Investigating Undergraduate Students' Anxiety in Learning English
Keywords:
Anxiety, Second Language Anxiety, Language Learning Anxiety, Undergraduate, StudentsAbstract
This paper presents the findings on the types of anxiety experienced by fifty one Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris undergraduates in learning English. They were also asked the strategies they used to cope with the anxiety experienced throughout the English Language courses they enrolled in at tertiary level. Questionnaires were used to collect their responses. The findings revealed that a majority of the students experienced a considerable amount of anxiety when learning English hence affect their comprehension of the lessons. Their anxiety also is a major factor that hinders them from using the language while communicating in class and makes them reluctant to participate in class. They also refuse to use the English language in class. Instead, they use their mother tongue language, Bahasa Malaysia to speak with one another.
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References
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Brown, H. D, 2000. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (4Th Ed.). Englewood Cliffs Nj: Prentice-Hall.
Campbell, C. & Ortiz, L, 1991. Helping Students Overcome Foreign Language Anxiety: A Foreign Language Anxiety Workshop. In E. K. Horwitz & D. J. Young, (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to Classroom Implications (pp. 153-168). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
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Chen, T-Y. & Chang, G. B. Y, 2004. The Relationship Between Foreign Language Anxiety and Learning Difficulties. Foreign Language Annals. 37(2), 279-289.
Creswell, J.W., 2005. Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River.
Dornyei, Z, 1996. Moving Language Learning Motivation to a Larger Platform for Theory and Practice. ln. R. L Oxford (Ed.), Language Learning Motivation: Pathways to The NewCentury (pp. 71-80), Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Dörnyei, Z, 1998. Survey Article: Motivation in Second and Foreign Language Learning. Language Teaching, 31, 117-135.
Gardner, R. C. & MacIntyre, P. 1992. A Student's Contributions to Second Language Acquisition. Part 1 : Cognitive Variables. Language Teaching, 25, 21 1-220.
Gardner, R. C. & MacIntyre, P. D, 1993. A Student's Contribution to Second Language Acquisition. Part Il: Affective variables. Language Teaching, 26, 1-11.
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Geen, R. 1994. Social motivation. In B. Parkinson & A. M. Colman (Eds.), Emotion and Motivation (pp. 38-57). London: Longman.
Gregersen, T.S., 2005. Nonverbal Cues: Clues to The Detection of Foreign Language Anxiety. Foreign Language Annals, 38(3), 388-400.
Hsu, L., 2010. The Impact of Perceived Teachers' Nonverbal Immediacy on Students' Motivation for Learning English. Online Asian EFL Journal. 12 (4).
Horwitz, E. K., 1991. Preliminary Evidence for the Reliability and Validity af a Foreign Language Anxiety Scale. In E. K. Horwitz & D. J. Young (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to Classroom Implications (pp. 37-40). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B. & Cope, L, 1986. Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety. Modern Language Journal 70(2), 125-132.
Kondo, D. S. & Ling, Y-Y., 2004. Strategies for Coping with Language Anxiety: The Case of Students of English in Japan. ELTJournal, 58(3), 258-265.
Krashen, S. D., 1982. Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.
Maclntyre, P. D, 1995. How Does Anxiety Affect Second Language Learning? A reply to Sparks and Ganshow. The Modern Language Journal, 79(1), 90-99.
Maclntyre, P. D. & Gardner, R. C„ 1991. Methods and Results in The Study of Anxiety and Language Learning: A review of Literature. Language Learning, 41, 85-117.
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Onwuegbuzie, Anthony., Bailey, R, Christine, E. & Daley, 1999. Factors Associated With Foreign Language Anxiety. Applied Socio Linguistics. 20(2), 218-239.
Oxford, R. L, 1990. Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.
Oxford, R. L, 1992. Who are Our Students? A Synthesis of Foreign and Second Language Research on Individual Differences. TESL Canada Journal, 9, 30-49.
Oxford, R. L, 1994. Language Learning Strategies: An Update. Eric Clearing houseon Languages and Linguistics Digest, Washington, D.C. (0376707).
Oxford, R., & Shearin, L, 1996. Language Learning Motivation in a New Key. In R. L. Oxford (Ed.), Language Learning Motivation: Pathways to The New Century (pp. 121-160). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Pappamihiel, N. E, 2001. Moving from The ESL Classrqom into The Mainstream: An Investigation of English Language Anxiety in Mexican girls. Bilingual Research Journal, 25 (1).
Price, M. 1991. The Subjective Experiences of Foreign Language Anxiety: Interviews with Anxious Students. In E. K. Horwitz & D. J. Young, (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to Classroom Implications (pp. 101-108). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Salend, S.J., 2011. Addressing Test Anxiety. Teaching Exceptional Children. 44(2), 58-68.
Schumann,J. H., 2001. Learning as Foraging. In Z. Dornyei & R. Schmidt (Eds.), Motivation and Second Language Acquisition (Technical Report No. 23) (pp. 21-28). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Selami Aydin., 2008. An Investigation on The Language Anxiety and Fear of Negative Evaluation Among Turkish EFL Learners. Asian-EFL Journal, 13(2).
Spielberger, C. 1972. Anxiety as an Emotional state. In C. D. Speilberger (Ed.). Anxiety: Current Trends in Theory and Research (pp. 23-49). New York: Academic Press.
Stipek, D., 1988. Motivation to Learn: From Theory to Practice. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Stevick, E. W., 1980. Teaching Languages: A Way and Ways. Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
Subasi, G., 2010. What are The Main Sources ofTurkish EFL Students' Anxiety in Oral Practice? Turkish Online Journal ofQualitative Inquiry. 1 (2), 29-50.
Tran, T.T.T., 2012. A review of Horowitz, Horowitz and Cope's Theory of Foreign Language Anxiety and The Challenges to The Theory. English Language Teaching. 69-75.
Tobias, S., 1986. Anxiety and Cognitive Processing of Instruction. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.). Self-Related Cognition in Anxiety and Motivation. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum.
Tomlinson, B. Ed., 1998. Materials Development in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wong, S.LM., 2012. Language Anxiety Coping Strategies of Pre-Service Teachers. Proceedings of the 7th Malaysia Inernational Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
Worde, R.V., 1998. An Investigation of Students' Foreign Language Anxiety. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service). http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERlCWebPortal.
Young, D. I, 1990. An Investigation of Students' Perspectives on Anxiety and Speaking. Foreign Language Annals, 23, 539-53.
Zhao, N., 2007. A Study of High School Students' English Learning Anxiety. Asian-EFL Journal, 9(3).
Brown, H. D, 2000. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching (4Th Ed.). Englewood Cliffs Nj: Prentice-Hall.
Campbell, C. & Ortiz, L, 1991. Helping Students Overcome Foreign Language Anxiety: A Foreign Language Anxiety Workshop. In E. K. Horwitz & D. J. Young, (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to Classroom Implications (pp. 153-168). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Chan Swee Heng, Ain Nadzimah Abdullah, Nurkarimah Yusof, 2012. Investigating the Construct of Anxiety in Relation to Speaking Skills Among Esl Tertiary Learners. The SoutheastAsianJournal ofEnglish Language Studies. 1 8(3), pp 155-166.
Chen, T-Y. & Chang, G. B. Y, 2004. The Relationship Between Foreign Language Anxiety and Learning Difficulties. Foreign Language Annals. 37(2), 279-289.
Creswell, J.W., 2005. Educational Research: Planning, Conducting, and Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. New Jersey: Upper Saddle River.
Dornyei, Z, 1996. Moving Language Learning Motivation to a Larger Platform for Theory and Practice. ln. R. L Oxford (Ed.), Language Learning Motivation: Pathways to The NewCentury (pp. 71-80), Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Dörnyei, Z, 1998. Survey Article: Motivation in Second and Foreign Language Learning. Language Teaching, 31, 117-135.
Gardner, R. C. & MacIntyre, P. 1992. A Student's Contributions to Second Language Acquisition. Part 1 : Cognitive Variables. Language Teaching, 25, 21 1-220.
Gardner, R. C. & MacIntyre, P. D, 1993. A Student's Contribution to Second Language Acquisition. Part Il: Affective variables. Language Teaching, 26, 1-11.
Gardner, R.C., Tremblay, P.E & Magoret, A.M., 1997. Towards a Full Model of Second Language Learning: An Empirical Investigation. The Modern Language Journal. 344-362.
Geen, R. 1994. Social motivation. In B. Parkinson & A. M. Colman (Eds.), Emotion and Motivation (pp. 38-57). London: Longman.
Gregersen, T.S., 2005. Nonverbal Cues: Clues to The Detection of Foreign Language Anxiety. Foreign Language Annals, 38(3), 388-400.
Hsu, L., 2010. The Impact of Perceived Teachers' Nonverbal Immediacy on Students' Motivation for Learning English. Online Asian EFL Journal. 12 (4).
Horwitz, E. K., 1991. Preliminary Evidence for the Reliability and Validity af a Foreign Language Anxiety Scale. In E. K. Horwitz & D. J. Young (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to Classroom Implications (pp. 37-40). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B. & Cope, L, 1986. Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety. Modern Language Journal 70(2), 125-132.
Kondo, D. S. & Ling, Y-Y., 2004. Strategies for Coping with Language Anxiety: The Case of Students of English in Japan. ELTJournal, 58(3), 258-265.
Krashen, S. D., 1982. Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. Oxford, UK: Pergamon Press.
Maclntyre, P. D, 1995. How Does Anxiety Affect Second Language Learning? A reply to Sparks and Ganshow. The Modern Language Journal, 79(1), 90-99.
Maclntyre, P. D. & Gardner, R. C„ 1991. Methods and Results in The Study of Anxiety and Language Learning: A review of Literature. Language Learning, 41, 85-117.
Maclntyre, P. D. & Gardner, R. C., 1994. The Subtle Effects of Language Anxiety on Cognitive Processing In The Second Language, Language Learning, 44, 282-305.
Meijas, H., Applbaum, R.I., Applbaum, S.J., and Trotter, RT. Oral Communication Apprehension and Hispanics: An Exploration of Oral Communication Apprehension Among Mexican Students in Texas. In E.K. Horwitz & DJ. Young (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to (classroom) implications. 87-97. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Nagender Kaur, 2006. Non-autonomy and Low English Proficiency Among Malaysian Students: Insights from Multiple Perspectives. In Kamisah Ariffin, Mohd Rozaidi Ismail, Ngo Kea Leng & Roslina Abdul Aziz. (Eds.). English in the Malaysian Context (pp 21 — 34). Shah Alam: University Publication Centre (UPENA). UiTM.
Nor Hashimah Jalaludin, Norsimah Mat Awal & Kesumawati Abu Bakar, 2008. The Mastery of English Language Among Lower Secondary School Students in Malaysia. A Linguistic Analysis, European Journal ofSocial Sciences, 7(2), 106-119.
Normazidah Che Musa, Koo Yew Lie, Hazita Azman, 2012. Exploring English Language Learning and Teaching in Malaysia. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies. 12(1), 35-51.
Onwuegbuzie, Anthony., Bailey, R, Christine, E. & Daley, 1999. Factors Associated With Foreign Language Anxiety. Applied Socio Linguistics. 20(2), 218-239.
Oxford, R. L, 1990. Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.
Oxford, R. L, 1992. Who are Our Students? A Synthesis of Foreign and Second Language Research on Individual Differences. TESL Canada Journal, 9, 30-49.
Oxford, R. L, 1994. Language Learning Strategies: An Update. Eric Clearing houseon Languages and Linguistics Digest, Washington, D.C. (0376707).
Oxford, R., & Shearin, L, 1996. Language Learning Motivation in a New Key. In R. L. Oxford (Ed.), Language Learning Motivation: Pathways to The New Century (pp. 121-160). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Pappamihiel, N. E, 2001. Moving from The ESL Classrqom into The Mainstream: An Investigation of English Language Anxiety in Mexican girls. Bilingual Research Journal, 25 (1).
Price, M. 1991. The Subjective Experiences of Foreign Language Anxiety: Interviews with Anxious Students. In E. K. Horwitz & D. J. Young, (Eds.). Language Anxiety: From Theory and Research to Classroom Implications (pp. 101-108). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Salend, S.J., 2011. Addressing Test Anxiety. Teaching Exceptional Children. 44(2), 58-68.
Schumann,J. H., 2001. Learning as Foraging. In Z. Dornyei & R. Schmidt (Eds.), Motivation and Second Language Acquisition (Technical Report No. 23) (pp. 21-28). Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Selami Aydin., 2008. An Investigation on The Language Anxiety and Fear of Negative Evaluation Among Turkish EFL Learners. Asian-EFL Journal, 13(2).
Spielberger, C. 1972. Anxiety as an Emotional state. In C. D. Speilberger (Ed.). Anxiety: Current Trends in Theory and Research (pp. 23-49). New York: Academic Press.
Stipek, D., 1988. Motivation to Learn: From Theory to Practice. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.
Stevick, E. W., 1980. Teaching Languages: A Way and Ways. Rowley, MA: Newbury House.
Subasi, G., 2010. What are The Main Sources ofTurkish EFL Students' Anxiety in Oral Practice? Turkish Online Journal ofQualitative Inquiry. 1 (2), 29-50.
Tran, T.T.T., 2012. A review of Horowitz, Horowitz and Cope's Theory of Foreign Language Anxiety and The Challenges to The Theory. English Language Teaching. 69-75.
Tobias, S., 1986. Anxiety and Cognitive Processing of Instruction. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.). Self-Related Cognition in Anxiety and Motivation. Hillsdale, N.J.: Erlbaum.
Tomlinson, B. Ed., 1998. Materials Development in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wong, S.LM., 2012. Language Anxiety Coping Strategies of Pre-Service Teachers. Proceedings of the 7th Malaysia Inernational Conference on Languages, Literatures and Cultures.
Worde, R.V., 1998. An Investigation of Students' Foreign Language Anxiety. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service). http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERlCWebPortal.
Young, D. I, 1990. An Investigation of Students' Perspectives on Anxiety and Speaking. Foreign Language Annals, 23, 539-53.
Zhao, N., 2007. A Study of High School Students' English Learning Anxiety. Asian-EFL Journal, 9(3).
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Published
2013-11-27
How to Cite
Mohd Ariff Albakri, I. S., Rosli, F. F., Ismail, N., Omar, A., Raja Harun, R. N. S., & Ahmad, M. (2013). Investigating Undergraduate Students’ Anxiety in Learning English. Jurnal Peradaban Melayu, 8, 193–206. Retrieved from https://ejournal.upsi.edu.my/index.php/JPM/article/view/3246
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