Now this is a topic I can relate too. I admit that when I first started learning Spanish I was very anxious. I always felt confused and dreaded having to answer questions in class. It was not that we had an intimidating teacher, but it was that everything was so new that it took me a long time to feel like I had a good grasp on what was going on. For a long time I swore I would only take the required two years of Spanish and then be done, which obviously did not happen. I think that most students could relate to this to some degree. We only want to participate when we feel like we know the right answer to avoid embarrassment. As I got more comfortable with the language though I started participating more and even enjoy it.
Lots of students never get best this anxiety though so they are blocked from learning more. You certainly cannot concentrate on different verb tenses when you are worried on being called on for a question you do not know. So as teachers we need to try to alleviate stress in the classroom. This can be done in a variety of ways, including using groups, having students explain topics to each other, and including low stress games to reinforce lessons. You just have to structure these so that they feel low stake to the students so that they can concentrate on getting the right answer rather than worrying about being wrong. Competive games are not good for this because if one person messes up they will be very embarrassed. So if possible try to build up students confidence before doing these games. These methods may be easier for some students to understand and will prepare them for the more formal lectures where they have to answer individual questions in front of the class. Once they feel more relaxed and understand what is going on they will answer questions correctly, and only grow more confident. This creates a cycle that lowers anxiety over time until they have virtually none, and actually enjoy the class.
I've always believed that a little stress/anxiety is not a bad thing. It actually motivates us to do better or want to do better. Do you think anxiety has to do with one's personality traits? Can one really overcome anxiety?
ReplyDeleteI don't think that one can ever truly "overcome anxiety," but as they learn and become more skilled they find it easier to ignore it an offer an answer/perform under the pressure. I have always been a person who uses anxiety as a motivator—the harder/more intimidating the subject (sport, etc.) the more I knew I had to try to overcome it. I feel that the way in which students/people react to anxiety relates wholly to their personality: are they an overachiever, a quitter, are they shy, or determined, do they have a sense of humor? All of these traits/attitudes contribute to the two main ways in which students respond to anxiety, do they rise to the challenge, or shrink back and try to avoid it?
DeleteI can see what you mean by using anxiety as a motivator. For example, if I know a teacher calls on people randomly in a class, than I am more apt to put effort into the homework and try my best to pay attention in class, while if they do not than sometimes I can be more relaxed and not put so much effort. I know many of my peers are and were the same way. If I know that I will be tested on something, then the small anxiety of wanting a good grade makes me try to learn the material better and faster. So I can see how anxiety does help learning in the classroom in some ways.
DeleteI do believe that anxiety helps us and motivates us to learn, but it is a fine balance between it helping us and hindering us. It definitely does have to do with personality. I know some people that are much more prone to anxiety, and being paralyzed because of it. There are other people that take it and use it to get everything done. As teachers it is our job to stress students enough to get work done, but not over-stress them.
ReplyDeleteKevin, I agree with you that anxiety does have a lot to do with individual personalities. Some people are simply less comfortable participating in class or speaking in their L2 than others are. I am a very anxious person, and so for me added stress/anxiety in the classroom can be very crippling. This being said, I do also believe that a little anxiety may be a good thing for some people. While some students nearly obsess over embarrassing themselves in class, others often forget that they are in the classroom. I think that the instructor really needs to gauge the general atmosphere within the classroom so as to decide whether or not to utilize anxiety-provoking teaching strategies. What works for one class of students may completely fail with another.
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