Reading Anxiety Among Chinese Exchange Students in a Study-abroad Context

Abstract

This study presents the results of an investigation into L2 reading anxiety among eight Chinese exchange students who participate in a one-year program at an American University. Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale (FLRAS) is used as a measurement of reading anxiety. Data are also collected from semi-structured interviews, syllabus of all six specialized courses participants have taken during the academic year and their final scores. The study finds: 1) all participants experience a rather high level of reading anxiety; 2) despite such anxiety, participants perform well in all major courses; 3) underlying causes for reading anxiety include content knowledge, unpreparedness of cultural difference and general negative feeling of studying a foreign language. Based on the research findings, suggestions are given to improve the overall efficacy of such exchange program, aiming to benefit all immediate parties involved.