Anxiety in oral English classrooms: A case study in China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25170/ijelt.v3i1.1587Keywords:
anxiety, anxiety, oral English classroom, oral English classroom, Chinese university, Chinese universityAbstract
This paper reports the result of a case study on anxiety in oral English classrooms in a Chinese university. By way of survey and reflective journals, the study revealed that (1) anxiety was experienced by a considerable number of students when speaking English in class, (2) the students reported to be the most anxious when singled out to speak English in class or giving presentations at the front while the least during pair work, (3) a multitude of variables such as lack of vocabulary, low English proficiency and memory disassociation contributed to student anxiety in class, and (4) most students felt helpless about being anxious when speaking English in class. Finally, some suggestions were discussed in order to help students reduce anxiety and become more confident to speak English in oral language classrooms, thus ultimately enhance their learning of oral English.
References
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Allwright, D. 1983. Classroom-centered research on language teaching and learning: A brief historical overview. TESOL Quarterly, 17, 191-204.
Bailey, K. M. 1983. Competitiveness and anxiety in adult second language learning: looking at and through the dairy studies. In H. W. Seliger, and M. H. Long (Eds.), Classroom oriented research in second language acquisition (pp. 67-103). Newbury House Publishers, Inc.
Bailey, P., Daley, C. E., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. 1999. Foreign language anxiety and learning style. Foreign Language Annals, 32/1, 63-76.
Brown, H. D. 1973. Affective variables in second language acquisition. Language Learning, 23, 231-244.
Chen, H. 2002. College students’ English learning anxiety and their coping styles. Unpublished M. A. dissertation. Southwest Normal University.
Cheng, Y., Horwitz, E. K., & Schallert, D. L. 1999. Language anxiety: Differentiating writing and speaking components. Language Learning, 49/3, 417-446.
Cortazzi, M., & Jin, L. 1996. Cultures of learning: Language classrooms in China. In H. Coleman (Ed.), Society and the language classroom (pp. 169-206). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Donley, P. 1998. Ten ways to cope with foreign language anxiety. In A. Mollica (Ed.), Teaching and learning language selected reading from Mosaic (pp. 109-110). Soleil Publishing Inc.
Gardner, R. C., & MacIntyre, P. D. 1992. Integrative motivation, induced anxiety, and language learning in a controlled environment. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 14/2, 197-214.
Gregersen, T., & Horwitz, E. K. 2002. Language learning and perfectionism: Anxious and non-anxious language learners’ reactions to their own oral performance. The Modern Language Journal, 86/4, 562-570.
Hilleson, M. 1996. I want to talk with them, but I don’t want them to hear: An introspective study of second langue anxiety in an English-medium school. In K. M. Bailey & D. Nunan (Eds.), Voices from the language classroom (pp. 248-282). Cambridge University Press.
Horwitz, E. K. 1995. Student affective reactions and the teaching and learning of foreign languages. Journal of Educational Research, 23/7, 569-652.
Horwitz, E. K. 2001. Language anxiety and achievement. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 21, 112-126.
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M., & Cope, J. 1986. Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 1, 125-132.
Jackson, J. 2002. Reticence in second language case discussions: Anxiety and aspirations. System, 30/1, 65-84.
Kitano, K. 2001. Anxiety in the college Japanese language classroom. The Modern Language Journal, 85, 549-566.
Krashen, S. 1982. Principles and practice in second language acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon.
Krippendorff, K., 1980. Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Lozanov G. 1978. Suggestology and outlines of suggestopedy. New York: Gordon & Breach.
MacIntyre, P. D., & Gardner, R. C. 1989. Anxiety and second-language learning: Toward a theoretical clarification. Language Learning, 39, 251-275.
MacIntyre, P. D., Noels, K. A., & Clément, R. 1997. Biases in self-ratings of second language proficiency: The role of language anxiety. Language Learning, 47/2, 265-287.
Mu, Y., 2004. Retrieved on June 16 from http://news.sina.com.cn/e/204-04-28/11253173485.shtml
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Bailey, P., & Daley, C. E. 1999. Factors associated with foreign language anxiety. Applied Psycholinguistics, 20/2, 217-239.
Price, M. L. 1991. The subjective experience of foreign language anxiety: interviews with highly anxious students. In E. K. Horwitz, & D. J. Young (Eds.), Language anxiety: From theory and research to classroom implications (pp. 101-108). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Shoemaker, C. L., & Shoemaker, F. F. 1991. Interactive techniques for the ESL classroom. Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
Tsui, A. B. M., 1996. Reticence and anxiety in second language learning. In K. M. Bailey & D. Nunan (Eds.), Voices from the language classroom (pp. 145-167). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wang, Q., & Ding, X. 2001. Language anxiety among rural middle school students in west China. Journal of Northwest Normal University, 38/5, 68-73.
Yan, X., & Wang, P. 2001. The impact of language anxiety on students’ Mandarin learning in Hong Kong. Language Teaching and Research, 6, 1-7.
Zhang, H., & Luan, F., 2002. A survey on EFL teaching in different countries of the world. Retrieved on June 20 from http://www.cbe21.com/subject/english/html/050203/2002_11/20021105_1977.html
Zou, M. 2004. EFL learners’ perceptions of in-class relationships and their voluntary responses. In Y. Gao (Ed.), The social psychology of English learning by Chinese college students (pp. 149-167). Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
Allwright, D. 1983. Classroom-centered research on language teaching and learning: A brief historical overview. TESOL Quarterly, 17, 191-204.
Bailey, K. M. 1983. Competitiveness and anxiety in adult second language learning: looking at and through the dairy studies. In H. W. Seliger, and M. H. Long (Eds.), Classroom oriented research in second language acquisition (pp. 67-103). Newbury House Publishers, Inc.
Bailey, P., Daley, C. E., & Onwuegbuzie, A. J. 1999. Foreign language anxiety and learning style. Foreign Language Annals, 32/1, 63-76.
Brown, H. D. 1973. Affective variables in second language acquisition. Language Learning, 23, 231-244.
Chen, H. 2002. College students’ English learning anxiety and their coping styles. Unpublished M. A. dissertation. Southwest Normal University.
Cheng, Y., Horwitz, E. K., & Schallert, D. L. 1999. Language anxiety: Differentiating writing and speaking components. Language Learning, 49/3, 417-446.
Cortazzi, M., & Jin, L. 1996. Cultures of learning: Language classrooms in China. In H. Coleman (Ed.), Society and the language classroom (pp. 169-206). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Donley, P. 1998. Ten ways to cope with foreign language anxiety. In A. Mollica (Ed.), Teaching and learning language selected reading from Mosaic (pp. 109-110). Soleil Publishing Inc.
Gardner, R. C., & MacIntyre, P. D. 1992. Integrative motivation, induced anxiety, and language learning in a controlled environment. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 14/2, 197-214.
Gregersen, T., & Horwitz, E. K. 2002. Language learning and perfectionism: Anxious and non-anxious language learners’ reactions to their own oral performance. The Modern Language Journal, 86/4, 562-570.
Hilleson, M. 1996. I want to talk with them, but I don’t want them to hear: An introspective study of second langue anxiety in an English-medium school. In K. M. Bailey & D. Nunan (Eds.), Voices from the language classroom (pp. 248-282). Cambridge University Press.
Horwitz, E. K. 1995. Student affective reactions and the teaching and learning of foreign languages. Journal of Educational Research, 23/7, 569-652.
Horwitz, E. K. 2001. Language anxiety and achievement. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 21, 112-126.
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M., & Cope, J. 1986. Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 1, 125-132.
Jackson, J. 2002. Reticence in second language case discussions: Anxiety and aspirations. System, 30/1, 65-84.
Kitano, K. 2001. Anxiety in the college Japanese language classroom. The Modern Language Journal, 85, 549-566.
Krashen, S. 1982. Principles and practice in second language acquisition. Oxford: Pergamon.
Krippendorff, K., 1980. Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Lozanov G. 1978. Suggestology and outlines of suggestopedy. New York: Gordon & Breach.
MacIntyre, P. D., & Gardner, R. C. 1989. Anxiety and second-language learning: Toward a theoretical clarification. Language Learning, 39, 251-275.
MacIntyre, P. D., Noels, K. A., & Clément, R. 1997. Biases in self-ratings of second language proficiency: The role of language anxiety. Language Learning, 47/2, 265-287.
Mu, Y., 2004. Retrieved on June 16 from http://news.sina.com.cn/e/204-04-28/11253173485.shtml
Onwuegbuzie, A. J., Bailey, P., & Daley, C. E. 1999. Factors associated with foreign language anxiety. Applied Psycholinguistics, 20/2, 217-239.
Price, M. L. 1991. The subjective experience of foreign language anxiety: interviews with highly anxious students. In E. K. Horwitz, & D. J. Young (Eds.), Language anxiety: From theory and research to classroom implications (pp. 101-108). Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc.
Shoemaker, C. L., & Shoemaker, F. F. 1991. Interactive techniques for the ESL classroom. Heinle & Heinle Publishers.
Tsui, A. B. M., 1996. Reticence and anxiety in second language learning. In K. M. Bailey & D. Nunan (Eds.), Voices from the language classroom (pp. 145-167). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wang, Q., & Ding, X. 2001. Language anxiety among rural middle school students in west China. Journal of Northwest Normal University, 38/5, 68-73.
Yan, X., & Wang, P. 2001. The impact of language anxiety on students’ Mandarin learning in Hong Kong. Language Teaching and Research, 6, 1-7.
Zhang, H., & Luan, F., 2002. A survey on EFL teaching in different countries of the world. Retrieved on June 20 from http://www.cbe21.com/subject/english/html/050203/2002_11/20021105_1977.html
Zou, M. 2004. EFL learners’ perceptions of in-class relationships and their voluntary responses. In Y. Gao (Ed.), The social psychology of English learning by Chinese college students (pp. 149-167). Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
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Published
2007-05-31
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