Journal Article

The Effect of Perception of Teacher Characteristics on Spanish EFL Learners' Anxiety and Enjoyment

DEWAELE, JEAN-MARC, MAGDALENA, ANDREA FRANCO, SAITO, KAZUYA

2019

Overview

The present study explores the relationship between Foreign Language Enjoyment (FLE) and Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety (FLCA) and a number of teacher-centered variables within the Spanish classroom context. Participants were 210 former and current learners of English as a foreign language (EFL) from all over Spain who filled out an online questionnaire with Likert scale items. A moderate negative relationship emerged between FLE and FLCA. Participants who had an L1 English speaker as a teacher reported more FLE and less FLCA than those with a foreign language user of English. Teacher characteristics predicted close to 20% of variance in FLE but only 8% of variance in FLCA. The strongest positive predictor of FLE was a teacher's friendliness while a teacher's foreign accent was a weaker negative predictor. Teacher-centered variables predicted much less variance for FLCA. Participants experienced more FLCA with younger teachers, very strict teachers, and teachers who did not use the foreign language much in class. The findings confirm earlier research that FLE seems to be more dependent on the teachers' pedagogical skills than FLCA.

• Publisher: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc,Wiley-Blackwell,Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subject: Accentuation / Anxiety / Classroom management / Classrooms / Correlation / English (Second Language) / English as a second language / English as a second language instruction / English language / English Learners / English teachers / Enjoyment / FLES / Foreign Countries / foreign language classroom anxiety / foreign language enjoyment / Foreign languages / Kindness / Language / Language Teachers / Language usage / Likert Scales / Measures / Modern Language Curriculum / Native Language / Non-native accent / Predictor Variables / Pronunciation / Second Language Instruction / Second Language Learning / Second language teachers / Second Languages / Spanish language / Student Attitudes / teacher accent / teacher age / Teacher attitudes / Teacher Characteristics / teacher first/foreign language user / teacher foreign language use / teacher gender / teacher strictness / Teacher Student Relationship / Teachers / Teaching Skills / Variables