The Relationship Between Foreign Language Anxiety and Academic Achievement in an EFL Context
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Date
2025
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SDU University
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between foreign language anxiety (FLA) and academic achievement, measured by GPA, among first-year university students in an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) context in Kazakhstan. Although previous research works have established that high levels of FLA can hinder language performance, its effect on overall academic achievement remains inconclusive, especially in under-researched regions such as Kazakhstan. Grounded in Krashen’s affective filter hypothesis, Tobias’s cognitive processing model, and Horwitz et al. 's theory of FLA, the study utilized the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) to collect data from 87 first-year students. Quantitative methods were employed to analyze descriptive statistics and the correlation between FLA and students’ self-reported GPA scores. The findings revealed that the mean anxiety score was 94.33, suggesting moderate to high anxiety levels. However, the Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.032, p = 0.766) indicated no statistically significant relationship between students’ FLA and their GPA. This implies that while FLA is prevalent, it does not necessarily predict academic success in a broader educational context. The study contributes to the existing literature by offering original data from Kazakhstani learners and suggests that emotional support in EFL classrooms remains important, even when anxiety does not directly impact GPA.
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Keywords
foreign language anxiety, academic achievement, GPA, FLCAS
Citation
Khassen Zh / The Relationship Between Foreign Language Anxiety and Academic Achievement in an EFL Context / SDU University / Faculty of Education and Humanities