An exploration of Chinese EFL learners’ foreign language anxiety, personality and self-esteem

Authors

  • Meihua Liu Tsinghua University
  • Wenxia Zhang Tsinghua University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/japl.v5i2.181

Keywords:

foreign language anxiety, personality, self-esteem, performance

Abstract

This paper reports on the results of a study of Chinese EFL learners’ foreign language anxiety, personality traits, self-esteem, and their interactive effects on students’ performance in English at the tertiary level. A 94-item survey involving 934 first-year undergraduate non-English majors revealed that: 1) nearly a third of the respondents felt anxious in English class, feared being negatively evaluated, and were apprehensive about both speaking English in class and tests; 2) the majority of the respondents were moderately extroverted, moderately inclined to anxiety and fears, and moderately prone to be influenced by social desirability, but tending to be dependent and tender-minded; 3) the participants generally considered themselves worthy; 4) most of the measured variables exerted a significant effect on one another as well as on the students’ performance in English, with anxiety and self-esteem being the most influential variables. Based on these findings, some implications and suggestions are discussed.

Author Biographies

  • Meihua Liu, Tsinghua University

    Wenxia Zhang received her PhD in language testing from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and is currently professor of English Tsinghua University. Her major research interests include EFL teaching and learning and language testing.

  • Wenxia Zhang, Tsinghua University

    Dr. Wenxia Zhang is professor of English at the Department of Foreign Languages, Tsinghua University, China. Her major research interests include EFL teaching and learning, language testing and EFL writing.

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Published

2015-09-14

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Liu, M., & Zhang, W. (2015). An exploration of Chinese EFL learners’ foreign language anxiety, personality and self-esteem. Journal of Applied Linguistics and Professional Practice, 5(2), 181-203. https://doi.org/10.1558/japl.v5i2.181

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