic confidence) that more accurately represented the characteristics of the Chinese university students. The results of structural equation modelling confirmed that attitude toward the learning situation and integrative orientation were two strong indicators of motivation, which in turn influenced language achievement and confidence. The negative impact of anxiety on language achievement was confirmed. Certain group differences were found in comparing male students with female students, high achievers with low achievers, students from the Arts programs with those from the Science programs, and students who started to learn English before Grade 7 with those iii who did so after Grade 7. The interview findings indicated stronger instrumental orientations than integrative orientations. External influences, including influences from society, teachers, and peers, were also identified. Students expressed their mixed feelings toward the CET-4, indicating that this test had both positive and negative influences in promoting their English learning. Testing well-developed motivation and anxiety models in the Chinese context enriched and expanded our knowledge in theory development in English language education in China. The implications of this study point to the importance of understanding language test-takers’ characteristics in their macro and micro learning contexts, as well as the importance of establishing the relevance of English language learning to language teaching, and testing in English as Foreign Language contexts. / Thesis (Ph.D, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-12-30 22:08:41.138

This study aims to investigate the foreign language anxieties Japanese international students at American universities have and the relationship between these anxieties and length of stay in the U.S. 151 Japanese international students answered a modified version of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (Horwitz, Horwitz & Cope, 1986) followed by demographic questions. The findings from the questionnaire were analyzed through SPSS 21 software. Results indicated a statistically significant relationship between students’ level of anxieties and the length of stay in the U.S. Implications for teachers and government officials in Japan, as well as for teachers and university administrators in the U.S., are discussed.

El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar qué competencias generales y qué competencias comunicativas, según el enfoque comunicativo, se promueven en tres libros de texto de español como lengua extranjera y determinar su relación con la variable afectiva de la ansiedad. Para alcanzar los planteamientos de nuestra investigación utilizamos una aproximación cualitativa, empleando el cuestionario de análisis NAKIBAR 2004 perteneciente al trabajo de investigación realizado por Joseba Ezeiza Ramos (2004). Los resultados muestran que los tres materiales didácticos satisfacen cada criterio del enfoque comunicativo en diversos grados. Sin embargo, ambos libros constituyen la exteriorización de dicho método, con el fin preciso de apoyar al estudiante en desarrollar la habilidad de poner en función los procesos de comunicación. Es por esto por lo que este tipo de actividades podrían potencialmente activar sentimientos de aprensión / The aim of this study is to identify the construct of communicative competence promoted in three textbooks of Spanish as a foreign language and to determine its relationship with the emotional variable of anxiety. To achieve our research approaches, we conduct a qualitative investigation, employing the questionnaire analysis NAKIBAR 2004 developed by Joseba Ezeiza Ramos (2004). The results show that the three teaching materials analyzed satisfy the communicative teaching approach in various degrees. However, all three books are the externalization of the communicative model, with the specific purpose of supporting students to develop the ability to put in function communication processes. This strong tendency to use oral language can in some cases lead to feelings of anxiety.

The geographical locations of foreign language French learners are as diverse as their needs. Consequently, teaching material in any French foreign language classroom should be revised on a regular basis. In 2012, a newly developed Creative Expression programme, which consists of a combination of African francophone music and creative writing activities, was presented to the second-year students at the French Department of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. The objective was to explore the potential of combining the use of music and creative writing in the hope that the new programme would enrich the current second-year course. Factors that contributed to the development and organisation of the programme included: the progression in the international context with regard to the French language, accentuating the importance of francophone Africa with regard to the expansion and preservation of French; the widely recognised teaching approach in foreign language French teaching (FLE), being the Approche actionnelle; reevaluating the use of song and creative writing activities in the FLE classroom and lastly, the departmental needs at the University of Pretoria. In this study, the researcher explains in detail how the Creative Expression programme was designed and also how a group of research participants experienced the classes. The following data sources and artefacts were collected: student interviews, journals and creative pieces of writing, the lecturer’s teaching diary and the teaching material of the programme. Qualitative methodologies were followed to analyse the artefacts and uncover themes that represent students’ experience of the programme. Student suggestions with regard to the programme were also incorporated in the analysis. The findings of this study demonstrate that students experienced the Creative Expression programme as contributing to the following: social interaction; the imaginative use of the French language; the development of four principal language skills (speaking, reading, listening, writing); a heightened francophone cultural awareness and a better understanding of the content of their Grammar and Cultural Texts classes. The music also lowered the students’ anxiety levels, which made them more receptive to engage in the creative writing activities. This, in turn, developed their creative expressive capacities. It is concluded that it is in fact the combination of music and creative writing in FLE that brings forth and bridges the following two notions: “Creating a non-threatening environment” and “Learning to express affect”, which are two very topical areas in FLE pedagogy. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2015 / Modern European Languages / MA / Unrestricted