Anxiety in the Foreign Language Classroom

Abstract

The anxiety learners experience during the foreign language learning process has negative effects on their performance and interacts with other factors within the classroom environment. The aim of my thesis is to investigate other interacting factor, in addition to the role of the teacher and the classroom environment in connection with this issue. The research of my thesis has been conducted in the form of in-depth semi-structured interviews. The research of my paper concentrated on revealing both internal and external anxiety-inducing factors. According to the findings of my research the presence of the teacher and the classroom environment are indeed influencing factors of learner's levels of anxiety. The participants’ answers in coherence with the cited literature provided useful suggestions for overcoming anxiety and enhancing foreign language enjoyment. However, the responses given by the eight participants are not able to represent a broader spectrum of language learners and their experiences.