A Study On English Learning Anxiety Of Grade One Students In Senior High School

Affective factors in English learning have attracted increasing attention from foreign language educators and researchers abroad since1970s. And the focus of English learning has changed from teacher-centered approach to student-centered approach. Of all the affective factors, language anxiety is regarded as the major obstacle in English learning.However, in China, the influence of affective factors has not been given sufficient attention in terms of English learning in senior high school. The studies of the high school students’ English learning anxiety are incomprehensive and unsystematic. For the purpose of exploring the situation of English learning anxiety experienced by senior high students, the study examined480subjects from eight classes of Grade One in Jianghua County, Yongzhou city, Hunan Province. In an attempt to gain some insightful information in this field, the survey was conducted to investigate:(1) The whole situation of English learning anxiety of Grade One senior high school students,(2) the co-relation between English learning anxiety and English achievement,(3) differences in English learning anxiety between male and female students, and (4) the sources of English learning anxiety.The questionnaire is based on Horwitz’Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety with slight adaptation. The whole questionnaire contains five factors:communication apprehension, test anxiety, fear of negative evaluation, negative attitude toward English classes, and fear of failing English class.The data were coded and processed with the help of SPSS17.0. The results of the study can be generalized as follows:(1) there does existing English learning anxiety among in senior high students’;(2) There is a negative correlation between English learning anxiety and English achievement;(3) There exists significant differences in English learning anxiety between males and females, and the males have much higher level of anxiety than females;(4) The potential causes of English learning anxiety in the present study are lack of confidence, lack of English cultural knowledge, fear to answer questions, and so on.Based on the findings of this study, the thesis discusses how to reduce anxiety in order to improve the English teaching and learning situation in senior high school.