Диплом по специальности английский язык

The experience of learning a foreign language has now become a very common thing since we live in a globalized world, and knowing languages opens doors to travel, career perspectives, and building connections around the world. Learning a new language, however, does not always come with ease. Elaine Horwitz, a pioneer in the field of Foreign Language Anxiety (FLA) and developer of the commonly used Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (FLCAS) in her work Language Anxiety and Achievement (2001), writes that one-third of learners face some kind of anxiety when acquiring a new language. The aforementioned work also states that speaking activity is found to be the most anxiety-provoking compared to reading, writing, and listening. MacIntyre and Gardner (1994) describe FLA as "the feeling of tension and apprehension, specifically associated with second language contexts…" (p. 284). The existing literature states that there are several main factors that cause anxiety when speaking a foreign language. Rajitha et al. (2020), in their study of causes of speaking anxiety, divided factors into external and internal. External ones include language, grammar, pronunciation, and peer factors, whereas internal – shyness, stage fear, and lack of confidence. FLSA can emerge in both English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and English medium of instruction (EMI) environments. EMI is defined as using English language to teach academic subjects in counties where English is a foreign language (Macaro et al., 2018). According to Seitzhanova et al. (2015), there is an increasing trend of implementing EMI in Kazakhstani higher education institutions, especially since the implication of Bologna's three-cycle education structure. Researchers also state that new programs cause some complications, and students experiencing difficulties while studying in English language are one of them. KIMEP University is well-known for its American-style system and English as a medium of instruction environment, so it will be helpful to see whether Kazakhstani students face issues with studying in a foreign language, speaking in class in particular. 1.2 Significance of the Study As already mentioned above, learning foreign languages has become part and parcel of many, especially students, who acquire a new language as a way to discover new life paths and realize one's potential. Furthermore, speaking serves as one of the most important skills used in communication, demonstration of knowledge, and building connections. However, when one stumbles upon anxiety during the learning process, it blocks effective acquisition and may create negative attitudes toward the language itself. 1.3 Aims & Objectives The main aim of this research is to investigate the phenomenon of foreign language speaking anxiety in the EMI context in the case of KIMEP University. After gathering needed data, its consequences on students' academic performance are to be examined. The objectives of this research are the following: