Foreign Language Learning Anxiety in Turkey: The Case of Aydın Province

Abstract

Learning a new language is significant in every aspect, and currently, people are increasingly aware of its significance. In language learning, various aspects affect individuals, and one of the most significant is related to human psychology. The goal is to apply the factors that positively influence language learning to the learning process. Personality traits such as empathy, introversion, and self-esteem (Brown, 1994) are some of the emotional variables that are related to the individual. According to the literature, language learning anxiety is one of the most important factors leading to this problem. It is the main focus of this study.Learning a foreign language is a complex process involving many factors, requiring not only the acquisition of vocabulary and grammatical structures, but also the development of communication skills. While some students approach foreign language learning with confidence, others find this process threatening, moreover,they may develop excessive anxiety in the foreign language classroom. Anxiety is a psychological phenomenon that has a major impact on foreign language learning. In order to improve the foreign language learning process, it is of great importance to determine the anxiety level of students and reduce the existing anxiety. In this study, the level of foreign language learning anxiety among high school students in Aydın Province was investigated.The data collection process of the study was conducted with 385 students attending German classes at Anatolian high schools in Aydın province. The data were collected using the FLCAS scale, which can be statistically analyzed to determine the anxiety level of the students. The obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS 25.0 programme, and the results of the analysis show that the anxiety of the students towards learning a foreign language in German classes is moderate. At the same time, it was found that the level of anxiety varies according to demographic characteristics.