Anxiety Research For Mandarin Teacher Aids In New Zealand

This essay will focus on studying the level of anxiety experienced by Mandarin Teacher Aids,through studying those who had volunteered teaching Mandarin in Auckland University Confucius Institute,with both quantitative and qualitative methods,that is literature study,questionnaires,semi-constructed interview to investigate the sources and expression of anxiety among Mandarin Teacher Aids of Auckland University Confucius Institute and provide strategies for lowering anxiety level.This research uses both Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Self-prepared New Zealand Mandarin Teacher Aids Anxiety Factors Questionnaires to test all 49 Mandarin Teacher Aids of Auckland University Confucius Institute,retrieving questionnaires and analyzing data from information,gathered through semi-constructed interviews.We come to realize that Mandarin Teacher Aids of Auckland University Confucius Institute are at a relative high level of anxiety,specifics are the followings:A preliminary analysis of research findings,in the case of Mandarin Teacher Aids of Auckland University Confucius Institute(abbreviated to “volunteers” in the following passage).1.Five main anxiety arousing dements are concerning students,the authority allocated to the volunteers,English language,the schools' attitude toward Mandarin and homestay;2.Main expressions of anxiety among the volunteers includes nervous about first lesson,frequently ask for feedbacks from students,focusing too much on pleasing students,over rely on inter-language and the build-up of stress from everyday life.3.Abnormal high level of anxiety will have negative impact on volunteers' school life and work.Relief of volunteers' anxiety requires efforts from both the individual and collective level,Individually,before the beginning of each lesson,one should reserve some time to oneself for observing the local class,improve upon one's English,learn from an experienced college,actively communicating and so on.Collectively,all three parties: school themselves,Confucius Institute and Hanban.The issues discussed in this essay not only promotes research around the subject of anxiety among Mandarin Teacher Aids,thereby drives the development in the career of Mandarin teaching in New Zealand,but also have a positive influence globally on all teachers of teaching Mandarin to non-native speakers.Moreover the conclusion draw from this research,namely,the research regarding anxiety issues among Mandarin Teacher Aids in New Zealand,can expose anxiety problems of Mandarin Teacher Aids in New Zealand to academic world.And the strategies to combat this problem raised in this essay,are very beneficial to the overall effectiveness of such education,as well as the mental and psychological well-being of those volunteers who teach Mandarin to the non-native speaker overseas,to assure that volunteers are able to complete their teaching task.Furthermore this research also bear great significance in raising awareness for the psychological state and mental well-being of Mandarin teachers overseas.