Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gxg78 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T02:24:13.508Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Learners’ anxiety in audiographic conferences: a discursive psychology approach to emotion talk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2009

Beatriz de los Arcos
Affiliation:
Department of Languages, Faculty of Education and Language Studies, Stuart Hall Building, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK (email: b.delosarcos@open.ac.uk, j.a.coleman@open.ac.uk, r.hampel@open.ac.uk)
James A. Coleman
Affiliation:
Department of Languages, Faculty of Education and Language Studies, Stuart Hall Building, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK (email: b.delosarcos@open.ac.uk, j.a.coleman@open.ac.uk, r.hampel@open.ac.uk)
Regine Hampel
Affiliation:
Department of Languages, Faculty of Education and Language Studies, Stuart Hall Building, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK (email: b.delosarcos@open.ac.uk, j.a.coleman@open.ac.uk, r.hampel@open.ac.uk)

Abstract

Success and failure in language learning are partly determined by the learners’ ability to regulate their emotions. Negative feelings are more likely to frustrate progress, while positive ones make the task of learning a second language (L2) a more effective experience. To date no significant body of research has been carried out into the role of anxiety in the field of computer-assisted language learning (CALL). The present study adopts discursive psychology (DP) as its methodological approach to examine anxiety not as a psychological state, but as a social construct in the context of an audiographic conferencing tool. After interviewing a sample of learners of Spanish at the Open University (OU), our findings reveal a strong connection between emotion and learner beliefs.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antaki, C. (2002) An introductory tutorial in Conversation Analysis. http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~ssca1/sitemenu.htmGoogle Scholar
Arnold, J. (1999) (ed.) Affect in language learning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Beauvois, M. H. (1992) Computer-Assisted Classroom Discussion in the Foreign Language Classroom: Conversation in Slow Motion. Foreign Language Annals, 25(5): 455463.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de los Arcos, B.Arnedillo Sánchez, I. (2006) ‘Ears before Eyes’: Expanding tutors’ interaction skills beyond physical presence in audio-graphic collaborative virtual learning environments. In: Zaphiris, P. and Zacharia, G. (eds.) User-Centered Computer Aided Language Learning. Hershey: Information Science Publishing, 7493.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D. (1997) Discourse and Cognition. London: Sage Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Edwards, D.Potter, J. (1992) Discursive Psychology. London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Edwards, D.Stokoe, E. H. (2004) Discursive psychology, focus group interviews and participants’ categories. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 22: 499507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ellis, R. (1994) The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Felix, U. (2004) Performing beyond the comfort zone: Giving a voice to online communication. In: Atkinson, R., McBeath, C., Jonas-Dwyer, D. and Philips, R. (eds.) Beyond the comfort zone: Proceedings of the 21 stASCILITE Conference, Perth, 5–8 December, 284–293.Google Scholar
Gardner, R., Tremblay, P.Masgoret, A.-M. (1997) Towards a full model of second language learning: an empirical investigation. The Modern Language Journal, 81(iii): 344362.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Goleman, D. (2005) Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.Google Scholar
Hampel, R. (2003) Theoretical perspectives and new practices in audiographic conferencing for language learning. ReCALL, 15(1): 2136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hampel, R. (2006) Rethinking task design for the digital age: A framework for language teaching and learning in a synchronous online environment. ReCALL, 18(1): 105121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hampel, R.Baber, E. (2003) Using internet-based audio-graphic and video conferencing for language teaching and learning. In: Felix, U. (ed.) Language Learning Online: Towards Best Practice. Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger, 171191.Google Scholar
Hampel, R.Hauck, M. (2004) Towards an effective use of audio conferencing in distance language courses. Language Learning and Technology, 8(1): 6682.Google Scholar
Hampel, R.Stickler, U. (2005) New Skills for New Classrooms: Training tutors to teach languages online. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 18(4): 311326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hampel, R., Felix, U., Hauck, M.Coleman, J. A. (2005) Complexities of learning and teaching languages in a real-time audiographic environment. German as a foreign language, 3: 130.Google Scholar
Hassan, X., Hauger, D., Nye, G.Smith, P. (2005) The use and effectiveness of synchronous audiographic conferencing in modern language teaching and learning (online language tuition): a systematic review of available research. In: Research Evidence in Education Library. London: EPPI Centre, Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London.Google Scholar
Hauck, M.Hampel, R. (2005) The Challenges of Implementing Online Tuition in Distance Language Courses: Task Design and Tutor Role. In: Holmberg, B., Shelley, M. and White, C. (eds.) Distance Education and Languages: Evolution and Change. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 258277.Google Scholar
Hauck, M. Hurd, S. (2005) Exploring the link between language anxiety and learner self-management in open language learning contexts. European Journal of Open, Distance and E-learning, 2005/II. http://www.eurodl.org/materials/contrib/2005/Mirjam_Hauck.htmGoogle Scholar
Horton-Salway, M. (2001) The Construction of M.E.: The Discursive Action Model. In: Wetherell, M., Taylor, S. and Yates, S. J. (eds.) Discourse as Data. London: Sage Publications in association with The Open University, 147188.Google Scholar
Horwitz, E. (1987) Surveying student beliefs about language learning. In: Wenden, A. L. and Rubin, J. (eds.) Learner Strategies in Language Learning. London: Prentice Hall, 119132.Google Scholar
Horwitz, E. K., Horwitz, M. B.Cope, J. A. (1986) Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety. In: Horwitz, E. K. and Young, D. J. (eds.) Language Anxiety. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2736.Google Scholar
Hurd, S. (2005) Autonomy and the Distance Language Learner. In: Holmberg, B., Shelley, M. and White, C. (eds.) Distance Education and Languages: Evolution and Change. Clevedon: Multilingual Matters, 119.Google Scholar
Kelm, O. R. (1992) The Use of Synchronous Computer Networks in Second Language Instruction: A Preliminary Report. Foreign Language Annals, 25(5): 441454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kern, R. G. (1995) Restructuring Classroom Interaction with Networked Computers: Effects on Quantity and Characteristics of Language Production. The Modern Language Journal, 79(4): 457476.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kötter, M., Shield, L.Stevens, A. (1999) Real-time audio and email fluency: promoting distance language learners’ aural and oral skills via the internet. ReCALL, 11(2): 5560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krashen, S. (1985) The Input Hypothesis: Issues and Implications. New York: Longman.Google Scholar
Lewis, T. (2006) When teaching is learning: A personal account of learning to teach online. CALICO Journal, 23(3): 581600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacIntyre, P. D.Gardner, R. C. (1991) Anxiety and Second Language Learning: Toward a Theoretical Clarification. In: Horwitz, E. K. and Young, D. J. (eds.) Language Anxiety. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 4153.Google Scholar
Roed, J. (2003) Language Learner Behaviour in a Virtual Environment. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 16(2–3): 155172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosell-Aguilar, F. (2005) Task Design for Audiographic Conferencing: Promoting beginner oral interaction in distance language learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 18(5): 417442.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rosell-Aguilar, F. (2006a) Online tutorial support in Open Distance Learning through audio-graphic SCMC: tutor impressions. JALT-CALL Journal, 2(2): 3752.Google Scholar
Rosell-Aguilar, F. (2006b) The face-to-face and the online learner: a comparative study of tutorial support for Open and Distance Language Learning and the learner experience with audio-graphic SCMC. The Reading Matrix, 16(3): 248268.Google Scholar
Sanchez, B. (1996) MOOving to a new frontier in language learning. In: Warschauer, M. (ed.) Telecollaboration in foreign language learning: Proceedings of the Hawai’i symposium. Honolulu, Hawai’i: University of Hawai’i, Second Language Teaching & Curriculum Center, 145163.Google Scholar
Scovel, T. (1978) The Effect of Affect on Foreign Language Learning: A Review of the Anxiety Research. In: Horwitz, E. K. and Young, D. J. (eds.) Language Anxiety. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1523.Google Scholar
Stearns, P. (1995) Emotion. In: Harré, R. and Stearns, P. (eds.) Discursive Psychology in Practice. London: Sage Publications, 3754.Google Scholar
Wenden, A. L. (1987) Incorporating learner training in the classroom. In: Wenden, A. L. and Rubin, J. (eds.) Learner Strategies in Language Learning. London: Prentice Hall, 159168.Google Scholar
Wetherell, M., Taylor, S.Yates, S.J. (2001) (eds.) Discourse Theory and Practice. London: Sage Publications & The Open University.Google Scholar
White, C. (1999) Expectations and emergent beliefs of self-instructed language learners. System, 27: 443457.CrossRefGoogle Scholar