Siraprapa Kotmungkun.. A study of language anxiety, self-esteem, and academic ability among Thai EFL teacher trainees at Rajabhat Universities. Master's Degree(Applied Linguistics). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2013.
A study of language anxiety, self-esteem, and academic ability among Thai EFL teacher trainees at Rajabhat Universities
Abstract:
The purposes of this study were: 1) to identify the level of language anxiety among teacher trainees with high and low academic ability, 2) to identify the level of self-esteem among teacher trainees with high and low academic ability, 3) to examine any significant differences in language anxiety between teacher trainees with high and low academic ability, 4) to examine any significant differences in self-esteem between teacher trainees with high and low academic ability, and 5) to find any relationships between language anxiety and self-esteem among teacher trainees with high and low academic ability. The total population was 309 EFL teacher trainees, majoring in English from the Faculties of Education of four Rajabhat Universities in Thailand. The sample consisted of 186 fourth-year-teacher trainees. They were selected by simple random sampling. The teacher trainees were divided into two groupshigh and low academic abilityby using their grade point averages (GPA) and the high-low-27-percent group method. The Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were used to collect quantitative data. The questionnaires were tested for validity and reliability. The reliability established by Cronbachs alpha coefficient was 0.83. The statistical devices used for quantitative data analysis were mean, standard deviation, the independent t-test, and Pearsons correlation. The major results show: 1) Teacher trainees with high and low academic ability experienced high levels of language anxiety. 2) Teacher trainees with high and low academic ability had high self-esteem. 3) There was no statistically significant difference in language anxiety between teacher trainees with high and low academic ability. However, the teacher trainees in the low academic group reported a higher degree of language anxiety than those with high academic ability. 4) There was a statistically significant difference in self-esteem between the two groups of teacher trainees, that is, the high academic achievers had higher levels of self-esteem than those in the lower group. 5) Language anxiety was found to be negatively correlated with self-esteem (r = -.233, p < .002).
Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center