Anxiety and Foreign Language Listening

This study examined the existence of listening anxiety and general foreign language anxiety, and then identified relationships between listening anxiety and learner background factors. A total of 253 EFL learners participated in the survey. Participants' anxiety was measured by the Foreign Language Listening Anxiety Scale (FLLAS) and the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Sale (FLCAS). The results suggested that foreign language learners do indeed experience anxiety in response to listening comprehension. A majority of the participants acknowledged having experienced listening anxiety in foreign language classrooms and real-life communication situations. A factor analysis performed on the FLLAS revealed two factors: Tension and worry over English listening, and Lack of self-confidence in listening. Correlation analyses revealed that listening anxiety is significantly related to both general foreign language anxiety and listening proficiency, the latter suggesting that listening anxiety interferes with foreign language listening. According to multiple regression analysis, Lack of self-confidence in listening served as the best predictor of listening proficiency among all the FLLAS and FLCAS factors. In addition, listening anxiety was found to be significantly related to two background factors. university major, and study with tutors or in private language institutes.