{"title":"Out-of-class English learning anxiety and its relation to motivation among Chinese university English majors","authors":"Shuting Zhang , Chun Lai","doi":"10.1016/j.system.2024.103384","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>A wide range of studies have examined foreign language anxiety (FLA). However, these studies have primarily examined the context of classroom-based learning, while neglecting out-of-class learning settings. Thus, this study investigated the factor structure of out-of-class FLA and its relationship to L2 motivation (Ideal L2 Self, Ought-to L2 Self, and L2 Learning Experience). The data comprised 20 interviews and 557 survey responses from English majors at Chinese universities. This study identified three out-of-class FLA factors: anxiety about learning effectiveness, learning approaches, and effort management. It further revealed a close association between out-of-class FLA and L2 motivation. Out-of-class L2 Learning Experience was the most salient predictor and was negatively associated with all three dimensions of out-of-class FLA. The Ideal L2 Self exhibited negative associations with anxiety about the learning approach and effort management, whereas Ought-to L2 Self was a positive predictor of anxiety about the learning approach and learning effectiveness. These findings enrich our understanding of the affective aspects of out-of-class learning and suggest the significance of facilitating learners’ out-of-class L2 Learning Experience and Ideal L2 Self to help them overcome FLA in a self-directed out-of-class learning context.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":48185,"journal":{"name":"System","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"System","FirstCategoryId":"98","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0346251X24001660","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
A wide range of studies have examined foreign language anxiety (FLA). However, these studies have primarily examined the context of classroom-based learning, while neglecting out-of-class learning settings. Thus, this study investigated the factor structure of out-of-class FLA and its relationship to L2 motivation (Ideal L2 Self, Ought-to L2 Self, and L2 Learning Experience). The data comprised 20 interviews and 557 survey responses from English majors at Chinese universities. This study identified three out-of-class FLA factors: anxiety about learning effectiveness, learning approaches, and effort management. It further revealed a close association between out-of-class FLA and L2 motivation. Out-of-class L2 Learning Experience was the most salient predictor and was negatively associated with all three dimensions of out-of-class FLA. The Ideal L2 Self exhibited negative associations with anxiety about the learning approach and effort management, whereas Ought-to L2 Self was a positive predictor of anxiety about the learning approach and learning effectiveness. These findings enrich our understanding of the affective aspects of out-of-class learning and suggest the significance of facilitating learners’ out-of-class L2 Learning Experience and Ideal L2 Self to help them overcome FLA in a self-directed out-of-class learning context.
期刊介绍:
This international journal is devoted to the applications of educational technology and applied linguistics to problems of foreign language teaching and learning. Attention is paid to all languages and to problems associated with the study and teaching of English as a second or foreign language. The journal serves as a vehicle of expression for colleagues in developing countries. System prefers its contributors to provide articles which have a sound theoretical base with a visible practical application which can be generalized. The review section may take up works of a more theoretical nature to broaden the background.