Beliefs about Language Learning as the Predictor of FL Classroom Anxiety, Willingness to Communicate, and FL Achievement among Iranian EFL Learners

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.A. in TEFL, Shahid Bahonar University, Kerman, Iran

2 M.A in TEFL, Kerman Institute of Higher Education, Kerman, Iran

Abstract

This study surveyed the predictive role of beliefs about language learning (BALL) as the predictor of FL anxiety and willingness to communicate (WTC) on language achievement of Iranian EFL learners. To do so, a sample of 120 advanced EFL learners in language institutes in Kerman was selected through convenience sampling to take part in this research. Participants were 50 male and 70 female learners with a mean age of 17. Data for the study were collected using three relevant questionnaires: A Beliefs About Language Learning Inventory (BALLI) scale, a Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), and a Willingness to Communicate (WTC) scale. The results of the study utilizing multiple regression revealed that beliefs about language learning effectively contributed to predicting anxiety in L2 classes and these two variables had a negative linear relationship. Beliefs about language learning also had a positive significant role in predicting L2 achievement. However, beliefs about language learning did not have a role in the prediction of willingness to communicate in an EFL classroom and their relationship was insignificant. The findings of the present study can help EFL learners to become more aware of their beliefs about language learning and its effects on Anxiety and WTC.  A clear understanding of learners’ beliefs about language learning may change teachers’ and students’ views toward the importance of beliefs in learning an L2.

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

پیش بینی اعتقادات در مورد یادگیری زبان به عنوان پیش بینی کننده اضطراب و تمایل به برقراری ارتباط در زمینه دستیابی به زبان زبان آموزان ایران

Authors [Persian]

  • علی بهره مند 1
  • مهنام سعید 2

1 کارشناسی ارشد آموزش زبان انگلیسی از دانشگاه باهنر کرمان

2 کارشناسی ارشد آموزش زبان انگلیسی، موسسه آموزش عالی کرمان، کرمان، ایران

Abstract [Persian]

این مطالعه نقش پیش بینی اعتقادات در مورد یادگیری زبان (BALL) را به عنوان پیش بینی کننده اضطراب و تمایل به برقراری ارتباط (WTC) در زمینه دستیابی به زبان زبان آموزان EFL ایران بررسی کرده است. برای این کار ، نمونه ای از 120 زبان آموز پیشرفته EFL در مؤسسات زبان در کرمان از طریق نمونه گیری راحتی برای شرکت در این تحقیق انتخاب شد. شرکت کنندگان 50 مرد و 70 زباندار زن با میانگین سنی 17 ساله بودند. داده های این مطالعه با استفاده از سه پرسشنامه مربوطه جمع آوری شد: اعتقادات مربوط به مقیاس موجودی یادگیری زبان (Balli) ، مقیاس اضطراب کلاس زبان خارجی (FLCAS) و یک تمایل برای برقراری ارتباط (WTC). نتایج مطالعه با استفاده از رگرسیون چندگانه نشان داد که اعتقادات در مورد یادگیری زبان به طور مؤثر در پیش بینی اضطراب در کلاس های L2 نقش داشته است و این دو متغیر دارای یک رابطه خطی منفی هستند. اعتقادات در مورد یادگیری زبان نیز نقش مهمی در پیش بینی موفقیت L2 داشت. با این حال ، اعتقادات در مورد یادگیری زبان نقشی در پیش بینی تمایل به برقراری ارتباط در یک کلاس EFL نداشت و رابطه آنها ناچیز بود. یافته های پژوهش حاضر می تواند به زبان آموزان EFL کمک کند تا از اعتقادات خود در مورد یادگیری زبان و تأثیرات آن بر اضطراب و WTC آگاه شوند. درک روشنی از اعتقاد زبان آموزان در مورد یادگیری زبان ممکن است دیدگاه معلمان و دانش آموزان را نسبت به اهمیت اعتقادات در یادگیری L2 تغییر دهد.
 

Keywords [Persian]

  • عقاید در مورد یادگیری زبان
  • اضطراب کلاسی
  • دستیابی به زبان دوم
  • اشتیاق به ارتباط
Abedini, A., Rahimi, A., & Zare-ee, A. (2011). Relationship between Iranian EFL learners’ beliefs about language learning, their language learning strategy use, and their language proficiency. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 28, 1029–1033.
Aini, S. H. (2020). The relationship between students’ beliefs and willingness to communicate among Indonesian senior high school students in EFL classrooms. Retain8(1).
Alhama, M. (2019). Learners’ beliefs about language-learning abilities in face-to-face & online settings. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education16(1), 1-23.
Aslan, E., & Thompson, A. S. (2021). The interplay between learner beliefs and foreign language anxiety: insights from the Turkish EFL context. The Language Learning Journal49(2), 189-202.
Baghaei, P., Dourakhshan, A., & Salavati, O. (2012). The relationship between willingness to communicate and success in learning English as a foreign language. Modern Journal of Applied Linguistics4(2), 53-67.
Benson, P., & Lor, W. (1999). Conceptions of language and language learning. The system27(4), 459-472.
Brown, H. D. (2007). First language acquisition. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching, 24-51.
Dewaele, J. M., & Dewaele, L. (2018). Learner-internal and learner-external predictors of willingness to communicate in the FL classroom. Journal of the European Second Language Association.
Ellis, N. C. (2008). The dynamics of second language emergence: Cycles of language use, language change, and language acquisition. The modern language journal92(2), 232-249.
Fatemipour, H., & Shirmohamadzadeh, V. (2014). The relationship between communication apprehension and learners' beliefs about language learning with EFL University Students' Willingness to Communicate. International Journal of Language Learning and Applied Linguistics World, 7(4), 112-122.
Foss, K. A., & Reitzel, A. C. (1988). A relational model for managing second language anxiety. TESOL Quarterly22(3), 437-454.
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. (1986). Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern language journal70(2), 125-132.
Horwitz, E. K. (1987). Surveying student beliefs about language learning. Learner strategies in language learning110129, 557-576.
Horwitz, E. K. (1988). The beliefs about language learning of beginning university foreign language students. The modern language journal72(3), 283-294.
Horwitz, E. (2001). Language anxiety and achievement. Annual review of applied linguistics21, 112-126.
Hou, Y. J. (2013). Taiwanese EFL Nursing students’ English learning beliefs and anxiety. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences4(11), 671-671.
Jusoh, A. J. (2017). Lessons from experience: ESL student teachers' reflection during practicum through reflective journals. Studies in English Language and Education4(2), 226-234.
Karbakhsh, R., & Safa, M. A. (2020). Basic psychological needs satisfaction, goal orientation, willingness to communicate, self-efficacy, and learning strategy use as predictors of second language achievement: a structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research49(5), 803-822.
Karabıyık, C., & Özkan, N. (2017). Foreign language anxiety: a study at Ufuk University preparatory school. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies13(2), 667-680.
Khodadady, E. (2009). The beliefs about language learning inventory: Factorial validity, formal education and the academic achievement of Iranian students majoring in English.
Kunt, N. (1997). Anxiety and beliefs about language learning: A study of Turkish-speaking university students learning English in North Cyprus. The University of Texas at Austin.
MacIntyre, P. D. (1994). Variables underlying willingness to communicate: A causal analysis. Communication Research Reports11(2), 135-142.
MacIntyre, P. D. (1999). Behavioral validation of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index in children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology28(1), 105-112.
MacIntyre, P. D., Baker, S. C., Clément, R., & Conrod, S. (2001). Willingness to communicate, social support, and language-learning orientations of immersion students. Studies in second language acquisition23(3), 369-388.
Mantle‐Bromley, C. (1995). Positive attitudes and realistic beliefs: Links to proficiency. The Modern Language Journal79(3), 372-386.
Mahmoodi, M. H., & Moazam, I. (2014). Willingness to communicate (WTC) and L2 achievement: The case of Arabic language learners. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences98, 1069-1076.
Mori, Y. (1999). Epistemological beliefs and language learning beliefs: What do language learners believe about their learning? Language learning49(3), 377-415.
Peacock, M. (2001). Pre-service ESL teachers' beliefs about second language learning: A longitudinal study. The system29(2), 177-195.
Peng, J. E., & Woodrow, L. (2010). Willingness to communicate in English: A model in the Chinese EFL classroom context. Language learning60(4), 834-876.
Rabian, B., Embry, L., & MacIntyre, D. (1999). Behavioral validation of the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index in children. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology28(1), 105-112.
Rastegar, M., & Karami, M. (2015). On the relationship between foreign language Classroom anxiety, willingness to communicate and scholastic success among Iranian EFL learners. Theory and Practice in Language Studies5(11), 2387.
Rezaabadi, O. T. (2017). The relationships between social class anxiety, facilitative anxiety, and reading test performance. Southern African Linguistics and Applied Language Studies35(2), 211-223.
Richardson, V. (1996). The role of attitudes and beliefs in learning to teach. Handbook of research on teacher education2(102-119), 273-290.
Sioson, I. C. (2011). Language learning strategies, beliefs, and anxiety in the academic speaking task. Philippine ESL Journal7(1), 3-27
Spielberger, C. D., Gorsuch, R. L., & Lushene, R. (1983). State-trait anxiety inventory STAI (Form Y). Red City Mind Gard.
Tanveer, M. (2007). Investigation of the factors that cause language anxiety for ESL/EFL learners in learning speaking skills and the influence it casts on communication in the target language. University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Truitt, S. N. (1995). Anxiety and beliefs about language learning: A study of Korean university students learning English. The University of Texas at Austin.
Wang, N. (2005). Beliefs about language learning and foreign language anxiety: A study of university students learning English as a foreign language in Mainland China.
Wenden, A. L. (1986). What do second-language learners know about their language learning? A second look at retrospective accounts1. Applied linguistics7(2), 186-205.
Yousef, R., Jamil, H., & Razak, N. (2013). Willingness to communicate in English: A study of Malaysian pre-service English teachers. English Language Teaching6(9), 205.
Zarrinabadi, N., Lou, N. M., & Shirzad, M. (2021). Autonomy support predicts language mindsets: Implications for developing communicative competence and willingness to communicate in EFL classrooms. Learning and Individual Differences86, 101981.
Zhang, R. (2014). Exploring the relationship between Chinese first-year university students’ beliefs about language learning and foreign language anxiety. International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature3(1), 28-44.
 
Volume 2, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
ISBN 9783899664812
April 2023
Pages 57-77
  • Receive Date: 28 August 2022
  • Revise Date: 15 October 2022
  • Accept Date: 07 November 2022