About this Research Topic
As both psychological and affective factors, motivation and anxiety have proved to play important roles in second/foreign language (SL/FL) learning at all levels. The importance of anxiety and motivation in second language acquisition has been well acknowledged and research on this topic has been flourishing. The current literature has revealed that students with greater motivation tend to study the target language (TL) better, and that students with high anxiety tend to perform in the TL worse. Besides, SL/FL motivation and anxiety are closely related to each other and interact with other variables to affect SL/FL learning. Also, both anxiety and motivation are dynamic and so are their effects on SL/FL learning.
Despite numerous studies on anxiety and motivation, there is a call for more research. Though they are found to be dynamic from situation to situation, most research is still sectional. More longitudinal studies are called for to document the changes in anxiety and motivation and their effects on SL/FL learning. Moreover, more research on both technological and non-technological strategies to intervene anxiety and motivation is needed to better SL/FL learning. In addition, most research on SL/FL motivation and anxiety targets learners of English as a SL/FL. Research on languages other than English is far from enough and thus is much needed. Moreover, the current literature often uses correlational analyses and regression analyses to examine the effects of anxiety and motivation on SL/FL learning, and different kinds of analyses like cross-lagged regression are necessary to better examine the relations between the issues.
This Research Topic aims to expand research on anxiety and motivation both theoretically and methodologically to better understand the issues and their relations with SL/FL learning. Original theoretical and empirical research papers on anxiety and motivation in SL/FL learning are welcome. Research papers on languages other than English as second/foreign languages are especially welcome. Themes related to this Research Topic include, but are not limited to the following:
• Theoretical developments of anxiety and/or motivation
• Technological and non-technological strategies to deal with anxiety and/or motivation
• Measurements of anxiety and/or motivation (over time)
• Effects of anxiety and/or motivation on SL/FL learning
• Factors affecting anxiety and/or motivation
Despite numerous studies on anxiety and motivation, there is a call for more research. Though they are found to be dynamic from situation to situation, most research is still sectional. More longitudinal studies are called for to document the changes in anxiety and motivation and their effects on SL/FL learning. Moreover, more research on both technological and non-technological strategies to intervene anxiety and motivation is needed to better SL/FL learning. In addition, most research on SL/FL motivation and anxiety targets learners of English as a SL/FL. Research on languages other than English is far from enough and thus is much needed. Moreover, the current literature often uses correlational analyses and regression analyses to examine the effects of anxiety and motivation on SL/FL learning, and different kinds of analyses like cross-lagged regression are necessary to better examine the relations between the issues.
This Research Topic aims to expand research on anxiety and motivation both theoretically and methodologically to better understand the issues and their relations with SL/FL learning. Original theoretical and empirical research papers on anxiety and motivation in SL/FL learning are welcome. Research papers on languages other than English as second/foreign languages are especially welcome. Themes related to this Research Topic include, but are not limited to the following:
• Theoretical developments of anxiety and/or motivation
• Technological and non-technological strategies to deal with anxiety and/or motivation
• Measurements of anxiety and/or motivation (over time)
• Effects of anxiety and/or motivation on SL/FL learning
• Factors affecting anxiety and/or motivation
Keywords: dynamic, anxiety, motivation, effect, strategy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
