Relationship between personality traits with language anxiety among bilinguals

Abstract

Language anxiety is a distinct complex of self-perception, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors related to classroom language learning arising from the uniqueness of the language learning process. Effects of foreign language anxiety are particularly evident in the foreign language classroom, and this anxiety is a strong indicator of academic performance. So, the study aimed to investigate relationships between personality traits with language anxiety among bilinguals. The research method was correlation. The population was included all upper intermediate language learners and higher levels in language institutes, that 250 learners were selected by cluster sampling method, and responded to McCare & Costa's NEO personality traits (neuroticism, openness to new experience, extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness) and Horwitz's language anxiety inventory. The data were analysed by Pearson correlation formula. The results showed that there is positive and significant relationship between neuroticism and openness to new experience with language anxiety, and positive and significant relationship between extroversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness with language anxiety. Thus, it can be concluded that personality traits have important impact on language anxiety.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.