Do Primary Teachers Feel Anxiety When They Teach English?

Do Primary Teachers Feel Anxiety When They Teach English?

  The purpose of this study is to investigate the correlation between foreign language teaching anxiety (FLTA) and language proficiency as well as other background variables. This study also investigates the sources of anxiety felt by Korean primary teachers in English language classrooms. 59 primary teachers participated in this study. The FLTAS and group interviews were used to collect the data. For the data analysis, point-biserial and Pearson correlation were used. Transcribed qualitative data are also used. The results showed the existence of a negative correlation between two sub-factors (fear of negative evaluation & lacking linguistic knowledge and fear of lacking teaching knowledge & classroom management) of anxiety and proficiency as well as a positive correlation between teaching experience and fear of negative evaluation and lacking linguistic knowledge. In addition, a negative correlation was found between proficiency and the variables of age, teaching experience, English teaching experience, and teacher training. Finally, four sources of anxiety were found: low proficiency, negative evaluation, lack of preparation, giving improper feedback.