A study of second language anxiety in Pakistani learners of English
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Date
2016
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Publisher
UMT Lahore
Abstract
This study reports English language anxiety experience of Pakistani learners both inside
and outside the classrooms context. It also focuses on the relationship of English language
anxiety and learners’ variables named gender, exposure to English and second language
motivations. In Pakistan, researches on language anxiety are needed to understand how
language anxiety works and how it can hamper the performance of students both
academically and non-academically. Data were collected through the administration of a
detailed questionnaire comprising of 64 based on 1-5 Likert scale. A total of 90 students
who were enrolled in English programs at 5 different institutes of southern Punjab, Pakistan
participated in this study. The data were analysed using a range of statistical methods for
example, descriptive statistics, T tests and correlational analysis. The data analysed
elaborated the role of anxiety in learning and using English both inside and outside
classroom. Analysis of the data revealed a significant correlation between classroom
anxiety and outside classroom anxiety. It also found that language anxiety is significantly
correlated with second language motivations and exposure to second language. Moreover,
a significant gender difference in terms of second language anxiety was also found in the
present research. This study extends the current language anxiety research in Pakistan
because it provides an insight on language anxiety experience of Pakistani learners by
focusing on both classroom based anxiety and anxiety out of class. It also contributes to
the existing literature in Pakistan by documenting the relationship of language anxiety with
gender, exposure to English language and English language motivations.