Does the effect of enjoyment outweigh that of anxiety in foreign language performance?
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Keywords

foreign language anxiety
foreign language enjoyment
individual differences
learner-internal variables
teacher-centered variables

How to Cite

Dewaele, J.-M., & Alfawzan, M. (2018). Does the effect of enjoyment outweigh that of anxiety in foreign language performance?. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 8(1), 21–45. https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.2018.8.1.2

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Abstract

Interest in the effect of positive and negative emotions in foreign language acquisition has soared recently because of the positive psychology movement (Dewaele & MacIntyre, 2014, 2016; MacIntyre, Gregersen & Mercer, 2016). No work so far has been carried out on the differential effect of positive and negative emotions on foreign language performance. The current study investigates the effect of foreign language enjoyment (FLE) and foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA) on foreign language performance in a group of 189 foreign language pupils in two London secondary schools and a group of 152 Saudi English as a foreign language learners and users of English in Saudi Arabia. Correlation analyses showed that the positive effect of FLE on performance was stronger than the negative effect of FLCA. In other words, FLE seems to matter slightly more than FLCA in foreign language (FL) performance. Qualitative material collected from the Saudi participants shed light on the causes of FLCA and FLE and how these shaped participants’ decisions to pursue or abandon the study of the FL.
https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.2018.8.1.2
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Funding

Dr. Davison

the Headteacher

the Head of Languages

Ms. Davies and the teachers of Dame Alice Owen’s School

the Head Master of Westminster School

Mr. Derham

Dr. Witney and the language teachers

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