language-anxiety
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- PaperLanguage Teaching Research2 Jul 2026
The Role of Autonomy-Supportive Teaching in Academic Achievement and Learning Anxiety: Evidence From Teaching Turkish as a Foreign Language
Yavuz Ercan Gül, Ahmet Taş
This study examined how instructors' autonomy-supportive behaviors affect academic achievement and language learning anxiety among 1,002 learners of Turkish as a foreign language. Autonomy support positively predicted achievement, while the negative effect of anxiety was not statistically significant. Speaking anxiety and learning process support were the strongest contributors to the shared variance between autonomy support and anxiety.
Original abstract
This study aims to examine the effect of instructors’ behaviors supporting learner autonomy on students’ academic achievement and anxiety levels related to reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills in teaching Turkish as a foreign language. The study was conducted during the 2023–24 academic year with two sample groups, consisting of 1,002 students learning Turkish and 115 instructors working at the School of Foreign Languages of a state university. Participants were selected using simple random sampling within the accessible population. Reliability and validity analyses of the scales were conducted, and the adequacy of the measurement models was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the Heterotrait–Monotrait Ratio (HTMT). According to the results of multiple group analysis and canonical correlation analysis, the necessity (β = 0.114, p < 0.001) and display (β = 0.020, p = 0.001) dimensions of learner autonomy support behaviors had a positive and significant effect on academic achievement. However, the effect of foreign language learning anxiety on academic achievement was not statistically significant (β = −0.031, p > 0.05). The canonical correlation analysis revealed a 40% shared variance between the Learner Autonomy Support Scale (LASS) and Turkish Language Learner Anxiety Scale (TFLAS) data sets, with speaking anxiety contributing most strongly to the first canonical variable, while learning process support emerged as the most influential autonomy-support dimension. The findings indicate that instructors’ autonomy-supportive behaviors positively influence the academic achievement of learners of Turkish as a foreign language. Although anxiety negatively affects academic achievement, this effect is not statistically significant. Overall, the results are consistent with the literature, highlighting that supporting learner autonomy enhances motivation and may reduce anxiety in language learning. These findings emphasize the importance of learner-centered approaches and autonomy-supportive instructional strategies in teaching Turkish as a foreign language and offer practical guidance for instructors seeking to promote active student participation in the learning process.
- PaperDOAJ — ELT & TESOL1 May 2026
From fear to fluency: Examining anxiety in English language learners and strategies to minimize it
Teuku Azhari, Ratri Candrasari, Dini Rizki, Dewi Kumala Sari et al.
This qualitative study of 66 Indonesian civil engineering students and 4 ELT lecturers found that language anxiety, triggered by speaking in front of class and fear of errors, significantly hinders fluency through cognitive disruption and reliance on memorization. Key factors included pronunciation difficulties, fear of peer judgment, and low self-efficacy. Teachers mitigated anxiety through pair work, small-group discussions, and positive reinforcement.
Original abstract
Language anxiety is a prevalent issue among English language learners (ELLs) and continues to negatively affect their language learning and performance. This study investigated key factors contributing to language anxiety and examined its influence on learners’ fluency and overall English proficiency. The study explored how anxiety manifests in learners and the strategies used to reduce its effects in the classroom. Employing a qualitative phenomenological design, the study was conducted at a university in Indonesia. The population consisted of 138 civil engineering students from four classes, of whom 66 were randomly selected as participants. In addition, four ELT lecturers who teach English on campus participated in this study. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews consisting of 15 guiding questions and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that learners experienced heightened anxiety when they were required to speak in front of the class and when anticipating errors. Pronunciation difficulties, fear of peer judgment, and low self-efficacy were identified as the major contributing factors. Anxiety was found to significantly hinder fluency, manifesting in cognitive disruption, slow speech production, and loss of confidence, which often led learners to rely on memorization rather than spontaneous responses. To address these challenges, English language teachers implemented strategies such as pair work, small-group discussions, and positive reinforcement. These practices contributed to a more supportive learning environment and encouraged learner participation. Therefore, teachers should regularly integrate pair work and small-group discussions into their classes, and relevant institutions should offer training in anxiety-reduction strategies.