Language Learning and Perfectionism: Anxious and Non‐Anxious Language Learners' Reactions to Their Own Oral Performance
Abstract
This interview study sought to clarify the relationship between foreign language anxiety and perfectionism. The comments of anxious and non‐anxious language learners were audiorecorded as they watched themselves interact in a videotaped oral interview. By examining the reactions of the language learners to their actual oral performance and analyzing the audiotapes for instances of perfectionism, evidence was gathered suggesting that anxious and non‐anxious learners differ in their personal performance standards, procrastination, fear of evaluation, and concern over errors. Because the results of this study indicated a link between language anxiety and perfectionism, the article ends with a discussion of procedures that have been used to overcome perfectionism and that may also be helpful to anxious foreign language learners.
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Strong anxiety feelings are no doubt disruptive to behaviour, interfering with interpersonal communication, cognition and learning (Eysenck, 1979; Gregersen & Horwitz, 2002; MacIntyre & Gardner, 1994a, 1994b).
“In terms of emotional effects, strong anxiety feelings are no doubt disruptive to behaviour, interfering with interpersonal communication, cognition and learning (Eysenck, 1979;Gregersen & Horwitz, 2002;MacIntyre & Gardner, 1994a, 1994b).”
From The two faces of Janus? Anxiety and enjoyment in the foreign language classroom (2014) · cites this paper as Gregersen & Horwitz, 2002
Gregersen and Horwitz (2002) found that participants concerns regarding making mistakes because this might affect their positive image as a good learner.
“In agreement with Gregersen and Horwitz (2002), the participants in the current study illustrated concerns regarding making mistakes because this might affect their positive image as a good learner.”
From Triggers for Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Perceptions of Saudi EFL College Students (2024) · cites this paper as Gregersen and Horwitz (2002)
Cites
Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety
HORWITZ, E. K., HORWITZ, M. B., & COPE, J. (1986) · The Modern Language Journal · doi:10.1111/j.1540-4781.1986.tb05256.x · Cited by 5,697 · cited 5× · see citing works
“Brophy’s descriptions of perfectionists evoke several items on the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS; Horwitz et al., 1986), an instrument used to identify language-anxious students.”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialSelf-citationThe dimensions of perfectionism
Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R. (1990) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/bf01172967 · Cited by 4,279 · see citing works
Anxiety and Second‐Language Learning: Toward a Theoretical Clarification*
MacIntyre, P. D., & Gardner, R. C. (1989) · Language Learning · doi:10.1111/j.1467-1770.1989.tb00423.x · Cited by 930 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Although it is axiomatic that language learning cannot occur without errors, errors can be the source of anxiety in some individuals because they draw attention to the difficulty of making positive social impressions when speaking a new language (MacIntyre & Gardner, 1989).”
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The two faces of Janus? Anxiety and enjoyment in the foreign language classroom
Dewaele, J.-M., & MacIntyre, P. D. (2014) · Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching · doi:10.14746/ssllt.2014.4.2.5 · Cited by 1,757 · see citing works
An Exploration of Chinese EFL Learners' Unwillingness to Communicate and Foreign Language Anxiety
LIU, M., & JACKSON, J. (2008) · The Modern Language Journal · doi:10.1111/j.1540-4781.2008.00687.x · Cited by 729 · see citing works
Affect: The Role of Language Anxiety and Other Emotions in Language Learning
MacIntyre, P., & Gregersen, T. (2012) · Psychology for Language Learning · doi:10.1057/9781137032829_8 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Self-citationParlak, Ö., & Ziegler, N. (2017) · Studies in Second Language Acquisition · doi:10.1017/s0272263116000310 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Nadile, E. M., Alfonso, E., Barreiros, B. M., Bevan-Thomas, W. D., Brownell, S. E., Chin, M. R., Ferreira, I., Ford, S. A., Gin, L. E., Gomez-Rosado, J. O., et al. (2021) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243731 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Egan, S. J., Wade, T. D., Fitzallen, G., O’Brien, A., & Shafran, R. (2022) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465821000357 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Song, Z. (2024) · Journal of Education Humanities and Social Sciences · doi:10.54097/4838f411 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
“On the other side, anxiety may result from a perfectionist inclination brought on by a set of irrational self-beliefs [12].”
BackgroundTriggers for Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety: Perceptions of Saudi EFL College Students
Faqihi, M. A. (2024) · English Language Teaching · doi:10.5539/elt.v17n2p1 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“This leads students to avoid participating in foreign language classes to protect their positive image (Gregersen & Horwitz, 2002).”
Background
- Authors
- Gregersen, T., & Horwitz, E. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Atacama (CL)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- ORCID
- Gregersen, Tammy
- Venue
- The Modern Language Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2002-12
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 562-570
- ISSN
- 0026-7902 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-4781
- OpenAlex
- W2121810576
- Cited by
- 628
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 44 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 26
- FWCI
- 17.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Modern Language Journal (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Perfectionism, Procrastination, Anxiety Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Communication in Education and Healthcare
- Keywords
- foreign language anxiety, perfectionism, oral performance, self-monitoring, evaluation apprehension, procrastination, performance standards
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