Foreign Language Anxiety among EFL learners in Manabí

Palabras clave: foreign language anxiety, academic achievement, EFL learners, online education, mixed-methods design

Resumen

The present study examines the relationship between foreign language anxiety and academic achievement among university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This context is particularly relevant given the increasing reliance on online education, which introduces new challenges and opportunities that may influence learners’ emotional experiences. A mixed-methods design was employed in order to obtain both quantitative and qualitative insights into students’ levels of anxiety and their perceptions of the learning environment. A mixed-methods design was employed in order to obtain both quantitative and qualitative insights into students’ levels of anxiety and their perceptions of the learning environment. Quantitative data were collected using the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), a widely validated instrument developed by Horwitz, Horwitz, and Cope (1986), while qualitative data were obtained through open-ended survey responses. A total of 168 undergraduate students participated in the study. The results revealed a moderate overall level of anxiety (M = 3.27, SD = 0.91), with the majority of students reporting moderate (58.9%) and high (33.3%) levels of anxiety. Item-level analysis indicated that communication apprehension and fear of negative evaluation were the most significant sources of anxiety. The study highlights the importance of implementing pedagogical strategies that address learners’ emotional needs, foster supportive learning environments, and reduce anxiety-related barriers to participation and performance.

Descargas

La descarga de datos todavía no está disponible.

Citas

Alamer, A. (2021). The role of motivational and emotional factors in second language achievement: A structural equation modeling approach. System, 96, 102404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2020.102404

Alamri, W., & Qasem, F. (2024). Foreign language speaking anxiety in relation to gender: Students and teachers’ perceptions. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2423440. https://doi.org/10.1080/2331186X.2024.2423440

Axmedova, C., & Abduraxmanova, Z. (2025). AN ANALYSIS OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION THEORIES. FAN, TA'LIM, TEXNOLOGIYA VA ISHLAB CHIQARISH INTEGRATSIYASI ASOSIDA RIVOJLANISH ISTIQBOLLARI RESPUBLIKA ILMIY-AMALIY JURNALI, 2(10), 119–124. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18057064

Botes, E. (2020). A systematic review of the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS): Validity and reliability issues. Educational Psychology Review, 32(4), 987–1015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09531-6

Botes, E., Dewaele, J.-M., & Greiff, S. (2022). The foreign language classroom anxiety scale: A meta-analysis. System, 105, 102718. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2022.102718

Botes, E., Dewaele, J.-M., & Greiff, S. (2025). Introduction to the special issue on foreign language anxiety: Theoretical and methodological developments. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 15(4), 701–713. https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.50363

Chen, L., Zhang, W., & Huang, Y. (2024). The relationship between foreign language anxiety and self-efficacy: A systematic review. Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, 17(2), 45–58.

Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2024). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Dewaele, J.-M., & Alfawzan, M. (2021). Does the effect of enjoyment outweigh that of anxiety in foreign language performance? System, 101, 102585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102585

Dewaele, J.-M., & MacIntyre, P. D. (2022). Foreign language enjoyment and anxiety: The right and left feet of the language learner. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 44(2), 527–550. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0272263121000476

Ehean Kim, Sociocultural Theory and Second Language Developmental Education, Applied Linguistics, Volume 46, Issue 6, December 2025, Pages 983 986. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amaf068

Elahi Shirvan, M., & Talebzadeh, N. (2020). Tracing the dynamic changes of foreign language anxiety. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 10(1), 17–44.

Fisher, R., Tran, Q., & Verezub, E. (2024). Teaching English as a Foreign Language in Higher Education using flipped learning/flipped classrooms: a literature review. Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching, 18(4), 332–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/17501229.2024.2302984

Gkonou, C., Daubney, M., & Dewaele, J.-M. (2020). New insights into language anxiety. Multilingual Matters.

Gregersen, T., & MacIntyre, P. D. (2020). Innovative practices in language teacher education. Springer.

Gullo, G., Gentile, A., Caci, B., & Alesi, M. (2025). Foreign language anxiety and cognition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Language Learning Journal, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09571736.2025.2532516

Hampel, R., & Stickler, U. (2021). Developing online language teaching. Palgrave Macmillan.

Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B., & Cope, J. (1986). Foreign language classroom anxiety. The Modern Language Journal, 70(2), 125–132.

Huang, L., Liu, M. The impact of technology on foreign language anxiety: A systematic review of empirical studies from 2004 to 2024. Humanit Soc Sci Commun 12, 1665 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05921-6

Khoirunnisa, A., Mulyati, Y., Yulianeta, Y., & Syihabuddin, S. (2026). Unveiling Learners’ Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Factors: A Systematic Literature Review. SAWERIGADING, 32(1). https://doi.org/10.26499/sawer.v32i1.1671

Krashen, S. (1985) The input hypothesis. 1st ed. London: Longman. https://archive.org/details/inputhypothesisi0000kras/page/n1/mode/2up

Krashen, S. (1988). Second Language Acquisition and Second Language Learning. Retrieved by: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Second-Language-Acquisition-and-Second-Language-Krashen/a7104f74438eaea1997217eae6851c442569abc5

Kholoud A Al-Thubaiti, 11. Second Language Acquisition, The Year's Work in English Studies, Volume 104, Issue 1, 2025, Pages 75–80, https://doi.org/10.1093/ywes/maaf104

Li, C. (2022). Anxiety in second language learning. Language Teaching Research, 26(5), 1024–1045.

Luo, H. (2026). A critical review of foreign language anxiety-reduction interventions: Toward a conceptual turn in foreign language anxiety research. Language Teaching, 1–26. doi:10.1017/S0261444826101360

MacIntyre, P. D., Gregersen, T., & Mercer, S. (2020). Positive psychology in SLA. Multilingual Matters.

Mercer, S., & Dörnyei, Z. (2020). Engaging language learners. Cambridge University Press.

Oxford, R. L. (2020). Teaching and researching language learning strategies (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Park, H. I., Solon, M., & Lee, K. (2025). Understanding proficiency assessment practices in SLA research: Insights from researcher beliefs and practices. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 47(5), 1205–1229. doi:10.1017/S0272263125101058

Pawlak, M., & Mystkowska-Wiertelak, A. (2021). Willingness to communicate. Language Teaching Research.

Qin, R. . (2026). Revisiting Nature and Nurture in Second Language Acquisition: A Comparative Analysis with an Environmental-Input Lens. Sociology, Philosophy and Psychology, 3(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.70267/spp.v3n2.0115

Qi Y (2026) Cognitive overload in multimedia language learning: a review of attention limits and instructional design strategies. Front. Psychol. 17:1850074. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1850074

Resnik, P., & Dewaele, J.-M. (2021). Learner emotions. System, 97, 102435.

Russell, V., & Murphy-Judy, K. (2020). Teaching language online. Foreign Language Annals, 53(2), 292–304.

Saito, K., Dewaele, J.-M., & Abe, M. (2023). Motivation and performance. Language Learning, 73(1), 1–35.

Scovel, T. (1978), THE EFFECT OF AFFECT ON FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: A REVIEW OF THE ANXIETY RESEARCH. Language Learning, 28: 129-142. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-1770.1978.tb00309.x

Swain, M. (1995). Three functions of output in second language learning. In G. Cook & B. Seidlhofer (Eds.), Principle and practice in applied linguistics: Studies in honour of H.G. Widdowson (pp. 125–144). Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://www.scribd.com/document/1033166065/Swain-1995-Three-Functions-of-Output-in-Second-Language-Learning-PDF-Free#google_vignette

Teimouri, Y., Goetze, J., & Plonsky, L. (2019). Second language anxiety and achievement. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 41(2), 363–387.

Vigotsky, L. (1978). Interaction between learning and development. Harvard University Press.

Wang, Y., & Zhan, Y. (2020). Online learning anxiety. Computers & Education, 150, 103839.

Yang, H., Li, Y. (2025). The Role of Mindfulness in Foreign Language Anxiety: A Systematic Review of Correlational and Intervention Studies. International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 27(9), 1279–1300. https://doi.org/10.32604/ijmhp.2025.068399

Yan, J. X., & Horwitz, E. K. (2022). Learners’ perceptions of anxiety. Language Teaching Research.

Zhang, R. (2022). Anxiety and performance. Language Teaching Research, 26(5), 677–700.

Zhou, L., & Xu, F. (2025). Anxiety and academic performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 11782253.

Publicado
2026-08-28
Cómo citar
Alcívar Cedeño , L. L., & Zambrano Zambrano, C. M. (2026). Foreign Language Anxiety among EFL learners in Manabí. Ciencia Latina Revista Científica Multidisciplinar, 10(4), 3796-3820. https://doi.org/10.37811/cl_rcm.v10i4.25394
Sección
Ciencias de la Educación

Artículos más leídos del mismo autor/a