The Triunal Model of Anxiety and its Application to Anxiety Reduction in Learning and Teaching Environments

Abstract

In this article we are calling for an interlayered and cross-dimensional approach to understanding and working with anxiety, especially as manifested in English as an additional language (EAL) teaching and learning environments. We aim to understand the phenomenon of anxiety from the multidimensional perspectives of physiology, psychology, and philosophy; to introduce what we call the Triunal Model of Understanding Anxiety; and based on this new understanding, to suggest how teacher education may help teachers to notice and work with anxiety in teaching-learning environments. Given the scope of what we propose, this article with its limited space affords only an initial synopsis and model-building exercise.