Coping Strategies used by Teachers and Students at Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Anxiety and language learning are highly interwoven. It is obvious that for many students language courses are the most anxiety-provoking courses they take (Kondo & Ying-Ling, 2004). This happened due to the fact that language classes are interactive and students are asked to reveal themselves in a way which seems to be very threatening. In view of this, it is imperative for teachers to understand the existence of anxiety in language classes and the coping strategies used by teachers and students. Thus, the objective of this study is to figure out the coping strategies employed by both students and teachers. The participants of the study were both teachers and students drawn from the English Department at Addis Ababa University. The study was completely qualitative and it used interview and focus group discussion for data collection. The results of the study portrayed that students used avoiding participation and shortening presentation as mechanisms to reduce anxiety whereas teachers employed strategies such as forming close proximity with students, grouping students, brainstorming, giving extra time, briefing about mistakes and making learning resources available to reduce anxiety. Furthermore, other coping strategies have been suggested based on the findings of the study.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Abate Kassahun (1996). English Language Classroom Anxiety Performance on Classroom Tasks and in Tests: A Study of Some Ethiopian Civil Service College First Year Students, Addis Ababa University Unpublished MA Thesis.
Abraham Husain (1996). Child Rearing Practices in Siltigna-speaking Community: Impact on the Development of Independence and Social Responsibility. Proceedings of the Conference on Research Papers on the Situations of Children and Adolescents in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa.
Ariza, E. N. (2002). Resurrecting Old Language Learning Methods to Reduce Anxiety for New language Learners: Community Language Learning to the Rescue. Florida Atlantic University. Retrieved in April, 2008 from http://www.ariza/ Berhanu Bogale (2000). Verbal Participation in Group Work: A Case Study of First Year Students at AAU. PhD. Thesis Unpublished Addis Ababa University. Campbell, C. M. (1999). Language Anxiety in Men and Women: Dealing with Gender Difference in the Language Classroom. In D.J.Young (ed.). Affect in Foreign Language and Second Language Learning. A Practical Guide to Creating a Low Anxiety Classroom Atmosphere. Boston, MA: Mc Graw-Hill.
Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal Psychology: New York. Worth Publisher. Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. London, SAGE Publications.
Crookall, D. & Oxford, R. (1991). Dealing with Anxiety: Some Practical Activities for Language Learners and Teacher Trainees. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Cubukcu, F. (2007). Foreign Language Anxiety. Iranian Journal of Language Studies, 1 (2), 133-142. Daly, J. (1991).Understanding Communication Apprehension: An Introduction for Language Educators. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. 1991. Language Anxiety, from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey, Prentice – Hall, Inc. Dornyei, Z. (2005). Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom. Cambridge Cambridge University Press.
Dornyei, Z.(2007). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methodologies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dworetzky, J. P. (1988). Psychology. New York: West Publishing Company Ellis,R. (1994). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Emery, S. (1999). Facilitating Language, Facilitating Learning. TESOI, Macedonia-thrace 7th Annual Convention. The University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece. Foss, R.A & Reilzel, A.C. (1991). A Relational Model for Managing Second Language Anxiety. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey prentice-Hall, Inc.. Gebeyehu Yismaw (2005). Female Students' English Language Classroom Anxiety in Spoken English Class: A Study of Arbegnoch Senior Secondary School 2004/5 Preparatory Female Students. Abomsa, Arsi, Addis Ababa University unpublished MA Thesis. Horwitz, E.K; Horwitz, M. B. & Cope, J. (1991) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety In Horwitz, E.K & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. Horwitz, E. K & Young, D.C (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implications. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Kondo, D. & Ying-Ling, Y. (2004). Strategies for Coping with Language Anxiety: The Case of Students of English in Japan. ELT Journal, 58 (3).
Leki, H. (1999). Techniques for Reducing Second Language Writing Anxiety. In D.J.Young (ed.). Affect in Foreign Language and Second Language Learning. A Practical Guide to Creating A Low Anxiety Classroom Atmosphere. Boston, MA: Mc Graw-Hill. MacIntyre, P.D & Gardner R.C (1991). Anxiety and Second Language Learning: toward a Theoretical Clarification. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C.(1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. Mejias, H. Applbaum, R.L.Applbaum,S.J.& Trotter II, R.T.(1991). Oral Communication Apprehension and Hispanics: An Exploration of Oral Communication Apprehension Among Mexican American Students in Texas. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. Mekonnen Disasa (1998) Investigating Methods of Training for Developing Student' Skills for Academic Oral Work: Focus on Social Science Students. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University: PhD Thesis unpublished. Ortega Cebreros, A M. (2003). Measuring Language Anxiety Perceived by Spanish University Students of English. Universidad de Jaen: Spain. Phillips E.A. (1999). Decreasing Language Anxiety: Practical Techniques for Oral Activities. In D.J. Young (ed.). Affect in Foreign Language and Second Language Learning: A Practical Guide to Creating a low Anxiety Classroom Atmosphere. Boston, MA: Mc. Graw Hill Companies, Inc.
Scovel, T. (1991). The Effect of Affect on Foreign Language Learning: A Review of the Anxiety Research. In Horwitz, E.K & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey prentice-Hall, Inc.
Seleshi Zeleke (1998). An Exploratory Study of Parenting Styles Among Four Ethnic Groups in Urban Settings. Ethiopian Journal of Development Research: V. 20 No. 2. Stern, H.H. (1983). Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Williams, M. & Burden, R. (1997). Psychology for Language Teachers: A Social Constructive Approach. Cambridge Cambridge University Press Young, D. (1991). The Relationship between Anxiety and Foreign Language Oral Proficiency Rating. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Abraham Husain (1996). Child Rearing Practices in Siltigna-speaking Community: Impact on the Development of Independence and Social Responsibility. Proceedings of the Conference on Research Papers on the Situations of Children and Adolescents in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa.
Ariza, E. N. (2002). Resurrecting Old Language Learning Methods to Reduce Anxiety for New language Learners: Community Language Learning to the Rescue. Florida Atlantic University. Retrieved in April, 2008 from http://www.ariza/ Berhanu Bogale (2000). Verbal Participation in Group Work: A Case Study of First Year Students at AAU. PhD. Thesis Unpublished Addis Ababa University. Campbell, C. M. (1999). Language Anxiety in Men and Women: Dealing with Gender Difference in the Language Classroom. In D.J.Young (ed.). Affect in Foreign Language and Second Language Learning. A Practical Guide to Creating a Low Anxiety Classroom Atmosphere. Boston, MA: Mc Graw-Hill.
Comer, R. J. (2007). Abnormal Psychology: New York. Worth Publisher. Creswell, J. W. (2007). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches. London, SAGE Publications.
Crookall, D. & Oxford, R. (1991). Dealing with Anxiety: Some Practical Activities for Language Learners and Teacher Trainees. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Cubukcu, F. (2007). Foreign Language Anxiety. Iranian Journal of Language Studies, 1 (2), 133-142. Daly, J. (1991).Understanding Communication Apprehension: An Introduction for Language Educators. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. 1991. Language Anxiety, from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey, Prentice – Hall, Inc. Dornyei, Z. (2005). Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom. Cambridge Cambridge University Press.
Dornyei, Z.(2007). Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methodologies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dworetzky, J. P. (1988). Psychology. New York: West Publishing Company Ellis,R. (1994). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Emery, S. (1999). Facilitating Language, Facilitating Learning. TESOI, Macedonia-thrace 7th Annual Convention. The University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece. Foss, R.A & Reilzel, A.C. (1991). A Relational Model for Managing Second Language Anxiety. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey prentice-Hall, Inc.. Gebeyehu Yismaw (2005). Female Students' English Language Classroom Anxiety in Spoken English Class: A Study of Arbegnoch Senior Secondary School 2004/5 Preparatory Female Students. Abomsa, Arsi, Addis Ababa University unpublished MA Thesis. Horwitz, E.K; Horwitz, M. B. & Cope, J. (1991) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety In Horwitz, E.K & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. Horwitz, E. K & Young, D.C (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implications. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Kondo, D. & Ying-Ling, Y. (2004). Strategies for Coping with Language Anxiety: The Case of Students of English in Japan. ELT Journal, 58 (3).
Leki, H. (1999). Techniques for Reducing Second Language Writing Anxiety. In D.J.Young (ed.). Affect in Foreign Language and Second Language Learning. A Practical Guide to Creating A Low Anxiety Classroom Atmosphere. Boston, MA: Mc Graw-Hill. MacIntyre, P.D & Gardner R.C (1991). Anxiety and Second Language Learning: toward a Theoretical Clarification. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C.(1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. Mejias, H. Applbaum, R.L.Applbaum,S.J.& Trotter II, R.T.(1991). Oral Communication Apprehension and Hispanics: An Exploration of Oral Communication Apprehension Among Mexican American Students in Texas. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey Prentice-Hall, Inc. Mekonnen Disasa (1998) Investigating Methods of Training for Developing Student' Skills for Academic Oral Work: Focus on Social Science Students. Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University: PhD Thesis unpublished. Ortega Cebreros, A M. (2003). Measuring Language Anxiety Perceived by Spanish University Students of English. Universidad de Jaen: Spain. Phillips E.A. (1999). Decreasing Language Anxiety: Practical Techniques for Oral Activities. In D.J. Young (ed.). Affect in Foreign Language and Second Language Learning: A Practical Guide to Creating a low Anxiety Classroom Atmosphere. Boston, MA: Mc. Graw Hill Companies, Inc.
Scovel, T. (1991). The Effect of Affect on Foreign Language Learning: A Review of the Anxiety Research. In Horwitz, E.K & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey prentice-Hall, Inc.
Seleshi Zeleke (1998). An Exploratory Study of Parenting Styles Among Four Ethnic Groups in Urban Settings. Ethiopian Journal of Development Research: V. 20 No. 2. Stern, H.H. (1983). Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Williams, M. & Burden, R. (1997). Psychology for Language Teachers: A Social Constructive Approach. Cambridge Cambridge University Press Young, D. (1991). The Relationship between Anxiety and Foreign Language Oral Proficiency Rating. In Horwitz, E.K. & Young, D.C. (1991). Language Anxiety from Theory and Research to Classroom Implication. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc.
