Surviving English: language anxiety and language aptitude of university students

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Preživjeti engleski: strah od stranog jezika i inojezična sposobnost kod studenata
• Author: Martina Leaković
• Mentor: Irena Zovko Dinković (mentor)
• Committee member: Janja Čulig Suknaić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivana Bašić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; (Department of English language and literature); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2024-09-12, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology; Anglistics

Abstract

This thesis investigates the relationship between foreign language anxiety (FLA) and language aptitude among university students. FLA is a common phenomenon that affects many learners of foreign languages, potentially hindering their progress and proficiency in acquiring a new language. On the other hand, language aptitude refers to an individual's ability to learn a foreign language quickly and easily. The first part of this thesis explores the theoretical framework of FLA and language aptitude, discussing their definitions, components, and measurement methods. The second part presents the results of a study conducted with a sample of 7 first-year students from the Edward Bernays University of Applied Sciences, specifically from the Communication Management and Business Administration programs. The research was conducted in two phases. The first phase occurred in April 2024 at Edward Bernays University, focusing on measuring language aptitude using the LLAMA tests. The second phase assessed FLA using the adapted Croatian-English version of the AMTB instrument. The primary aim of this research was to determine whether there is a significant relationship between language aptitude and FLA. The hypothesis posited that no significant correlation exists between these two constructs, challenging the assumption that high anxiety levels correspond with low language aptitude and vice versa.

Abstract (croatian)

Ovaj diplomski rad istražuje odnos između straha od stranog jezika i inojezične sposobnosti kod studenata. Strah od stranog jezika česta je pojava koja pogađa mnoge učenike stranih jezika, potencijalno ometajući njihov napredak i postizanje jezične kompetencije. S druge strane, inojezična sposobnost odnosi se na individualnu sposobnost brzog i lakog usvajanja stranog jezika. U prvom dijelu diplomskog rada istražuje se teorijski okvir straha od stranog jezika i inojezične sposobnosti, raspravljajući o njihovim definicijama, komponentama i metodama mjerenja. Drugi dio prikazuje rezultate istraživanja provedenog na uzorku od 7 studenata prve godine Veleučilišta Edward Bernays u Zagrebu, konkretno iz programa Komunikacijski menadžment i Poslovno upravljanje. Istraživanje je provedeno u dvije faze. Prva faza održana je u travnju 2024. godine na Veleučilištu Edward Bernays, s ciljem mjerenja inojezične sposobnosti korištenjem LLAMA testova. U drugoj fazi mjerio se strah od stranog jezika koristeći prilagođenu hrvatsko-englesku verziju AMTB instrumenta. Primarni cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi postoji li značajna povezanost između inojezične sposobnosti i straha od stranog jezika. Postavljena hipoteza je da ne postoji značajna korelacija između ovih dvaju konstrukata, čime se osporava pretpostavka da visoka razina straha od stranog jezika odgovara niskoj inojezičnoj sposobnosti i obrnuto.

• Keywords: foreign language anxiety; language aptitude; LLAMA; AMTB
• Keywords (croatian): strah od stranog jezika; inojezična sposobnost; LLAMA; AMTB
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:131:821307
• Study programme: Title: English Language and Literature (double major); specializations in: Linguistics, Literature and Culture, Translation, TEFL; Course: Linguistics; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti (magistar/magistra engleskog jezika i književnosti)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-09-18 11:39:02