Learner perceptions of emotions in the foreign language classroom: a one-year study of the connections between anxiety, enjoyment, performance and individual differences in adult education

Abstract

Emotions, both positive and negative, play an important role in foreign language learning. However, whereas a great number of studies have investigated the construct and sources of negative emotions such as foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) in second language learning, whereas less attention has been paid to the construct and sources of positive emotions such as foreign language enjoyment (FLE). The aims of this one-year longitudinal study are: (1) to determine the level of FLCA and FLE among adult EFL learners; (2) to explore the progress of the relationship between FLCA and FLE throughout the academic year; (3) to gauge the effect of FLCA and FLE on adult learners’ performance in EFL, measuring their grammatical accuracy and communicative skills; (4) to examine the relationship between FLCA and FLE and a range of individual variables (age, gender, proficiency levels, study abroad experience, language repertoire, age they started learning English, educational levels and speaking English outside the classroom; and, (5) to explore the sources of FLCA and FLE that students experience in class from the point of view of students and their teachers. The data for the study was gathered at two public language schools (known in Catalan as Escola Oficial d’Idiomes or EOI) in the Barcelona area at the beginning and at the end of the academic year 2015-2016. In total, 237 bilingual Spanish/Catalan EFL learners at different proficiency levels (B1, B2, C1) with an age range between 16 to 68 participated. The quantitative and qualitative data was obtained through three sections of a questionnaire, a language test and a semi-structured interview. Results indicate that 1) Students experienced FLCA and FLE from time to time and they experienced more FLE than FLCA at the beginning and at the end of the year in addition, they experienced higher levels of anxiety at the beginning of the year than at the end, whereas there was no significant difference between the level of FLE at the beginning and at the end of the year. 2) There was a significant negative relationship between FLCA and FLE that became weaker at the end of the academic year. 3) FLE had a significant positive effect on students’ performance, and FLCA had a significant negative effect. Regarding the individual variables, there were mixed results. Some variables were not significant at all, such as age and educational level; and others changed throughout the course, such as gender or speaking English outside the classroom. 5) The sources of FLCA and FLE reported by language learners and teachers were connected to classroom-related factors; learner-related factors or teacher-related factors. This current study extended several other previous studies and contributed new aspects to FLCA and FLE: while as speculated, FLCA had a detrimental effect on the language learning process, there was evidence that FLE can facilitate language learning. Language instructors must therefore be aware of the presence of FLCA and FLE so they can find various ways to minimise FLCA and increase students’ FLE.

Las emociones, tanto positivas como negativas, juegan un papel muy importante en el aprendizaje. A pesar de ello, la mayoría de estudios sobre las emociones en adquisición de lenguas se centran en las emociones negativas, con menos atención dedicada a las positivas. Por ello, el presente estudio pretende: (1) determinar el nivel de FLCA y de FLE entre estudiantes adultos de inglés como lengua extranjera; (2) explorar la relación entre estos dos constructos a lo largo de un curso académico; (3) medir su efecto en los resultados académicos de los estudiantes en un examen de corrección gramatical y competencia comunicativa; (4) examinar cómo se relacionan con otras variables individuales (edad, género, nivel de lengua, experiencias en otros países, repertorio lingüístico, edad a la que comenzaron a estudiar inglés, nivel educativo y uso del inglés fuera del aula); y, (5) explorar las fuentes de FLCA y FLE desde el punto de vista de profesores y estudiantes. Para ello contamos con los datos de 237 estudiantes de inglés como lengua extranjera y 3 de sus profesores en dos EOI del área metropolitana de Barcelona, recogidos durante el curso 2015-16 a través de un cuestionario, una prueba de nivel y entrevistas. Los resultados indican que (1) se reporta más FLE que FLCA al principio y al final del curso, y niveles más altos de FLCA al principio del curso, mientras que el nivel de FLE no cambia significativamente; (2) hay una relación significativa negativa entre FLCA y FLE, que se hace más débil al final de curso; (3) ambas emociones tienen un efecto significativo y opuesto sobre los resultados de los estudiantes; (4) la relación entre ambas emociones y otras variables individuales ofrece resultados poco concluyentes, ya que algunas variables no son significativas y otras cambian a lo largo del curso; y, (5) las emociones reportadas surgen del contexto, los propios aprendices y los profesores. A través de este estudio, hemos explorado los resultados de otros estudios en el contexto del aprendizaje de adultos, y hemos contribuido a los datos aportados por otros autores: FLCA tiene un efecto negativo sobre el aprendizaje de lenguas, mientras que FLE contribuye a su mejora. Por tanto, es importante que los profesores sean conscientes del rol que juegan estas emociones y desarrollen estrategias para gestionarlas.