Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety

AbstractAffective factors, such as anxiety, are located among the obstacles that hinder language learning and can result in language learners who are resistant to language input, especially in foreign language learning contexts. Thus, the current research effort aimed at examining the level of speak...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haya Fayyad Abuhussein, Rania Mohammad Qassrawi, Sami Shaath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2238150
_version_ 1797390230452436992
author Haya Fayyad Abuhussein
Rania Mohammad Qassrawi
Sami Shaath
author_facet Haya Fayyad Abuhussein
Rania Mohammad Qassrawi
Sami Shaath
author_sort Haya Fayyad Abuhussein
collection DOAJ
description AbstractAffective factors, such as anxiety, are located among the obstacles that hinder language learning and can result in language learners who are resistant to language input, especially in foreign language learning contexts. Thus, the current research effort aimed at examining the level of speaking anxiety among foreign language learners (English and Arabic) at Birzeit University (BZU). It also aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using online speaking tasks on lowering the anxiety level of students whose attitudes were also surveyed towards the online learning-teaching technique. The research adopted a mixed approach to obtain data. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were utilized. Quantitatively, students’ foreign language speaking anxiety was calculated using a pre-post anxiety scale before and after the treatment (online speaking tasks) in addition to using semi-structured interviews with students in the experimental group. The participating students consisted of (70) students who study English and Arabic (PAS students) as foreign languages. The findings demonstrated the presence of a high level of speaking anxiety among foreign language learners at BZU. Besides, it was revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the level of speaking anxiety between the control and experimental groups in favor of the control group (higher level of anxiety). Regarding the attitudes of experimental group students, the semi-structured interviews have shown positive attitudes towards the online speaking task experience. The interviewees have indicated that delivering speaking tasks online has made the speaking task less stressful and less anxious. Accordingly, some conclusions and recommendations were suggested.
first_indexed 2024-03-08T23:07:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-9fe18716c28446e8bcf6458fdf74863a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2331-186X
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-08T23:07:33Z
publishDate 2023-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Cogent Education
spelling doaj.art-9fe18716c28446e8bcf6458fdf74863a2023-12-15T10:31:09ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2023-12-0110210.1080/2331186X.2023.2238150Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxietyHaya Fayyad Abuhussein0Rania Mohammad Qassrawi1Sami Shaath2The Department of Languages and Translation, Faculty of Arts, Birzeit University, PalestineThe Department of Languages and Translation, Faculty of Arts, Birzeit University, PalestinePalestine and Arabic Studies Program, Faculty of Arts, Birzeit University, PalestineAbstractAffective factors, such as anxiety, are located among the obstacles that hinder language learning and can result in language learners who are resistant to language input, especially in foreign language learning contexts. Thus, the current research effort aimed at examining the level of speaking anxiety among foreign language learners (English and Arabic) at Birzeit University (BZU). It also aimed at investigating the effectiveness of using online speaking tasks on lowering the anxiety level of students whose attitudes were also surveyed towards the online learning-teaching technique. The research adopted a mixed approach to obtain data. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were utilized. Quantitatively, students’ foreign language speaking anxiety was calculated using a pre-post anxiety scale before and after the treatment (online speaking tasks) in addition to using semi-structured interviews with students in the experimental group. The participating students consisted of (70) students who study English and Arabic (PAS students) as foreign languages. The findings demonstrated the presence of a high level of speaking anxiety among foreign language learners at BZU. Besides, it was revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the level of speaking anxiety between the control and experimental groups in favor of the control group (higher level of anxiety). Regarding the attitudes of experimental group students, the semi-structured interviews have shown positive attitudes towards the online speaking task experience. The interviewees have indicated that delivering speaking tasks online has made the speaking task less stressful and less anxious. Accordingly, some conclusions and recommendations were suggested.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2238150foreign languageanxietyonline speaking tasks
spellingShingle Haya Fayyad Abuhussein
Rania Mohammad Qassrawi
Sami Shaath
Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
Cogent Education
foreign language
anxiety
online speaking tasks
title Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
title_full Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
title_fullStr Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
title_full_unstemmed Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
title_short Utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
title_sort utilizing remote speaking tasks for tackling foreign language anxiety
topic foreign language
anxiety
online speaking tasks
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2238150
work_keys_str_mv AT hayafayyadabuhussein utilizingremotespeakingtasksfortacklingforeignlanguageanxiety
AT raniamohammadqassrawi utilizingremotespeakingtasksfortacklingforeignlanguageanxiety
AT samishaath utilizingremotespeakingtasksfortacklingforeignlanguageanxiety