A Study of Advanced Korean Language Learners’ Speaking Anxiety Factors and Coping Strategies

Nur Syakirin Saleh; Sun Mee Chang (장선미)

A Study of Advanced Korean Language Learners’ Speaking Anxiety Factors and Coping Strategies

The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea
Abbr : 사회언어학
2024, 32(1), pp.107~138
Publisher : The Sociolinguistic Society Of Korea
Research Area : Humanities > Linguistics
Received : February 15, 2024
Accepted : March 7, 2024
Published : March 31, 2024

Nur Syakirin Saleh ¹, Sun Mee Chang ¹

¹호서대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This study investigated speaking anxiety among advanced Korean language learners in Korean Language Institution classrooms, and the strategies they used to overcome it. The study employed qualitative methodology using online interviews for data collection. The sampling technique involved purposive sampling by selecting 13 Korean learners who had completed an advanced Korean course at TOPIK Levels 5 or 6, with Level 6 being the highest. The interview questions addressed various aspects, including comparisons of speaking skills, anxiety in Korean classrooms, fear of making mistakes, concerns about classmates’ reactions, and anxiety induced by teachers. Thematic analysis was performed by generating initial codes, grouping related codes to uncover potential themes, and highlighting recurring patterns in the participants’ responses. The results revealed three factors that contribute to speaking anxiety: personal reasons, teachers’ classroom approaches, and teaching methods. Advanced learners manage anxiety through three coping strategies: preparation, positive thinking, and seeking support from peers. The study concludes with discussions on the pedagogical implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research in advanced Korean language learning classrooms.

KEYWORDS

speaking anxiety, advanced language learners, Korean language, coping strategies.

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2024 are currently being built.

[thesis] Aldarasi, R. A. / 2020 / Foreign language anxiety: Libyan learners speaking in English / doctor / University of Glasgow

[book] Allwright, D. / 1991 / Focus on the language learner / Cambridge University Press

[thesis] Aydin, B. / 2001 / A study of sources of foreign language classroom anxiety in speaking and writing classes / doctor / Anadolu University

[book] Bailey, K. / 1983 / Classroom-oriented research in second language acquisition / Newbury House : 67~102

[thesis] Balemir, S. H. / 2009 / The sources of foreign language speaking anxiety and the relationship between proficiency level and degree of foreign language speaking anxiety / master / Bikent University

[book] Barlow, H. / 2002 / Anxiety and its disorders / Guildford Press

[journal] Behnke, R. R. / 1994 / Contagion theory and the communication of public speaking state anxiety / Communication Education 43(3) : 246~251

[thesis] Bollinger, A. S. / 2017 / Foreign language anxiety in traditional and distance learning foreign language classrooms / doctor / Liberty University

[thesis] Boudamouz, Z. / 2018 / The impact of fear of making errors on EFL learners’ oral performance: The case of third year (LMD) students / master / Jijel University

[book] Brown, G. / 1983 / Teaching the spoken language / Cambridge University Press

[journal] Cheng, Y. S. / 2001 / Learners' beliefs and second language anxiety / Concentric : Studies in English Literature and Linguistics 27(2) : 75~90

[journal] Chesterfield, R. / 1985 / Natural order in children’s use of second language learning strategies / Applied Linguistics 6(1) : 45~59

[report] Cohen, A. D. / 1996 / The impact of strategies-based instruction on speaking a foreign language. Research Report / Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota

[journal] Coppinger, L. / 2022 / Accent anxiety : An exploration of non-native accent as a source of speaking anxiety among English as a Foreign Language(EFL)Learners / Journal for The Psychology of Language Learning 4(2) : 1~20

[thesis] Ertürk, A. / 2006 / The relationship between the learning style preferences of undergraduate English preparatory program learners, the listening comprehension strategies and achievement / master / Dokuz Eylul University

[journal] Ewald, J. D. / 2007 / Foreign language learning anxiety in upper-level classes involving learner s as researchers / Foreign Language Annals 40 : 122~142

[book] Faerch, C. / 1983 / Strategies in interlanguage communication / Longman

[thesis] Finn, A. N. / 2007 / Widening the lens: An interdisciplinary approach to examining the effect of exposure therapy on public speaking state anxiety / doctor / University of North Texas

[journal] Guiora, A. Z. / 1972 / Construct validity and transpositional research : toward an empirical study of psychoanalytic concepts / Comprehensive psychiatry 13(2) : 139~150

[journal] Hao, S. / 2022 / A Study on the Factors of Korean Speaking Anxiety of Vietnamese Undergraduate Students / Korean National Culture Research 79(79) : 245~276

[journal] Horwitz, E. K. / 1986 / Foreign language classroom anxiety / Modern Language Journal 70(2) : 125~132

[journal] Horwitz, E. K. / 1996 / Even teachers get the blues : Recognizing and alleviating language teachers' feelings of foreign language anxiety / Foreign Language Annals 29(3) : 365~372

[journal] Horwitz, E. / 2001 / Language anxiety and achievement / Annual Review of Applied Linguistics 21 : 112~126

[journal] Jee, M. J. / 2012 / Effects of Language Anxiety on Three Levels of Classes of Korean as a Foreign Language / Journal of Korean Language Education 23 : 467~487

[journal] Jeon, H. / 2020 / A Study on the Factors of Korean-Speaking Anxiety of Chinese Undergraduate Students / Research on Learner-Centered Subject 20(12) : 89~110

[journal] Kitano, K. / 2001 / Anxiety in the college Japanese language classroom / The Modern Language Journal 85 : 549~566

[book] Koch, A. S. / 1991 / Language anxiety: From theory and research to classroom implications / Prentice Hall : 109~126

[journal] Kondo, D. S. / 2005 / Strategies for coping with language anxiety : The case of learners of English in Japan / ELT Journal 58(3) : 258~265

[book] Krashen, S. / 1982 / Principles and practice in second language acquisition / Pergamon Press

[journal] Kwon, Y. / 2011 / The influence of foreign language anxiety and risk-taking on the achievement in Korean language learners / Bilingual Research 45 : 27~49

[journal] Luo, H. / 2014 / Foreign language speaking anxiety : A study of Chinese language learners / Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages 15 : 99~117

[journal] MacIntyre, P. D. / 1989 / Anxiety and second-language learning : Toward a theoretical clarification / Language Learning 39(2) : 251~275

[journal] MacIntyre, P. D. / 1991 / Language anxiety : Its relationship to other anxieties and to processing in native and second languages / Language Learning 41(4) : 513~534

[journal] MacIntyre, P. D. / 1994 / The subtle effects of language anxiety on cognitive processing in the second language / Language Learning 44 : 283~305

[journal] Mahmud, S. / 2015 / Coping with language anxiety of second language users : A psychological approach / The Journal of English Literacy Education 2(1) : 47~54

[journal] McCroskey, J. C. / 1985 / Don’t speak to me in English : Communication apprehension in Puerto Rico / Communication Quarterly 33(3) : 185~192

[book] McLaren, N. / 2006 / TEFL in secondary education / Editorial Universidad de Granada : 4~7

[journal] Mishu, A. / 2022 / The impact of online presentations on reducing the introverted EFL learners’ stress and anxiety / Saudi Journal of Language Studies 3(1) : 32~46

[journal] Mystkowska-Wiertelak, A. / 2018 / Investigating advanced learners’ use of affective strategies for dealing with test anxiety / Neofilolog

[journal] Naiman, A. / 1978 / The good second language learner / TESL Talk 6(1) : 58~76

[journal] Neer, M. A. / 1991 / Classroom interventions for reducing public speaking anxiety / Basic Communication Course Annual 3 : 202~222

[thesis] Occhipinti, A. / 2009 / Foreign language anxiety in in-class speaking activities : two learning contexts in comparison / master / University of Oslo

[journal] Ohata, K. / 2005 / Potential sources of anxiety for Japanese learners of English : Preliminary case interviews with five Japanese college learners in the U. S / TESL-EJ 9(3) : 1~21

[book] Oxford, R. / 1999 / Affect in language learning / Cambridge University Press : 58~67

[journal] Patee, I. / 2021 / An Analysis on Korean Speaking Anxiety of Thai Learners / Bilingual Research 85 : 317~342

[book] Price, M. / 1991 / Language anxiety: From theory and research to classroom implications : 101~108

[journal] Saito, Y. / 1996 / Foreign language anxiety and language performance : A study of learner anxiety in beginning, intermediate, and advanced-level college learners of Japanese / Foreign Language Annals 29(2) : 239~249

[journal] Scovel, T. / 1978 / The effect of affect on foreign language learning : A review of the anxiety research / Language Learning 28(1) : 129~142

[journal] Siddique, H. / 2020 / Speaking anxiety among public sector university learners / Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities 59(1) : 87~96

[book] Spielberger, C. / 1983 / Manual for the State-Trait Inventory STAI (Form Y) / Mind Garden

[book] Stevick, E. / 1980 / Teaching languages: A way and ways / Newbury House

[journal] Suleimenova, Z. / 2013 / Speaking anxiety in a foreign language classroom in Kazakhstan / Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 93 : 1860~1868

[journal] Takahashi, A. / 2008 / Learners self-perception of English ability: Its relationships with English language anxiety and strength of motivation for learning the language / Niigata Studies in Foreign Languages and Cultures : 57~69

[journal] Thawarom, T. / 2022 / Metacognitive knowledge in performin g a speaking task : A report from high and low proficient Thai university learners / Journal of Language Teaching and Research 13 : 609~619

[journal] Tian, C / 2019 / Anxiety in classroom English presentations : A case study in Korean tertiary educational context / Higher Education Studies 9(1) : 132~143

[thesis] Tikkanen, R. / 2014 / "Välillä mua on melkein itkettäny mennä luennolle": Advanced language learners' experiences with foreign language anxiety / University of Jyväskylä

[book] Tóth, Z. / 2008 / UPRT 2008: Empirical studies in English applied linguistics / Lingua Franca Csoport : 225~246

[journal] Tóth, Z. / 2011 / Foreign language anxiety and advanced EFL learners : An interview study / WoPaLP 5 : 39~57

[book] Tsui, A. B. M. / 1996 / Voices from the language classroom / Cambridge University Press : 145~167

[thesis] Wang, Y. L. / 2014 / Literacy instruction of Chinese as a second language for heritage language learners / doctor / George Mason University

[journal] Woodrow, L. / 2006 / Anxiety and speaking English as a second language / RELC Journal 37 : 308~328

[thesis] Wörde, V. R. / 1998 / An investigation of learners’ perceptions of foreign language anxiety / doctor / George Mason University

[journal] Young, D. / 1990 / An investigation of learners' perspectives on anxiety and speaking / Foreign Language Annals 23(6) : 539~553

[journal] Young, D. / 1991 / Creating a low-anxiety classroom environment : What does language anxiety research suggest / Modern Language Journal 75(4) : 426~439

[confproc] Yusoff, M. / 2008 / Communication in oral presentation: A Malaysian experience / IEEE International Professional Communication Conference : 1~9

[journal] Yusoff, M. / 2010 / Analysing communication competence in oral presentations : Engineering learners' experiences / Journal of Human Capital Development 3(1) : 99~117

[book] Zeidner, M. / 2011 / Anxiety 101 / Springer Publishing Company

KJCKorea
Journal Central

The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea 2024 KCI Impact Factor : 0.55