How Anxious are Turkish EFL Learners? Tolerance of Ambiguity and Self-perceived Communication Competence as Predictors

Year 2019, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 25 - 46, 14.12.2019

Mehmet Asmalı

Abstract

Foreign language
anxiety has already been reported to deteriorate learners' language learning
performance. It is closely related to how learners perceive their communication
performance in the target language and how tolerant they are when they face
ambiguities in foreign language learning. Therefore, the current study
investigated learners' foreign language classroom anxiety (FLCA), second
language tolerance of ambiguity (SLTA), and self-perceived communication
competence (SPCC). The study also aimed to examine the potential predictive
power of SPCC and SLTA on Turkish EFL learners' FLCA. Mixed-methodology design
was used combining the data gathered from four semi-structured interviews and
three different questionnaires. 156 freshmen studying at a Turkish state
university enrolled in different departments participated in this study.
Descriptive statistics showed that students had a moderate level of FLCA, but
low SLTA and SPCC. Multiple regression analyses significantly identified SLTA
and SPCC as predicting FLCA. Both independent variables were negatively related
to FLCA explaining 26% of the total variance. In the light of the findings,
some practical suggestions were put forward both for language teachers and
further research.

Keywords

Ambiguity tolerance; perceived-communication competence; foreign language classroom anxiety; foreign language learning

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