A Study on the Prevalence of English Language Classroom Anxiety: With a Particular Reference to Grade 9 (Nine) at Aman Secondary School, in Bench Maji Zone
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of foreign language/ second
language classroom anxiety at grade 9 (nine) secondary school students. To this end, a total of
142 grade 9 (nine) students were selected from Aman secondary school. Data collection for this
study relied on self –report questionnaire (FLCAS- developed by Horwitz et al 1986), student’s
first semester final exam and semi- structured interviews for teachers. Thus, FLCAS Amharic
version was coded and administered to students in order to measure the level of foreign
language classroom anxiety. The students first semester English final examination result was
used to determine the relationship between English language classroom anxiety and English
achievement test result. Finally an interview was conducted with three grade 9 (nine) teachers in
order to check students general situation in the classroom and to find out solutions to reduce the
level of anxiety from those who have a direct contact with the learners. Descriptive statistic to
determine anxiety level, t- test to find out significance difference between males and females
anxiety level and achievement and Pearson’s correlation coefficient to determine relationship
between anxiety and achievement test result were used to test the research problem. The finding
of this study shows that: 1) most of the students found to be anxious since above half of the
students scored FLCAS above mean value 3.00 (three). 2) with respect to gender no significant
difference is observed between males and females on their foreign language classroom anxiety
level except fear of negative evaluation because the t-value of fear of negative evaluation
indicated that there is a significant difference 3) the study indicated that there was a significant
negative relationship between students English language classroom anxiety and English
achievement test result at the significant level of near to 0.001. 4) This study also investigated
that males’ achievement test result was a little bit higher than that of females, no significance
difference was found on their achievement. Finally, the finding of this study depicted that anxiety
is prevalent at a higher degree among the subjects of the study and had negative correlations
with their English language achievement test result.
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Grade 9(Nine) at Aman Secondary School, in Bench Maji Zone