Cebu International EFL Conference

Abstract of paper

Author

Diana Chitra Hasan
Lecturer
Bung Hatta University
Jl. SUmatera Ulak Karang
Padang- Indonesia

Title
Foreign Language Anxiety of Indonesian Learners of English

Abstract
This study investigated the phenomenon of foreign language anxiety experienced by Indonesian students studying English in Australia prior to their university studies. The aims of the reserch were to identify factors that may cause anxiety, described the manifestation of anxiety and found out anxiety coping strategies used by the students. The research utilized Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) developed by Horwitz, Horwitz and Cope (1986) to identify fifteen participants into three grous: highly anxious, anxious, and low anxious. Following the completion of FLCAS, in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data. Findings suggested that there were five sources of foreign language anxiety: restricted belief about language learning, personal-interpersonal issues, classroom procedures instructor-learner interaction, and test.

The feeling of anxiety was manifested physiologically and behaviourally. The anxiety coping strategies employed by the students fell into five categories, namely preparation, relaxation, positive thinking, peer seeking and avoidance. No significant relationship was found between language anxiety and frequencies of strategies used by the students. This study suggested the need for further research to investigate the the effectiveness of anxiety coping strategies in relation to sources of anxiety.

Bio:-
Diana Chitra Hasan has been teaching English for University students for fifteen years in Padang- Indonesia. She holds a Bachelor Degree form Padang State University, Master of Humanities from University of Indonesia and M.Ed in TESOL from Monash University Australia which she completed on an Australian Partnership Scholarship.