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An Empirical Study Of The Affective Filter Hypothesis

Posted on:2008-06-24Degree:MasterType:Thesis
Country:ChinaCandidate:J LuoFull Text:PDF
GTID:2155360272472374Subject:Curriculum and pedagogy
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Being one of the best-known and influential theory of second language acquisition, Krashen' s " The Affective Filter Hypothesis " has made constructive contributions to second language acquisition (SLA) , which, to some extent has led to intensive studies of the roles of affective factors in SLA and the research on the teaching methodology. Based on a compendious introduction to "The Affective Filter Hypothesis" and the involved affective factors (motivation, personality, self-confidence, and language anxiety, etc.), this thesis attempts to make a theoretical and empirical study of The Affective Filter Hypothesis. This study has examined the relationships between a variety of affective factors, language learning strategies and students' achievements in English.By over viewing Krashen' s "The Affective Filter Hypothesis", this thesis probes into its guiding significance. It also points out its limitations, analyses the shortcomings of the theory per se and advances its evidence. It attempts to perfect the Affective Filter Hypothesis from the perspective of neurobiology, cognitive psychology, learning theory of Constructivism, etc.Adopting theory-then-research approach in SLA, the author has issued four questionnaires concerning the affective factors of Krashen' s "The Affective Filter Hypothesis" to 300 senior middle school students. Affective variables include tested motivation, character, anxiety and self-confidence. The research results propose that motivation and self-confidence are closely correlated with language learning strategies and achievements by using SPSS 11.5 for Windows software analyze the data:1. The more confident and motivated a learner is, the more effectively he uses his strategies learning, and thus the more efficiently he studies.2. Different learning strategies and affective factors are respectively correlated with different aspects of achievements,which show the important and complicated roles of affective factors and learning strategies in second language leaning.3. Different from Krashen' s negative role of anxiety and introversion in language learning, the findings suggest that anxiety negatively affects learners learning strategies and achievements, but meanwhile it also plays a positive role in their learning strategies and achievements. The research results indicate that learners ' personality is little correlated with learning strategies and achievements.
Keywords/Search Tags:the Affective Filter Hypothesis, foreign language teaching and learning, affective factors, language learning strategies, language learning achievements
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