The role of positive and negative psychological factors in predicting effort and anxiety toward languages other than English

ABSTRACT

The role of positive and negative psychological factors in predicting effort and foreign language anxiety for languages other than English (LOTE) is not well understood. Therefore, two hundred twenty-one students attending a private university in Tokyo, Japan participated in a research study. Participants were studying one of four LOTEs, specifically Chinese (n = 41), Spanish (n = 76), French (n = 62) or German (n = 42). Students spent, on average, more than two years studying each respective LOTE. Questionnaire surveys were used to assess the following constructs: integrative orientation, intrinsic motivation, introjected regulation, teacher and parental support, intended effort for learning the LOTE and LOTE anxiety. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were conducted to assess the data. Complex and diverse interrelationships among teacher and parental supports, positive and negative orientations, and outcome variables (intended effort and anxiety) were observed in each LOTE.

KEYWORDS:

• Integrative orientation
• intrinsic motivation
• teacher support
• intended effort
• positive psychology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by a Waseda University Grant for Special Research Projects (2019C-238) to Kristopher McEown and a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKEN grant (16K21430) to Maya Sugita-McEown.

Notes on contributors

Kristopher McEown

Kristopher McEown is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Waseda University in Japan. His research examines cognitive mechanisms of language learning and processing.

Maya Sugita-McEown

Maya Sugita-McEown is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Science at Waseda University in Japan. She conducts interdisciplinary research in the areas of psychology and applied linguistics.