Investigating the factors that cause language anxiety in Iraqi EFL learners

Abstract EN

Anxiety is an important affective variable in language learning and teaching which must not be overlooked.

It should be investigated since it may interfere negatively or positively with the learning process at different levels affecting the learners' performance and achievements.

With feelings of discomfort and insecurity, learners of English as a foreign language find it difficult to share their opinions and participate in class discussions.

The current study is designed to investigate the relationship between foreign language anxiety and students’ achievement.

For this purpose 59 fourth-year students at College of Education, University of Basrah, Iraq, are selected.

To investigate the factors that cause the students' classroom anxiety, Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), developed by Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope (1986) is administered to measure the students’ foreign language classroom anxiety level.

The study ends up with conclusions and references.