Impact of foreign language classroom anxiety on reading performance of secondary school students
Loading...
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SDU University
Abstract
The study investigates the relationship between Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) and reading performance of Kazakhstani secondary school students who study English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The majority of previous research about FLCA has studied university students and speaking abilities, however this study examines how anxiety impacts reading performance which receive limited attention in this field. The research design employed a quantitative method. The research involved 90 students from Grades 7 to 9 at a private educational center in Almaty. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) was administered first to students to assess their anxiety levels. The students then took the Cambridge English Preliminary Reading Test to evaluate their reading performance. The research data indicated that students experienced anxiety levels ranging from moderate to severe as their FLCAS scores averaged 98.29. The reading performance of students remained low because more than 65% of them achieved scores between 2 or lower. The research established a moderate negative relationship (r = –0.344) between FLCA and reading scores which showed that students with elevated anxiety levels performed less well. The regression analysis established FLCA as a significant predictor of reading performance because it explained 11.8% of the score variance (R² = 0.118, p <.001). The findings indicate that anxiety produces negative effects on reading performance of students although reading is typically viewed as a low-pressure skill. The research demonstrates the need to understand emotional factors in classrooms as lowering anxiety levels could lead to better reading performance.
Description
Keywords
FLCAS, English as a Foreign Language (EFL), Demographic Information of Participants
Citation
Zhuman D / Impact of foreign language classroom anxiety on reading performance of secondary school students / SDU University / Faculty of Education and Humanities