Abstract:Since the 1960s, researchers and teachers have been showing growing interest in the affective variables affecting students’ language learning. Anxiety, as one of the most important affective variables, has drawn quite a lot researchers’ attention both abroad and at home.

Firstly, this thesis consulting the relevant language researchers in the study of foreign language learning anxiety, discussing the English learning anxiety among the English majors in Xuzhou Institute of Technology. Based on the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale（FLCAS）raised by Horwitz (1986),the study use the way of questionnaire to explore English learning anxiety: the general trend of English learning anxiety among the English majors; the distribution of the some aspects of English classroom anxiety(communication apprehension, test anxiety, fear of negative evaluation,etc).

The subjects involved in the present study were 100 English majors in Xuzhou Institute of Technology. The study used quantitative method. The study used the FLCAS designed by Horwitz(1986) as a questionnaire. The quantitative data were analyzed by SPSS 7.0.The study found the English majors are assuredly affected by English learning anxiety in the process of English learning.

The thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter one generally introduces the significance of the study and presents a rough picture of this study. Chapter two is the literature review about the foreign language anxiety and the related studies both abroad and in China. Chapter three is about the research design. In the fourth chapter, data analysis and discussions are presented. Chapter five draws a conclusion, which includes the implications and the limitations of the study.

Key words: English majors  Learning anxiety  FLCAS   Communication apprehension

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

Chapter Two Literature Review-3

2.1 Foreign Language Anxiety-3

2.1.1 Definitions-3

2.1.2 Classifications-3

2.2 Previous Studies on Foreign Language Anxiety-4

Chapter Three Research Design-5

3.1 Subjects-5

3.2 Instruments-5

3.3 Procedures-5

Chapter Four Data Analysis and Discussions-7

4.1 Characteristics of Learner’s Language Anxiety-7

4.1.1 Summary of FLCAS Scores-7

4.1.2Characteristics of Learning Anxiety-7

4.1.3Item Analysis on FLCAS-9

4.2 Discussion-12

Chapter Five Conclusion-14

5.1 Implications-14

5.2 Limitations of the Study-15

References-16

Appendix-17