A Study of EFL Listening Anxiety in a Test Setting

Abstract

The present study employed both a quantitative and a qualitative study.It found that English listening anxiety affected most of the subjects inthe test and that there was a significantly negative correlation betweensubjects' English listening anxiety levels and their test performance.The interviews further confirmed that the environmental factors,self-perceived foreign language listening competence, fear of failingthe listening course, and beliefs about language learning were reportedas four major factors leading to English listening anxiety. This was acorrelational study and it was likely that foreign language anxiety andlanguage learning were mutually reinforcing; therefore, it will helpstudents with their learning if the teachers help them foster a positiveself-image and right beliefs about language learning.