Effects of Language Anxiety on Learning and Speaking English

تاریخ : اگست ۲۰۱۷ - ستمبر ۲۰۱۷

This study investigated psychological or environmental factors which cause or contribute to the language anxiety of the students in English classes and what effects it has on speaking and learning English. Two Questionnaires were used for the purpose of the study one was Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale ( FLCAS) which has already been used in many studies. Second questionnaire was developed by the researchers for the purpose of this study. it was 20 items instrument. Reliability of this instrument was calculated by Cron-Bach Alpha test through SPSS and instrument was found reliable. Graduate students were the population of this study. Sample of this population was graduate students of University of the Punjab. For the purpose of reviewing environmental factors, views of teachers were analyzed. Moreover this study also explored strategies to minimize effects of language anxiety. Results of this study depicted that communication apprehension, test anxiety and fear of negative evaluation was major psychological factors which effects language learning and ultimately effects performance. This study also suggested the strategies in views of the English language teachers. Major strategies which can be used to minimize language anxiety affects of language learning and performance are friendly environment of the classroom, use of real life material in the classroom, motivation on speaking in the target language by the teachers.